34 replies to this topic

[jackmason]

Not to long ago i managed to get my hands on a 1300 Metro engine.

I decided that the best option to go for was to strip and rebuild the engine just to make sure everthing is in good condition. Well...

Gearbox

First things first, i took the gearbox off and dissasembled the entire thing.


After inspecting everygear carefully to check for chips, worn mesh gears and breaks in the hardening i realised there all pretty good. Apart from 2ND gear, that takes quite a beating so ive had to Buy a new one.

Also the cage in the main bearing had cracked so got a new one of them.

thats the gearbox sorted, just needs puting back together.





Engine


I started to take the pistons off the crank only to find that the shell bearings had worn out. And pretty bad.




After taking the crank out i came to the conclusion that it needed a re-grind. I thought "fair enough, i will have a look at minisport.com see how much it is"

There pretty reasonable with prices

I started inspecting the pistons to find that there pretty worn so new pistons were on the cards.

This list of bits was getting longer.

Then, after looking at the head, with abit more detail i realised that i need new cam bearings.

Bugger!!

So i basically came to the concusion that this was the best thing to do (see below)

-Crank re-grind (with shells to match)
-Crank balance (while they got it)
-Cam bearings (Supply and fit)
-New pistons
-Block re-bore
-Full engine balance

Came to approx £450

Gave minisport a call, told them everything and he said the best option to go for would be the Half engine kit (see below)

1275cc Cylinder Block
Carefully selected and high pressure chemically cleaned. Overbored & cross-hatch honed to 1400cc. Overbored and cross hatched honed to 73.5mm (1380cc). Refaced. New cam bearings, core plugs and oil gallery plugs fitted. Painted & inspected.

1275cc Crankshaft
Carefully selected, crack tested and high pressure chemically cleaned. Reground and journals polished according to application. Dynamically balanced.

Shell Bearings
Top quality Glacier shell bearings and thrust washers.

1275cc Con-Rods
Carefully matched set. Fully reconditioned and crack tested with new big end nuts and bolts where applicable. Sizes and alignment checked. Individually balanced.

Pistons
Top quality AE pistons. Individually balanced and fitted to con-rods. 1400cc use Powermax 73.5 mm pistons.

SOOOO thats what ive done.

Once its all done the spec will be-

-1380 cc engine
-Fully balanced
-Powermax 73.5mm pistons
-Electronic Ignition
-Kent 276 cam (new followers and double valve springs)
-1:5:1 Roller rockers
-LCB manifold
-Metro inlet manifold
-Hiff 44 Carb
-Lightened Duplex timing gear
-Facet electronic fuel pump

Does anyone have a rough idea how much power i might be putting out?

I will post more pictures and info on my progress.

[mini_mad69]

Sounds like a good build mate, similar spec to my 1380 build.


-1380 cc engine
-Fully balanced
-Powermax 73.5mm pistons
-Electronic Ignition
-Kent 286 cam
-1:5:1 Roller rockers
-LCB manifold
-Alloy minisport inlet manifold
-Hiff 44 Carb
-Duplex timing gear
-Facet electronic fuel pump

From my spec, with a decent head ive been told i may be pushing 95-100 horsepower.
I hope it works out for you and doesn't seeze like mine did.
Ill be watching this one.

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

probs gonna got this route myself although ive been contemplating just redoin the bores and new pistons and just make sure everything perfect when i rebuild it

[Guess-Works.com]

my finger in the air would be 80's... quite a lot depends on the head which is being attached...

[jackmason]

Sounds like a good build mate, similar spec to my 1380 build.


-1380 cc engine
-Fully balanced
-Powermax 73.5mm pistons
-Electronic Ignition
-Kent 286 cam
-1:5:1 Roller rockers
-LCB manifold
-Alloy minisport inlet manifold
-Hiff 44 Carb
-Duplex timing gear
-Facet electronic fuel pump

From my spec, with a decent head ive been told i may be pushing 95-100 horsepower.
I hope it works out for you and doesn't seeze like mine did.
Ill be watching this one.

