hydrolastic to dry
-
- 850 Super
- Posts: 171
- Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:03 pm
- Location: scotland somewhere in the 70s
hydrolastic to dry
hi all ive a 61 morris mk1 that im starting on , the front subframe is in rough condition ,I have also a very good hydrolastic front subframe ,how easy is it to convert it to dry , I know you have to flatten or grind off the locating lugs for the displacer units but is that all or are the top arms needing swapped out as well cheers in advance for any help with this
long time gone
- whistler
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 839
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 5:02 pm
- Location: Cardiff
- Has thanked: 18 times
- Been thanked: 6 times
Re: hydrolastic to dry
You're going to devalue the car if you fit a hydro subframe as they weren't introduced until around 1965.
-
- 850 Super
- Posts: 171
- Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:03 pm
- Location: scotland somewhere in the 70s
Re: hydrolastic to dry
it aint gona be totally original anyway mate just a very good usable car
long time gone
- Spider
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 4854
- Joined: Mon May 07, 2012 6:10 am
- Location: Big Red, Australia
- Has thanked: 189 times
- Been thanked: 68 times
Re: hydrolastic to dry
The Top Arms are different. You can use the Hydro Arms, but it will be a much harder ride.
You'll also need to run Hilos as the Towers on the wet frames are 1/4" taller.
If you do run with the Hydro ones, the hole that currently holds the bump stop in place needs to be drilled to 3/8" clearance for a Shocker Bolt.
You'll also need to run Hilos as the Towers on the wet frames are 1/4" taller.
If you do run with the Hydro ones, the hole that currently holds the bump stop in place needs to be drilled to 3/8" clearance for a Shocker Bolt.
-
- 850 Super
- Posts: 171
- Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:03 pm
- Location: scotland somewhere in the 70s
Re: hydrolastic to dry
cheers mate thanks for the info il probably use the dry arms and run hilos front and backSpider wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2020 6:15 pm The Top Arms are different. You can use the Hydro Arms, but it will be a much harder ride.
You'll also need to run Hilos as the Towers on the wet frames are 1/4" taller.
If you do run with the Hydro ones, the hole that currently holds the bump stop in place needs to be drilled to 3/8" clearance for a Shocker Bolt.
long time gone
- TECH396
- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 430
- Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:12 pm
- Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: hydrolastic to dry
Don't forget the shock mounts on the body, as well as new, dry upper arms.
Paul H.
- snoopy64
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 1328
- Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2015 7:40 pm
- Location: M96, North Cotswolds , UK
- Has thanked: 88 times
- Been thanked: 14 times
Re: hydrolastic to dry
Good hydro front subframes are hard to come by... sell it and buy a dry one! 

Cheers
Kevin
Kevin
- Andrew1967
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 7927
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:35 pm
- Location: Usually in my garage on the east coast of Norfolk, UK
- Been thanked: 8 times
-
- 850 Super
- Posts: 171
- Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:03 pm
- Location: scotland somewhere in the 70s
Re: hydrolastic to dry
might do its in excellent condition ,freshly powdercoated too ,

long time gone
- snoopy64
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 1328
- Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2015 7:40 pm
- Location: M96, North Cotswolds , UK
- Has thanked: 88 times
- Been thanked: 14 times
Re: hydrolastic to dry
When i needed one 5 years ago it took ages to find one... everyone says oh the front ones never go 'cos they are covered in oil... well i took mine off and when it was blasted it was very thin in places and had a couple of patches!!!
Cheers
Kevin
Kevin
-
- 998 Cooper
- Posts: 609
- Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 4:05 am
Re: hydrolastic to dry
Of course, you could just install the wet subframe, and, leave it wet (supposing it still has the hydrobags in it)......
They don't have to connected to rear ones, you can just pump them up separately........
I once spliced the front end of a wet MKII Mini to the back half of a MKI wagon, and, just pumped the hydrobags up, made it easy to adjust front ride hight, drove real nice that way.......
They don't have to connected to rear ones, you can just pump them up separately........
I once spliced the front end of a wet MKII Mini to the back half of a MKI wagon, and, just pumped the hydrobags up, made it easy to adjust front ride hight, drove real nice that way.......