Engine

[Al the mod]

Hey as you all are probably aware by now, my engine had some very bad treatment with its last owner from welded on escort carbs to loose practically everythin. So..... Does any one know how much a recon engine would be or how much to recon mine, at the min as far as i know there is a 1275 metro engine in it only guessing its a metro as the temp sensor is drilled and tapped under the termostat...... Or another thing that poped into mind was what are the chances of pickin up a turbo engine or how big of a job if possible would it be to fit one to a standard recon 1275 and what other changes would need be done.... I had lost interest in the car after the umpteen times it has been stollen or attempted to be stollen but now i really wanna get it bsck on the rosd but do it right. The engine thats in it leaks i know they all do but ive replaced all the oils seals but yet it still lurrys oil out but only after its been driven and parked up hasn leaked since its lyin up. i can see its wet round where the block meets gearbox but dont wanna go messin with it as ive only ever done loght work to a mini engine and dont wanna do any more damage due to inexperiance...... if any one has info drop us a post

Cheers Al

[DAVEY_C]

a turbo engine is a different story.... you need a large dish piston amoungst others fitted if you are rebuilding.... look up turbominis.co.uk or similar. you will also need to fit a turbo box in the bulkhead unless you use the mirage manifold (which uses the better t2) a bloke called turbo phill in the uk does. and its an excellent piece of kit. rebuilds can work out quite expensive unless you can source a metro turbo engine complete... there will be lots of upgrades needed including brakes... its all on the net mate

[Al the mod]

Sound Brother

[Kenneth Murphy]

i bought dished pistons off ebay for mine and got a few parts off guys on here, as said go on turbominis its great and the guys and gals are very helpfull, i've just fitted my engine today so i'll put up pics tomorrow or sunday, if ya need any advise gimme a pm and i'll try help or ask on the turbo forum for ya,
kenny

[Al the mod]

Sound man... any suggestion on recon engines

[CLUBMANGT]

A good well built engine will last a good long time but will cost a fair bit to do . The key here is (well built) it makes all the differance . Good parts dont make a good engine . Years of time being in the position you are in and most people will tell you the same thing . Buy the best parts you can afford and have somebody who knows what they are doing build it and you should end up with what you want , an engine you can enjoy that wont let you down . Money well spent

[Merlin]

CLUBMANGT could not have said it beter my self listen to this man he has said it how it is,
well done Tony.

[DAVEY_C]

so does anyone know where he can get some prices over here for an engine build or buy a recond engine??... because that is what he needs to help decide.... i usualy buy in from the uk alot instead but there's the likes of robbie at TDP in wicklow and MARTIN TRACEY in enfield that may help but they race evo's and skylines so its hard to know if they'd be interested....

[CLUBMANGT]

Well Paul, been there ,done that, and chucked it over the hedge in the end . If you read the mini mags you have to ask why people very well known in the mini scene in the uk dont build thier engines they have well known builders like say Peter Vickers and the like do it . As I said you get what you pay for and as the saying goes cheap parts are never good and good parts are never cheap .

[DAVEY_C]

Well Paul, been there ,done that, and chucked it over the hedge in the end . If you read the mini mags you have to ask why people very well known in the mini scene in the uk dont build thier engines they have well known builders like say Peter Vickers and the like do it . As I said you get what you pay for and as the saying goes cheap parts are never good and good parts are never cheap .

a very narrow minded opinion and i'd say a few would beg to differ but it is true that you get what you pay for..... i forgot i have stee griffins (in dublin) number at hand, he is a wiz at mini engines and im sure he is still in operation.... my father previously got griffin motorsport to rebuild a mini engine for him too so their going a long time, if you want it i can pm it to you.

there is a worldwide forum that there are alot of engine builders in the uk on, some have been racing mini's since the mk1 was a new car and i have frown aquantance to them and they are very helpfull, they have and continue to build bulletproof engines so there would be no reason to need the assistance of a miglia based builder/tuner like vickers..... i would be carefull though as there are some cowboy builders like SMART PERFORMANCE, to name but one, to be aware of... as i said its all on the net mate

what are you expecting out of an engine??

[CLUBMANGT]

I take your point . But all I was trying to get over is I have had many minis over the past twenty five years and built a few motors in that time . But like Armo in my early days I was full of enthusiasm and little knowledge of the guts of a good engine and struggled to build one to last very long and like Armo lost interest with problem after problem .Even now given the same parts I am sure someone like Lloyd would build a far better engine than me . Thats my point he knows the motors and all the tricks to build a very good one and I may know the motors but only know a few of the tricks . But yes you can build a good engine yourself if you have the skills ?

[DAVEY_C]

a very true point and as you say building an engine is not straight forward because you need to get the compression/ time the cam/ final drive/gearing all correct and lubricate everything etc etc so not for the faint hearted but with help an amature builder could do it.

i found this engine you might be interested in http://www.irishminis.ie/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6131

[Dylan8660]

Make this chap an offer, good brake set up too.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

[DAVEY_C]

well worth an offer, i had a bid in on that one, should have the vented 4pots too...