Hi guys.

I am re posting this from a different thread, hope that is OK?

After rebuilding my 1098 motor and gear box and with the advice garnered from the members of ausmini.com I was able to start my motor for the first time last week.
It started after a few cranks and twists of the dizzy. Had a tacho on the timing light, electric oil pressure gauge and electric water temp gauge rigged up. I ran it for 20 mins at 2000 rpm, no leaks, no problems apart from a float bowl needle fuel leak, (the only part I didn't replace with the carbie kit) a lesson learned there.
Motor got up to 110deg water temp (with straight water) and was up to 80 psi oil pressure at the end of 20 minutes (GW 20 -50 oil).
Do you think 110 deg for water temp and 80 psi at 2000 rpm for oil is Ok for the first start on a full rebuild, bearing in mind timing is not optimized and fueling could be way out?

Really unsure as to oil pressure being this high, shouldn't it get lower with temp and revs?

A mild motor spec but could have an effect on oil pressure and water temp?

1150cc
202 mild modded head, standard valves.
10:1
GR 266ss cam
1.5 su
standard oil pressure relief valve
new standard capacity radiator
82 deg thermostat
Minispares inlet
Maniflow freeflow
twin box rc 40
aldon yellow


Any advice most welcome.

Electric or mechanical gauges?
If electric are you using the 10 volt output from the regulator?

Yes 80 psi seems high.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Were you on the road driving it or running it up at 2000 revs when stationary?
If the latter, that is not what I believe should be done. Get it out on the road and run it through the rev range and get it pulling up a hill or two.

yeah ^^, never run a new motor without load, people say "run in the cam at 2000 rpm for 20 minutes", but not for a new motor, it glazes the bores and it'll never seal properly. Run in the cam on an old motor if you must... I never have

Oil pressure, 80 psi is fine, be happy with that. My motors usually idle at 65-70psi and go up to 80 ish off idle. As long as they're not pushing much further up than that under load & revs it's nothing to be concerned with

Water temperature, too hot, you probably have the ignition retarded

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Hi guys.

Yes, stationary, the engine is not in the car yet wanted to check for leaks before painting and install. Gauges are electric, both oil and water temp running straight from the battery 12 volts. Didn't see anything in the instructions about 10 volts supply but will look again tonight, would running them straight from the battery make gauges read high?
Checked pressure relief valve, last night looks OK, pulled it out with my little finger not sticking, standard length spring.
Hope I haven't glazed the bores, thought 2000 rpm x 20 minutes was best practice?

Nerve-wracking isn't it.

Thanks for your help.

If you have Smiths gauges they need to be used with the appropriate voltage regulator. If they are aftermarket ones they will normally use 12V.

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Speco brand timmy. Pretty sure they are 12 volts.

Plans for tonight;
Pull the water temp sender and check against a chefs thermometer.
Rig up an old mechanical oil pressure gauge, to double check.
Change to coolant from straight water.
Check distance from fan to radiator.

Hope this has an effect.

Hi all.

Well, stuffed my back and haven't been able to do much at all on the mini. Was able to find and install a spacer to move the fan closer to the radiator face, around half an inch closer. I'm thinking it will make a difference with the water temp. Also cut down a spare oil pressure spring and re fit it, only one coil. Need to find the fan shroud top bolts and rubber spacers, and refit, then coolant and give it another go.

If i can get down to 90 c water temp and 60 psi oil pressure I'll be happy to paint the engine and install.

Talking of engine paint, do you have any engine paint suggestions and sources for the MOWOG green? Do you need engine enamel or will colour matched enamel from Auto One / car shop be OK?

Also for a '64 850 do you paint everything green, engine, gearbox,clutch cover, rockercover , generator the lot? (Seen some varying paint jobs on the net).

As always, any advice, greatly appreciated.

Minikingdom have dark green engine paint.
https://minikingdomonline.com.au/produc ... 50-cooper/

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Hot running rebuilt engine ?, rings are just tight, it & will settle
down with gentle use , but don't glaze up the bores by
just idling it ,it will need to be driven . is thermostat ok ?

timmy201, I'll check it out tonight, thanks for that.

A-7 850, yep thermostat is new and seems to work ok, as in, the engine gets hot and the top hose stays cool then around 80 degs the top hose heats up along with the radiator as well.
I may have already glazed the bores, ran the motor for 20 minutes at 2000rpm
I'll see how it goes when in the car.

Thanks for the feedback.