Yeah thats after the gearbox is off tho!

I have stripped my gearboxes down, and am creating on good one from two. Gearboxes once you know how(the hard part) Seem very easy. If you need a hand fitting a centre oil pickup mick i can come and give you a hand. I had a thought that you could take the side plate on the gearbox off and peer in there to see if it had one but remembered that you won't see anything but gears and various components. Once it is all apart there's plenty of room to see.
I would suggest pulling it down anyway mick, it'l cost you a gasket kit and a few hours in the shed, but at least you will know for sure and you can also inspect the engine properly before you get on a track and blow it up. Of course i won't mind if u do that at the next motorkhana, i will beat you then! In my Bog Stock 998 pea shooter! Just remember you only beat me by 2 secs! Watch out im coming at ya!

Cheers

Aaron

I'll have to sign up again and have a run against you guy...
It does come down to diving

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

Gafmo, bring the alfa if the missus won't let you use morris!

Thanks for the offer Aaron, i'll have to see how much time i've got. The first job is to put the standard 998 peashooter into the green one. We'll bring that to the january khana so Jen can have a go, then i have to get the other engine in the red one before the supersprint series starts in March. We'll have a look in the bores with a tiny camera, and see what we can see if it looks ok i will probably try to make it last the year, but if there is no centre pickup, its coming apart anyway.

<edit> i also have to make up a pulsar dizzy conversion too seing as that motor doesn't have one at all

BTW my brother asked when can we do the 16mm movie?

michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Ill pull out the projector and see if it works still and get it set up so we can just pop it on and run it. I will let you know.

Cheers

Aaron

kev can my mate install a centre oil pickup and main bearing strap with only basic knowledge of a mini but very good knowledge of valiants? he's a fitter and turner so he's not stupid, he's good with his mechanics, but is it a speciailised set of jobs?

also inspecting the actual gearbox, making sure it still has teeth

Centre pickup is easy to fit, only problem like I said is the filter mesh on it can rub on reverse gear fork (remote boxes). This wears out the mesh, bits of broken gearbox can then get into the oil pump which will stuff it up big time.
Se also http://www.minimania.com/web/DisplayID/ ... ticleV.cfm

re the centre strap, you can buy one from MiniSpares which has the longer bolts, all you normally do is machine the cap flat then bolt it on.
Actually, to do it properly involves a little more thought than that. And if making one, on 998/1098 you can't make it too wide, or it will foul the thrust washer tabs.

Note that Cooper S cap is stronger and doesn't need a strap. It's doubtful whether the others do either, unless it's a race motor, and I've seen lots built without a strap.

4 bolt caps are available for 1275s if you have enough $$$....

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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.

do u think mine will need a strap then?
its an A+ series 1275 from a mid to late 80's MG Metro. from what i have seen inside, it looks reasonably good. mind u i haven't taken the block off so i haven't seen the conditions of the pistons/crank/bearings/gearing etc. so i'll have to tell u once i pull it apart.

kev what are ur personal opinions on doing it at home. my mate (the fitter) will be doing most of it as he knows his engines much better than i do. should i do the stuff at home and save millions? or spend my millions on labour to get someone else to do it?


+ what about gearbox checking, what are the main things to check for? the main parts that have wear and tear.
sorry but i wanna start getting into this 1275 so i can drop it in me flippy.

Hmmm... I've just built an A+ 1293 for my wife's car, it has twin HS4s, Tighe 104 cam, rimflow valves, unleaded seats, big port head, yada yada yada...
No it doesn't have a centre strap. But the rpm limit on this one will be 7000 (it has 21251 pistons in it).
I think a strap is overkill for the street.
Even on the track, I've been told by a certain race engine builder that centre caps only break if you use the engine to slow down and pull a zillion revs on overrun.

Yes you can do it at home, after you surface grind the cap flat. PM me for more info if you are determined to do it.

re the gearbox, I would strip it all out.

Check the following:
Wear on selector forks or levers
Wear on synchros (should have .030"+ clearance between ring & gear dogs)
Wear on nose of mainshaft (thru hardening)
End float of idler gear, & primary gear
Mainshaft and 1st motion shaft bearings- wear, noise, damaged cages

Replace:
Layshaft & needle bearings, mainshaft nose needle bearing
Idler gear bearings
Diff pin- replace pin with a competition one, and spider gears if worn inside. Also change the thrust washers inside diff.

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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.

when u say use the engine to slow down.. i clutch in and ease it out and use 4th and 3rd to slow down. i dont use it like no brakes and all gearbox, its more 90% brakes and 10% gb

but do i need one if im going to supercharge it? or is that not required?

how many green ones will it take for all those parts u mentioned used to service the gb?

do u recommend balancing the crank etc? only for high revving?
what are the best things to do (most bang for ur buck) if i just want to rebuild and slightly work the engine and drop it in.

I don't think you need a centre strap. The world is not littered with busted 1275 caps, they are pretty robust.
I broke 1 centre cap (1098) in my life, only because a main bolt broke.
I suppose if you're supercharging it might be a good idea, but it's not essential.

To fix the gearbox, work on $500-700 for parts, to do it properly. If it needs it, replace it..

Balancing will make it smoother at high revs, that's all. For road cars I do it when I lighten a flywheel or backplate, preferably with the crank and harmonic balancer.
For a race motor I would always do it.
My other S motor is balanced, but the one in my car now is not. It's still smooth at 8000, but it doesn't go there often..

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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.