Finally registered and on the road and trying to put a few K's (miles) on it.



Have or had three issues.

1. After the fist 50K trip on retrurn I found that there was coolant weaping out from the head gasket. Torqued it back down (60Newtons). Second run still a slight weap of coolant. Third, long run and appears to have stopped. What's going on??

2. The cover plates over the push rods, fitted with cork caskets and good sealant were leaking oil down the back of the engine. I had them a nice snug tight, but obviously not tight enough. Can you tighten the bejessus out of those cork gaskets??????

3. With the engine at running temp and sitting there idling, there is a slight "clack clack'' noise coming from the engine area. When you push the clutch pedal in it completely goes. What could that be????

_________________
Dalmeny

1. what sort of gasket?

2. I think the rubber ones work better, but haven't had side covers for years

3. what is your idler gear thrust washer clearance and primary gear bush clearance like? what condition is your thrust bearing in?

1. Not a copper one. Can't remember the brand, but one of those composite types.

3. Clutch and pressure plate new. Idle gear thrust washer, don't know. Primary gear bush, no lateral movement.

_________________
Dalmeny

Very neat engine bay.

3a. does your clack clack stay there if you hold the revs at (say) 2K rpm?

3b. the workshop manual describes setting the idler gear clearance which should always be done when putting an engine & gearbox together. Too tight and the thrust washers bind up against the transfer case and make a mess, too loose and the idler gear will slip from side to side under pulsation from the crank. Putting the engine under load (revving) or putting your foot on the clutch (disengaging) could be attributed to stopping the noise. Same could be coming from the primary gear if the clearances are too big.

3c. is it a 'hot' cam? I've heard (read) Dr Mini say that 1275's with a hot cam make that sort of a noise at idle - as mine always have done - though it seems to come from the front of the motor (cam gears etc.). Dunno if little motors do it too.

3d. Maybe the noise could be from the oil pump as well - new oil pump? what's your timing gear like? new gears and chain?

any clack clack sort of noises down that end of the motor will echo around because there's a lot of alloy in there. Could be all sorts of things, I may be talking out of my arse too - ultimately you're the only one who can diagnose and correct it because you're the one with the car

Thanks Simon

New oil pump, new duplex timing chain and gears and mild cam.

Anyone else got an opinion? Is it possible for the idle gear to slide back and forth a few thou and make a clack clack noise?

_________________
Dalmeny

how long was youre rebuild abs fab engine layout m8 was it complete nut and bolt wat is the paint color nice....

Dude, its a MINI, all of the above are normal

_________________

Master of the Moggie Army & Founder of Awesomestock2010

my rear covers both are leaking too, clean and new rubber and nut done up enough to squash in the cover a bit, looks like i will need silicon as well
if ur engine is new and using thin cheap oil it may sound a bit rattly in the tappets too, did u adjust the rockers?

_________________
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn...that was fun!"

See, totally normal

_________________

Master of the Moggie Army & Founder of Awesomestock2010

See members gallery "Clubman Project"

_________________
Dalmeny

If it was tappets I don't think it would go away pushing the clutch in.

_________________
Dalmeny

I can see there that you are not running any breathers , I am suspecting a crankcase pressure problem , as the pressure expands it will try to find the weak spots , gaskets etc

my 2c

.

_________________

i know that , just givn u some heads up for when u get rid of that noise what u will hear next.

_________________
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn...that was fun!"

If your covers are the ones that rise outwards with the bolt on the peak then you need to seal around the bolt head. There is a rubber/felt washer as new but I put some RTV Grey gasket maker under the bolt head and the leak stopped.

Agree also with the suggestion that unless the engine breathing is set up properly it will blow oil. Can't see a PCV set up in that rocker cover. I have the same cover that I put a BSB thread and 90 degree angle output and plumbed it in with a toyota PCV (under advice from DrMini) to the manifold.

Cheers

_________________
Dave K.
1979 Moke Californian + 1981 'Coke' Moke