21 replies to this topic

[miboheth]

I bought a second-hand Unipart Gold-Seal-Engine for my Mini 25 a few years ago, because a valve on my original engine dropped into the cylinder while it was running.....

 

I have found several listings for engine numbers and their specifications including Unipart replacement engines, but the number on my engine is on no list.

After writing several E-Mails to Unipart (without response), I called them and was handed on to a very kind man, who used to refurbish engines personally. Unfortunately, he couldn't remember much about the numbers and told me, there were no documents on archive.

 

The engine number is: GSE1146E 141 919

 

I fitted a Lucas 45D4 distributor (41418) from another engine (timing set to "feel"), and with an HS4 carb from a third and it ran. It feels very powerful as well in comparism to the standard 40HP 1.000ccm engines.

 

The trouble is, I don't know whether it has a lead-free head, the correct ignition timing etc. 

For example my Autodata Repair Manual (printed in 1983) states that a 45D4 distributer is for 1000cc engines from1974-78 (stroboscopic 7/1000) and 1100cc engines from 1976-78 (12/1000). If I set it to 7 degrees before TDC at 1000rpm, the engine backfires through the carburettor and exhaust and won't rev up.....

 

I'm quite certain that the distributor is wrong and that the engine is newer than my car (and my manual). Can anybody help me?  DSC_61091.JPG   37.97K   14 downloads  DSC_59461.JPG   41.99K   6 downloads

[nicklouse]

More pictures?

Head showing the thermostat housing.

Does it have tapet chests on the back of the block?

How is the dizy clamped.

I would hazard a guess at a 1275 cc engine.

[Spider]

I don't have a listing (at least to hand) with that particular number, but it appears to be an 1100 Engine, but well before the Unleaded Sets were fitted.

 

<Edit: I'm thinking that it was for an ADO16 - the 1100 series of cars. Basically the same as a Mini Engine, except for the Engine Plate, but that's pretty straight forward to swap. >

Edited by Moke Spider, 13 January 2016 - 09:25 AM.

[midridge2]

http://members.home....ni/goldseal.htm       this might help.

[miboheth]

Thank you very much for your answers so far, I'll take some more pictures as soon as can go to my barn again (not before next Tuesday).

 

nicklouse, I do remember that I had to change the thermostat housing to fit it to my water cooler....I'll post pictures as soon as I have them, don't know about the chests, and what's a dizy?

 

Moke Spider, the ADO16 series... are those the BMC 1100 and 1300s? Like the red one Basil Fawlty has in "Fawlty Towers"? Perhaps I can google ADO engine listings?

 

midridge2, I found quite a few listungs containg GSE1101 / 2 / 3 and 9, also RKM 1150 / 52 and so on, but thanks anyway.

[nicklouse]

dizzy - distributor

[miboheth]

Hello, here are some more pictures....hope they help, according to the ignition timing seems to work best at about 12 degrees before TDC at 1000 revs dynamic testing, the engine backfires through the carburetor at 8 degrees....

 

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[nicklouse]

Block is A series. And it looks like a 1275 engine to me.

[carbon]

Pre-A+, going by angle of heater valve on cylinder head it may be a 1275?

 

If you're unsure about unleaded seats being fitted to head just run with Castrol Valvemaster for the time being.

 

With 12 degrees static advance just check that the total mechanical advance in the distributor is not giving much more than 20 degrees mech advance at the crank (ie 32 degrees total max) if you're running on 95 octane. The 41418 dizzy should be OK as has 22 deg max mech advance, but may not advance fast enough at lower rpm.

[nicklouse]

Have a look in the dizzy at the weights. Easier if you undo the two screws and lift the plate out, there should be a number stamped on it that is the dizzy advance. The vacuum chamber should also state the advance it gives.

Sorry can't remember much more but others should be along to give more info.

[Cooperman]

The first thing to do is to determine which engine it is.

Now look at the back of the engine. If it has two cam chest covers, each about 7" long and 3.5" high fitted in-line across the engine just below the base of the head, then it is a 998 or 1098. It could be an early Cooper 'S' engine with those cam covers, but that is unlikely. But we will come to that.

If it has no cam chest covers it is a 1275 non-Cooper 'S' engine.

If it has cam chest covers it is necessary to measure the stroke. Using a vernier depth gauge measure the stroke from \TDC to BDC on one of the cylinders.

A 998 will be 76.2 mm, a 1098 will be 83.7 mm and that difference is easy to measure. In fact you can do it with a piece of straight stiff wire (a straight piece of a wire coat hanger maybe).

A genuine Cooper 'S' engine will have 11 cylinder head studs - well, actually 10 studs and one bolt adjacent to the thermostat housing. However, it is possible to fit a 9-hole head onto an 11-stud block with no problems. But to confirm whether it is a Cooper 'S' accurately measure the stroke. A 1275 'S' has a stroke of 81.3 mm, a 1071 'S' has 68.26 mm and the very rare 970 'S' has 61.9 mm. I give this really just for information as it is extremely doubtful that you have a Cooper 'S' engine.

It sounds like you could be lucky and have a 1275 engine, but then the carburation and inlet/exhaust systems may be unable to allow the engine to give the best performance. Let's consider this when you confirm the engine you have.

[Ethel]

My guess, if it's a 1275 A Series is that it's intended for an Allegro. If that  thermostat sandwich adapter came off it, I don't think there are any other options for a transverse A (not A+).

[Spider]

If it's back-firing at 8 degrees, then I'd say you have your HT Leads in the wrong order.

[Munstermini]

I also have an engine with a GSE 1146E code. I bought it as a 1275 but never saw what it came out of.
I'll try to post pics if I can.

[MrBounce]

My guess, if it's a 1275 A Series is that it's intended for an Allegro. If that  thermostat sandwich adapter came off it, I don't think there are any other options for a transverse A (not A+).

I reckon that it's from an Allegro as well. I half inched the same sandwich plate from one my wife's brother was scrapping.