Wide Ratio Gearbox And 1380 Engine Build by AndyMiniMad

3 minute(s) of a 171 minute read

Thats the timing sorted and the brakes bled. Set the tappets to 14 thou. Went for a shakedown run and all seems to be ok except for a fair bit of blue smoke. I hope its just settling in. Maybe the stem seals are not sitting properly. It seems to smoke at low revs and on start up and be fine at higher revs.
Anyway it goes very well, I think once its run in im going to have a lot of fun. Cant get it into 4th in the town. The wide ratio gearbox is fab!!! 60mph at 3000 revs. perfect!! Comes on cam at 2500 and really wants to go. god knows what sort of top speed its going to have but the figures suggest around 120mph.

10-9-2010

So out for a run today. Speedo decides to stop working, Blue smoke is getting worse, but only when sitting at the lights and pulling away, so fairly sure its the stem seals. On the positive side it pulls like a fecking train from 2600 revs, and im letting it go to 4000. bloody hell its quick.. Will whip the head off next week to change the stem seals. Yet another BK450 head gasket in the bin. Its a shame to chuck it away after only 120 miles but better safe than sorry.

10-10-2010

Another good run today 70+ miles. The smoke is going away!! checked the oil and its fine. Still smokes a bit when backing off and waiting at trafic lights, but out on the road it seems fine. Had the breathers off and ran up the engine to 3000 revs, Its fine, no back pressure in the block so im pretty sure the rings are ok. Would i have seen the smoke coming out of the breathers if it was the rings?? Do you think its a good idea to fit stem seals to the exhaust valves as well as the inlets?? I didnt fit them on the 1275 exhaust valves and it was fine. But ive never done a 1380 before and it might be different somehow??

10-11-2010

Heres a quick vidio of the engine starting from cold. Smoke almost gone now!!! could it have been the rings bedding in??? Im sure it gets a bit worse when the engine is warm.

Ive been checking the oil a lot over the past couple of days and after 300 miles its totaly black!!?? Is this normal for a new engine?? The old engine would have nice clean oil even after 1000-1500 miles.
Im starting to fear the worst..

10-12-2010

Bad news!!!   The engines got to come out.   I spoke to jonspeed today and they have told me the middle ring needs to be fitted with the step towards the bottom. I cant remember how ive fitted them..   Im pretty sure ive got them the wrong way up.   My memory is crap so I just dont know.. will have to strip the engine to make sure. Was going to whip the head off anyway to fit new stem seals. Im gutted.

10-13-2010

Its not good news. I whiped the head off and found this.

The reason for the blue smoke is in the next photo..



The ports were taken out so far that it broke into the push rod holes. Am taking the head back to the workshop tomorrow to see what can be done. Luckily the bores are still good. no score marks, Ive posted the pics on the technical section to see if people think the head can be saved. What do you think? Is it FUBAR..?

10-14-2010

I took the head back to the workshop today and they are going to sort it. Meanwhile ive whiped the engine out and striped it all down. The pistons came up ok after a good clean.



Here are a couple of pics of the middle rings.





I have refitted them to the pistons with the step towards the bottom. So basicly they are the wrong way up in the pictures.

I have used this stuff on all the bearing shells.

And down the bores, Its messy stuff but im told its just about the best thing you can do to help the engine run in.



Will try and get the engine back in tomorrow.

10-15-2010

Well the engine is still in bits. I thought I had a spare gasket set in the garage but I cant find it so have ordered some more from Mini Spares. Spoke to the workshop today. They couldnt find any visible faults and will vacuume test the head to see where the oil is getting in. Its not easy though as the head wont be at working temp. They will re-sleeve the push rod tubes if they see any leaks.. They say it will be fine and not to worry, They can fix it!!!1

10-19-2010

Its home... WOOO!! They have re-sleeved two of the push rod holes. The vacuume test showed a slight leak!! And they also replaced all the inlet valve guides and fitted the new stem seals on all eight valves. All cleaned and re-tested, no more leaks. The new gasket sets came today so ive been in the garage all evening rebuilding the engine. Just the flywheel to fit and then it can go back in "Haggis"

Here's the strange thing though!!! They say there were never any welds over the original sleeves..... Now I know im geting on a bit, but i could have sworn they said the sleeves had been welded. After lots of replys on here and in the techy section im starting to wonder if I dreamt the whole welding thing.

Is it possible that ive gone Minimad??? The wife says it happened years ago. Any way the engine should be back in and running by the weekend.

I will post a vidio of the start up, Heres hoping its all fixed.

10-21-2010

Thats me just back in from the garage, the engine is back in "Haggis", Ive just got the starter motor, carb, manifold, lcb, radiator, dizzy and oil cooler to fit and with any luck it will fire up. I will get a video posted of the start up. Really hope its going to be ok!! I just cant face having to strip it down again.