19 replies to this topic

[DeadSquare]

Hello fellow Mini people!

 

So over the next year, I am on a mission to rebuild the engine of my 1990 Mini Mayfair as part of an Extended Project Qualification alongside my A-level courses. By rebuild I mean take out, strip down, and put back together by replacing bits that need it (and the occasional upgrade) and then get the car working again. You may think I could do a lot more in a year, which may happen, however I not only have to do it, but document my work, research and learning of all sorts of skills along the way as right now I have very little knowledge of what it takes, or even how to do it.

 

EDIT NO PLATE.jpg

 

As a collective forum of Mini experts and enthusiasts, there wouldn't really be a better place to start than to find out from everyone here the things I need to know to get me going and of course the importance of the Mini. So this is my conversation with The Mini Forum, which will make up a portion of my initial research and learning from people.

Quick disclaimer: everything you write in reply may be used as part of my personal project research and goes as far as the exam board; it won't ever be made public and full credit will be given to each individual person and their contribution.

 

So essentially I'd like to get some Mini chat on the go; feel free to add all sorts of input, answer all the questions or just a few...

 

1. What is it about Minis that make them special to you?
2. How and why did you learn the ways of the A-series engine?
3. If you, or an experienced mechanic were to rebuild a Mini engine, how long would you expect it to take?
4. How long do you think it would take me, a student, learning my way as I go and with little immediate resources to rebuild it?
5. What are the most vital things I'd need to learn about or consider before taking it on?
6. Any words of wisdom, or caution, that you'd like me to remember during this project?
7. What could possibly go wrong?
8. What tools or resources can I not be without?
9. What are the rewards from such a project?

 

Thanks in advance, hopefully I can get a couple replies. I'll be back around here many a time to update and ask for advice throughout the project. (I also appreciate the formality of the post, that's just how its assessed)

 

 

I have an engine and gearbox that you can borrow for 12 months.

Edited by DeadSquare, 21 October 2019 - 04:50 PM.

[Arwel1986]

1) I’ve always just loved the little things. Can’t put my finger on anything in particular, they are just so much fun.

2) I’m in the same boat as you. Not touched an A series properly before. Messed around with 8v 205gti engine and an MI16 engine mainly so the A series is new to me too.

3) Hard to tell until you know what needs replacing or reboring.

4) Another tough one... evenings and weekends only.. 4-6 weeks depending on how much time you dedicate to it.

5) What goes where.. take plenty of photos before you take it apart and out of the car. I’ve got the fun of dealing with a semi stripped engine, so once it’s rebuilt it’ll be like a jigsaw working it all out.

6) Take your time, read up about what you want to do, Haynes manual etc.. research on here and you tube tutorial since everything is on there these days.

7) Everything

8) Haynes manual, a good tool set, Torque wrench, big hammer and plenty of swear words... oh and cups of tea.

9) Nothing beats the satisfaction you get knowing you did it yourself

[timmy850]

1. The car has been in my family for more than 30 years and has been handed through the generations. It's also reasonably simple to work on yourself and the driving experience is a lot of fun

2. I had rebuilt an engine for my old Mazda and I wanted to do the same for the mini. My mini came with a worn out 998 engine and the 3 synchro gearbox was crunching into 2nd gear. I was originally going to do a standard rebuild, but ended up adding a cam, modified head etc.

3. All up it took me a couple of years, but some of that was waiting on parts, some was waiting for the machine shop and some was saving up money or researching. Sometimes you will measure something (e.g. crank end float) and it will be out of spec. Now you need to order an oversize bearing, so you have to stop and wait until the new one turns up. When I got to the assembly stage I was willing to get a shop to assemble it, but all the shops near me had a 6 month waiting list before they'd even start..

4. If you had all the parts machined and ready to go you'd need a couple of days to check all the measurements and slowly take your time to assemble. You can easily pull one all apart in a day, and another day to check through everything and see what needs to be done

5. There are a couple of good video series to watch on youtube - "classic mini DIY", guessworksgearboxes and minimania all have videos that are well worth watching and show the order that things are assembled in. Don't forget the gearbox normally needs a rebuilding at the same time (at least stripping, cleaning and replacing some bearings) when doing the engine

6. Take your time and ask plenty of questions

7. There are lots of things to go wrong. Poor quality products, poor machining, assembling things in the wrong order or backwards

8. Torque wrench, feeler gauges

9. That feeling when you start up the engine and drive a rebuilt engine you assembled yourself!

[Cooper Mac]

2) I’m in the same boat as you. Not touched an A series properly before. Messed around with 8v 205gti engine and an MI16 engine mainly so the A series is new to me too.

 

Why is it that Classic Mini's and 205 GTis seem to go together?

[Arwel1986]

2) I’m in the same boat as you. Not touched an A series properly before. Messed around with 8v 205gti engine and an MI16 engine mainly so the A series is new to me too.

Why is it that Classic Mini's and 205 GTis seem to go together?

Hahaha, no idea.. but there is no way I would have both of them at the same time. Way too much trouble. I did love my 205 though and I’m sure the mini will be as much fun on the stages once it’s finished.