Engine failure today :(
Turbo Mini Forums

An expensive learning curve too :p.

You were lucky, glad you got yours sorted though :).

I guess I need a new head then :(.

the manganize bronze guides need to be reamed after fitment.

if that has not been done correctley! and the local heat on number 4 is a little more, if the engine has not been set up would bubble the temp up causing the problem, i have known guides to nip up even when the guides have been reamed though, especillay if the reamers worn which is generally the case.

its not all bad news, the rest of the engines ok. a piston, head and gaskets and a weekends work.

if they are std turbo pistons i can supply you one for free, please pm me

so chin up and away you go

an AEM lambda gauge brings to mind did you have one fitted ?

Thanks for the kind words everyone :).

Thanks for the offer Benross, but they are Omega cast pistons. I'll ring med on Monday and see if they sell them separately!

Unfortunately no lambda gauge yet, plan was to fit one when the gt17 goes on. Definitely essential though by the sounds of it!

AEM first! then the piston they do sell them seperately.

take your time and plan it spot on with all the parts etc .............. remember ............. "you only get babies if you rush!)

Good news on the piston, thanks!

Ok will order the aem kit too!

Benross pm incoming regarding a head :)

Good job it's payday on Tuesday.

Hard luck on the engine failure.

I've been trying to get a single Omega piston from MED, they said they don't supply singles. I've now contacted Omega direct and they come back to me saying they could supply a single piston but I got to get MED to purchase the piston from them and then I can purchase from MED. I've emailed MED asking if they can do it this way, but I've had no reply from them as yet.

Holy moley, dontknow what else to say...

What the mind can conceive the mini can achieve
MITP 2012 17.01 seconds 1/4 mile against "The Don"
MITP 2013 16.83 seconds 1/4 mile

I killed an engine while running it in, now I run the engine in on the rollers. How do you think race engines are run in? They are not! Bed cam bearings in then flat out

Team www.sheepspeed.com Racing

Thanks for the replies :). Thanks for the heads up on the piston dion. I don't live that far from med, so I'll visit them and have a word.

Jimster, that's what I'll do then, thanks. New pistons, head and straight to the rollers. The hour drive to the rollers is enough for me then!

Surely the head can be repaired ?

New guides, new valve seats and a bit of a clean up ? Ive seen much worse repaired.
If you can find a good shop to weld cast iron, all the better, then it can be cleaned up properly

Check youtube for cast iron head repair and you'll see various people doing it.

What is the condition of the valve springs ? What were tappet clearances like ?

A broken spring could also lead to such damage when valve control is lost.

The exhaust valve on the other cylinder does look pretty white too.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Thanks for the input :)

Valve springs are approx 1k miles old, like the rest of the head.

Valve clearances were a bit slack, bit tappety. I think I'd set them to 16 thou, was going to readjust before rolling road.

What would the white valve suggest please?

Usually lean running.

Benross advised me 12 thou on the inlets and 14 thou on the exhaust so 16 shouldn't of been a issue.

What the mind can conceive the mini can achieve
MITP 2012 17.01 seconds 1/4 mile against "The Don"
MITP 2013 16.83 seconds 1/4 mile

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Springs are all good, same for the rockers. Piston crowns look fine, look quite clean still, not sure if that's from a lean mixture or because it's not done many miles.

What size cast Omegas are they? Will be nice to hear what MED have to say, they have not responded to me after I emailed them last week looking for a single +40 cast omega.

Throwing in an unleaded valve seat insert on the inlet will remove most of the damage it seems. This leaves some minor cleaning of the chamber followed by balancing he other chambers to measure the same CC.

Edited by Evoderby on 24th Feb, 2014.

+20 10cc in mine. Shame we're not after the same, could have gone halves on a set :p.

Hopefully evoderby, on closer inspection the seats are thicker than I thought. Should remove most of the damage.

Ok buddy..... just a note to say hi....... hope you get the motor back soon and back together...

Hey Sprite
Sorry to see the damage mate.
The exhaust valve in cylinder three in your pics looks the wrong shade of brown for me but I guess you know that.
Fancy a meet up some time as your not to far away from me?

Jawd

I've got one these "modified" heads on a shelf in the garage. Cause was a tight guide.

I'd say that that head can be saved....

Hi Carl,

Thanks mate, hopefully the bottom end will be sorted in the next few weeks :).

Jawd, yes I'm up for a meet, where abouts are you based?

Yes vegard, good news on the head, it's on its way back to me :). New guides, inlet seat, valves, chamber clean up and a good service!

Any news James...........??

Just another point in case you run them, most folk dont use guide oil seals on the exhaust guides as the very small amount of oil that gets past is good for cooling/lubricating especially on a turbo motor.

-MINI CLUBMAN 1380 TURBO-