Sir Gawain

[Merlin]

Well where do I start.
Gawain is a 2000 Rover cooper which I bought Feb last year from Mark of Mini Resource a very nice example with possable one of the best late Rover bodys I have ever seen.I did MTM in him and enjoyed my self very much I also did National Mini Day in him, Unfortunately his Rover built engine was'nt in nearly as good nick as his body so I had a very long debate with my self as to what to do with him, I could rebuildthe engine back to std and drive it for another miles or elce build a red hot street monster as I allredy had a super little automatic for pottering and an other mark4 shell with an undesided fate I desided to bite the bullet and build a PROPPER engine for the guy. Now all the late Rover minis have fuel injection with alot of complications which I did no want so I got rid of that, I built a 1380 short motor from a early A+ block which I drilled and fitted the Cooper S 11 stud conversion to, I then aquired a very nice Cooper S big valve head which I bolted a Weber 45 DCOE to as well as a maniflow LCB 2 box system, I have also built my own Distributorless ignition system for the car and retained the front mounted rad and high mounte alt from the mpi. The car is very tractable and smoth It has an estmated hource power in the late ninties early hundreds it has a solide torque curves and tick's over very well. Well enuf talk here is some pic as it elvolved.
First day I got him


start of the new engine


dry block with some mods


shine new 5 speed gear box


test fit of the new motor


first run with the new motor

[kerryminigringo]

Super looking motor Paul,better get the waxoyl out to keep the body looking that good.Rover where not too hot on the rustproofing either.

[Merlin]

good thinking but Im wat ahead of you he botom is totalyed waxoiled and the inside is painted with forte pb60 a kind of zink paint.

[Billy]

Begod Paul, you're handier than a small pot!

Well done,

Billy