Hi all,

Hoping to pick your brains with regard to an issue I have with my new big boy... I have just bought a 75 clubman which looks the previous owner had got almost all the way through fixing up. He had the head reco'd, new valve guides, crack tested etc, but apparently shortly after putting the head back on it started to smoke. I have only had it in my driveway for a couple of days and would like some ideas as to what could be wrong with it before we go tearing it apart. It runs well enough & holds oil pressure, we get puffs of blue/grey smoke when you plant your right foot down, but none when just idling. It's also got a good amount of soot in the exhaust... Suggestions from various parties have been *big end bearing *piston rings *electric fuel pump not running properly *valves, and of course each opinion has various reasons why it could not possibly be the others! I haven't actually had the pleasure of pulling apart a mini engine before, so would welcome any suggestions as to what the problem could be and ways to diagnose. Thanks!!

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~ My greatest fear is that there is no PMS and this is just my personality ~

if it dosnt smoke at idle and only when under load then id say its the rings. If its a blackish smoke it could be running rich.

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1974 Moke - 998cc
76 Clubman B16a2 Vtec AWD Turbo 12.9@105mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9PW49e1hYs

do you know how long it was between drives for him, my rotor does it and beleive me there is nothing wrong with the motor its all the crap that gets caught in the exhaust,

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any parts for a 76 clubby pm me or ring 0405 329 326

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44717

start it up. leave in neutral. rev it for about 1 minute at 3000 rpm. if it is smoking, the rings are stuffed.

PS: i recall previous owner (or friend of previous owner) calling that car "Smokie the Bandit". IE: Problem has always been there.

Yeha, I know the feeling. My old mini used to blow smoke all the time too, but I had it long enough to know there was nothing terribly wrong with it... I would hate to just presume it's 'just smoke' on this one at this early stage and then have something go really snafu on it if you know what I mean - I'm too happy to have another mini in the driveway to break it this soon!

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~ My greatest fear is that there is no PMS and this is just my personality ~

Tell us what colour the smoke is..

you didn't mention whether new valve stem seals were put on...

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

the smoke is a dark blue/grey colour, and as far as I am told it did have new valve stem seals done before I bought it... it lets out a little puff when you start up too - nothing major tho.

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~ My greatest fear is that there is no PMS and this is just my personality ~

I would say its your rings... on their way out.
It could be mixtures (ie/ running rich) does it smell like raw fuel when you start or plant it?

Peter.

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Click here for the Turbo Conversion Thread!

yeah, it does smell a bit rich when you start up and when you give it a hit... I was reading a post on adjusting the fuel mixture this afternoon so we will give that a go too.
so is it a big job to change the rings over??

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~ My greatest fear is that there is no PMS and this is just my personality ~

You would not just do the rings, you'd rebore it and go the next size piston up..rebuild the lot..

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

cool... can anyone recommend someone around sydney, and what do you reckon it would be worth to do??

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~ My greatest fear is that there is no PMS and this is just my personality ~

Mate, depends on what you want done
If you JUST want bore, hone and fit new pistons then your looking at about $180 ish for pistons and rings, and $150-$200 (??) for bore and hone

That would mean you strip it and assemble it.
You would need new gaskets too.

I dont think you would get change out of $1000 but I could be wrong.

There are many places but 2 that I can recommend are
Russell Engineering - North Rocks (But get in line, he is the busiest man in Aus)
Mini Classic

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Click here for the Turbo Conversion Thread!

ouch! I was thinking of getting it rebored etc somewhere down the track when the bank balance looks a little less ill - the main priority at the moment is to get it drivable and registerable rather than suping it up. Is it worth replacing the rings and leaving everything else as is to do a 'for now' fix, or am I just pushing crap uphill with a stick (so to say)

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~ My greatest fear is that there is no PMS and this is just my personality ~

yeah, just get it tuned right, put some nice thick oil like penrite in there and save your pennies

If it's an oil burner, you will be constantly cleaning your plugs, if they don't foul up and melt first. You will be topping up your oil every week, and the 'fun' of owning a Mini will soon fade away.....

As an option, try to source a cheap second hand 998. You can pick up a runner for $100. Drop it in, get rego and enjoy the car.