I would add....tape or hold some sort of flat sheet over the radiator fins to protect against accidental damage when removing.....too easy to to damage if you slip or whatever.

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"Show me the Mini!"

Personally I would leave the radiator in especially if you have the engine lifting bracket, a hydraulic crane and the car up on jack stands with the pot joints dropped.

I have always found that struggling to undo radiator shroud bolts and getting the bottom radiator hose off and then getting the radiator past everything does more damage than lifting the engine straight up til everythings clear (with the earth strap and the speedo cable undone) and then move back with the power plant and ancillaries. Lower it and place it on a trolley or blocks of wood.

Then you have all the time and room to undo and remove the radiator without working in a tight space.

depending on what you plan to do to the engine

if you are only giving it a little cleanup / cosmetic rebuild then all you really need to do is
disconnect the gear change stuff ,speedo cable ,engine steadies, fuel system ,brake pipe for the front ,all the wiring

then undo all the subframe bolts after supporting the subframe on some wood/milk crates/anything solid...etc

then get a mate or two to help you lift the front of the car over the engine

you won't have to worry about lining up mount holes (contorsionist style) , rebuilding cv joints (tends to be messy) you'll get a good chance to chean up more of the body where the subframe was

the subframe it self can be tendered to as well

and if you really want to get the engine off that it's only another 4 nuts and bolts an earthing strap and 2 cv joints

best bit is you'll same some money on engine crane hire and it'll give you a good excuse to spend the money you saved on beer

just remember to remove the lead bricks out of the front.....

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why does everyone want a Cooper S when you ca have a better Clubby

A bit of cardboard box taped over the radiator would help protect it from damage.

When I used to pull out my 1275LS engine, I used to remove everything off the engine, then I would jack the motor up with the floor jack and lift it by hand onto a milk crate (by myself) I used to be strong and stupid.

I have an engine crane these days.

I don't want to get too far off topic - but a friend of mine was a Navy band member in the Vietnam War days and sailed 3 times to Vietnam on the (?)aircraft carrier used as a troop ship. He had a Mini that needed work so he rented a garage from a little old lady over the road from the docks. He got 4 mates together and they lifted the motor out and carried it - one on each corner - up the gangplank and into the hanger area where he worked on it to his hearts content in his free time - which for a band member was plenty

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

The modified troop carrying aircraft carrier was the HMAS Sydney and also known as the Vung Tau ferry.

Yeah I quite belive that story could have happened - that and other similar stories makes modern service people cry with despair as in some regards the modern services bear little resemblance to the forces of the sixties.

On the other side todays services are extremely professional and are virtually hand picked for certain jobs. Back then it was just a numbers game - get enough servicemen and you will find someone to do the job - regardless of their willingness.

Was that last week Mike

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"Show me the Mini!"

completed the engine removal today with the help of kevin thanks mate

everything ran pretty smooth besides one of the tie rods was stuck we couldnt seperate it but we worked around it and got the pot joints out so it was ok
took around 2 hours

didnt remove the radiator or antyhing we used doogies method and it seems to be relativly easy

thanks for the help

cheers bob

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1978 NUGGET GOLD 1275 LS

good to hear mate !!

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