Anyway I removed all the valves and fitted a new no.2 exhaust valve and was amazed that this engine has excellent valve guides and unworn rocker gear....the oil seal O rings were hard as hell though.
It was when I was lapping the valves in that I then remembered I haven't used my speed lapper for some 20 years (Ford 3.0 Essex engine) and all my suction cups were all split....new ones soon sourced though.
Now this car done 121k miles, & before stripping down had a copper head gasket and some very frozen nuts and studs.
From what the previous owner tells me and from bills & invoices the engine has had no internal work in since 1989.
On inspection the engine bores have traces of honing marks, no discernable wear lip on the bores, pistons have very little sideways movement & had very little coke on them and cleaned up in seconds. The previous owner owned the car since late 90k miles.
Now from working on old A series Mini's I always thought these A series had noticeable top wear by 40/50k and blocks were fairly worn out by 70k miles, but being an older design they will go on even when really sha**ed....this from working on 1275 GT Mini, a 1100 Clubman and a Metro Turbo all owned by my mother and all from very low miles.
From what I see on the pistons these are std size, with a mix of three grade 2 pistons and one grade 3 all marked MOWOG meaning an old pistons and all in std size, the rest of the markings are a mystery to me being M2007 N28 on the grade 3 and M2007 N31 on the grade 2's....and all facing front which is nice
I'm puzzled. I'm thinking that at some time a new engine must of been fitted but not a Gold or Silver seal as they are no traces of Gold or Silver paint anywhere.
I'm new to moggies so any comments welcome.
PS tried to post a picture but no luck
