14 replies to this topic

[MiniTim71]

Hi everyone,  I am looking for a fresh engine in my Mini.

I am considering an engine from Oselli in Great Horwood nr Milton Keynes.

 

Specifically I am looking at a     "1293cc Fast road stage two balanced with clutch"

I will also have gearbox and diff exchanged.

 

Does anyone have any experience of using Oselli?  I am interested in the service they provided and how you rate the engine you received or had fitted.

 

 

 

I am not looking for a technical discussion on engines, I am well versed on that

 

I know you will want to know the spec of my car.  It is ...

a '71 Morris 1000 in Snowberry White, Heritage re-shelled in 2000 with a Metro 1275.

Newton Commercial interior and Sundym glass.

In my ownership a detailed sypathetic restoration to a more period look with 10" wheels and all new fully adjustable suspension setup.

 

[DeadSquare]

If an engine builder is going to the trouble of balancing everything, it isn't going to be worth their while doing a poor job.

 

I was considering an Oselli full race Mini Se7en engine in the late 60s, but got the chance of the ex works Downton engine.

 

Side-by-side with a fellow Oselli driver, up the Club straight at Silverstone, I was only a couple of car's lengths faster, so Oselli knew what they were doing, and the fact they they are still about, 55 years later, should say enough for you to go to them with confidence for a fast road engine.

[MiniTim71]

If an engine builder is going to the trouble of balancing everything, it isn't going to be worth their while doing a poor job.

 

I was considering an Oselli full race Mini Se7en engine in the late 60s, but got the chance of the ex works Downton engine.

 

Side-by-side with a fellow Oselli driver, up the Club straight at Silverstone, I was only a couple of car's lengths faster, so Oselli knew what they were doing, and the fact they they are still about, 55 years later, should say enough for you to go to them with confidence for a fast road engine.

 

I appreciate your input.

I think the company has evolved since the 60s and has been in new hands for perhaps the last 25 years or so.  I visited the factory and they clearly do a lot of work with Astons.

The one thing they seem unable to do is to provide me with a build list of components they will use.  I want to make sure these engines are "real" stage 2 and not just "marketing".  So I am keen to speak to anyone with recent-ish experience

[Stevie W]

Oselli are also big in the MG B series engine market, supplying big bore engines for both the GT and roadster, with a very good reputation!

 

Cheers, Steve.

[nicklouse]

But is it just a name now?

[IronmanG]

Don't they supply the engines for the brown automotive cars or whatever they are called.
A 1430 oselli?

[Stevie W]

Hmm,

 

Their website shows they're classic car dealers as well as restorers, but they still have an engineering side to the business.

 

Cheers, Steve.

[PoolGuy]

Irrespective of budget, Oselli wouldn’t be on my list of engine builders if I wanted an A series. There are many others who I regard as better. Your rough budget would allow people to make suggestions.

[DeadSquare]

I have never bought from him or had any dealing with him, but from the wise comments and advice that he often offers on here,  although he is further away from you than Oselli, I think that it would be worth contacting Mr AC Dodd.

Edited by DeadSquare, 05 June 2023 - 09:15 AM.

[MiniTim71]

Don't they supply the engines for the brown automotive cars or whatever they are called.
A 1430 oselli?

Yes I believe they do with various engine options from 1275 to 1450 @125bhp.  See link below.

https://www.davidbro...oselli-edition/

 

I find it odd that they seem to be off the radar of most Mini owners.

As I said above I did visit the factory and saw an impressive array of Engineering machinery CNC, Lathes, Milling etc and V8 Aston blocks in various states of rebuild.  I guess hence the connection with DBAutomotive.

Edited by MiniTim71, 05 June 2023 - 02:46 PM.

[MiniTim71]

Oselli are also big in the MG B series engine market, supplying big bore engines for both the GT and roadster, with a very good reputation!

Cheers, Steve.

Yes they are and I saw evidence of MGB rebuilds when I was there. I am pleased you say they have a good reputation. My problem has been the slow/lack of response to calls or email however I know they are busy, but still. I am frustrated they cant give me a partslist. MiniSpares gave me a complete list of engine/gearbox rebuild parts in 30mins and so did Crafted Classics in a day or so.

Edited by MiniTim71, 06 June 2023 - 01:43 PM.

[IronmanG]

Not sure where you are based but give OAP a call regarding engine builds. Based near Gatwick will travel and highly regarded

[MiniTim71]

PoolGuy, on 04 Jun 2023 - 4:59 PM, said:

Irrespective of budget, Oselli wouldn’t be on my list of engine builders if I wanted an A series. There are many others who I regard as better. Your rough budget would allow people to make suggestions.

Many thanks, have you heard anything bad about Oselli?

As others have said there name goes back to the 60's and have been stable in the form they are now for 25-30 yrs. They build 6.3lt 500+bhp engines for Astons, as well as MGBs and also A Series.  Not to mention the Oselli edition of the DBAutomotive Mini Remastered.   They are also conveniently less than an hour away from me.

Budget. Well based on Engine, Gearbox and Diff ...

Minispares quoted £6640 less £1750 surcharges once old engine returned. Which is a good starting benchmark. This was for an ENG003 and MSE4 and with all other high spec / lightened parts needed to build a full engine (less ancillary's). This is still a viable option for me. Obviously I would put this together and fit.

Crafted Classics want a lot more than that (don't want to give their prices away here) but that included remove/refit and dyno test/setup/run in.

Oselli is priced somewhere in between also with removal/refit/setup.

Edited by MiniTim71, 05 June 2023 - 02:51 PM.

[DeadSquare]

Hi everyone,  I am looking for a fresh engine in my Mini.

I am considering an engine from Oselli in Great Horwood nr Milton Keynes.

 

Specifically I am looking at a     "1293cc Fast road stage two balanced with clutch"

I will also have gearbox and diff exchanged.

 

 

 

How "stale" is your engine ?

 

From your comment about "Putting it together and fitting it", you obviously have a bit of nous, so how about fitting a "Bini" supercharger to pep up your engine ?.

 

[MiniTim71]

I thought I would update this thread.  I did in the end get Oselli to build the engine.

 

Oselli built me a 1293cc stage 2 engine with rebuilt gearbox, lightened flywheel and clutch..  All rotating parts are balanced, 10:1 compression, High flow Oil pump, Duplex Timing gear, modified head with big valves and ported. Kent MD246 cam for a good spread of power and torque for road use.

It has just been setup by Lee at Regency Autos in Cambridge and on their dyno showed 82bhp with over 120Nm of torque from 2000 to 5000 rpm.  The drive home was a lot of fun.

Edited by MiniTim71, 17 March 2025 - 12:43 PM.