346 replies to this topic

[Pauly]

200 miles later, its all good.

Started to run on 3 cylinders last sunday, just as I was about to set off for avon!! So stuck it back in the garage and took the civic, had a nosey when I came back and all I found was a wet plug, I did fiddle a bit with the timing before hand, so I think I pulled the ht lead out slightly and it just stopped firing, been fine since.

Its got some pull, feels torquey, itching to get it on the rollers and look at the figures, think Im going to send the dizzy back to h&h and get the vac. advance unit put back in, dont know why I had it took off really because it's more an advantage to run it and I think I'll tell the difference.

Ive got 1 oil leak, very small, coming out the speedo drive casing, weird as it was the same place on my sidewalk .

Also my rockers where hitting the cover which Ive now sorted after some re-adjustment.

Lets hope the next few 100 miles are fault free.

[M44K TS]

Nice one, it wouldn't be a Mini without an oil leak, no matter how small

[Pauly]

Went to a rolling road shootout yesterday organised by Chris @ smart performance.

Now considering its still bedding in and it hasn't seen a dyno or been setup properly yet, it made 79.4BHP and 82.4ft-Ilb torque @ 4600rpm (only wanted it to go to 5000 really due to it only clicking over 500 miles recently). Not bad I dont think, about right. Thats power at the flywheel.

Thanks to bud666 for this pic.

[steve26-2008]

I have just been reading your project and it's great. Did you sand the paint with wet and dry before using g3 and did you use it by hand, the finish in the last pic is amazing.

[Pauly]

I have just been reading your project and it's great. Did you sand the paint with wet and dry before using g3 and did you use it by hand, the finish in the last pic is amazing.

Cheers.

Wet and dried with 1500 then 2000. I cut it back by hand the first time, but I would strongly recommend buying a rotary polisher, its just too much hard work.

The silverline ones are great, excellent value aswell, or you can rent one.

[M44K TS]

Decent figures there for it not being setup up properly. Did it have a few tweaks on the rollers to get the 79bhp?

[Pauly]

Engines done over 500 miles now, starting to open her up a bit, next step is getting it tuned on the rollers.

Never posted a final engine spec, so here it is (changed a bit from the original spec )

Block & bottom end

Metro 1275 A+ base
Chemically cleaned
Painted red for extra power and strength
Re-bored +40 = 1310cc
Ae 21253 +40 Pistons
New cam bearings
Block deck skimmed 0.008”
Std rods
Std crank, reground 10/10
Crank, flywheel, pulley dynamically balanced
ACL big end & mains bearings 0.010”

Valve train

Kent (billet) MD276 cam
Kent vernier timing gears
Lightened followers
Original pushrods
Minispares 1.5:1 ratio roller tip rockers

Cylinder head

Modified by SRE (Slark race engineering) to fast road spec.
Ported, polished and gasflowed
35.7mm Inlets - 29mm Exhausts
Double valve springs
Bronze valve guides
Skimmed to achieve 21.2cc combustion chambers giving 10.5:1 CR
Painted red

Transmission

Std metro HLE, helical cut gearbox; rebuilt
Minispares 4 pin diff
3.44 Final drive
Centre oil pickup pipe
S/C drop gears - 1:1 ratio
MED ultralight flywheel
Fast road clutch plate
Orange diaphragm/pressure plate
Standard backplate

Ignition & fuel

OEM Lucas 65dm4 Metro electronic distributor
Re-curved & serviced by H&H ignition systems to engine spec
Lucas std 12v electronic ignition coil
Eluminition HT leads
Std metro dizzy cap and rotor arm
No vacuum advance

Standard spec metro HIF44 1 ¾” carb – rebuilt
K&N cone air filter
Facet fast road fuel pump
Filter king regulator
Braided fuel lines

[Pauly]

Decent figures there for it not being setup up properly. Did it have a few tweaks on the rollers to get the 79bhp?

No tweaks just a power run.

Tuned by my earholes only .

[M44K TS]

Cool, so there's scope for even more power if it's set up on the rollers?

Edited by M44K TS, 29 August 2010 - 02:53 PM.

[DaveJH]

Just read through this thread, great work. Have you started on the interior yet then?

[ma11b]

just read all 21 pages
brilliant work
loving the colour
nice engine, im still not sure wenever to go 998 tuning or 1275

got a 1275 gt engine at the local scrappy and he wants £150 for it with box and radiator

whats the difference like between both the engines?

what are your plans for the interior?

[Pauly]

Cheers.

Interior wise, Ive fitted my recaros and I might fit my MPI dash next weekend.

The 1275gt engines are earlier 'a' units as to the later 'a+'. Im not quite sure on the difference as Ive never needed to look into it.

[Scholes2012]

Very nice car, love that shot from above, good spec on the engine would think you'll see around 90 bhp when ran in and dyno'd.
Good work.

[Pauly]

Haven't updated this for a while, but theres not much to update about really. Theres just a few more bits I want to do on this one, then its new project time.

Ive fitted a few more bits since though.

MPI Dash (inc. rat look style oil pressure gauge).



Recaros.



Only things left I want to do are. Get the interior re-trimmed. Fit negative camber bottom arms and adjustable tie rods to the front, to sharpen it up a little. Main thing is I just want to enjoy it, engines running really well, I haven't had it dyno'd yet but thats a job for first thing next year.

Thats about it really. Happy xmas and New year all!

Edited by Pauly, 23 December 2010 - 06:28 PM.

[minimadgriff]

Great Build thread and a lovely looking mini!