5 replies to this topic

[Waffs1984]

Hi guys!

Well i must admit it has been a while, what with no garage to work in the mini has sat covered up since September at my parents house over 200 miles away!

Anyway i have a spare 998 engine that i bought some time ago sat stripped down into bits in my flat, and i have finally got round to getting on with the re-build!

I'm keeping it as a 998cc and planning on making a mild fast road engine with a few uprated bits without going crazy and spending mega-bucks! Basically i want the experience of re-building an engine from the ground up.

My thoughts so far are this, and i have a few questions along the way that i would appreciate your opinions/advice about...

Block:

Chemical clean, new core plugs.
Maintain standard bore, deglaze
New main bearings
New camshaft bearings
New piston rings, standard size
New conrod & main bolts
New head studs & bolts etc.

Timing:
Lightened duplex timing chain set

Camshaft:
Swiftune SW5 kit (oil pump, springs and camshaft)

Head:
DIY "Stage 1" (Ref. Vizzard) with mild porting of inlet/exhaust
New valve springs
New valve guides

Added to this will be the standard HS4 card (possibly an HIF38 though) and a facet electronic fuel pump and of course a stage 1 kit.

My main questions as i get started are:

1. Will i need a crankshaft regrind, and thus oversize main bearings as a result?

2. Is it worth buying ARP bolts if i'm only looking at the spec above or will standard new bolts be sufficient?

3. Do i need to split the little end of the rod form the piston and replace anything there?

As per ususal guys many thanks for any help!

Cheers,

Matt.

[Jupitus]

Looks a fair plan

I don't think ARP bolts are necessary - in fact the existing ones should be ok IMO. Crank wil only need a regrind if it is in bad condition - check the journals very carefully for scoring and wear to decide. Little ends can stay as is, again providing no nastiness found during inspection

[CraigyBoy]

I would also have the gearbox looked at, possible rebuild with the existing parts if they're re-usable.

Definitely put a central oil pickup in.

A good book to read up for the a-series tuni is - How to power tune the BMC 1275 a series. Dont know if theres a 998 version, but a lot of things will be universal.


Make sure your given the correct piston rings, i was given 2 wrong sets due to the amount of changes BL made back in the day.

Is it an a or a+ block your using?

Dont think you'll need an electronic pump with your spec as the standard one will cope with your demands, maybe worth spending money elsewhere.


Craig

[liirge]

You might want to put new Oil Gallery Plugs in aswell, they can become gunged up

[Rick's Dad]

The answers to some of your questions very much depend on how many miles the engine has done.

[Waffs1984]

Cheers for the replies guys!

Now some answers to your queries:

The chap i bought it off said the car was reading 50-something thousand miles when he took the engine out, and looking at the general condition i'd say it was about right and have no reason to disbelieve him.

The elec fuel pump is mainly so i have something else to immobilise, plus its only £30 so it's not really a case of saving myself that.

It's an A+ block for those wondering.

As for the gearbox i will most likely buy a recon one from Minispares for about £350 and sell the old one? How good is a gearbox overhaul compared with a "new" one? (overhaul by the like of Guessworks probably if i decide to go this route )

As for oil galley plugs - are these something i can buy and replace myself?

First off the block will be going into an engine builders up the road for the chemical clean and new core plugs. Am i right in thinking that they will need to do my cam bearings aswell? Anything else i've missed that i can get them to do that i can't do myself?

Cheers,

Matt.