23 replies to this topic

[shnevpayne]

As you may have already seen or heard, or both, I have a newer Mini by the name of Jay Kay. This project will push my knowledge to the limits, and hopefully my experience in minis in general. I will be doing most (90-95%) of the work myself, with the other 5% being mates to help with the removal and replacement of engines!

Anyway, 2 key issues arose when I bought the car. The typical rust and not so typical rust, and the power from the engine, or lack of!

Summary of the car when he was bought.

998cc engine, 38000 miles genuine, full service history, all MOTs, Zeemax bodykit, hi-lo suspension, spax shocks, LCB to huge twin exhaust system, cooper sport interior, angeleye headlights, spoiler and zeemax bonnet, tinted windows, and 0-60, well, i didnt really get there very often.

Problems, rust, bad subframes, too low and non responsive shocks, Neon lights missing, 5 miles of extra wiring in the engine bay, 3 of the brakes working efficiently, 1 not doing a sausage!

Because of the lacking back pressure (and bodykit acting like a sail), I managed to clock at maximum speed to date 71mph. not bad for a 998, tho seeing as I had my mates going at 88mph on the motorway, it felt a lil pants!
Also the addition of difficult rust, the 4 pillar seam covers are fudged, very brown and bubbly! But because of the bodykit and spoiler are going to be an *big bottom* to replace.
However, we'll worry about that later. The main issue is subframes. The front which if given 6 months will no longer be there and the rear if jacked in the incorrect place will snap happily into 2!

THE PLAN!!

Replace the engine, subframes, tidy interior, and respray. Here we shall concentrate on the Engine!


To start with here are a few pictures!








After getting a lovely 1293cc spamspeed engine and subframe from MINTMINI (aka Dave) I am ready to rock and roll!

[george91]

Very nice exterior, its a shame the base of the car is in such a mess, it will be good to see it in as good condition mechanically and structurally as it is visually. Not so keen on the exhaust tips but the body kit is nice, what are you keeping and getting rid of?

[shnevpayne]

Very nice exterior, its a shame the base of the car is in such a mess, it will be good to see it in as good condition mechanically and structurally as it is visually. Not so keen on the exhaust tips but the body kit is nice, what are you keeping and getting rid of?

To go: Engine, rust, both subframes, the old calipers (on the new subframe) the un-necessary wiring, the fuel line that sits on the down pipe and much much more! Oh and 2 complete exhaust systems! I seem to collect them! and the 4 old pillars seam hings which well will faill off eventually!

To keep: One exhaust system depending on performance and noise, my 1293cc engine and all the trimmings, upgrading the sound system to my preferred media, and making sure the damn knucle joints dont pop out of the rear subframe again!

Anyway, To work!

Started by removing ancillaries!
from this:


to this


via this


After which it got cold so started work on the new subframe going from this


to this


And just to show heres my ever growing collection of exhausts!


Any votes on which system I should use for the 1293?
#1, 3-1 pipe for a maniflow side exit back box
#2 the original and noisier double side exit exhaust
#3 the twin centre exhaust

Edited by shnevpayne, 19 October 2009 - 10:16 AM.

[george91]

Use the lcb manifold and i like the twin dtm but if not then go for the side exit one.

[davethemini1293]

go for number 2 it looks good, nice and free flowing too....

[tangoedmini]

Use the maniflow manifold and the green maniflow back box with that link pipe youve got lent up against the wall! the other 2 are a waste of time, especially the DTM, i had one when i first got my mini and all they do is make a hell of a lot of noise! Ive now got a full maniflow system and its just so much better, im sure most others will agree!

[davethemini1293]

Use the maniflow manifold and the green maniflow back box with that link pipe youve got lent up against the wall! the other 2 are a waste of time, especially the DTM, i had one when i first got my mini and all they do is make a hell of a lot of noise! Ive now got a full maniflow system and its just so much better, im sure most others will agree!

the green maniflow IS more restrictive......

