48 replies to this topic

[zomerzet]

Reet,

I've had my mini on the road since March this year ('07) and since then have had the wheels refurbed and many other bits and bobs sorted on it. Now that I've just begun to build a performance engine for it, it was a good point to start recording my progress!

Below it the beast as it stands.

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Engine
-MG Metro 1275 (Dished Pistons, Leaded 10.5:1CR)
-HIF44 Single Carb
-Stage 1 Kit (Playmini Centre Exit Exhaust, K&N Cone Induction)
-Stage 2 Unleaded Head (Larger valves and sharpened inlet ports)
-Metro Elecronic Ignition
-Central Oil Pick Up Pipe
-Braided Flexible Block To Oil Filter Hose
-Coil Relocated To Bulkhead

Exterior
Respray Shell to 'JCB' Orange with black roof
Black Group 2 Arches
Black Handles & Bumpers
Black Mini Special Grille With Relocated Number Plate
Headlight Stone Guards
Twin Fuel Tanks

Interior
Stripped 'Rally Style' (No Sound-proofing!)
6 Point Roll Cage
Custom Dash & Wiring Loom Inc. Starter Button & Fusebox/Headlight Relays Relocated Onto Dash
Black Cobra Buckets with 3 Point Harnesses
Internal Battery Feed
RH Fuel Tank Isolation Tap

Wheels, Tyres & Suspention
12" Wolfrace Elf Alloys, Falken Tyres
Fully Adjustable SPAX Coil Overs All Round (Lowered height at front, standard height at rear)


I've recently taken it for a Sprint event organised by the RAF. It was my first time on track and I thouroughly enjoyed it. In the morning session, I managed to beat an XR2 fiesta, Mk1 MR2 and A-series Metro! I didn't fare so well in the afternoon due to my slightly gearbox struggling to change from 3rd to 2nd at speed, but did jump up to the next group.

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I've decided that I'd like a little more power and so have recently invested in a 1293 block and pistons, intenting to build my own performance engine. As you can see I have already made a start and fitted a low milage crank with new bearings. The pistons I bought with the block are brand new, but low compression so I have just sourced another set from eBay for under £50 which should give me a better compression ratio. When they arrive I'll be able to check what condition they're in. I'm intending on fitting a hotter cam than the standard MG Metro I'm currently using, along with my stage 2 head. Other mods may be included, funds depending. I'd like a lightened flywheel too!

Reet, I think that's enough for now! Phew!

[zomerzet]

Cost So Far...

£100 - Rebored 1293 Block with new cam bearings
£80 - +0.20 New Low compression (17cc) Pistons, rods and rings
£70 - 1275 Crank (Less than 20,000 miles)
£25 - New main/big end bearings
£50 - +0.20 Regular compression (9cc) Pistons, rods and rings

=£325

Today I recieved my new +0.20 pisons I was glad they have arrived so I can check what condition they're in. There was a bit of carbon build up which needs cleaning off. The top piston rings had a little play in them but nothing too drastic. Overall I'm very happy with them and have begun to fit them today. I may pop the low compression pistons on ebay as I don't need them and they're brand new to recoup some of my costs!

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Above is a picture of the piston I played with today, along with the new piston & oil rings taken from a low comp piston. As you can see here these have a 'hockey stick' shaped hole below the oil seal groove to aid lubrication. I decided to fit the new piston rings as they would be better than the existing ones. Plus when taking the old ones off of this piston I managed to break one so was left with no option anyway (Which is better in the long run). I found the top newer piston ring had a little less play too, so that will help reduce wear.

I also fitted a set of fresh big end bearings to this rod as the ones it came with were scored. Once I had fitted this piston with new rings and bearings, I test fitted it on the crank and tightened the big end to the specified torque and was worried when I found the movement very tight on it.

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I thought I may need thinner bearings as the crank had so little wear, I also tried fitting the big end the other way around to see if I'd fitted it incorrectly, still very tight. After taking it off the second time, I noticed some marks on the big end brackets and rods themselves. The rod I was using had 3 dots, and the bracket 4. I examined the other rods I had and discovered that somone had marked one piston rod and bracket with 1 dot, another with 2 dots. Aha! A previous owner had stamped them all with dots so they could see which rods went with which piston/position. Additionally it was possible to identify which orientation the end caps went! Piston 3 & 4's rods had their end caps swapped around and after fitting the correct one to the piston (Number 3!) I was using I fitted it to the appropriate crank position and found it moved freely after tightening, result.

