JimEd wrote:
Hi guys,
1st post so excuse my ignorance. I've been oversea's for too long and my mini is in dire need of some love.
Before i left i did the whole 1100 rebuild thing and threw brand spanking discs under her so it would pull up a little better.
Now i'm back and am chasing more balls (in the car). And have my heart set on 1310-1330 with a nice head (which i am happy to work on myself once this Vizard book that everyone is raving about gets delivered) nice cam etc. Note, my gearbox was fairly good from last recollection, and i have found a 3.44:1 diff to throw in.
I'm currently in the dilemma where i see bare blocks floating around for $100 - $500ish and then already bored block + head + cam (condition apparently good) for $1200 and even further a bored block, pistons, crank flywheel distr.(with plenty spent) for $1700.
SO, getting on from the rambles to the questions..
1) What parts from the 1100 can i bring to the new engine? (i.e. flywheel, distributor, radiator etc. and i do understand the crank, pistons and cam arent any good to me)
2) Am i dreaming to think i can get a sweet engine in my beast for 2.5k?
3) Are there different sized 1275 blocks? (people throw around big block, small block - i had never known there to be different sized 1275's)
4) Going on those mentioned prices and the equipment i already have in my car, which route should i take?
-source bare block for reco, find head for work at home, buy cam etc.
-get an already reco'd engine and bolt her up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, AND i wish i had found this site before i left, its a freakin wealth of knowledge!
1st post so excuse my ignorance. I've been oversea's for too long and my mini is in dire need of some love.
Before i left i did the whole 1100 rebuild thing and threw brand spanking discs under her so it would pull up a little better.
Now i'm back and am chasing more balls (in the car). And have my heart set on 1310-1330 with a nice head (which i am happy to work on myself once this Vizard book that everyone is raving about gets delivered) nice cam etc. Note, my gearbox was fairly good from last recollection, and i have found a 3.44:1 diff to throw in.
I'm currently in the dilemma where i see bare blocks floating around for $100 - $500ish and then already bored block + head + cam (condition apparently good) for $1200 and even further a bored block, pistons, crank flywheel distr.(with plenty spent) for $1700.
SO, getting on from the rambles to the questions..
1) What parts from the 1100 can i bring to the new engine? (i.e. flywheel, distributor, radiator etc. and i do understand the crank, pistons and cam arent any good to me)
2) Am i dreaming to think i can get a sweet engine in my beast for 2.5k?
3) Are there different sized 1275 blocks? (people throw around big block, small block - i had never known there to be different sized 1275's)
4) Going on those mentioned prices and the equipment i already have in my car, which route should i take?
-source bare block for reco, find head for work at home, buy cam etc.
-get an already reco'd engine and bolt her up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, AND i wish i had found this site before i left, its a freakin wealth of knowledge!
1. Flywheel, distributor, radiator, cam (narrower lobes but still works), rocker cover.
2. If you are lucky, or can do the rebuild yourself.
3. All 1275 blocks are the same physical size, when we say `big block' we mean `big bore' ie not a 998/1098.
An S block has tappet side covers, all the other 1275s don't.
4. I've found it cheapest in the past to source 1275 bits separate rather than a complete motor. If you buy a runner be aware it may well need a rebuild to `run' properly so unless recent overhaul details are available don't pay heaps for it.
Sometimes you can pick up a seized non-runner 1275 that's been standing for years, cheap. A rebore, crank grind etc will sort it all out.
But yes, before that one was found, I was looking at nearly $1.5k for a new EN40B or around the $500-$750 for a .020"/.020" second handy...