116 replies to this topic

[AndyMiniMad.]

Fantastic thread Andy! really well put together.

When you say set the DTI with a little preload i assume this means a small amount of pressure on the pin of the DTI thats touching piston/pushrod?

Keep up the good work!

Yes thats exactly right...sorry I maybe should hsve explained it better...

And a big thanks for all the nice comments, I feel all warm and glowy now...

[grahama]

Hi,

have been following this thread closely, fantastic source of info. It's my Winter job !! I have seen the cam timing on utube also on a mini mania vid, exactly the same. I have a standars cam from a 998, how do I know what the timing should be for that, ie you talk about yours being 109 deg timed ???

Also what do do with the 109 deg figure, do you have to move the crank around to 109 deg, not quite getting this bit,

Graham

Edited by grahama, 17 December 2011 - 10:40 AM.

[AndyMiniMad.]

A standard 998 cam will be fine dot to dot...no reason to do cam timing on a non performance cam..but if you want to, then the timing for yours should be 106deg ATDC...referenced from Mr D Vizard..

Edited by AndyMiniMad., 17 December 2011 - 10:53 AM.

[AndyMiniMad.]

Right so iv got to the point where I need to shim the idler gear...Now some of you will say..But you should have done that when you had the block and gearbox apart...And you would be correct...However I thought I would show you how its done when your not splitting the engine and box as some people may need to do this without taking the engine completely apart..for example when fitting straight cut drops.

So I started by cleaning all the surfaces, accurate readings are critical! Then I used my depth guage to measure the gap in the transfer housing. I used a steel rule across the housing as a platform.



The depth turns out to be 1.008"



Next I measured the thickness of the gasket..



Its 0.032" which when fitted will sqwoosh down to 0.03"

The thickness of the steel rule is 0.08"



And the idler gear itself is 0.686"



So now we can calculate the shim thickness required by adding the depth of the housing to the thickness of the gasket

1.008 + 0.030 = 1.038"

Next we subtract the thicknes of the idler gear 0.686" and the thickness of the steel rule 0.08" from 1.038"

1.038" - 0.686" - 0.08" = 0.272"

So this is the thickness of the shims required to fill the rest of the gap..But we need and end float of 0.004" so Im looking for a couple of shims at 0.268"



Found a couple that are perfect...it doesnt matter if one is slightly thicker than the other so long as the total thickness adds up to whats required..

So thats me ready to put it all together..

[AndyMiniMad.]

Once I had fitted the idler gear I cleaned out the transfer housing and the gasket surfaces.



Then a bit of masking tape over the primary drive splines.



Im sure you lot know that this is to stop the splines damaging the oil seal as you fit the transfer case..I pressed in a new seal and placed the gasket on the case..



And then pushed the whole thing onto the engine...It should just slide on nice and smoothly, if it wont go on the last wee bit then dont be tempted to bash it on. just pull it off and try again. Its probobly the nose bearing not seating properly. Once its on I torqued the bolts up to 35nm.. Be carefull with the bolts as the ones that go into the block are a different thread than the ones that go into the gearbox...fine thread (block) course thread (gearbox).



The red plastic dust shield then slides over the primary drive and protects the oil seal..

Edited by AndyMiniMad., 19 December 2011 - 10:16 AM.

[AndyMiniMad.]

Ive cleaned up a flywheel, its a standard weight one, and fitted a new clutch plate.





I use an old Mains bearing to lock up the flywheel so I can tighten everyting up.



All fitted and the big nut torqued up to 203nm, (150lb).



I also got the cam nut torqued up to 90nm and bent the lock tab over..I cleaned up the wok and copper greased the plunger.

All together..Timing chain cover will be next, once ive cleaned and modified it...

Edited by AndyMiniMad., 19 December 2011 - 05:11 PM.

[Artful Dodger]

coming together really nicely! il be using this as a guide to build my engine:) nice one andy!

[AndyMiniMad.]

