Picked up the rods this evening. Turns out the seller was Josh from Mini imports. Will most likely buy a disc brake conversion kit from him shortly too. Had actually been messaging him through AusMini about the brakes while I was talking to him through eBay about the rods, never realizing it was the same person.

Looking at the rods from a profile view, they're clearly assymetrical. That leads to the question of prepping rods to use in a stroker. How much needs to be milled from the rods? Which side do you mill the material from?

wait for Kev to chip in with the dimensions, but stick it in a lathe and turn it of both sides evenly so that the centre of the little end bearing stays in the same relative position to the centre of each main journal.

seen 4 rods done in about 10 minutes like this, and there was still time for a cuppatea.

cheers
michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

can't imagine where that would have been.

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Grab them from the inside on a 3 jaw chuck.
They need about .015-.016" off each side of the bigend. Aim for .010-.012" side clearance on the crank.
You can lighten them a bit each side whilst doing this.

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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.

Can you machine off the big weight on 1100S rods?

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Yes. Been there done that.

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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.

So how much better than std are they? how do they compare to S rods?

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

I'd be surprised of rods are a big issue with minis.

The three main bearings and two bold caps present a bigger issue in my mind.

Question for the doc, realistically what are the weak points wit the bottom end, standard 998 vs cooper s.

Kev, do you mean you can take .015"- .016" of each side to get the .010" - .012" side clearance?? or Is that for lightening the rods in general??

Also, your photo of the rod, how much material should you leave on the little end when you lighten it to that rounded shape??

Cheers Shane

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If it's not a Cooper S, the mini was designed to be modified!

Q1. A cooper S crank has rod journals 1/32" wider than a big J crank does.
So to use S rods on a stroker crank you either narrow the crank webs (weakening them), or narrow the rods as I said (better idea).
You can lighten the rods a bit as well, follow the pics in Vizard's book to see where.

Q2. I just belt linished the lumps off and kept the original profile.
I got them shiny though so GR could heat to the right temp with his bigass LPG burner, when hand push-fitting the gudgeon pins during piston/rod assembly.

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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.

Ok, that make sense!
So does the aim of .010" - .012" rod side clearance when on the crank only apply when using a "stroker" crank due to crank flex??

I've got a set of AEG521 rods going onto a 12G1288 -.010" - .010" crank, just wondering what side clearances I should be aiming for??

Cheers Shane

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If it's not a Cooper S, the mini was designed to be modified!

.010-.012" total side clearance. Stroker or not. A little more won't hurt on a stroker.

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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.

Hey Doc how do the lightened big journal rods compair to the S and A+ rods?

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Lightening 1100S big J rods (which are 740-750g)-
Mill 8mm off the caps
Linish the little ends round
Finished weight of mine with bolts & nuts = 673g.
Vizard's lightened ones were 660g with a bit more work.

Vizard says a stock S or 1275 Midget rod is about 690g.

A stock A+ rod is about 650g.

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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.