[tangoedmini]

Use the maniflow manifold and the green maniflow back box with that link pipe youve got lent up against the wall! the other 2 are a waste of time, especially the DTM, i had one when i first got my mini and all they do is make a hell of a lot of noise! Ive now got a full maniflow system and its just so much better, im sure most others will agree!

the green maniflow IS more restrictive......

Didnt say it wasnt mate! But its still a far better axhaust than the DTM, i gaurantee the maniflow or an rc40 would be recomended over a DTM any day of the week!

[davethemini1293]

Use the maniflow manifold and the green maniflow back box with that link pipe youve got lent up against the wall! the other 2 are a waste of time, especially the DTM, i had one when i first got my mini and all they do is make a hell of a lot of noise! Ive now got a full maniflow system and its just so much better, im sure most others will agree!

the green maniflow IS more restrictive......

Didnt say it wasnt mate! But its still a far better axhaust than the DTM, i gaurantee the maniflow or an rc40 would be recomended over a DTM any day of the week!

on what basis?

[tangoedmini]

[/quote]


on what basis?
[/quote]


I dont know...ask the people that recommend it!

[george91]

It depends what you want, for looks some might prefer the dtm exhaust, but if you just want a functional normal looking performance exhaust then the side exit maniflow will be fine. Also don't forget the back box really doesn't do a great deal perforance wise all it can do is change the back pressure and sound to some extent, its when its combined with the rest of the exhaust that makes the difference, thats why i said the dtm because i thought it would go well with the body kit.

[tangoedmini]

Yer i see where your coming from, personally i dont like the DTM, like i said i had one on mine before.

vizards bible says, engines with 70-110bhp, which the 1293 should be some where in there,
primary end cylinder pipes 1 1/4 in
secondary end cylinder pipes 1 3/4 in
centre pipe 1 3/8 in
tail pipe 1 7/8 in

But like you say depends what he's goin for, looks or perfromance!

[shnevpayne]

Yer i see where your coming from, personally i dont like the DTM, like i said i had one on mine before.

vizards bible says, engines with 70-110bhp, which the 1293 should be some where in there,
primary end cylinder pipes 1 1/4 in
secondary end cylinder pipes 1 3/4 in
centre pipe 1 3/8 in
tail pipe 1 7/8 in

But like you say depends what he's goin for, looks or perfromance!

I'm hoping for a bit of both, but ofcourse having time on my hands ill check all of them to see what goes best!
According to the laws that be, or the previous owner of the engine, it kicked out 81bhp with the centre twin dtm system, and seeing as my 998 would have been doing about 3 maybe 4 bhp, i think ill live with that!

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, dads just had major surgery so have been more worried about him than anything, tho have done a fair bit, got everything ready for the lift, but upon the recomendation of many folk Im removing engine first, subby after, mainly so i can get to the old subframe bolts a bit easier!! and I'll be able to move the car once the engine is out!

Anywhos, if I don't have a drift to hand to punch out the pin in the gear linkage, what would be a suitable alternative, or would it be best to get a drift anyway??! once thats out the engine will be out! the subframe-engine bolts are off, the drive shafts are off, the pulley is in position, just gotta get the blooming pin out!

Cheers!

Edited by shnevpayne, 23 October 2009 - 11:48 PM.

[Teapot]

All the best to your dad from tmf.
See you up in Minehead sometime maybe? Our club does a run there occasionally. Full English at 3pm on the seafront. Yum.

[shnevpayne]

Now as I don't own a crane for removing an engine, I had to build a stand, yes build, to hold a pulley system on which my local garage supplied, I say garage and local as he's the only one within 5 miles and he lets me borrow stuff which he doesnt use as he's getting on a bit! Using very precise measurements, (or ones I did in about a minute) I came up with this!



at this point however I still hadnt removed the pin, and was a lil .,."£!?$>?£"!>%?"£$?£">$?"£ ... etc etc.

And so after 3 full days of tap tap tap thwhack! The pin finally circumed to its fait of being removed! I've never known a pin quite as stubborn! Anyway with the pin finally out, the engine then proceeded to come out.

Now I know its a home built job, but it worked!


Classic!

And so now to the big clean and paint!

Edited by shnevpayne, 27 October 2009 - 04:38 PM.