Metromartin - 22/3/2016 1:38 PM

Hi Martin, Saw this mk1 MG Metro Turbo with out engine and thought might be of interest to you! its in the Neatherlands!
https://www.facebook.com/littlecarcompanyholland/posts/473308926191520

willn - 18/4/2016 10:10 AM

That engine is looking pretty. My other half races a 998 mini so I really need to learn how to build these.

We're not allowed to build anything to your sort of spec tho, I think that would give her a little bit of an advantage!

willn - 18/4/2016 3:19 PM

Shes in autograss.

You can skim the head slightly, +60 pistons, they have a class1 cam that is all you can use other than standard and that's about all. All the ignition system, inlet, exhaust has to be standard mini issue parts.

If you're getting serious you can balance rods and pistons but only to match the lightest one from the original engine. I know people who collect engines to weigh all the rods and pistons to find the lightest ones!

Marv_666 - 9/5/2016 12:41 PM

I don't want to comment on your luck with engines in case it jinxes you...
but with MY luck, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened to me!

110bhp is a bloody nice figure though!
That's a 50% increase over my stock engine!

KLAS - 12/5/2016 11:21 PM

regarding your new cam, did you check if the tappets did actually turn during lifting? there are quite a lot of new ones out there not ground to the correct radius. they will eat your cam in no time. sometimes they just need some help to start turning and work right after break-in.
sadly most of the time the cam maker will tell you that you used the wrong break-in lube, or not enough of it, no propper break-in procedure, or the wrong engine oil, etc.

DotMatrix - 12/5/2016 11:59 PM



can it be checked if they are turning while the engine is running? by watching the push rods?
help them start turning how?
but no, they are not turning all of them, this was clearly visible when I removed them from the wear marks.

yes I can imagine the range of excuses that cam makers can come up with. but so far they have been very helpfull in answering my questions, last question they send was to measure the installed spring height. probably to determine if they wear is caused by spring crush.

but the cam and tappets are going in again as they are as I need to be racing again the 11'th of june

KLAS - 17/5/2016 5:20 PM

yes, you can watch them turning, i use some bright paint at the push rod end. the push rods won't turn on its own so it's a good indicator that the tappets are turning.
after you made sure the tappets will turn during assembly but you notice it will not turn when running a small twist at the push rod end may help. but watch your fingers.
if they won't turn during assenbly there is a problem that needs correcting. mostly the tappets can be reground, if you can find a shop that still has the correct tooling to do so.

DotMatrix - 17/5/2016 5:51 PM

And i guess that once the tappets have been helped to start turning they will continue to turn