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I'm unsure which section of the forum this question should be posted in, but it has to do with suspension. So I'm trying here...

I have a 1960 Morris Mini that I want to swap a 2008 Yamaha R1 engine into. The plan is to have the engine in the front with a driveline to the rear like a lot of locost 7s. Instead of me trying to fabricate custom suspension I'm trying to use front and rear subframes out of an early Miata. The main concern I have is how far back the front lower control arms sit. So my question to you guys is can the lower control arm be shortened three or four inches and still be strong enough? The area inside the red box in the picture is what I'm talking about removing.

Welcome to the site Torpedo..

Yes, you can modify that LCA (that thing is beefy, especially for the tiny car you're working with), just be careful not to lose too much distance between the pivots (don't shorten it any more than you need to..

I had to do this mod for my Honda N600 build where space was a premium (build at viewtopic.php?f=36&t=14452 ) .. in my case I had to shorten the LCA leg and flip it to the front of axle centerline to make it work (pics give an idea).. Never had an issue at all with the mod.. cut away Torpedo!

--ccrunner

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Dean

1972 Honda N600 Restomod "ccrunner's N600 VFR800 repower"

1963 Volvo P1800 Restomod
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=16309

1959 Berkeley SE492 Restomod...
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19397

"ccrunner's 1960 MGA coupe Restomod" found on MGExp.com

Thanks, CCRunner, for your pictures and the link to your build thread! It's reassuring to know someone else has modified the Miata LCAs with success. I've only had the time to read through 5 pages of your build so far, but it seems like you've had to tackle all the obstacles I see in my future. I look forward to reading the rest of your build thread for ideas on how to make my project work!

Beardmore Bros in the UK also had a few suggestions on how to do it. His application was a Morris Minor. The page was down last year but is a wealth of hands on wisdom assuming it's up again. Very sharp young man.

Just checked out the Beardmore Bros website. It looks like it has some good info for me to read up on. Thanks for the suggestion, iadr!