New to forum

[jwmiller]

Good evening everyone!  Just wanted to introduce myself.  My name is Jeff and i'm in the Dallas area and I own a 1976 Austin Mini.  Currently torn apart, i'm rebuilding the engine and have heard Kip motors is a reputable shop to go to.  I need to get the cam bearings replaced and i'm thinking of taking it there. 
A little bit about the car:
Right hand drive import from New Zealand, 2-piece carbon fiber front end, 1275 bored .010 over, front and rear sway bars, and coil springs instead of cones with gaz shocks.  Car has been sitting for years and i'm finally getting around to getting her back on the road.
Attached is the car back in 2005 and then how it sits currently (sadly)...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/m7TmmbrDNkGwcvg56
https://photos.app.goo.gl/m8kSCmpp8WCizQWs9

[Wings]

Hi Jeff,

My Mini is at Kip Motors right now. They rebuilt the head, fixed a sticky oil pressure relief spring, tweaked the Weber and adjusted the timing. It's supposed to be ready this weekend after an alignment and a few other adjustments.
I've heard good things about them and I hope that I can recommend them after I get the car back. I will warn you it make take a while before you can get your car into their shop. I believe I waited about three months for an opening. Things happen slowly too but I don't mind if the results are worth the wait. Good luck with your Mini.

Paul

[jwmiller]

Thanks for the info, I’ll have to try and get over there this week to check out the shop and have a chat. 

[Wings]

If you visited before yesterday afternoon (8/15)you probably saw my red '91 Cooper. If you didn't, well, it's parked back in my garage today.

Originally I planned to get the car on Saturday but a few days before that the shop discovered some badly worn ball joints. As along as it was there they ordered the necessary parts and got to work earlier this week. The alignment was rechecked and I picked it up late yesterday. It was a toasty ride back up to McKinney but it was great to have the car back. The rebuilt head and new head gasket found some much needed horsepower while the new front end pieces tightened up the steering noticeably. They fixed a low oil pressure issue, tracked down some rattles in the dash, massaged the Weber and fixed a fuel tank vent issue.

The final bill was a little steeper than I would have liked but they did a good job and fixed quite a few things so I can't complain. If you do stop by for a tour of the shop, tell them Paul W. says hello.

Paul

[BritBits]

Hi Jeff, welcome to the group.   

Very nice looking car when it's together, hopefully it won't be long 'til it's running again.

If you need cam bearings installed there are good machine shops in the area that can do the work.    If you're looking for someone to do the full job of putting it back together then, yes, someone like Kip Motors or British Auto Specialists in Haltom City might be better.   Lloyd at BAS was using an 848 powered Mk I for his daily driver last I checked.

The A-Series engine itself is pretty simple, the magic with the Mini is getting the transmission sealed to the block and the clutch and drop gear setup.   I had a 1275 Cooper S drivetrain that didn't leak a drop of oil... until I melted a piston


Cheers,

Jim, Diana and Jimmy
Almost Oklahoma
1963 Mini Cooper 997... and a few other toys

[jwmiller]

Thanks Jim.  I understand about getting the gearbox mated to the block and sealed.  Last time I put it together, I put ARP main studs in it and had to "modify" the gearbox a bit to get them to fit.  Since then, I've always had an issue with an oil leak from, I believe, the mating surface and also from the flywheel seal.  This time, I'm gonna go back to factory main bolts so I don't have to grind the gearbox again.