Hello fellow Mini people!
So over the next year, I am on a mission to rebuild the engine of my 1990 Mini Mayfair as part of an Extended Project Qualification alongside my A-level courses. By rebuild I mean take out, strip down, and put back together by replacing bits that need it (and the occasional upgrade) and then get the car working again. You may think I could do a lot more in a year, which may happen, however I not only have to do it, but document my work, research and learning of all sorts of skills along the way as right now I have very little knowledge of what it takes, or even how to do it.
As a collective forum of Mini experts and enthusiasts, there wouldn't really be a better place to start than to find out from everyone here the things I need to know to get me going and of course the importance of the Mini. So this is my conversation with The Mini Forum, which will make up a portion of my initial research and learning from people.
Quick disclaimer: everything you write in reply may be used as part of my personal project research and goes as far as the exam board; it won't ever be made public and full credit will be given to each individual person and their contribution.
So essentially I'd like to get some Mini chat on the go; feel free to add all sorts of input, answer all the questions or just a few...
- What is it about Minis that make them special to you?
- How and why did you learn the ways of the A-series engine?
- If you, or an experienced mechanic were to rebuild a Mini engine, how long would you expect it to take?
- How long do you think it would take me, a student, learning my way as I go and with little immediate resources to rebuild it?
- What are the most vital things I'd need to learn about or consider before taking it on?
- Any words of wisdom, or caution, that you'd like me to remember during this project?
- What could possibly go wrong?
- What tools or resources can I not be without?
- What are the rewards from such a project?
Thanks in advance, hopefully I can get a couple replies. I'll be back around here many a time to update and ask for advice throughout the project. (I also appreciate the formality of the post, that's just how its assessed)
I have an engine and gearbox that you can borrow for 12 months.
Edited by DeadSquare, 21 October 2019 - 04:50 PM.