Hi all,

I'm planning to remove my Mini's engine soon, and I have a few questions..

I'm going to make up a lifting bracket like the one in the How To section (but I will make a hole for the D shackle rather than welding it on), but I'm not sure what thickness of angle iron to get. I was thinking 5mm, but that won't leave all that many threads on the head studs (especially when the head washers are on there too, and I would have thought it is a good idea to use these), so what thickness would you guys suggest?

I also tried to remove a few of the head nuts (the middle three at the front), but with
two of them the studs started to come out of the block before the nuts turned on the studs Any suggestions as to what I might do about this?

Finally, I remembered after loosening the above three studs/nuts that the head nuts are supposed to be tightened and loosened in a particular order to avoid warping the head.. Do you think loosening the middle three nuts at the front while leaving the rest tight will have caused me problems?

Cheers,
Harry

5mm will be fine, especially if you`re using 3x head nuts/studs

& don`t worry if the studs loosen a bit, big deal, rip them out, fit your bracket & bolt them back in

it`ll be fine to lift the engine out

i only use the one center bolt/nut & that`s all we`ve ever done, 40-plus years of pulling mini engines out & not once had a problem using the one center bolt/nut,,, so using 3x of them will be sweet as, no-problemo

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Leave the headwashers off when fitting the lift bracket.
I cut away the bracket to use 2 studs, and leave the middle stud and nut tight.
If a stud comes out, just put it in a vice and take the nut off, then lock 2 nuts onto it and screw back in.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

The brackets I've made have been 3mm and had no problems

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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!

My bracket is 6mm but had the holes slightly countersunk where the nuts will screw down and fit into the plate and I don't fit washers

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

Ok, I will probably go with 5mm then.

Thanks for the help,
Harry