11 replies to this topic

[orac69]

Hi chaps. I'm rebuilding a '78 Mini 1000, which has had a lot of work done to it I am slowly trying to unpick.

Iim now on the clutch, got it in bits, cleaning it up. I'm pretty sure it's a Luks clutch and looks pretty new but I'm going to change the bearing, arm, plate etc..

Anyways, the clutch cover has lots of golf ball sized holes in it - I guess to lighten it? There are no makers marks or numbers on it and I've never seen another like it.

Can anyone ID it? Why the holes?  Doesn't crap get inside it easily? 

tia

 

 

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Edited by orac69, 16 April 2025 - 10:54 AM.

[Spider]

The holes are after market and cut in for cooling.

For reasons of safety, I wouldn't run with one of them on a road car.

 

'Crap' can get in, such as can a dropped spanner or a finger.

[nicklouse]

Lightweight flywheel, pressure plate may not be standard and friction plate may not be standard.

 

standard “wok” modified by a PO.

PS they are all the same.

[orac69]

Thanks guys. 

 

The pressure plate has a Luks name / number on it, i'll go get some pics. 

 

How would I tell if the flywheel is "lightweight" - although to be honest Im not sure I care that much, just a nice to know I guess, im not rebuilding a rocket.

 

Bit of a pain about the cover - I might have to reuse it for now and try and source another one and change it later.   

[orac69]

The spring plate has a number LUK 618 0391 060 - which a quick search shows is part of a LUK clutch kit.   I think the plate, disc and bearing only.

 

The flywheel cleaned up does have a number on it - 22A598 - which a quick search shows as an original part number.  

[nicklouse]

It has been heavily lightened. Just look at any of the Mini parts suppliers for reference images.

[Gaz66]

Flywheel looks like the old minispares type one with the three slots machined out.
I believe it was difficult to balance so they went to six slots.
I read that on their site the other day I think.

[orac69]

hmmm.   Heavily lightened you say....     

More intrigue.   The blue rocker cover has an MED Engineering logo on it.  I wonder if MED have been involved previously - or if its just a sticker as I thought it might be.  The guy I bought it off didnt have any history.

Ive had the rocker cover off, and it does seem to have very new looking Kent Kc152142 Valve Springs, couldnt see any markings on the end of the cam.   Maybe its had a lot of work done to the head, bore etc.  The engine number tag looks to have been milled off so is non existent.   

 

The head has a stamp CAM4810.   I guess there is no way to tell unless I take the head off and do some measuring?

[gazza82]

The head has a stamp CAM4810.   I guess there is no way to tell unless I take the head off and do some measuring?

CAM4810 head is a standard 998 Mini unleaded head - with small valves. That's not to say those valves haven't been enlarged.

[viz139]

From the info so far I would think somebody spent a lot of money to get max power from a 998cc. so it probably is fitted with a hot cam. If your building a road engine the cam and flywheel will make it a pig in traffic, the engine is designed for high revs.  

[alpder]

Where are you? I'm in far SW Wales, have a couple of engines only fit for breaking - collected them from "sub-optimal" storage conditions. Should be at least a recoverable wok. Flywheel possibly.

 

You're also likely to need a set of rockers - your engine spec probably included some mad high-lift rockers. And, as others say, a cam. But where does it all end? What's in the gearbox? Straight-cut gears possibly?

 

Alternatively, have a closer look at the engine and gearbox: if the whole thing has been upgraded (and done to a decent standard) then you might be better off selling it as a lump to someone who can use that spec, and getting a s/h bog-standard 998 to drop in instead. You could end up spending a fortune on this one having to undo ever more upgrades as you dig deeper into it - and a 'race' engine is possibly also a thrashed engine. Whereas a 998 in running order is a few hundred quid.

[orac69]

The guy I bought it off had it sitting around for years after the gearbox gave up a couple hundred miles into his ownership.  He knew it had been worked on a lot, but didnt have the history apart from a few photos of the resto before and after.  It has only done a few hundred miles since it was worked on I believe.

 

Ive rebuilt the gearbox using all new parts (wasnt straight cut, and didnt look like anyone had been in there from new), and am just about to refit the box and put it back in the car. 

 

Ive discovered a box of bits, and its got a braided pipe oil cooler, an HS4 carb on a torquemaster manifold. The 8.4 discs, calipers look new, braided hoses, and virtually no pad wear.  The rockers look like new also.   Im not gonna take the head off and mess about with all that for now.

 

Thanks for the offer, but I think it was well sorted apart from the gearbox issues, so I will just put everything back together as is for now, and see what its like.