Engine Drivetrain 1st Gen Cooper S GNAT - The Resurrection

Discussion in 'Tuning and Performance' started by Nathan, Feb 23, 2012.

  1. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Nathan did the same person build the bottom & top end of your engine? Or did you have the misfortune to find two guys who are not so good at what they do?
     
  2. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    It was one person.

    It's done, it's over and I'm moving on.

    I've also decided not to renew that shops Local Shop listing here on M/A.
     
  3. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut:Not even a hint for the unsuspecting slob (consumer) who may enter that shop tomorrow with their last $1000:frown2:? I don't want to cause a $hi+ storm but how about:idea::
    1.Texas- Yes/No, if yes:N,S,E,W, or central, city maybe?
    2.Other State?
    3.East Coast, West Coast, Gulf Coast, Middle America?

    "vee have vays of making you tock":ihih::lol:

    Jason
     
  4. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Nathan I don't want to know who did the FUBAR job, just wondering if there were multiple suspects. I was not trying to dredge bad memories up for you. :eek:
     
  5. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut: I GOT IT! He's still in the threads but no longer on the sponsor list. I never would have guessed it would have been him:eek6::frown2:. Well since I like being a member of this here forum and Nathan runs the forum and he won't tell, I'm forced to keep mum. SORRY GUYS:frown2::frown5:

    Jason
     
  6. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    So, this is one of those "I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you" deals?

    OK, so I vote we move on then.....

    What's with those intake valves? Just the wrong ones or is the stem like that for better air flow?

    Was the cylinder with the bum spark plug threads also the one that blew out the plug? Or did that ever happen with this head? Or did it ever even happen, or am I just imagining things here?
     
  7. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Yes, lets move on please. Like I said, it's water under the bridge.

    Those valves have a back cut to them to improve airflow. But they were wrong for this application. How they got in there I do not know. I'd have remembered getting back cut valves. It's only 2 of the 8 total intake valves. I fear someone played mix and not match with the head. Oh well...

    It will be right now.

    Considering how quick the car is on the compromised engine when it all comes together correctly I'm thinking it will be a bit of a screamer.

    <rubs hands together and makes heh heh heh sounds>
     
  8. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    I find it disappointing that you won't say who did the questionable work. If you have taken the step of removing them from the sponsor list and from the shop locater you should let us all know instead of requiring us to do the Sherlock Holmes'ing......

    IMHO of course.
     
  9. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    The shop never participated on the site. I had them listed cause they did a lot of my work. a quid pro quo type of thing.

    I'm loathe to name them outright for a few reasons. 99% of you will never have the occasion to visit. The shop is not a MINI shop but more a general automotive repair shop. Lastly, I'm not giving them the time or space to respond, so it's not fair and balanced.

    I know what happened, the attention to detail was just not there. For normal everyday work such as oil changes, tire work and basic part removal and replacement that 99.9% of their customers require they are very good. When it comes to this specialty work to be done with time and money constraints things fell through the cracks.

    Am I thrilled I spend all this money already on things that were not done right? Hell no. But I'm not about to let this denigrate into a classic interwebz war.

    I learned that one really does need to find and work with a real pro such as Chad, Way, Eric etc when things go really wrong. They may cost more upfront but in the end they cost a heck of lot less in the long run.

    In other news....

    The parts coming from Jan are mostly on their way. I have to give props to Jam for shipping before the check arrived. If you are reading this Jan...the check really is in the mail!
     
  10. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    Now that explanation works for me.

    Thanks for clearing things up, I am sure others were wondering the same thing........
     
  11. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
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    #111 Redbeard, Mar 9, 2012
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2012
    I totally had a mental image if you looking like Bender saying that. :lol:

    [​IMG]
     
  12. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    I was thinking more along the lines of Brain.........!

    [​IMG]
     
  13. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    I was thinking more like Pinky...

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Heh, Heh, Heh.....
    And I was thinking more like....

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1uIIY2glaY]Sesame Street: Danny Devito: Heh Heh Heh - YouTube[/ame]
     
  15. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Jan (RMW) parts?.... Would that be a BVH & CAM and...:confused5::confused5::Thumbsup:
     
  16. BlwnAway

    BlwnAway Well-Known Member

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    I think Nate already had a BVH, probably pistons & such.
     
  17. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    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.
     
  18. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I can tell you from experience that if one is not careful they can take a wonderful street car & turn it into something that sucks on the street even though it is a hell of a lot of fun on the track. This is an experience most folks do not enjoy. For daily drivers be careful how far you mod.

    In Nathan's case it seems to have been shoddy work in the past that bit him. He will end up with a fast fun & reliable car after he gets Gnat back from Doc Chad's. :Thumbsup:
     
  19. Jan

    Jan Well-Known Member
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    A properly done, cam/head/header will do both just fine without issue. It's all in the proper parts and tuning
     
  20. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    ....and proper assembly. ;)
     

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