133 replies to this topic

[Northernpower]

Yes the pictures work and nice to see your wife with a big smile.

[Junior Mini]

^{Yep I can see them too. Your missus looks very happy with her little treat}  

[Gillybobs]

A little more progress! Got the engine removed this at the weekend. Borrowed an engine crane off of my father in law which he used on his mini in the 70s. The engine looks very grubby and it looks as though all of the core plugs have rotted through. Going to get the engine to my fathers house where he is going help me strip and rebuild the engine. Also removed the heater from inside the mini to find the matrix is totally blocked. Think I'm going to replace the matrix with a new one.





Now the engine is out im also going to tidy the engine bay up and remove the front sub frame to paint and rebuild it.

I've also got sort this bracket out which has been snapped and welded back on.

I've also picked up a very good second hand wiring loom up so that will save me having to repair my old loom.

Hopefully another update soon.

Edited by Gillybobs, 28 February 2018 - 09:29 PM.

[Mini Basher]

Just read this from the start, really nice project and excellent work. It's going to be a real nice car when it's done, keep up the good work

[Junior Mini]

You need one of these:-

 

http://www.somerford...products_id=634

[Gillybobs]

You need one of these:-
 
http://www.somerford...products_id=634

And someone who can weld it in for me!

[Junior Mini]

That might help too

[hardtop]

 

You need one of these:-
 
http://www.somerford...products_id=634

And someone who can weld it in for me!

 

 

Since you have the engine out and the clutch and brake masters out, get a new bracket drill some holes and bolt in the new one ;)

[Gillybobs]

You need one of these:-
 http://www.somerford...products_id=634

And someone who can weld it in for me!
 
 
Since you have the engine out and the clutch and brake masters out, get a new bracket drill some holes and bolt in the new one ;)

I did wonder about bolting it in. I've ordered a new bracket so that's on its way . Think I'll get the old one off and take it from there.

[Gillybobs]

Got the engine moved up to my dad's house and he's made a start stripping the enigne. He's given the engine a good degrease and stripped the clutch and flywheel off of the engine. The clutch and flywheel look in remarkably good condition to say they've done 80 odd thousand miles.

[Gillybobs]

The engine had been separated from the gear box and stripped down. From the initial inspection it's looking in really good condition. Everything needs measuring properly but there seems to be very little wear in the engine. It's looking like the bores will need a hone as there is a very slight step at the top of the bores. The crank and main bearing appear to be measuring up perfectly. The cylinder head looks good but that has been taken down to my local engine sevice shop to have the valve seat very lightly cut and the edges of the valves reground. Hope some better pictures soon when we got through and inspect everything properly.

[Gillybobs]

The cylinder head is back looks good. The guys at the engine shop commented on what nice condition head it is. My Dads now took the engine block down for honing to remove the slight lip at the top of the bores. My Dads been busy cleaning and prepping all tinwear and breathers of the engine to be painted I'll get some photos when at his house next.
Before he retired he worked for Coldwell engineering in sheffield that restored pre war Rolls Royces. It's was based on the same premises as the Coldwell engineering that built the twin can mini in the 60s.
Anyway I found this promotional display card in loft of My Dads house from when he worked at Coldwell.


Also I've been doing a bit under the bonnet of the mini. Been rubbing it all down trying to remove the rust. I've also cut the broken engine steady bulkhead bracket off.
Simon who did most of the body work on the car is going pop round at some point and weld me the new bracket on . Just seen Smiffys but do a heavier gauge bracket and wondering weather to fit one of them instead of the heritage one.

Edited by Gillybobs, 17 April 2018 - 06:34 AM.

[Gillybobs]

Grabbed a couple of hours this evening and got the front sub frame removed .

Found a nice piece of wood in a skip at work and I thought it was perfect for supporting the car under the floor pans.


The engine block is back from being honed so my Dad will be starting to look at assembling it soon . I'll get some photos when I'm up the next.

[Gillybobs]

Well the engine is coming along slowly . The engine and head have been painted red. The valves and seats have been ground and lapped and head rebuilt. The crank has been measured and just requires new shells.





Interestingly the pistons are stamped with the number 21962 which denotes them as low compression pistons but they measure up as high compression pistons and use the the high compression type piston rings !



I did fancy trying to tune the engine slightly but I've decided to rebuild the engine to standard spec due the engine being in good condition and partly due to cost. I really just need a good reliable engine to get the car to some shows.

I'm also waiting for my mate to pop round and weld me the engine steady bracket on then I can get on and get the engine bay painted .

[Gillybobs]

A little more progress re ringed pistons fitted. Crank fitted with new shells and the cam timed up. The oil pump and water pump are now fitted but like a dope I forgot to get a bypass hose so that's stopping the head from being fitted! I