Wide Ratio Gearbox And 1380 Engine Build by AndyMiniMad

7 minute(s) of a 171 minute read

Well I stripped the other gearbox and sure enough the new baulk rings were causing the whole thing to tighten up...I stuck two of the best used ones I could find from other old boxes and rebuilt it...Its perfect now...so thats the proof!! new baulk rings are not great. The gearbox is now fitted back on the engine and ready for the timing gear...
This is the higher spec 1380 im building now...here it is before I popped the pistons in..Center main with the correct tensile strength bolts..And straight cut bits..

1-5-2012

I didnt want to take any chances with it locking up and shearing the lugs of a baulk ring..I suppose it woud have been fine really. but Guessworks suggested useing one of the old rings from another box...(In another thread). and there was nothing wrong with the old ones any way so just bunged a couple in on third and fourth..

3-1-2012

Ive been away for a while working, so have not had much time for the mini's. but good news..

Thats the higher spec engine ready to fit into Tatties...So ive got two fully built engines waiting to go in now...Ill get round to fitting them soon...Honest...but meanwhile I have been busy trying to get a deal done on a new home/workshop for the cars..and great news, Ive managed to secure this place...







Its clean and dry with plenty of room...A bonus is that its always nice and warm inside due to the premises above having under floor heating..So the cars will be stored with out the risk of rust..superb..

It also has pleanty of workshop space available and all I need to do is sort the electricals out for sockets and extra lighting...





Im delighted..the minis move in mid March.

3-3-2012

I bought this to help fill the new workshop space...









Im going to fit the cooper interior to haggis and sell the 1293 mini sport engine..Then after ive finished the clubman..this shell will become my new project...RWD I think..possibly R1...or maybe VTEC...

3-8-2012

Ive moved some stuff in already. No cars yet.thats next weekend I hope..

3-14-2012

Oh my god! I cant believe how much stuff Ive collectet over the years..Its strange but I didnt think I had so much Mini stuff untill I tried to move it all to the new workshop...suffice to say ive been to the dump twice with stuff ill never use and that nobody really wants any more. Breaks my heart to chuck Mini bits away but I suppose you cant keep them for ever.
God knows how im going to fit three minis in now!! I think one more trip to the dump. Im just going to have to be strick with myself.

3-15-2012

So once id dug out the rod change mechanisms for the clubman I discovered that reverse would be a problem due to "stop" plate on the bottom of the box being all bent and broken, meant that reverse could be selected without having to lift the gear stick,,,also the housing had no hole for the reverse light switch...Anyway the other rod mechanism is good except for the rods which for some reason are about 10cm longer than normal??? so I decided to swop the rods from one to the other...But could I get the damm pins out? Hell no...bashed away with a big Hammer but no luck...
So what did I do...I cut the long one and measured the lenght against the shorter one..A bit of welding later and its all fixed.



I cleaned out the box and regreased it..





Then in went the reverse light switch, and refitted the rubber bobbin thingys.





Hope I got the lenght right!! but will be a while before it goes on the car as ive got a lot of other work to do on the shell first.

3-18-2012

So the joiner has been working hard at the Mini cave putting new double doors on for me..



And I spent most of the day yesterday transporting "Haggis" and "Tatties to their new home..

Haggis all loaded up ready for the long 1 mile trip...



On arrival..



And then It was Tatties turn...



Mrs Minimad was delighted to get her garage space back..



Arriving...A longer 7 mile trip for Tatties...



It was a bit tight getting them into the bays but once in, they look at home...





Space for the purple one...should be collecting him tonight..



And all locked away..