A bit more progress... I have modified the breather on the timing chain cover and given it a good clean and a coat of paint..I cut the breather down its full length and removed all the gunk and gunge that was inside, then after a clean I welded a plate onto the front. I think it looks a bit better than bashing it flat with a hammer...but I suppose either way does the job!!
I also cleaned and refitted the water pump.



Then I refitted the oil presure relief valve..



Head studs refitted and a new BK 450 head gasket..



I carefully fitted the cylinder head and then the push rods.



Then on go the rockers, I made sure they seated onto the push rods properly and then fitted the locking plate before torquing the whole lot down...That plate is important as it holds the grub screw that secures the rocker shaft in place..



Its getting very close to going back into the car now.

[Mini 360]

Surprised you didn't paint the end of the block on the coreplug side where nothing connects to mate. Any reason as to why?

[AndyMiniMad.]

Good Point Andy....I was waiting till its in the car before painting it...For some reason I can never get an engine fitted without scratching that bit to death...

[AndyMiniMad.]

Right so this is the last job im going to do before fitting this engine in my red mini..

So I fitted the Harmonic damper..(fan belt pully), and because the engine was at TDC on number 1 bore the timing marks lined up spot on.



But just to be 100 per cent sure that number one is on the compression stroke I turned the engine through its cycle to see which valve opened first...Now as you all know the next valve to open after the compression stroke is of course the exhaust valve.Thats the one nearest the thermostat. So as I turned the engine over, sure enough the exhaust valve started to open. so I then wound the engine back to line up the timing marks. Both the valves on number one should be firmly shut.



Next was to fit the dizzy drive spindle. I use a long bolt to fit this..



It needs to go in so that the groove is at the twenty to two position but due to the gearing on the spindle and the cam you need to play around a bit to get it spot on. I try to start it off at ten to four and then it just slides into position.



So then with the dizzy fitted you should see the rotor arm is pointing to one o'clock, this is the position on the cap that corresponds to the lead going to number one spark plug.



If its pointing to to seven o'clock then you need to remove the spindle, turn it through 180 deg and refit..

So thats it done..A 1380 with a big valve ported head...All standard everywhere else..I think the power will be around 75 at the wheels..maybe a bit more..but nothing to wild..just a nice every day driver..

Im not going to bother showing the fitting of the starter motor and other bits..but will post up a picture of the engine fitted in the car. and possibly a wee vidio of the first start.

Thanks for all the nice coments people have made during this build and also for not filling it with Spam..

Cheers

Andy

Edited by AndyMiniMad., 31 December 2011 - 04:11 PM.

[grahama]

As I have said before, great thread, loads of info, could really be put to the top of the section as a guide. Even standard engines can be built using your thread.

Thanks a lot, as I have it all to do very soon !!!

Graham

[AndyMiniMad.]

As I have said before, great thread, loads of info, could really be put to the top of the section as a guide. Even standard engines can be built using your thread.

Thanks a lot, as I have it all to do very soon !!!

Graham

Thanks Grahama....I forgot to say in my earlier reply that the 109deg timing is the figure the cam is timed in at. it should only need adjusted if its more than a couple of degrees off the manufacturers figures. In my case they say 110deg is perfect so this is why dot to dot was fine as 1deg is nothing to worry about. If I wnted to make it perfect I would have either bought a 1deg offset woodruf key or adjustable timing gear..
I have another 1380 engine to build in a week or so and this one has a high spec cam and Duplex timing gear. I will add a bit to this thread to show how to adjust the vernier timing to get it bang on.

[jameslearwood]

wow that is a superb thread loving the piccies, laptop will be in the garage during rebuild

[Old Bob]

Beautifully done Andy. A wonderful confidence builder for anyone - like me - contemplating re-building a series A to bring a tired engine back to life. I recently posed a question about the cost of offset boreing out an early block. Can you give me any idea about what I should expect to pay please?

Kind regards,

Bob