project begins
Turbo Mini Forums

right.. i just sold my moped for ?850, i had to give ?200 to my missus so i now have ?650.
i want to get started building my turbo engine.
i want to spend about ?350 to get it all started.
i would spend more but my girlfriend wants to go on holiday later in the year so i need some extra cash.
What do i spend my ?350 on????

1/2 a decentish engine ??

9 valves, 4 wheel drive, 3 cylinders, 1 turbo, which got nicked

there's a turbo, carb, head and all manifolds that i might get, then the hard bit sourcing the turbo is done

that ?350 will soon disapear! very quickly aswell!
Looking for a omplete metty would be your best bet as they tend to be cheaper than the engine on its own.

yeah that would be a better idea, but i don't have anywhere to put it, i already borrow my neighbours garage as it is. i also find that all the cars i want are up north and i am down south so getting them is a pain in the arse. i will be out of college soon so i will be working my arse off for more cash, this ?350 is just so i can kick start the project and make sure i finish it instead of drifting off the idea. i can't fit the engine now cos my insurance will not allow it, so a year of building and fettling will keep me busy and ensure i am turbo powered asap!

If I were you, i'd have a word with your local friendly scrapyard and get them to set aside the next (non MG) 1275 metro that comes in. (remember that post 88 ones were unleaded aswell!) Maybe ask if they can call you once it arrives, so you can actually check the gearbox and general engine health. As you don't need the manifolds or carb, this will keep costs down!
Take a compression tester aswell...

Once home, separate the engine and box. Change ALL the gearbox bearings (and those in the transfer case), and diff thrusts even if they look ok. Fit a decent diff pin aswell. Carefully check the baulk rings, and replace if less than 30 thou (0.75mm) weargap. Finally, fit a centre oil pickup!
The Haynes metro manual is a cracking guide for stripping and building boxes by the way! People are scared of gearboxes (which suits me as i charge ?150 labour to rebuild one) but there is no need to be!


As regards the engine, if the comprssion test was ok, leave the pistons in place - don't even remove them!
Do remove the big end caps however, aswell as the mains and give the crank journals a good visual inspection. 99% of the time, they will be in good order. For the sake of ?40 i'd replace the mains and big end shells for new standard ones. Carefully check the thrust washers and end float - replace if needs be.
Change the oil pump for the Avonbar superflow pump - don't even look at the old one!
I recomend you swap the cam now - MG Metro ones are usefull if on a budget - but always fit new followers - the chilled iron ones are plenty good enough! A new duplex timing gear should be fitted - ilike to retain the tensioner just to remove the slack from the duplex system (don't forget to modify the timing gear cover and backplate to suit)!

Doing all that will give you a bottom end and gearbox that will be good for many, many miles of reliable motoring and will cope with as much boost as you could want when starting out, or in the forseeable future!

cheers i will drop to a scrappy soon. and see what i can find

I think I have some standard manifolds, I think I can't use them anyway.
Shout when needed but keep in mind that it shall be posted from Holland.

i reckon i am going to just try and get the turbo, head, carb and manifolds from a metty turbo.
i can concentrate on the engine over the next month or two, keep an eye on the free ads etc..

I wouldn't bother with a 'turbo' head... The later unleaded metros were around 22.5/23cc in the chambers, so had a lower CR than the boggo metro turbo!
There has also been a few cases of turbo exhaust valve heads falling off recently...
If you get a std unleaded head, just open the chambers out a little, and get the seats re-cut to ensure a good seal, with a seat width of 50-60 thou on the exhaust to help take the heat away from the head...
All you need then is one of those 'ebay adverts' with the regulator, carb, inlet, plenum all included!

thanks dave, i don't want to get a valve head in my engine. I think i'll just get it all anyway then flog the head.
oh yeah i noticed some of you guys are running the emerald mapped ignition.
would this one be any good?
http://www.polestarsystems.com/

It is slightly better than a dizzy, but is not ideal for forced induction engines as there is no boost pressure compensation... Hence light throttle under cruise at 4000rpm it'll have the same advance as at full boost accelerating hard at 4000rpm...

Thats what i just noticed when comparing with the emerald setup.

have 3 turbos carbs manifolds. olso arno if you need parts transhiped between holand uk i can help as in holland weekly

i think i have some sort of curse, i was outbid by 50p for the 1098 i was trying to get and now after watching for a hawk for a week and getting ready to bid on saturday morning, the turbo, head, carb and manifolds have been sold off of ebay,. arghhhhhh !!!!!!!
i am getting so bored. i use my car every day so i don't really get a chance to work on it, i need things to work on before i go mad!!!

Edited by clubman_dan on 19th May, 2004.