Best Answer Spider , 15 June 2019 - 08:39 PM
I will be taking the engine out tomorrow. I will probably put one of those adjustable Oil pressure relief valve caps in, that should fix it forever.
I don't regret getting the Grubscrews and if you take a little bit of care when putting them in, they are great!
You will not need to put new plugs in everytime you have to take it out. (For example this time :))
I will be posting pictures.
Can I suggest fitting a garden variety standard Oil Pressure Relief Valve. You really don't need to fiddle and adjust the Pressure, just set and more or less, forget. 50 - 65 PSI is plenty and that's what the standard valve will give you, right out of the box 
Like most things, with Oil Pressure, more is not better.
The Grubscrews are great I recon too, I always fit them on every build, however, as Rolf mentioned, there is one in particular that you need to be very careful with. This is the one just down from where the Oil Pressure Relief Valve is fitted, on the front of the Block. If this is fitted too deep (more than about 3/8" - 10 mm), then it blocks off the Vent for the back of the Relief Valve. When this happens, the Relief Valve won't open or won't open much and the Oil Pressure goes sky high. Usually a blown up Oil Filter is the result, if the Oil Pump Gasket doesn't blow out first. While this one does require particular attention, they all deed a high level of attention paid to them when tapping the block and fitting them. Lots can go wrong with them if done haphazardly.
Also, in your opening post (and the bit which I quoted ^) you made mention of an 'up-rated Oil Pump'. If it's not a Turbo Oil Pump, then can you shed some light on what this is?
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One Carb Or Two?
Posted 04 July 2019 - 12:13 PM
Use grease on the oil pump gasket only. Ensure the oil pump bolts are not too long. Strip the oil pump and fill it up with grease to assist with priming of the oil galleries. Do not do what you are suggesting re - removing the rockers etc that is a huge waste of time. Fill the oil filter with oil. Remove the spark plugs and operate the starter motor on and off until you get oil pressure.
And yes use the standard oil pressure relief valve and spring.
Speeding Along Now
Posted 04 July 2019 - 12:52 PM
I don't understand how the gasket (between the block and pump??) can cause such a catastrophic loss of OP?
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 04 July 2019 - 01:07 PM
I don't understand how the gasket (between the block and pump??) can cause such a catastrophic loss of OP?
me neither, unless the bolts came loose and there was a gap, sucking in air ?
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 04 July 2019 - 06:32 PM
I don't understand how the gasket (between the block and pump??) can cause such a catastrophic loss of OP?
me neither, unless the bolts came loose and there was a gap, sucking in air ?
Usually when they go, it's not just on the pressure side, but also in the suction side too. Then, they only draw air.
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 04 July 2019 - 06:40 PM
How do you install a Mini oil pump? the old one i put in with a bit of grease on the gasket, what would you recommend?
I am thinking about dissasembling the camshat drive and rockers so i can prime the engine oil circuit.
G Jan
As Rolf mentioned, Grease is OK, though I tend to use a very light smear of Gasket Goo. Only the thinnest smear.
As the others guys have mentioned, check the Bolts are not bottoming out in the threads. This is a common-ish issue.
I do disassemble the new pumps so I can clean them before fitting. I fit them up dry inside, but once fitted, I oil them at the time of build via the Banjo bolt hole on the front of the Block, that's the one that has the pipe that leads off to the Oil Filter.
Once the engine is installed in the car, and you are ready to get up Oil Pressure, remove the Banjo bolt and fill that hole in the block with oil, an Oil Can is handy here, then re-fit the Banjo Bolt and with the spark plugs out, wind over until you see Oil Pressure, though 99 times out of 100, you'll hear the engine suddenly slow on the starter motor when it comes up.
Learner Driver
Posted 12 July 2019 - 07:12 AM
Thanks for your help!
I got it all back together now and drove the first 100kms.
It ran like a charm, looking forward to IMM now!
Oil Pressure is now steady between 50 and 75 psi.
G Jan
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 12 July 2019 - 07:26 AM
Nice work and thanks for letting us know how you got on with it all.
Enjoy IMM mate
Crazy About Mini's
Posted 12 July 2019 - 09:43 AM
I also would stress you need to check the bolts - there are a few different lengths and it only takes them to be a fraction too long not to get the clamping pressure on the gasket.
Wind them in with no oil pump until they stop and measure the distance between the underside of the head and the gasket face. The check this against your pump.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 12 July 2019 - 11:31 AM
New pump I installed recently was slightly thinner than the old one so I had to put an additional washer on the bolts. Learnt this from this forum 
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