I have issues,

I purchased a mini not knowing what I bought, I was told it was an 1100. It was leaking with oil and coolant so I took it to a "mechanic" (that term is being used very loosely) and he was going to charge me $200 to replace the head gasket.

So, he rips off the head and tells me one of my pistons has a hole in it. So, I thought, replace the lot. Got 4 of them from Mini Sport in Adelaide sent up with a whole lot of other gear, cv joints, clutch, water pump oil pump etc etc etc. Told them that its for a 72 clubby with an 1100.

Got the head sent off to a head cylinder place. He's told me the new pistons are too long (ie: that they will hit the head if he were to put them in) and that the old type were press fit, the new ones I bought are with sirclips and a gudgeon pin.

Now I'm a IT guy so that doesnt mean too much to me. All I want is my mini back.

I rang around and asked, one person said to me it sounds like I've got a 1275 instead of an 1100 which I find hard to believe another told me to get shortened conrods and I should be right. I have no idea.

I tried to get the guy to read the engine number but he didnt know where it was (he's english wasnt the best either so I dont know if he understood a word I said.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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1972 Clubman needs full resto
Coming soon: www.pimpthemini.com

Are you sure he's a mechanic?

first place to start is the engine number. After so long it could have been changed, rebored...anything. Once we know that, then we can advise you what engine it is. The engine number is stamped on a little "plateau" at the front side near the radiator end.

Next is has it been rebuilt and bored out......
Do the existing pistons have any markings on them (like +020, +040 etc).

Regarding the head, under the rocker cover on the "top" of the head, there is a number cast into the surface (like 12g940 for example). What is this number?

I'm surprised he asked you to order pistons without knowing what the bore size was, or even suggesting a rebore to a larger size, back to my first question

Get those numbers and castings, then we can help shed some light on it for you.
KB

from what the "mechanic" told me, the pistons are original. I ordered some oversized pistons to get a rebore done because he told he they were original.

the cars currently sitting with the mechanic, the engine is sitting elsewhere and they're not open till Monday, when I'll be at work.

thanks for your help, I'll have to take some time off and go down there and have a look.

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1972 Clubman needs full resto
Coming soon: www.pimpthemini.com

If it IS a 998 or 1098 and the old pistons/rods have press fit type gudgeon pins, it's an A+ motor, probably a 998, UK built from 1980 on.
Some of these motors have been put into Oz Minis, we had one once.

You would probably have to get pistons from UK, the Hypatecs etc available here won't fit.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

the engine number starts with 9ay so I was told its actually a 1000cc not an 1100cc.

Got a new crank shaft and some new rods so I'm "converting" to an 1100.

thanks for everyones help.

_________________
1972 Clubman needs full resto
Coming soon: www.pimpthemini.com