Thats basically excatally the same, haha.

I was thinking of leaving the cyclinder head standard for now, because ive splashed out quite abit of money getting my car all done. Plus the uprated brakes. Might get some larger inlets sorted eventually but thats something i can do at a later date.

I could always do abit of porting and polishing myself, hmm...

Noticed you got the minisport inlet manifold, ive got that on my 998cc and its pretty good. only just got around to connecting the water hoses to it, haha.

The only reason ive gone for the metro one is because it gives more torque once tuned.

you can pick them up on ebay quite cheap, there ugly buggers but do the job.

[jackmason]

probs gonna got this route myself although ive been contemplating just redoin the bores and new pistons and just make sure everything perfect when i rebuild it

That was my plan, but i figured that while i was getting the bores sorted, i might as well get them to over bore it.

Its much cheaper to get the Half engine kit, because i looked into it and the powermax pistons are about £80 each im sure of it.

The half engine kit is £470 approx, and its a pretty good engine, plus you get a choice of colours for the block, yellow, blue, red or green (shown)

Keep an eye on this topic, once its all done im gonna get it tuned, so will post a pic of the power graph.

[miRon]

dont go to mini sport
simple

[jackmason]

my finger in the air would be 80's... quite a lot depends on the head which is being attached...

I was thinking between 70-80's but im gonna use a standard head but might do abit of port and polishing myself.

[jackmason]

dont go to mini sport
simple

Why not?

[miRon]

dont go to mini sport
simple

Why not?

do a search,
bad rep.

[jackmason]

dont go to mini sport
simple

Why not?

do a search,
bad rep.

Well ive bought plenty of stuff from them and there pretty good, Asked them for advise on a few things before i bought them and there really helpful.

So personally ive had no problems with them, so im gonna keep using them.

Oh and i did send you a text about getting my crank back which u promised you would "Only be using temporarily" I know you said it needed a grind, so why havent i got it back yet?

[miRon]

dont go to mini sport
simple

Why not?

do a search,
bad rep.

Well ive bought plenty of stuff from them and there pretty good, Asked them for advise on a few things before i bought them and there really helpful.

So personally ive had no problems with them, so im gonna keep using them.

Oh and i did send you a text about getting my crank back which u promised you would "Only be using temporarily" I know you said it needed a grind, so why havent i got it back yet?

good,
did you get my text telling you to come and get it?
i didnt use it because its only good for scrap,the tail is broken

[jackmason]

dont go to mini sport
simple

Why not?

do a search,
bad rep.

Well ive bought plenty of stuff from them and there pretty good, Asked them for advise on a few things before i bought them and there really helpful.

So personally ive had no problems with them, so im gonna keep using them.

Oh and i did send you a text about getting my crank back which u promised you would "Only be using temporarily" I know you said it needed a grind, so why havent i got it back yet?

good,
did you get my text telling you to come and get it?
i didnt use it because its only good for scrap,the tail is broken

Nope, otherwise i would have replied.

I'll pick it up some time.

just dont throw it, i still want it.

[miRon]

ok well its been sat outside for ages so il sweep it up for you lol.

[jackmason]

Update


Today i got a phone call from minisport telling me that the half engine kit, along with all my other stuff is ready for dispatch and should be with me tuesday or wednesday.


YES!!!!


Sooo Now, i need to get everything ready so i can get it done as soon as possible.

I want to get it all fitted, set up and run-in for the london to brighton in may.

Ive gotta get my subframe out of my other car
Package my engine for collection
Re-grind my valves and fit double valve springs

Ive started to clean the head, and im gonna get the red paint off.



Ive been cleaning up some other bits so that its all ready to fit.


I stripped and rebuilt my carb.



And Cleaned and polished my fuel pump and distributor.