10 replies to this topic

[IrishDave]

Hi All,
New to the mini forum.. New to everything really, I have a 1992 SPI Mini. I have stripped it back completely, which I’m both happy & nervous about. Apart from a light restoration on my MGB I’m not very mechanically smart so a lot of YouTube searches going on every day!
I can’t seem to attach images here but the body is cleaned up and I have taken apart the components, painted, restored and reassembled the engine as best I can (not the main block or clutch, that was beyond me anyway).

At this point I’m waiting to get the subframes back from being sandblasted & powder coated. Once they are back I can put them back onto the body and drop the engine back in.

My question at the moment, what can be attached to the engine as I’m dropping it into the bay?
In an effort to figure out where everything goes & get fittings all right I’ve started assembling the engine already out of the car, I have the head, rocker cover, oil filter, alternator, starter, dizzy, coil, fan, shroud, clutch slave, clutch breather all on already..
I was going to attach the radiator next but will I be able to drop that into the car when it has so many components attached?

Thanks in advance for the help!
Loving how friendly the mini community is!

Dave

[nicklouse]

First time I would leave the rad off. But attack the bottom hose to the rad before fitting. So maybe fit rad and hose To engine before fitting then disconnect hose from pump and remove rad. Hose now in the correct location.

 

starter and alternator I would not have fitted.

dizzy I would fit but remove arm and cap.

[Ado1379]

Is your brake servo fitted in the engine bay already? If so you may struggle with the alternator on. And you may struggle with the clutch slave cylinder and mounting plate attached. I dropped my engine in 2 days ago and had to fit these components afterwards as I had to manoeuvre my engine around the brake servo.

Also. The clutch breather might foul on the servo making it difficult to line up the engine mounts. Again I had this so has to take it off. Luckily all these parts are a doddle to fit with the engine in situ. Just try it out and see how you, but take it SLOWLY! Haha

[IrishDave]

Thank you!
Great help!

Servo is out also, the entire engine bay is empty so makes things a little easier! Great tip about the rad hoses!

[nicklouse]

Thank you!
Great help!

Servo is out also, the entire engine bay is empty so makes things a little easier! Great tip about the rad hoses!

make a note on the speedo cable to attach it to the gearbox before fully dropping the engine in if attached to the dash.

[IrishDave]

Speedo Cable
Just added that to the list, cheers!

[RedRuby]

As you have the sub frame out (awaiting return from sandblasting/powder coating) have you considered installing engine complete on to the sub frame and then attaching the subframe complete with engine.

[IrishDave]

As you have the sub frame out (awaiting return from sandblasting/powder coating) have you considered installing engine complete on to the sub frame and then attaching the subframe complete with engine.

I thought about that but didn’t know which was easier or best to do?
If that approach is better then il happily do it that way..
That’s how I removed the front sub & engine, I dropped them together and rolled both out underneath the body.

[IrishDave]

Just figured out how to attach images here..
Car shot, Engine before, Engine now, Subframe bits all being cleaned up!
Looking forward to getting the subframes back now!

Attached Files

•  C48D8905-731C-44C3-AA4D-0C2DD33A8BCC.jpeg   30.49K   3 downloads
•  973457B6-ADF5-4EAE-A115-6F64920C87CF.jpeg   43.28K   2 downloads
•  D968AF80-4FA5-430C-8C04-D48E721FBB1A.jpeg   39.89K   2 downloads
•  ABCC1785-F473-466D-9AF7-FD962141481F.jpeg   27.49K   1 downloads

[nicklouse]

as you took the engine subframe out in one you know how "stabile" it can be. i would still lower the engine in after haveing made all the connections and bleed the brakes.

[cal844]

First time I would leave the rad off. But attack the bottom hose to the rad before fitting. So maybe fit rad and hose To engine before fitting then disconnect hose from pump and remove rad. Hose now in the correct location.

starter and alternator I would not have fitted.
dizzy I would fit but remove arm and cap.

Then when the engine is over the car fit the speedo cable into its drive on the box