14 replies to this topic

[Flyby]

Have booked my car in for a rolling road set up at Southam Mini and Metro on Fri, it needs doing as I have changed to a Cone type air filter so will prob be running lean and it has been running a bit hot for a while. Im just a bit concerned as to how much of a thrashing the engine gets. It is the original 998 but with a stage 1 on an 88 plate and genarally seems to be a good strong engine but im worried as to whether it will hold out. Is there any need to worry at all or am I just being a wuss??!!

Cheers, Dan

[Cookie Monster]

There is always a risk involved but any well maintained engine should take it no probs.

How fast do you drive on the road, do you ever take it above 5k revs (80mph+)

It is actually quite awsome to be standing near your car when it is sceaming away as you never really hear it properly when driving.

[kingcreaky]

Flyby,
Dont want to worry you, but I did EXACTLY the same thing that your doing. About 3 months ago

I had a 998 mini engine that id fitted a stage 1 three branch manifold, stage 1 inlet, new carb needle and pan air filter. The Guys at southam are great lads, and im not by any means blaming them, but my head gasket blew on the rolling road!!! I was SOOO wounded. As I live about 40 miles away... It was probably my engine at fault. But at the end of the day there was NOTHING wrong with it until I took it there, they did thrape it a bit on the road, then all of a sudden Pop Pop, Bad News.

THey said if I left it there they would change the gasket, but its four hours labour. It took them about 1 week to to get round to doing it, and when they did I was told that one of my bores was warped, and that was why I was loosing compression / head gasket blew. They told me it needed a new engine and there wasnt any point in changing the head gasket.

So, because of lack of funds, I took it back home (all broken-did) and changed the head gasket myself. Put it all back together and it ran its run FINE since. I even did a compression test and the bore they told me that was at fault had the same compression as the rest. So not saying they were lying but I wander if it was just a miracle

I like the guys at southam, But to be completely honest I wouldnt rolling road any engine of mine ever again. I really regretted doing it afterwards.

[Guess-Works.com]

Rolling road tuning is the best way to tune an engine, and most tuners will not let a car on the rollers if there is any indication of imminent engine failure...

It's unfortunate when engine failure does occur, but in reality, rolling road tuning only simulates driving on the road...

There's no point tuning a car for something which you are not going to do..

[Flyby]

Thanks for that guys, will just ave to wait and see I suppose, they reckoned they could usually set them up within the hour so hopefully the old girl wont get thrashed too much! :'(

[Sprocket]

If it is an original or some what tyred head gasket and the coolant in the radiator is anything but clear or green, then IMHO the gasket is doomed. Though the guys were probibly looking for a reason why the gasket failed, but in the wrong place. it also depends on what gasket was used initialy as there are some realy turd gaskets out there.

If it blew on the rollers, it wasn't far off going anyway. Not the fault of the roller operator. Things happen.

[Clubby1275GT]

my car must have been on the rollers 4 times now in less than a year, like to keep it tuned up and running as best it can, makes it live longer, scares the hell out of me but great fun all the same, i love watching how they improve the power and torque band with a few little tweaks, its amazing!

[Jimmyarm]

Wish I hadn't read some of this now !

Still, looking forward to going up to Slark next week

[pikey7]

There is absolutely nothing to worry about! If the car is in that bad condition that it shouldn't be on a RR, then:
A. The RR operator won't let it go on! (afterall, a load of fluids all over his expensive machine does him no good either!)
B. It shouldn't be on the road in the first place
C. If it does blow on the RR, then it wouldn't have got you home anyhow!

Stop panicking! Ya big girls!

[Jimmyarm]

There is absolutely nothing to worry about! If the car is in that bad condition that it shouldn't be on a RR, then:
A. The RR operator won't let it go on! (afterall, a load of fluids all over his expensive machine does him no good either!)
B. It shouldn't be on the road in the first place
C. If it does blow on the RR, then it wouldn't have got you home anyhow!

Good points ! lol

[Flyby]

Well took my car in today and it survived!!

Needed new points and condensor, timing was out and just needed a general sort out. It managed 58bhp at the flywheel which looks pretty good when comparing to other rolling road tests in the magazines considering its only a 998 with stage1 and straight through exhaust


[attachment=17015:attachment][attachment=17017:attachment]


Also saw these beauties whilst we were there!





[attachment=17024:attachment]

[Pimp1]

A good afternoon at the rollers. Flyby should be pleased with that. Poor old girl, she had abit of a work out on those rollers. Top rolling!

[Sprocket]

Ha, popped your Rolling Road cherry and survived.

Pleased for you, I am.

[StaffordSi]

isn't 977 ARX the mini that Top Gear were meant to be restoring?

[Madmax]

977 ARX is one of the most famous mini's ever

Edited by Madmax, 17 June 2006 - 06:30 PM.