193 replies to this topic

[Skortchio]

After a lot of deliberating over what car I should buy to get me about while Ogy was out of the equation and coming up with none that really gripped me I decided to see if I could get the old fella on the road at least for a while.

As luck would have it, there was a Metro 1275 auto engine sitting in Stanford, taking up all sorts of otherwise highly useful room. Being the samaritan soul I am I tasked myself with liberating that space and helping a fellow mini owner. (Cheers Darren!)

So on Sunday I inhereted a complete engine and transmission and became one cylinder head lighter, so much for liberating space.

A quick check over and everything seemed to move as expected, so I gave it a good clean up and started making a list of what gaskets and gubbins were required, plus pulling all the ancilleries off Ogy ready to have his block pulled out.

Block pulling is just about ready to commence, with only the engine mounts and drive shafts to be disconnected (I think).
Just have to coerse some likely lads into coming and helping me do the swap *cough* Pizza *cough* ::)

Until then, here's some obligatory pics of nothing in particular.

I'm sure it's just dirt, right?




At least they aren't rusty!


A series overheating in a nutshell:


Hah, so there was something in the holes:


Shultz gun, brake cleaner concentrate and a lick of paint later:




Well it was very nearly finished for a while..

[Minidarren83]

Jesus man you don't hang about it was only four days ago I dropped it off and if I knew it could look that good I'd have got more off you lol. I was only waiting for half hour before the wife brought the spare key it turns out the plank of wood I used locked the car when I chucked it back in lol.

Give me a shout when the big lift is needed if I'm free then I'm there
Darren

[rally515]

Great clean-up job on the auto never seen a auto setup before looks meaty piece.
Anyone know the weight difference (if any) between the manual & auto ?
that water pump looks nice

[Minidarren83]

My back can tell you the difference I can lift my manual engine on to a workbench of 4 foot ish but the auto not even close or maybe I never had my weetabix that day lol

[Skortchio]

The big swap will be as soon as I can muster the able bodies to give me a hand - which reads do it for me while I make coffee.

Then it's just a case of reattaching all the bits (including the oil pipe I'm yet to locate) and seeing what happens when I turn the key!

Weight difference... Not sure, probably a million tons at least!


The best bit about this is I get at least 13bhp for free compared to the sprite engine with it's horrible little camshaft, plus whatever extra I gain in mutiplicity from the other mods in relation to a better cam.

[rally515]

I hope you mean a short motor & not a gearbox & block together mr minidarren93 popeye should be your title if so....

[Skortchio]

My back can tell you the difference I can lift my manual engine on to a workbench of 4 foot ish but the auto not even close or maybe I never had my weetabix that day lol

You made it look easy, matey. Although that might have been as your balls were at risk if you didn't lift it

Based on the weights of the Clubman auto and manual, found here: http://www.dummett.n.../w/weights.html

It seems about 20kg difference, with the manual weighing in about 150kg.

Edited by Skortchio, 28 November 2012 - 10:12 PM.

[Minidarren83]

I hope you mean a short motor & not a gearbox & block together mr minidarren93 popeye should be your title if so....

Ha ha that's funny but yes it was block and box nearly messed myself trying so hard lol

[Jasonc]

Nice progress coming along - engine looks great!

[ClubbyAsh]

Ogy looks awesome, found this thread a great read! Keep up the good work! :)

[Skortchio]

Cheers fellas,

Metty block is sat in the garage at the moment waiting to be hoisted into the car, had planned to do it today but the chap bringing the lift didn't make it on account of the weather. Hopefully will get the damn thing in soon so I can start bolting up.

Longer term plan is looking increasingly like I'll be building an A series. Most likely a 1310/1330 sporting an ACDodd RS cam, can't go any more lairy because the auto changer makes it pointless having power above about 5500rpm
But if I can muster 90ft/lb it should make for an interesting drive given the low cam.

Edited by Skortchio, 05 December 2012 - 11:40 AM.

[Skortchio]

Here we are again, miss me?

After a couple of false starts with getting the engine out of Ogy, between vanishing engine hoists, snow and crossed appointments, today there was finally a bit of progress.
Wasn't even a bad day weather wise.

Early this morning, about 11 or so (It was Sunday after all) Rick and Craggy arrived full of enthusiam and pomp to get cracking with the transplant.

Engine lift was assembled, block was strapped up and away it went... Mostly. There was a bit of levering, swearing, wiggling and shoving but the engine lost the battle and was released from it's home with only minor damage to the gear selector and steady mounting bracket, hurrah!

A quick removal of the head, followed by a quick blast with the wire brush and brake cleaner before being slammed back on the new block and torqued up and we were ready to reinstall.
Which wasn't as tricky as it seemed it might be, drive shafts hinted at being troublesome but dropping the jack sharply saw them back in where they should be quick enough.

Now I have a busy (hopefully) week ahead of reattaching all the bits I took off before giving it a desperately needed service and finding out just what happens when I pull the gear lever - assuming it's attached, Rick

Big big thank you to the dynamic duo, Rick and Craig, couldn't of done it without you.

Pictures as always:

I don't know why he has an axe, but thankfully it wasn't required.


Apparently you don't look at the mantle when stoking the fire.


And so it began.


With a brief pause to ponder if it worked something like a ship in a bottle.


It didn't, just needed a bit of 'convincing'.


Head swap done, the new block was ready to be dropped into place.


While remembering to make sure the straps aren't trapped before undoing the jib... Of course


And there we are, minus all the parts that make it work.


Deja Vu?

[iMurray]

Well done!

[Minidarren83]

Looking good mate sorry I couldn't get over if the saying no rest for the wicked is true I must be a bad bad person lol
Darren

[ToddM]

Great thread, man, was a pleasure to read. Mini looks awesome, especially considering the paintjob probably costs under £100? Definitely going down the roller route too, you've successfully convinced me! Normally not a fan of de-bumpered cars but this looks spot on, love the fact you've added your own twist to it, that's what it's all about! Just one thing - has that sound deadening worked okay?