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I didn't have time to fit any of them properly today and I didn't want to fit just one. The reason behind this is that I want to balance them. Once they're all fitted with the new piston rings and bearings I will weigh them all and file enough material off of the rod for them to all be the same. I'm not sure how much difference this will make, or what difference there could be between them but it really can't do any harm! Hopefully, the next post I present the empty chambers in the pic above will be full!

[zomerzet]

Tonight I got my 'eBay' pistons fitted with new piston rings and bearings. My bottom end now looks something like this...



And chambers now filled and look like this...

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The big ends aren't stiff but when turning the crank there is a little resistance on the pistons when they reach the tops of the chambers. I'd imagined this is because of the new piston rings, if anyone can tell me otherwise, please do before it all explodes!

The next step is picking a new cam suitable for my needs. After a little research online it appears I would quite like to go for the kent 286 or sw5 or new sw5-07. I'll see what my local supplier has and if he has a 286 I'll probably go for that, but I'll make that decision once I'm sure that's what I want...

Attached Files

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[ed4ran]

Ooww, looking good
I sometimes wonder what i would have done if i had stuck with the A series?

[zomerzet]

Well, I'm going to be interested to see how this goes to be honest. I'll be happy if it runs first of all though! I can see myself going for non A-series once I've mastered it!

[ed4ran]

lol What would you choose if you dont keep the A?

[zomerzet]

lol What would you choose if you dont keep the A?

I'd love a bike engine, the high revs, tunebility, sequential gearbox and bike dash appeal to me. Although reverse is a problem, I'd imagine it'd fit alot easier in the engine bay too. Hmmm

[ed4ran]

yeah that all sounds nice, and should be good for sprints etc.

[mini_kel]

Go for the SW5-07 thats what i`m putting in my engine next it has a 286 in it now

[supermotolee]

www.pro-motive.co.uk

[Retro_10s]

Mmm k-series. very good motor.

[zomerzet]

All interesting stuff, but sticking with A-series for now! I did have a look at the www.pro-motive.co.uk website but would have at least expected the provision for a reverse mechanism for a £3k kit!

Still, picked up my cam, followers and oil pump, so they should go in tonight. I'm still waiting for the duplex kit and outside door window trim strips to turn up that I ordered on the 3rd of this month though.

[zomerzet]

Been busy and got my followers in along with my new cam. It's made by one of the guys that helped start Kent & Piper cams, can't remember the name right now. It's somewhere near a 276 but with more power lower down so the idle isn't poor at all. All will be revealed once it's in eh. Can always put a hotter one in or plop roller rockers on if I'm feeling lazy!

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Also bought a brand new oil pump and got that on too, along with the primary gear and associated bits.

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Block is nearly there now, just waiting for my duplex timing gear to arrive....

[zomerzet]

Shiney Bits are here!

Yes, my long awaited duplex chain set has arrived

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Along with some other goodies including a strengthend diff pin. I've never played with a diff so installation will be interesting but an education aswell!

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But best of all I've ordered a lightened flywheel, check it oot! How shiney is that? I have a strange feeling that they've sent me the ultralight one by mistake! It says ultralight on it and according to the catalogue they sent with the bits it looks most like the pricey one! Result! Still, any kind of flywheel lightening should see an improvement in revvability.

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I suppose after spending all this money I'd best get cracking with putting it all together!!!... To Be Continued!

[zomerzet]

Now that my goodies have arrived, I'm still yet to fit them! I test fitted the duplex gears to the crank/cam yesterday but found that the two nuts adjacent to the crank that go through the timing plate catch on the timing chain I think I may need a load fo shims so it doesn't catch...

I have also been shopping on eBay yet again and found a bargain. A primary gear puller tool for £10. These things are absolutely brilliant when a primary gear seal requires changing as it saves a lot of hassle getting the old seal off. It simply slides over and latches on the primary gear. You tighten the screw on the end and it'll pull the primary gear through the flywheel casing with the seal attached allowing to to easily remove it! Genius

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Aswell as this I have also picked up some fappin' huage spotlights off a friend for £20. They're Cibie Super Oscars (10") which'll look great on the front of the car. I may need to uprate me alternator to use them as they use 100w halogen bulbs though! I also need to purchase a new lens for one of them as it has a hole caused by a flying stone.

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I also spent yesterday afternoon 'pinstriping' my alloys as I didn't anticipate the anthracite colour that I had my wheels in to be so dark so you really can't see them very well. I really like how they've come out as it was a bit of a gamble if it looked naff

Before...

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After...

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Whaddaya reckon? I am now wondering whether to highlight the inside edge of the slots with another thin line of yellow but again, this is a gamble. I just feel it's a shame you can't really see the alloys in such a dark colour and want to show them off a bit!