I'm toying with throwing my 1100 into Chimera and getting it driving 6 months ahead of the rest of the parts I'm working on, but the engine hasn't been turned in 18 months.
It still has all the oil and water in there from when it was removed from my 850 (I know, silly move, but it was new stuff at the time) and it was destined for a rebuild before running again, but now I figure if it'll go I'll get some minor use from it till later.

Anyway, can anyone forsee any issues with simply trying to crank it up again after so long? I'll give the engine a service of course if it does. Or should that be before?

Thanks.

Nah....kick it in the guts ...ergh, check all fluid levels first

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"Show me the Mini!"

Okay a couple of things
Turn the motor by hand to make sure is does several revolutions to make sure it doesn't have rings rusted to the bore. Take the rocker cover off and check that the valves are all moving.

Then change the radiator fluid and oil. Take the spark plugs out and spin the motor on the starter until you have oil pressure. Once you have oil pressure go ahead and hook everything up and start the motor. Let it run for a few minutes to check for unwanted rattles etc and to normalise, if all okay then just simply drive it.

It may smoke a bit at first but should then settle down unless the reasons for smoking are wear and tear in the engine and not just related to standing.

Yeah...wot Mike said if you want to be real careful....

but really, 18 months is nothing for an A series....assuming it has been stored with the ports and all orifices blanked off ....try 10 or more years...cough, cough, splutter, vrooom...they just keep on keeping on!!

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"Show me the Mini!"

As per Mike's instructions, but while you have the plugs out (and prior to even turning it over by hand) I'd spray some CRC into the bores just to loosen everything up.

Also I'd leave the oil in there until it's been run & warmed up,
& just in case anything leaks. Then change it.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

If it's on the ground, I would perhaps change the drive shaft seals out on the diff casing, they're about $4.50 each and are eaaaaasy to do while the engine's on the ground.

If you're feeling really energetic, then maybe the timing cover seal as well. You just never know.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

ok, ive just done this yesterday, to a 998 i paid $10 for, now its been out of the car for 8 months, and the guy didnt know how lonk since it was run, but it still had the rad etc on it, i checked the oil, added some in the plug holes, turned it over a little, cleaned the hs4, put my spare dizzy in as points were missing.
it started easy, 3rd try, but it has now cheesecaked the rings, i was not carfull enough, or the rings broke up in storage, however, it did run beautifully, just burns alot of oil!

moral of the story....a-series are tough, just be carfull
goodluck

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speed costs....how fast do you want to go...