Finally pulled the engine out - only took all day- well not exactly -spent about 3 hours making a template then drilling the holes in the plate on the engine stand to mount it once out. (anyone want a template of the generator/oil filter hole position I can trace one for you)

Three interesting things I found out in the process - 1..I have a bottom engine steady so won't have to buy one and 2.. the whole reason to pull the motor was to get at the output drive shaft seals as oil was pouring out as fast as it was going in only I found once out there was a *#@_$&% bolt missing from the cover plate and it was coming out there
and 3.. the outlet on the waterpump is blocked solid with gunk.

Anyway now it's out I will give it a good look over and some mods if necessary. SO where do I start - Top, bottom or ends. What is the easiest and logical approach ( having said that I realise that those two statements are mutually exclusive when it comes to Minis )

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

lucky basterd, took me 2 weeks, start to finish,

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any parts for a 76 clubby pm me or ring 0405 329 326

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44717

Do up the head for a start - maybe convert to unleaded.

Check for sideways movement (wear) in the pistons. is there a ridge at the top of each cylinder??

Mate, I'm only a baby at this rebuild stuff, Doctor Mini and others here are much more knowledgable than me, but I think I can give you a pointer of where to start.

Hooroo

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Rod
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v607/Rodney/

Ditto for the above

Start with giving the engine a good good clean (with a karcher is easiesteven if you have to hire one) and then start with a strip down.

Remember, the more you strip it down the more its going to cost. How was it before you pulled the engine out ??? Blew smoke ??? etc.

Getting the head done is good advice, so is replacing all the rubber hoses.

Don't be tempted to throw in a set of rings and bearings without getting proper micrometer readings on the bores, pistons and crankshaft journals. Minis rarely wear the bores evenly , they are usually worned tapered and conical and a new set of rings is useless. They need a rebore and new pistons etc etc. It all adds up and suddenly you have a bill of $1500.

So if it was running okay and not using excessive oil or blowing smoke or rattling then just get the head done.

Your going to need some special tools to get the block off the gearbox (flywheel puller, some special sockets etc) as well so be prepared for that. -

She's a total unknown - never had it running. Bought it 6 months out of rego and was supposed to be running up till then. Told "new battery and tyres and no worries" - yah as if wiring was shot (frayed and corroded) brakes were shot so while in there I rebuilt the suspension all round new battery box and some other things. While putting a new harness in decided to repaint the engine bay from black back to original and pulled the new wire out again and that brings us up to date - so NO I don't know anything about it.

I have a Karcher but we are on no hose restrictions - will have to see if it will suck from a bucket

I've got most tools needed and am prepared to beg borrow or improvise those I don't have.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

A couple of litres of diesel and a few cheap brushes from Supercrap will do a similar job to teh karcher. Then you've got something to pour onto weeds in the yard after that's done

You brush it on, leave a while wipe off then rebrush the diesel on once or twice more. I like doing it this way, it does a pretty good job.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Thanks Mick- I was only looking at a jerry can of diesel the other day my son left behind and wondered "what the heck I am going to do with that?" (no one the the family has anything diesel anymore) Also found some cheap kitchen brushes I bought for parts cleaning as well - all very timely

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!