Lund's MG Metro 1275 Engine Build

Lund's MG Metro 1275 Engine Build

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Mini_Lund

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

209 months

Thursday 8th April 2010
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guru_1071 said:
Mini_Lund said:
a few people have suggested that the block could be cracked
tom

are these the same people who suggested that you started the car and reved it until the oil pressure appeared last time? smile

i have never seen a mini block crack, ever, the water will be from the head gasket or a cracked head (rare enough)

ive had blocks cold enough that the core plugs have blown out as the water froze and hot enough that the solder melted (220 degrees plus). that one got so hot it cooked the pistons, bent the cam, and left a blue heat ring in the water ways - it seized solid it was so hot.

next morning it fired up ok...... it ran raced again once it was rerung & recammed!.
Hi Rich,

You always restore the hope hehe These engines seem pretty much indestructable, even in the hands of a Lund!

Cheers,
Tom

Cooperman

4,428 posts

249 months

Friday 9th April 2010
quotequote all
Hi Tom,
I'm with Richy on this. I've never seen a cracked block from water to oil in 49 years playing with Minis and other engines.
It does sound like a head gasket. Now, when and where did you get that head gasket. You may remember the head gasket issues with Payen last year when so many of us had a problem and couldn't find a gasket we could trust from anywhere in the UK. I even used a couple of gaskets from another manufacturer in place of the Payen ones I've always used. New ones are OK now, though.
The only other time I got oil/water mixing was on a Cooper 'S' engine which had been machined to take a 4-bolt later-type oil pump but was subsequently fitted with a 2-bolt pump. The additional drilling had gone through into the water jacket, but was fine until no bolt was fitted into that hole, then the 2 mm of gasket thickness between water and oil was not enough to stop 2 pints of oil getting into the water. So-called experts told me it was a 'cracked block'.
However, I doubt this is your problem, but worth considering maybe.

Mini_Lund

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

209 months

Friday 9th April 2010
quotequote all
Cooperman said:
Hi Tom,
I'm with Richy on this. I've never seen a cracked block from water to oil in 49 years playing with Minis and other engines.
It does sound like a head gasket. Now, when and where did you get that head gasket. You may remember the head gasket issues with Payen last year when so many of us had a problem and couldn't find a gasket we could trust from anywhere in the UK. I even used a couple of gaskets from another manufacturer in place of the Payen ones I've always used. New ones are OK now, though.
The only other time I got oil/water mixing was on a Cooper 'S' engine which had been machined to take a 4-bolt later-type oil pump but was subsequently fitted with a 2-bolt pump. The additional drilling had gone through into the water jacket, but was fine until no bolt was fitted into that hole, then the 2 mm of gasket thickness between water and oil was not enough to stop 2 pints of oil getting into the water. So-called experts told me it was a 'cracked block'.
However, I doubt this is your problem, but worth considering maybe.
Hi Peter,

Good to hear from you again, hows the Inno? biggrin

It sounds like its almost definately the head gasket at fault. The head gasket is from a set, produced by Payen! You're quite right, I remeber there being a few issues with the gaskets, mentioned on the forums. Richy is sorting me out with a new gasket, and the head has been skimmed so once I have everything it's full steam ahead!

I have also been working on the drivers door, which is now in primer; just needs some fillering here and there and its ready for top coat of vermillion.

Tom

Cooperman

4,428 posts

249 months

Sunday 11th April 2010
quotequote all
Hi Tom,

I'm sure it's the head gasket and that it's one of the 'duff' ones from last year. If you get one from Richy you know that it'll be correct. A head skim will be no bad thing as well.
The Inno is almost ready for MoT, end of next week hopefully. Just a few detail bits to do like the heater trunking, horn and finding some amber bulbs for the clear front indiator lenses. I don't yet have any genuine Innocenti rear seats so I've fitted a 1966 850 interior until I can find what I need to complete it to 'original' state. It looks OK, but I know that it's wrong.

Mini_Lund

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

209 months

Tuesday 13th April 2010
quotequote all
Cooperman said:
Hi Tom,

I'm sure it's the head gasket and that it's one of the 'duff' ones from last year. If you get one from Richy you know that it'll be correct. A head skim will be no bad thing as well.
The Inno is almost ready for MoT, end of next week hopefully. Just a few detail bits to do like the heater trunking, horn and finding some amber bulbs for the clear front indiator lenses. I don't yet have any genuine Innocenti rear seats so I've fitted a 1966 850 interior until I can find what I need to complete it to 'original' state. It looks OK, but I know that it's wrong.
I'm all ready to get cracking now, Just need to find some time to sort it. Hopefully this time round, I'll be running without issues! I'm trying to bleed the brakes at the moment using the easybleed but not had much luck so far; cracked the joint at the calliper nothing getting through. I cracked the nut on the ingoing side but havent yet tried the outgoing. I'll crack a few more unions see what I get. If not, I'll pump the pedal hard in hope something will pass through!

Pete, good to hear the Inno is coming along, you will never be fully happy until the Inno interior is in! I hope you find what you're looking for.

PS. Might treat you to a vid of it running at some stage soon biggrin

Cheers,
Tom

Mini_Lund

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

209 months

Wednesday 14th April 2010
quotequote all
Cylinder head is back on now, with fresh gaskets and a light skim. All that is left to do is set the tappets (15thou?) and pour water back into the system to get her running.

Mini_Lund

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

209 months

Friday 16th April 2010
quotequote all
Hi Guys,

Done it!biggrin

First Start Video

It's out of tune, but a quick tune up should see her right.

Tom. wink




guru_1071

2,768 posts

233 months

Friday 16th April 2010
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Mini_Lund said:
(15thou?)
12 thou......

teacher


phumy

5,671 posts

236 months

Friday 16th April 2010
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During the initial run in period dont let it idle for too long, its possible to damage the cam lobs, you will need to give it some revs, but dont rev the nuts off of it that wont do it any good either...

Enjoy your new toy smile

Mini_Lund

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

209 months

Friday 16th April 2010
quotequote all
guru_1071 said:
Mini_Lund said:
(15thou?)
12 thou......

teacher
Yeah luckily I noticed it in the Haynes book. They're all set to 12 thou.

phumy said:
During the initial run in period dont let it idle for too long, its possible to damage the cam lobs, you will need to give it some revs, but dont rev the nuts off of it that wont do it any good either...

Enjoy your new toy smile
Fair play. Cheers,
Tom

Mini_Lund

Original Poster:

1,743 posts

209 months

Friday 16th April 2010
quotequote all
There is slight play in the offside hub, however no play in the drivers side when torqued up with the castle nut and split pin. I did it as Peter suggested using 176Nm, then aligned the split pin.

PS. The copper washers on the brakes worked a treat biggrin



Edited by Mini_Lund on Sunday 18th April 23:46

bencollins

3,486 posts

204 months

Wednesday 25th November 2015
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Sweet installation