I don't think drilling a few holes into the side of the block is going to effect the structural integrity of the block. It's not going to make the block suddenly flex about, so unless you are worried about making it easier for the con rod to shoot out the side, then i just wouldn't worry about that anyway as it won't make much difference!


As for the rods, if i had a good set of rods i would use them. If i didn't and had to source some then i would just buy some new ones from minisplus/GR as it's not that much more expensive if you put new rod bolts and have them honed etc.

Like I said in the other thread I dont think $600 is alot to spend on H-beam rods IF your S rods need balancing/machining and possibly new bolts.


Great build by the way

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I've been told that cast iron toughens with age so this block should be better than when new.

What a motivating thread, can't wait to see it on the road.

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1970 Mini Deluxe - 1275, Weber, Clive 346 cam, MS 4-pot slotted discs, Megajolt ignition Now with new improved Mambas... almost on the road
1966 Van with Traveller rear seat conversion
2008 Prado GXL
All in various states of repair...

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Zulu...

1967 mini Cooper S

Still collecting parts. Thought I would try a couple of the Specialist Components bits.

Thermo housing with by-pass.



Water outlet, with sensor.



AND, the dummy cam, which turned out to be a turned down second hand shaft, with fairly significant pitting on the front journal. Sent an e-mail outlining me dissappointment. Just a warning to trusting shoppers. What you see is not exactly what you get.



Hope to catch up with Matt in Queensland next week and gets some tips for the next step. In the mean time saving my dollars for the bottom end build.

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Dalmeny

Wow, I'm surprised SC sent out a cam in that condition. It may be fine to use (Personally I'd think it could pose a problem) but it still looks cr@p .

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Hey Really cool to catch up with you Steve, thanks so much for dropping in man , you`re a legend honestly

& yeah kenno pretty sad lookin jack-shaft hey? Steve brought it with him & i`m not impressed, nor am i impressed with all the water outlet-angle n thermo-hsg things either, not meaning to bag them at all but if they were a bit better thought out they`d be cool,,, but still,,,, they "look" flash hey?

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Jeez, that's quite disappointing from Specialist Components. From all the flash stuff you see on the internet you would expect better than a rough cam.

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1963 850 - laid up
1970 Morris mini K van - eating up the kms!

Just a quick update. No, I haven't chucked the towel in yet, you can't spend what you haven't got. I have been saving for the bottom end build. So off to Graham Russell this week.



Few more bits and pieces acquired. Still not sure about the centre oil pick up, for road use. With the little bit of mesh you get for the oil to suck through, you'd hope the mesh didn't get blocked up.



I reckoned I will need more fuel with this motor, so fitted one of the right hand plastic tanks.



The next update will be when the motor comes back.

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Dalmeny

Centre oil pickup is fine for road use, just change the oil & filter often.
No more than 3000 mile intervals (I do mine every 1500).

I've run one for 20 years in my road car.

If you don't use one and the oil level gets down to min or less, the big end bearings will go south on roundabouts etc.
I've rebuilt a few because of this (not mine), the crankpins wore oval.

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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.

Thanks Doc, thought it may have been a fad, like S/C drops, which more people seem to complain about for road use.

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Dalmeny

Looking good.

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Lovely work. Nice, steady progress. Is there a planned turn around for the bottom end, or is it just up to GR?

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1963 850 - laid up
1970 Morris mini K van - eating up the kms!

I think S/C drop gears are over rated
Sounds like the gearbox is stuffed to the uninformed

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S