8 replies to this topic

[Smiley]

Hows it going!

I call on all you Mini-Mad Mentallers to give me a clue as to what to do next...

Recently my engine started to misfire, i took it to a mechanic, he did all the preliminary checks - plugs, leads, dizzy etc etc and reckoned there was valve trouble...

I gave him a call this evening, he has just told me....the Head-gasket went on the car between piston 2 and 3, the part of the block between these two is, as he says, "melted"....

So.....Anybody got any ideas??

Can i buy a block and stick it in??

Do i find a replacement engine???

Do i give up on Mini's cus they always be broken???????(sorry!)

The Engine in question is a 1300 A-series, not an A+, the earlier model, 11 Stud Head and rumoured to be pushing 70bhp...it came out of a Riley Kestrel i believe.....

Any advice is apprieciated


Weep

Edited by Smiley, 28 September 2007 - 06:25 PM.

[Big_Adam]

Skim the block.

[Smiley]

Skim the block.

Simple as that??

[Turbo Nick]

very doubtful that it'll take enough of a skimming to clean it up if its gone between the cylinders, your pistons would end up sticking out the top of the bore.

best bet would be to source a new block or even buy a fresh short engine kit from somewhere like morspeed. roughld around £350ish for a fresh std 1293 bottom end.

[Big_Adam]

Well, not quiet. You'll have to pull the block out but then you can have it faced and you'll need to take the pistons down as well. If it's a small melt blow thro then you can just have the block skimmed.

Someone had the same problem a while ago. It was one of the options open to them.

Edit,

Or do Bud's idea.

Edited by Big_Adam, 28 September 2007 - 06:43 PM.

[Smiley]

Hmmm.....

Ok...Im going to call round to the mechanic tomorrow and see if its salvage-able via skimming the block, see what he thinks....

If not, would it be difficult to find a "short engine" to fit my engine, seen as its an old A Series and its an 11-stud head??

Thanks guys


Smiling Smiley!!(kinda)

[Turbo Nick]

wouldn't be difficult at all, and all blocks can be drilled and tapped for the extra 2 head studs. I'd say get in touch with morspeed and i'm sure he'd be able to do you an 11 stud A series block. might even be worth adding a few extra's while it's apart aswell like a new cam and such.

[Smiley]

Ok....

Been down with the Mechanic just now, he wasnt there, so didnt get chatting with him, but the Mini was parked outside his workshop. I popped the hood and had a gander at what was going on....

The Block is worn away between cyclinder 2 and 3, the head gasket is blown through (about 10-12mm of it was missing where the cyclinders are closest!!). I rubbed along where the block is worn, it doesnt feel that bad, its not that deep, kinda like a small sutble ripple, probly guessing here, but id say its 1mm to 2mm at the very most in deep at one spot...i reckon it could be welded up and grinded back into shape, would this be the case?

Also one of the pistons has a lump blown out of it, about the size of a babies tooth,this would just be a case of replacing the piston, yes??

I must point out that there is a strict budget here, im an apprentice plumber, in my first year, so my wages are very minimal, im trying to work out the cheapest way, with out compromising the quality/effectivness of the repair, i can get this done!



Thanks

Smiley

[bennett]

Ok....

Been down with the Mechanic just now, he wasnt there, so didnt get chatting with him, but the Mini was parked outside his workshop. I popped the hood and had a gander at what was going on....

The Block is worn away between cyclinder 2 and 3, the head gasket is blown through (about 10-12mm of it was missing where the cyclinders are closest!!). I rubbed along where the block is worn, it doesnt feel that bad, its not that deep, kinda like a small sutble ripple, probly guessing here, but id say its 1mm to 2mm at the very most in deep at one spot...i reckon it could be welded up and grinded back into shape, would this be the case?

Also one of the pistons has a lump blown out of it, about the size of a babies tooth,this would just be a case of replacing the piston, yes??

I must point out that there is a strict budget here, im an apprentice plumber, in my first year, so my wages are very minimal, im trying to work out the cheapest way, with out compromising the quality/effectivness of the repair, i can get this done!



Thanks




Smiley

loads on ebay