Hi all. Is anyone up to date on quality high output engine builders with a proven record - in Sydney or Adelaide. I am after a pro to prepare an engine for subsequent turbo mod. All external aspects of the mod I'm doing myself but I want to have the reliability of an engine built by a pro to the right specs with the right engineering.

Also, I saw mentioned on the site something about cone LSD's for $400. Is anyone in Sydney making these up at a comparable rate.

Cheers......

in adelaide Southcott Engineering do good work (itihnk they might only do machining though)

if you want a quality rebuild go to Price Alexander Motors.....i tihnk they're just off Goodwood Rd. The guy there is just finishing the rebuild of his 1275 GT and they always have their workshop full of concours jags, minis etc

In Sydney, I'd try Graham Russell, at Russell Engineering in North Rocks. He builds heaps of motors for the Mini racing crowd, and others too..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Cheers guys. That gives me a good start........

I think everyone probably has a horror story to tell about every engine builder in the free world.........soooooooo

Unless you are starting with billet cranks etc money spent on Crack Testing and Balancing is likely to be very well spent.....

Doc.......you want to chime in on Nitriding, Shot Peaning etc

Magnafluxing: what a neat term, ergh word, ergh oh you know what I mean!

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"Show me the Mini!"

`Magnafluxing' is a crack testing procedure used on stressed steel components like cranks and conrods. I used to check my cranks etc at the NSW Railways when I worked there long ago...
A DC electromagnetic field is generated and the crank is put across the magnetic circuit. A mixture of `iron filings and kerosene' is poured over it. Any cracks (even sub-surface) will make the filings stand on end.

`Dyecheck' is a process of crack detection using a red dye. Surface is cleaned, dye is sprayed on and left a while, then cleaned off and sprayed with a white spray. Any surface cracks show as red lines in the white dusty surface. ONLY shows surface defects.

`Nitriding' is a gas hardening process applied to surface harden steel after machining is complete. It only works with some steels (like EN40B), the hardness is surface only, about .010" deep.

`Tufftriding' is a similar hardening process applied to cranks made from lesser steels, eg EN16.

Some engine builders frown on nitriding/tufftriding a bit as they think it warps the crank...

`Shot peening' is a controlled process of blasting the surface of conrods etc with smooth steel shot- this puts the surface layers of the the steel in compression and thereby improves fatigue resistance.

Original nitrided `EN40B' S cranks are nice but are 30+ years old now. Many of the racers are running the big pin 1100S cranks, some have been destroked a bit to be 1300cc with a 73mm bore using S rods.
For the street many stroke them out to get more cubes. Ain't no substitute for 'em...

Billet cranks are machined from a solid steel bar rather than forged.

Billet, or forged EN40B cranks are both available new, if you got the dosh.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I lost an 1100S crank due to incorrect grinding, snapped it clean during a particularly spirited drive, an autopsy revealed however that when the crank had been ground the grinder had not left enough radius on the sides of the journals...bugger!!! motor had only done 25,000 or so miles....Got an EN40B S crank from Greg (miniclassic) and Graham put my motor back together together for me and dynoed it... got me flying faster than ever

G

OH!!! and whats this about LSD's for $400?????

Only Oz-made LSD I know of is done by a guy in Brisbane, whose name escapes me. Well known engine builder..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Mini specialist? Can't be too many 'well known' engine builders in Bris and if we can narrow it down I will investigate this $400 LSD.

I doubt his was $400 though.. that sounds a bit cheapo...

<edit> ping justminis... he posted something about it on MM board recently, but the search function there, doesn't..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

How much it cost to hire a welder for the weekend? $400 or so....

Ah so it was a `CIG locker' diff, was it...

At least there's no wearing parts then, to crap your oil up...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Would that be the bronze 1275GT??? Its been there for at least 10 years... thats some rebuild...

Price Alexander's is a stone throw from my place, which is kinda handy... When my bro's datto 1600 died, we pushed it there to get it fixed Pity they didnt fix it properly.....

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[NATHAN] -- Sold everything mini related and am back in big beautiful BMWs

fair enough SC...ive been there a coupla times and havent had any problems....and yeah i know the GT has been there for a while.......