Oil pump fitting to block concern... very weird
Turbo Mini Forums

Anyone ever seen this before?

This should have really been flagged before i got this block machined - but it wasn't - so if it really is an issue i'll have wasted a fair amount of money.

The block is a 1275 A+ that was fitted in a 998 mayfair. I can only assume this 'rebuild' was carried out by Ray Charles. There have been many things done on it (or rather not done on it) that have been interesting to find for my first engine rebuild - this is probably the best so far....

Anyone know why the area for the oil pump is like this? It's like the person who owned it previously has had it machined further down to fit a different type of pump - a 1 litre?

Whatever the reason - i have been told by the machine shop that when i come to build my 1380 just to make sure i fit a 1 litre oil pump as that will fit (also the cam bearing is 998 size i think - bit weird for a 1275....)

My concern is that where it has been taken down it is no longer just a hole for the high pressure oil - it has now exposed the channel and all the way to the edge!

Will this be a problem? Will the pump/gasket seal still and provide the necessary flow of oil to the engine adn not just piss it out of a possible gap?? I'll have to get hold of some pumps and see how close the fit is, but would like to know your opinions on this. Nobody so far has ever seen something like this. Bit worrying! I might have just wasted a lot of time and money if this can't be used.

What do you think?....

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Hi,
I don't like the look of that, looks like it'll leak from that corner. You maybe able to weld it and re-machine it?
You'll need a 998 cam as well?
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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Edited by Brett on 6th Sep, 2008.

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

Hi,
I thought the small bore cams were shorter thats why the oil pump hole has been recessed further? I don't know for sure.
Cheers,
Gavin :)

VEMs Authorised Installer / Re-seller. K head kits now available!

WB/EGT gauges. Click here for customers write-up

Visit www.doyouneedabrain.co.uk

My Mini build diary

so has the oil pump location been bored into the block and cut through an oil way or has the dodgy grove been cut into the block? i cant make it out

has the engine been used since this has been machined or has the previous owner cocked up and sold on..

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

All cams are the same length

998 oil pumps have a longer drive on them

The hole for the oil pump is indeed deeper on the 1275 compared to the 998 hence the need for a different oil pump




Cant be sure But I have seen similar on a block converted from Auto to Manual

Edited by Sprocket on 6th Sep, 2008.

Yeah - i don't like the look of it either! My mate pointed it out as we were going over it - so trying to work out if it will be alright to use. It better be!

Not sure if a weld/re-machine is possible so i'll drop it in to a machine shop on monday and see what they make of it.

It seems that the pump fitting area has been machined deeper and cut into that oil way exposing it - not sure about the groove made.

Cam fits fine.

I ran the car for a couple of hundred miles after purchasing it - and there were a few leaks (not from around this area) and the oil pressure was always a tad low - but it ran. The oil pump that came out on dismantling the engine was shafted though - so wouldn't have helped i'm sure.

'has the previous owner cocked up and sold on..' I think i can say without a shadow of a doubt that the previous owner cocked up. A LOT! Haha. When I get my website up and running to display pics/blog showing my project progress etc I'll have a special 'Cowboy Corner' to showcase some of the sheer negligence and half-job findings. Turns out I paid over the odds for a car where some TLC was an understatement. Oh well - gotta start somewhere...

Just hoping this isn't too much of a problem / there is a work around

Mini mayfair 1986: To be turbo again

Sprocket

2542 Posts
Member #: 965
Formerly Mini Sprocket

Outer Reaches of Cheshire Country Side


6th Sep, 2008 at 11:49:04pm
PM User | Quote

All cams are the same length

998 oil pumps have a longer drive on them

The hole for the oil pump is indeed deeper on the 1275 compared to the 998 hence the need for a different oil pump




Cant be sure But I have seen similar on a block converted from Auto to Manual

apologies for the copy+paste error at the end of my last thread. schoolboy error

Something very wrong there, and I don't just mean the exposed oilway...

The pump mounting bolt hole configuration is all wrong for a 1275 A+ and the cam bearing looks like it's half the length it should be (presumably as a result of the recess being machined deeper.

I presume the reason they told you to fit a "1 litre" pump is because the bolt configuration looks like a small bore block.

But why, if it's a 1275 block ???

Anyway, I doubt if you can fit a small bore pump unless you use a spacer because, as Sprocket says, the small bore pumps have a longer drive stub on them. Have you got a photo of the pump that came out and was there a spacer behind it ???

EDIT - Ahhhhhh..... Picking up on Sprocket's comments, I've just found this on another site.



Look familiar ???

Auto block converted to manual !!!! You must have a matching spacer.

Edited by Rod S on 7th Sep, 2008.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

ahh all the pieces fit together now, great find Rod S :)

Yes i moved to the darkside

Instagram @jdm_brett

Hope you can sort it mate!!

By way of an explanation, apparantly the auto block has the additional recess depth as the auto pump is much thicker and does NOT have the oil outlet gallery as the pump outlet is external.

So the modification is to machine up the spacer, drill all the front to back holes, press it in (it has to be a tight fit in the recess) and then drill down through the relief valve port to connect to the outlet hole in the plate and this new drilling often ends up part in the block and part in the plate.

Apparently there are several other mods required to the block which is what you are probably seeing as the "cowboy corner" bits.

BTW, I wouldn't have found it if it hadn't been for what Sprocket suggested.

Edited by Rod S on 7th Sep, 2008.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

Sprocket and Rod S you legends! I've woken up nursing a semi after reading the last few posts! The idea that a custom made spacer plate might save the block from the scrap yard is brilliant!

Great information and finds guys. Loving it. I'll have to find out more info and a place that can sort me out - then i'll post up some pics of the eventual fix.

My mate wasn't wrong when he said the best way to learn about minis is to take the whole thing apart and start again!!!

Cheers

Auto 1275 conversion plate me up!

http://www.miniman.com.au/image/adaptorsoilpump.jpg

honestly - is anything straight forward on this car!! haha

#!*#ing love it though

Here's where I found the DIY method and the photo.
http://www.austinamericausa.com/

If it doesn't jump to the right page, you'll need to go to "Technical Advice" near the bottom of the lefthand menu and then "Engine" in the Categories menu.

EDIT - one other thought... if you're going to stick with that block and sort out a spacer, I would consider drilling/tapping the block/spacer with the bolt holes to accept the "big bore" pump (spacer thickness would probably need to be different too) otherwise you will not be able to fit the high capacity turbo pump if you go turbo in the future.

Edited by Rod S on 7th Sep, 2008.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???