This photo shows the tent that attaches to the rear of the Van to allow unloading of sealed boxes (think Bears) for sleeping with the new platform extending into it (as did the single bed).

PHOTO - in camp near Barstow, California the night before the fateful heat and climb into Arizona.

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

Am I missing something?
Why Persist with a Sleaved Block?
Surely a Non sleaved Block would be a better option?
Dave

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I so hope one day you write a book with pictures. Your trip and adventure sounds amazing..!!!

I really like that tent that fits on the back of the van. How does it attach and prevent water flowing in if it rains?

Cheers,

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

The tent overlaps the back of the Van - attaches ala clips used for boat covers - to substantially reduce possibility of wet getting in.

Without a linered block Diddy's Van would have been dead in the Arizona desert...along way from Canada...the crack would have gone into both bores. Liners and extra cooling got us home.

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

You Don't think a Block without Liners would have not cracked in the First Place

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One practical issue is finding 1275 blocks in standard bore sizes. Most used blocks will require a rebore and installation of liners with appropriate thickness will be reliable in an essentially standard engine. Since a standard engine was the design spec that Diddy wanted that was what was built in the UK.

Heat was the enemy on the trip south and particularly on the desert crossing and several thousand foot climb into the high desert of northwestern Arizona.

On my 1380 build in the sedan I run an oil cooler and extra rad for heat extremes and again had no issues with the conditions we encountered on the Arizona trip.



I used the same extra rad in ROO for the One Lap and it was fine in 40-45C temps in WA.



After we got the extra rad out front on Diddy's Van the overheating went away. In fact his damaged unit with new head gasket did not get above 90C on the run to home through hot weather and ran at 70C on the freeways to the north.



Diddy's Van does not have an oil cooler and in fact has a full length skid plate - which was removed before heading south to aid oil temperature cooling. Unfortunately the extra rad for the heavy Van build was initially too shrouded to produce all the extra cooling benefits I would have anticipated.

_________________
Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

New block is here from the UK...old unit is out of the Van and split.

Almost no oil showing inside the flywheel cover, no oil in timing cover, none on starter, clutch clean as a whistle, one of the breathers internals disintegrated - both to be stripped out,...and...cage on 4th gear support bearing broken.

Will finish strip and clean bits today and look at details of reassembly after all measurements.

Looks like ball joints should be rebuilt too...

Van to go to Canadian Rockies July 19th.

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

OUCH...on preparing the rebuild, cleanup of the head revealed a crack between #3 and #4 chambers (mirroring the crack in the block)...



Fortunately, I had a built head on the parts shelf so with a look and little cleanup, the "new" head joined the rebuild.



"Management" flies in from Glasgow on Wednesday...the Van must be ready to roll.

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

Running again...several short drives...longer one tomorrow...extra rad to go back in behind modded "grill"...Water Wetter in coolant mix...about ready to go.

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

House & garage are quiet...the Wee Scot and his Lass have headed for the Rocky Mountains in the Little Red Van.

All going well they won't be back until July 29 or 30 and Diddy Dave will have had the chance to share some of the natural marvels of Canada's west with Lynda (aka "Management").

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

Diddy's van is now my favourite mini of all time. Your adventures are admirable. Good luck Diddy and managment. Safe travels. Cheers Anthony.

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

Took the cracked block into the machine shop today. Will take liners out of #3 and #4 (both liners are heat distorted), check repairability of crack with stitch welding.

If repairable, will "stitch", bore and install 0.030" thicker liners and take back to standard 1275 bore and hone all 4 cylinders. Also chemically clean, drill and tap for oilway plugs, new cam bearings, freeze/expansion plugs etc.

Head will go in tomorrow re crack between #3 and #4 chambers. Will be interesting to see if it can be repaired as crack can be seen to be 1/8" deep. Disassembled head today and all valves/seats and iron guides are good, stem seals soft/flexible...not many miles or abuse indicated.

Message here is make sure your Mini has adequate cooling for conditions to be encountered.

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

Miserable cool, rainy day here at the moment and there have been several heavy rainfall dumps in the interior with several mudslides...

But Diddy Dave & Lynda have safely crossed B.C. and are into Alberta with sunshine at their stop near Hinton.



Now it's on up the eastern flank of the Rocky Mountains to Grand Cache, Grand Prairie and back into B.C. to Dawson Creek - Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway, our WWII hurry up construction project to get war materials to Alaska.

So far the engine build is working for them!

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!

Head is SCRAP - magnaflux today revealed very fine but deep crack down through the shared #4 intake/exhaust seat area in addition to the crack between chambers #3 & #4.

Still waiting for the assessment of the block....

If you are going to run in extremely hot weather, make sure your Mini has enough cooling capacity.

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Select a gear, bring up the revs and release the clutch...off you go!