I figured i would post my project up. I spun a bearing in my motor, and while i realize that i could of just rebuilt the stock motor with a new bearing etc., that just didnt seem like as much fun as getting some more power out of the ordeal. So, I gave Jan a call and decided to get a RMW powerplant for my MINI. there are some other mods that i am doing since it will be down like springs and finally getting my rear sway bar on. Found a good deal on some 17" rims locally as well. I have to say this is by far the most extensive i have ever been into a car. I have done some engine mods to my mustang and motorcycle, but this is the first time i have ever pulled a motor completely. Here she is: bumper bracket off, just have to remove the crush tubes and can slide the MFE off. crush tubes MFE off. i had lots of help from Gerldoc's how to on removing the modular front end, found here:MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - Girls's Guide to Removing the Bumper, Bumper Carrier, and the Modular Front End lookie there, stock slow motor. my brother looking at what the next day has in store. looks just a little different, calling it a night. got the intercooler removed you cant tell from this picture but everything is disconnected and the motor is ready to be pulled. right befor the first attempt and pulling the motor. this is after i realized that the driveshafts had to be removed in order to remove the motor. after a couple hours of researching how to remove the driveshafts, finally got the motor out. looks so empty ready to be disassembled.
some of my other mods. Alta 22mm rear sway bar and some KW lowering springs and my 17s Craven tapless adapter for the oil pressure also received some goodies from Alta Performance front and rear endlinks oil catch can
you're having some fun now!! very nice project, are you getting a 2L stroker? That's what I would do. AND-doesn't it snow there in that driveway soon? good luck, you'll love it!
after looking back on it, i probably should of spent a little more and got the 2L stroker. but i just decided to get a 1.6L with all the go fast goodies. Ive spent an awful lot on other stuff as well. Clutchmasters FX400 clutch i got for cheap and just an obx lsd for now. race header from RMW as well. My goals for this is to get into racing and then after i save some more, order a rotrex kit from Jan at RMW. And yes it will snow here eventually...my motor should be on its way shortly.
I would have loved to do this work in my garage, but my brother, other roommate and I keep that fairly full with all of our toys. He has a foxbody mustang that he is in the process of twin turboing. then we also have four motorcyles, two dirtbikes, and a Ford lightning in the garage right now. If the motorcycles weren't being ridden everyday. i could have put this in the garage as well, but since the weather is nice....
did my rear sway bar tonight before it started raining it just kills me the difference, but then i did buy the 22mm one... all installed
talked to Jan this evening and he said it will be shipping either tomorrow or Wednesday. Then I have some time to spend putting everything on. I still need to split the trans and install my lsd. Then figure how to get the mount thing off the intermediate shaft. The boots on my axles were bad, so instead of getting a rebuild kit I just orderd some level 0 replacements from the Driveshaft shop. I really didnt want to spend $800 on their level 2 racing axles. My plans for tomorrow are to get my exhaust off so i can get my other rear control arm off. Then I will be renting a spring compressor and attempting the spring change. Im excited for the motor to get here. Hopefully the race header will be on the way shortly as well.
the 1.6L with: RMW Big valve head RMW pistons RMW Race Cam RMW sump baffle new Mini rods New bearings, mains, rods new oil pump new timing chain and tensioner 550cc injectors Brisk Spark Plugs bored/balanced /blueprinted The estimated hp I think will be close to the 250 range. I will have to see i guess, unfortunately I wont get the great Dynapak tune with Jan since the closest Dynapak is close to a four hour drive away. So I think we will just be using a Mustangdyno for the tune. Numbers will probably appear high to cause the air will be cool when it gets tuned.
Try laying on a folded up cardboard box. It makes a huge difference, and you can slide it around as you move.
todays work: I got the rear shocks off, have had the front struts off for awhile. I plan on getting the spring compressor from O'Reilly's on Thursday. Then I have 48 hours to get the springs changed out. got my exhaust removed as well stock control arms off, top and bottom of course are the Alta arms. the top middle is a factory control arm and the bottom middle is the dealership's replacement arm. I bent both the drivers rear control arms in an accident so thats why they are different. drivers side pass side it got dark on me then, so i moved into the garage and took a look at my transmission got her cracked open, looks like fun in there stock diff that NEEDS to get lost and get replaced with this lsd cam focused on the trans and not the magnet, but the shavings were not as bad as i would have thought also, how many people have looked at the bottom of their gas tank? Because I would like to know who the unlucky souls where that received the last option there:
Hey everyone Im back! Car is mostly done. motor has been in for awhile, but I started having electrical/starting issues. Its currently at MINI of Omaha waiting for them to figure out the problem/s. new wheels waiting for some rubber
this was just the other day when I drove it up to Omaha: It wont start with the key, but if I push start the mini will run perfectly fine. At first the service department thought it was just the ignition switch, but after changing that out and it now fixing the issue, they are basically to the point i was at and just scratching our heads.
Check starter kill switch on clutch pedal, or connections to that switch. I recently read a similar symptom reported. Good Luck....
ya, that has been checked by service department, and they said the connections were fine. I had put in a new starter and battery before taking it to the dealership, so I still think it is a ground somewhere, but after going through all the grounds i could find again and cleaning/redoing the connection its still not working