[shiftspark]

Well, I’ve made a start to get the Minbin apart. In no rush so will just do it around the weather and work etc but hopefully ready to get out next weekend.
I noticed that the exhaust valves in no2 were a red colour and all the others a light grey so it looks like some valve seat damage as well 🙄
I will make a decision when it’s all apart as to which way it will go.
Where is best to lift the engine as I’ve not seen any lifting points ? Also what does a bare engine weigh as I will have to get it through the house and out to the shed in the back garden.

just to say that the light was going as you can see the shadow from the street light, the iPhone makes it look day light without a flash, I am impressed!

 

[Maccmike]

No idea on weight but heavy. When you get the wife to carry it, do supervise her technique and offer words of encouragement such as ''bend at the knees''.

 

[Shartak]

Here is how I got mine out about a month ago.
2 lifting points by the upper engine mount, and 1 by the gearbox.
Protect the rocker cover if you don't want it to be scratched

It's heavy, even just the bare bloc is heavy

 

[shiftspark]

Thanks ,I’ll have to borrow some chain and d shackles from work

 

[shiftspark]

Managed some more work today and most of the fronts stuff is off, charger, inlet manifold alternator etc started to get cam cover off and all the front bolts were heavily corroded and none of the longer studs would come off without using mole grips 🙄
Also dropped a few bits but luckily they all went in the coolant bucket
Going to get the head off next and have undone the cam sprocket bolt by leaving it in gear and foot brake applied. Do I need to remove the rockers etc to remove the head or can I just undo the head bolts.

 

[shiftspark]

Well the engine and box is out , phew. Not too bad of a job really except with the engine leaning back the trolly jack moved a little which caused a bit of a panic but all ended ok.
Got the box off and was going to get the flywheel etc off but need to pick up a 12 point socket to get the pressure plate off then strip it all down and see what was damaged and what needs doing. The block is scrap as one of the top mounting point bolt corners was missing from when I bought it but I have a replacement sorted.

 

[shiftspark]

Made some more progress this week as now the engine is stripped and ready to rebuild with another block. Called at Seans this afternoon to collect it and gaskets and seals, lots of them
Also as the weather is going to be good for a change I am going to get the front subframe off and give it a clean up and lick of paint. Think I may fit a Mini One ? arb whilst is off as it already has all polybushes fitted.

 

[Mysticarl]

Good progress! It's definitely nicer working with the sun out and not being able to see your own breath!

 

[shiftspark]

Great….f**kin Mini’s

 

[shiftspark]

Another small step today as got the painted frame back in. Forgot to take pictures but just this one of it going back in. Not too bad of a job with the engine out and even with it back in the frame should be simple to remove as I may get another one and get it blasted and powder coated sometime in the future.

 

[shiftspark]

Well I’ve finished the engine rebuild, it’s taken far longer than I thought but that’s mainly down to having the spare time around work and a well deserved holiday as well as everything else.
Anyways here is a picture for now, I’ll have to update it properly when I get time. Thanks to Sean @CarsOrBikes for my many WhatsApp questions 👍🏻

 

[shiftspark]

All back in the car now and it runs ! Still needs crash bar etc fitting and also another new wheel bearing which isn’t that old.Also track rod ends as they took some getting off when I took the driveshafts out.

 

[Maccmike]

Result!

 

[shiftspark]

God I hate Mini’s ! One of the track rods has seized despite being soaked in wd40 when I took the shfts out of the hub. I had to cut the nut off but can’t undo where it goes onto the inner part despite heating and loads of wd40.
I assume my only option is to change the inner as well ?

 

[CarsOrBikes]

you can cut a lengthways slot in the rod end over the thread if necessary, just enough the see the start of the threads, it'll be at a slight angle so in kind of a spiral, once here you'll be able to turn it, takes a while but doable

 

[shiftspark]

Another day of hard graft on the bloody Mini. I tried to cut the track rod as suggested by @CarsOrBikes but in the end I carefully ground it back with a grinder until you could just see the change in colour as it exposed the threads then hey presto off it came. Sound easy but I also banged my head on the wing trying to get it to move 😵‍💫

I also forgot to put the head lamp level switch back on that I missed when I reassembled the subframe and if you know you can’t get the bolt out as the driveshaft is in the way 🤦‍♂️ I cut a slot in the bracket so I could get it under the bolt head.

Then to the other side to replace the wheel bearing again which was knackered but it was only done last year I think, anyway it’s done now.

I will tax it on weds and take it for a test drive and then if all is well run the new bearings and rings in and then change the oil back to full synthetic, any tips here ? I was going to do say 3-400 miles slowly building up rpm and not let it labour or sit at the same revs for long periods ?