Engine Drivetrain 1st Gen Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: GNAT - The Resurrection

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  1. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #4 Dave.0, Feb 23, 2012
    Sorry about your car Nathan, you could always get an RMW motor.

    .... Just sayin :aureola:
     
  2. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #15 Crashton, Feb 24, 2012
    I know Chad knows his stuff. Yes it would be hard to get a new engine in there without pulling the old one, but how about a Twini? :ihih:

    Post Mortem or exploratory surgery is a good idea. Looking forward to the R53 episode on CSI Detroit. :D
     
  3. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #22 Nathan, Feb 25, 2012
    MINI is sitting in the Detroit Tuned spa now. Not a bad drive today, the little bit of snow a few times did make things a little interesting but nothing that driving slower and paying attention didn't overcome.
     
  4. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
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    #24 DneprDave, Feb 25, 2012
    A loaner!?

    Studebakerloaner.jpg

    Dave
     
  5. Mr. Jim

    Mr. Jim Mudshark
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    #32 Mr. Jim, Feb 28, 2012
    Refrigerant please...... Freon is the trade name for Dupont's Refrigerant..

    Just one of my pet peeves being in the HVAC field for a long time :)
     
  6. Detroit Tuned

    Detroit Tuned Well-Known Member
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    #36 Detroit Tuned, Feb 28, 2012
    or he will get so many that he asks me to stop...

    :wink:
     
  7. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

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    #37 BThayer23, Feb 28, 2012
    Sweet. Seems like there's been a dearth of good picture-heavy deconstruction/construction threads lately.
     
  8. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #44 Nathan, Feb 29, 2012
    The camber plates were not part of the purchase. I have a set of Vorschlag's that may or may not be used again.
     
  9. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #58 Metalman, Mar 2, 2012
    No no no.....
    It's engine "a la carte"....:D
     
  10. Johngo

    Johngo New Member
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    #64 Johngo, Mar 2, 2012
    Gnatster Gnome?
     
  11. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

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    #74 Rixter, Mar 3, 2012
    Guys, we're going to need to come up with a new signature for Nate

    Somehow "Slightly modded..." doesn't do it justice any more. Any suggestions?

    How about, "Complete transplant recipient, 2012..."
     
  12. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    #75 Justa Jim, Mar 3, 2012
    "Modified back to OEM condition". :D

    Jim
     
  13. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #78 ScottinBend, Mar 3, 2012
    Nahhhhh.........

    Slightly more modded.
    :D
     
  14. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #79 Nathan, Mar 5, 2012
    Block is now at the machine shop to be checked over.
     
  15. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #89 Nathan, Mar 6, 2012
    Update on pistons....

    Have a set of RMW .20 over being sent for the rebuild. No compression changes from stock. Includes new rings and pins too.

    Also with help from Jan instead of grinding the crank and going with MINI over-sized bearings I'll be getting a new OEM Reman Crank with Mahle Rod and OEM standard size main bearings.
     
  16. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    #91 agranger, Mar 6, 2012
    [​IMG]
     
  17. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #96 Nathan, Mar 8, 2012
    Ahh...new issues have cropped up. The head needs work. Looks like the last ones to play with this head did some stuff wrong.

    Stay tuned for details and hopefully some pictures.

    Now my own head is starting to hurt too...arrghh
     
  18. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #98 Minidave, Mar 8, 2012
    In for a penny....

    The good news in all of this is that you seem to have found an engine builder who knows what to look for and how to correct it - so the end result should be a really good running, reliable engine. Worth the headache in the end.....

    Have patience, young Jedi.....[​IMG]
     
  19. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #99 Nathan, Mar 8, 2012
    Already is a Big Valve Head. Happens to be RMW's Jesus Head #2

    I need to stress that this is not a problem with the product as it was delivered from Jan back in 2007 but is probably from an overheating incident along with poor quality work when the head was gone over in a previous rebuild.


    In the last rebuild all of the exhaust valves and 2 intake valves were replaced. Something was not right with the intake valves supplied.

    Take a look at the stem on the 2 intake valves on the left side of the image below.

    [​IMG]

    Another small issue...heh... that was to be addressed in the last rebuild is shown below. Look in the spark plug hole. Yeah, that's not right.

    [​IMG]

    The plan with the head going forward is:

    1. Replace all intake valves.
    2. Clean and re-blend all valve seats.
    3. Repair cracks.
    4. Replace all seals.
    5. Clean everything and reassemble shimming to match the current OEM cam.

    Why not put in a new hotter cam?

    This rebuild is for reliability, not for all out HP/Torque.
     
  20. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #117 Nathan, Mar 10, 2012
    I already have a BVH as mentioned in a post before. It is an RMW head. It is the 2nd head he produced and was the display model at AMVIV 2007 before going on my car directly after the event. It is probably the most fondled RMW BVH head out there. The cam is stock, at the time there were no good alternatives. I'm not rocking that boat now as this build is more of a reliability one than one for all out power.

    Jan is supplying the +0.20 pistons and sourced me a reman OEM Crank as well as the bearings needed for this rebuild.
     
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