34 replies to this topic

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

nice work im toying with eletronic fuel pump but the extra cost not sure what extra power id see over mechanic pump

[jackmason]

***UPDATE***


Minisport delievered my stuff thursday.

Was opening and looking at it all, i was like a kid at xmas.





Today i started doing some of the work


I Fitted all the valve springs and valves




Started to build my engine up.



Rebuilt the gearbox




More updates soon

Edited by jackmason, 18 April 2009 - 06:41 PM.

[miRon]

update??

[998 Cooper]

How did you get on with ur 1380 rebuild...

[davethemini1293]

i am thinking about getting a mini sport 1380
how does it run??

what hp did it make???

[jaydee]

[Paul Wiginton]

I dont like the look of the burrs on that crank, I bet it hasnt been cleaned thoroughly if theyre still hanging on.

Paul

[jackmason]

Hi All,

I totally forgot about this topic i started.

Ive had nothing but problems with this 1380 engine from the moment i completed it.

The first time i started it, it was making a terrible tapping noise which i narrowed down to the rockers so i installed standard ones.

It was smoking when built which i thought would stop after afew hundred miles but it didnt. After about 4000 miles it still smoked and burnt oil like hell.

I blew a headgasket at one point and while the head was off i noticed a nice clean patch on the top of one piston so i assumed that a piston ring had broken or wasnt sealing properly.
Took the engine out and stripped it but the rings were fine. What i did notice is that my new camshaft and followers were seriously worn to the point they needed replacing, now it could have been a dodgy batch of followers but i think it was down to the Roller rockers. (I did check that the valve springs were not coil bound when fully pressed)
About 4 months down the line, when looking at the rockers again i noticed that the rockers had some dents in the alloy around where the pivot goes through. The push rods had been hitting the rocker arm when it was pushing the valve down.

Anyway... (I will brake my paragraphs up now)

Ordered some Deves rings from the states hoping to solve the oil burning situation but even with the correct gapping in the rings it still didnt help.

To Cut a long enough story short, ive had the engine apart on two occasions since the first build, replaced the rings 2 times and even tried temporarily blocking the oil feed to the rockers to see which end the oils getting in but still it burns oil and smokes.

The only conclusion ive come up with is that the piston to bore clearance (Which was more than we would have liked) is the cause of the problem and that the Block hasnt been bored to match the pistons.

Ive decided to move onto a 1301 engine recentally as the 1380 had to come out anyway due to a collapsed first motion shaft bearing.

[miniman92]

Did you not check the piston ring end gaps and the piston to bore clearence before building it? Are you sure it's not worn cylinder head guides or/and valve stem oil seals? I've got a minisport half engine kit on order (1310cc) and after hearing this I'll be sure to check these, if it's not right it's all going back!! They don't normally do 1310cc kits but they were out of 1293 high comp pistons...... at least this way they will have to set the machine up before boring the block. Ash

Edited by miniman92, 19 January 2012 - 01:23 PM.

[jackmason]

Yeh i checked the ring gaps everytime i installed new rings, even on the ones it came with. The piston to bore clearance was checked also but was slightly larger than we would have liked but being new to 1380 thought that it must be ok. Had brand new stem seals on all valve guide and the guides wernt excessivly worn, but i blocked the oil feed to the rockers and went for a drive and within 5miles had oiled up the plugs causing problems. Deffo check them as soon as you get it. I dont know of anyone else who had so many problems with there 1380's.

[giacomo]

such a shame about the engine mate :/ keep us updated with the new engine build :)
just noticed your only round the corner from me to, i'm only in westcliff !

[PhilipGCaldwell]

the engine problem certainly is a curious one. If the stem seals, valve guides and piston rings are good, what else could it be causing the burning oil problem?

[jackmason]

such a shame about the engine mate :/ keep us updated with the new engine build :)
just noticed your only round the corner from me to, i'm only in westcliff !

Well i was going to start another topic with the new engine build but to be honest when im out in the garage working on the engine and building it up i kinda just get stuck in and with greasy oily hands wont really end up taking photos but i will be putting the occasional image of the engine build on my facebook which you can see HERE. Excellent well you may see me around once its all back up and running. You part of any mini club?

the engine problem certainly is a curious one. If the stem seals, valve guides and piston rings are good, what else could it be causing the burning oil problem?

I know, i got so frustrated with it all which is why ive decided to downsize to 1301 (Odd size i know) The only conclusion i could come up with was that the piston to bore clearance is to large. Its a major headache trying to think of all possible reasons and finding the cause which is why ive given up on the 1380. Gonna build it back up as either a backup engine or to sell.

[PhilipGCaldwell]

1301, haha, I thought you had done a typo of 1310

would a leakdown test or compression test shown up anything regards to the piston to bore clearance? Getting too much blow by?

[jackmason]

Just noticed i forgot to include a link to my facebook album HERE

haha, when i brought the engine block and pistons i was told there 1310cc but then after seeing the Tech article on TMF main site about engines size and realising that the pistons are Marked 0.030 i realised there actually 1301cc. Actually.... why am i being so specific? haha its a 1300.

would a leakdown test or compression test shown up anything regards to the piston to bore clearance? Getting too much blow by?

I had already tried a compression test and as far as i can remember everything seemed equal across all cylinders.