Help - is my engine now scrap? :(
Turbo Mini Forums

Well everythings gone fine so far, it seemed like it had gone too smoothly!

Last night finished everything, all tappets set perfect, some cheap 20/50 in it just to flush through and tried starting it up. The fuel in the tank was old though so only wanted to hear it attempt to run and thats all.

It was all sounding fine, i turned it over without the plugs in first to build the oil pressure and to bring the fuel through.

After that i started it as normal and it ran, and i switched it off straight away after just a couple of seconds.

today it wouldnt start at all, it sounded like the starter motor was struggling as it wouldnt turn at all, so i changed it, but nothing, same again. I tried to push the car in 4th gear but it was jammed.

I was really really worried that it was my gearbox, so this evening ive just taken off my wok and the clutch and flywheel (i have no garage so im working at side of road now) and then i tried pushing it in 4th again and it moves, and you can see the primary gear (?) turning where the clutch was.

I tried next to turn the engine over by tightening the flywheel nut back in and turning it with a breaker bar (didnt force it too much though) and it wont budge at all.

What would you guys do next?? Put the flywheel and clutch on and check the timing chain side? I hope you dont say take the head off because its going to be so hard without being able to take the enigne out to take the turbo off.

I made sure i didnt drop any 10mm spanners in my engine! I can get photos of anything!

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

not really relevant but pic before i pulled the flywheel off it!

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Did you actually see an oil pressure reading on a known working gauge before you fired it up?

hi tom, guage is brand new and cable is brand new, turned engine over from the engine bay without spark plugs in just to build up the pressure ive always been told to do that?

The oil pump and things were all working well on dannys car which the engine was in originaly. Looked down the spark plug holes at the bores and none of the pistons are at the top theyre all about half way

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

All i can think of it being is something to do with the timing chain or something that end?

is it worth checking?

Honesltly it ran for 2 or 3 seconds then i turned it straight off i only wanted to check it was firing right and things. Then wouldnt start again and its stuck.

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Answer the question as I previously posted, did you see oil pressure registering on a gauge before you put the plugs in and let it fire up?

hmm, even if it didnt have oil pressure it shouldnt lock up that quick. if it only ran for 3 secs.

Did you prime your oil pump?

yes james toms question needs answering !

I was told the way to prime the oil pump was to do what i did without the plugs in, thats what i did with the other engines ive put in and its always worked.

I didnt do it in the car though i turned it over by shorting the starter motor so i could watch the engine at same time.

Should i start looking for another engine?

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Should i put wok back on, release the other side of the engine and take off the timing cover??

Could it be anything in there?

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

you still have to answere Toms question! Did you get a reading on the instrument?

its an analogue guage!!! Its a bog standard smiths one. it doenst log the history or anything and i wasnt sat inside the car!!!!

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

You NEED to SEE pressure on the gauge or via a light!

I always crank it over with the plugs out till I get oil pressure (making sure i've primed the pump ia the oil transfer pipe)

once i've seen at least 20 psi i stop and repeat 3 times to make sure the press still comes up and make sure i carry on cranking for half a min the last time.

only then do I put in the plugs and start the engine.

and i never take my eyes off the gauge for the first few minutes.

a bit OTT perhaps, but better safe than sorry!

okay, lets say you started it without oilpressure then, but if it ran for only 2-3 secs that shouldnt make it bind up completely like this.

To be honest it was probably even less than 2 - 3 seconds, i was right outside the house and it was very late, ive worked on it past midnight most nights this week outside.

Im very worried now wish i knew to look at the guage to build up pressure first.

The oil pressure was really strong on it when it was in pot_dans car as a NA engine.

Is it worth checking the timing chain side? Im stuck on what to do today

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

63 is right,

although i pay this much attention to the oil pressure, even if all the bearings were totaly dry i wouldn't expect it to lock up so quick,

have you tried turning the engine both directions?

First thing i'd do is pull the plugs and have a look down the bores see if water has got in to one of the bores (making it hydraulic)

next i'd pull the rocker cover, if i can't se any thing there i'd pull the rockers off ( this should let all the valves relax to their closed position eleminating valve contact)

Next i'd pull the timing gears, then youl be able to tell if it is on the crank or cam.

after that I'd pull the engine out and start inpecting bearings.

why do you think it's something todo with the timing chain??
pull the rocker cover off, and check for bent valves. also put the car in in gear, (4th) and try pushing the car backwards

Team Racing

yep tried pushing in both directions. Took spark plugs out first and checked in bores all seemes ok. Also took rocker cover off too and all the valve tops are still in place (not fallen out lol)

Ill take rockers off now and see for changes thankyou jimster and min13

only was thinking it was timing chain end just because thats the only other mechanical bit that i can think would lock the engine in both directions

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Look,

FACT of the matter is - something is WRONG.

Instead of second-guessing, just whip it out, get it on the engine stand, and start dissasembling it until you find the culprit. All it'll cost you is time and a few gaskets.

Unfortunatly for you, i think dave is spot on here, its not worth risking something if its fooked. Get the engine out and start checking it over as something isnt right, an engine shouldnt run for 3 seconds and then cease up.

Edited by andeh on 11th Jun, 2006.

I've seen the future and tbh its Pie

I found the problem....

when i used a dizzy blanking plug, i didnt take out the dizzy drive, its now stuck in at a slight angle, stopping my engine from turning over

Any way to get it out without taking the engine out? If not ill hire a engine lift for next weekend.

Ahh well learn from mistakes etc.

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

take the diff rear cover off , and put your arm up through the box , and wiggle the drive loose .

Everyone knows that instructions only have to be read if the thing doesn't work....

haha

I was thinking more like taking the flywheel housing off and reaching in through there.

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

I'd try and get it out through the dizzy hole. On an a series its quite a big hole, get a magnet pick up tool and then turn the crank to release it and wiggle it out.

Why on earth would you leave it in there anyway?!