16 replies to this topic

[JustSteve]

It is an mpi engine and this is the first time I have rebuilt an engine.

I know the basic mechanics of an engine, but I just want to be sure I know what i'm up to.

If anybody can give me a rough guide, and a few tips and poiters, I'd be very grateful.

Thank you, Steve

[Barman]

#1 Buy the Haynes Manual.

[yeti21586]

#2 read the haynes manual

[miniadventure]

#3 buy how to build a 1380 by bill solis

[Barman]

#4 Buy a set of Imperial spanners and sockets.

[feybrand]

get some sealable bags some labels a note pad and something to take pictures with
take a picture of everything you take of put things into labelled bags and make notes of how they went together etc and what order things where in e.g washers nuts bolts etc
take yore time
anything youre unsure of ask on here about no matter how stupid you might think it sounds
oh and dont try to force anything too much

[JustSteve]

ok, well i have the haynes manual, but it does not cover a complete rebuild. So basicly, is there a certain order i should be taking things apart?

[finch661]

you could buy the mini restoration manual by haynes. it has a break down of how to strip an engine (with pics), also the last few mini mags have had a step by step engine strip!

[pikey7]

wrong haynes manual You need the earlier light blue one... the later dark blue one tells you how to service and engine and that's about it. How useful...

[Barman]

wrong haynes manual You need the earlier light blue one... the later dark blue one tells you how to service and engine and that's about it. How useful...

Agreed... I have both - the resto manual is useless...

[JustSteve]

ahh yes i have the dark blue one. Well i'm seeing my dad this weekend so I'l see what he has, I know he had a few manuals and books. I'l also see what tools i can borrow from him.

[AzMaN]

definatly bag and take pictures, i took mine to bits the other month, all bolts went in the same box, cant for the life of me work out some of the bolts locations.

but bill solis ultimate mini dvd is very helpfull in the process.

[Carlos W]

Why are you stripping the engine?

What's wrong with it?

[Cooperman]

General strip-down sequence is as follows:

Remove engine/gerarbox from car.
Remove usual ancilliaries - generator, starter motor, manifolds, oil filter, water pump, etc.
Remove rocker shaft, push rods and cylinder head
Take off Clutch end cover (The 'Wok')
Lock flywheel with flywheel locking tool with pistons 1 & 4 at TDC
Remove clutch and flywheel assemblies (see haynes manual)
Remove transfer gear case (that's the big aluminium casting at the end of the engine into which the flywheel/clutch sits)
Take out the dip stick.
Undo all the small bolts around the edge wher4e the gearbox meets the block. Lift the block off of the gearbox.
Now strip the engine as follows:
Undo each big-end cap and push rods and pistons in turn through the top of the block. Re-fit the correct big-end cap to the correct big end and mark the rod number.
Remove the timing cover, the timing gears and chain and the cam retention plate. Remove the engine front plate.
Undo the main bearing caps and remove the crankshaft.
Pull the camshaft out from the front of the engine
Take out the cam followers.
Undo and remove the oil pump

You will now have a fully stripped engine and can come back on here for any re-build advice you may need. In fact, I have a 1997 MPI engine, completely stripped, on my workbence at the moment.

Good luck with the re-build.

[JustSteve]

Thank you cooperman