Classic Mini Restoration Video #2 - Removing An A Series Engine Following The Haynes Manual

Removing The A Series Engine Following The Haynes Manual : I've managed to get hold of a 1275cc Metro Engine. I'm going to fit the engine so that I can test it works...but to do that I have to remove the 998cc from the car. Not something Ive done before, so in this video I pretty much follow the Haynes Manual to the letter and remove the Engine and Gearbox from my mini. There was a lot of head scratching as I wasn't familiar with the names of the parts but eventually I sussed it out.

[@williamkennedy5492]

I did a gearbox change as a 17 year old, they were hard to work on until you got to know them, i had four minis, the fifth beong for spares, loved them at the time , but now at 69 i like my comfort. Fond memories thank you. I wrote my first off due brake failure going down a hill,

[@SmugwoodMini]

I think brakes have always been a bit of an issue with the minis...I had a few myself when i was in my teens. Lost most of them to fire :-( Hoping this one will last a bit longer :-)

[@Benn3320]

Excellent video! Thank you! Now in the process of restoring my very first mini Mayfair 😊

[@SmugwoodMini]

Good luck. Can be very stressful :-) But good fun to drive once they're roadworthy :-)

[@carlmc9775]

Just about to start on my 1981 mini . Great video

[@SmugwoodMini]

Enjoy the journey and good luck 👍

[@robharwood-stamper9857]

Motivational video of the year! I'm no mechanic either... But my mini will run again! Need to remove the 1275 I have as a starting point.. this video is so helpful. Thanks

[@SmugwoodMini]

Glad it's helped. It's one of those jobs that once you've done it once...it's so much easier next time round. Good luck.

[@tcellen2136]

nice...it's a pain but I've got it down to 45 mins from bonnet open to out on the floor. I've never had to take the steering arms off. Remembering now that the speedo drive is an easy thing to forget too. About to go for my 7th time so I can repaint the lump properly this time.

[@Radfordperson]

Never forget the engine earthing strap. I did once, the throttle cable glowed red hot!

[@SmugwoodMini]

Definitely very good advice 👍

[@mad-maxx2211]

Radfordperson do you mean when re assembly?

[@Peter-oz8ec]

@@mad-maxx2211 yes. He does. It’s a common mistake and the engine finds its earth through the throttle cable and burns it out.

[@mad-maxx2211]

@@Peter-oz8ec I see. Thanks 👍👍

[@omegacouchpotatoe5998]

OOHHhh I love the music to this Vid ... " This is the south Preservation Society "

[@SmugwoodMini]

Yeah it's a quality song...I think most people who hear it think of minis :-)

[@edrawarwickshire3701]

@@SmugwoodMini I can imagine those minis are running in the freeway chassing the bus...😁

[@ClassicCarCave]

Great video and good step by step guide i‘m sure it will get lots of views for first timers and top reminder for the older hands lol. Cheers Dave

[@SmugwoodMini]

Thanks Dave. I was actually quite surprised at how heavy the engine was for such a small engine.

[@Uniquecapture]

For future reference I always found it easier to disconnect the front subframe from the body and then lift the front of the body up high so that you can wheel the engine and subframe out in one piece. Putting it back is also far easier and involves less scratched knuckles :)

[@SmugwoodMini]

its something I did on a more recent video :-) We lifted the car over the subframe and it worked well. Definitely less scratched knuckles haha

[@Uniquecapture]

@@SmugwoodMini It's been 40 years since I worked on minis so I am enjoying your videos :)

[@owencook2332]

Thank you for this video! Managed to get the engine out last week!

[@SmugwoodMini]

Cool. Hardest part is being able to find all the bolts as most are usually covered in mud haha :-) Is it out for reconditioning/upgrade?

[@owencook2332]

Smugwood Mini Full strip down, no upgrades 😁

[@SmugwoodMini]

Ok cool. Good luck with it. Minis are a pain in the ass...but so much fun :-)

[@shriramvenu]

thanks for this. considering rebuilding my engine and nice to see whats involved with taking it out

[@SmugwoodMini]

No problem :-) Im not a mechanic and i found it easy enough to do. Helps to have the hoist etc...and the haynes manual of course. Hardest part is remembering where everything goes when you put it back. There was a point when I forgot where something went...so i just looked at my video and saw where it went...so always worth taking pictures or video to help :-)

[@MiniMattTV]

Love that you’ve never done it but just got on with it

[@SmugwoodMini]

I’ve found the Haynes Manual is coming in very useful 😂. I’ve got until the new year to get studying as the shell is going in for a burn and blast early next year...so the entire car I’ve got to strip down.

[@mindrivencarclub9403]

Great video, something that i need to do with my mini so I can weld the rust up!

[@SmugwoodMini]

It wasn’t too difficult if I’m honest. Following the manual was fairly straight forward but the hoist made things so much easier.

[@hosrow]

Great video. Exactly what I did to remove my engine. First time too. I have to the whole car getting it ready for paint, including wiring which scares me. I will look for more videos from you.

[@SmugwoodMini]

Yeah definitely scary but a lot easier next time i guess. Sounds like you're a little bit in front of me with the restoration :-) Ive been gathering up lots of new parts and Im just in the process of a sort of Unboxing Video as I purchased a set of 10" cooper discs from Minisport and thought that may be helpful to some. Im currently in the process of stripping the car down as I'll be removing the shell and having it blasted. Should make a good video too.

[@murugannarayanasamy6361]

Appreciate Ur effort to upload this video. Please do uploade more video for mini.

[@SmugwoodMini]

Thanks for watching. Ive 2 dedicated playlists on the channel if they are of interest...one is the ongoing restoration of my mini and the other is the engine rebuild 👍 I add video regularly...one hopefully this weekend.

[@catweasle5737]

That was great. Well done. :-)

[@SmugwoodMini]

Thanks...was a learning experience...and gotta do it all again soon...got the subframe to remove :-)

[@mad-maxx2211]

My Dad just handed me a 1969 Austin mini Right hand drive. I want to pull the entire engine out and clean it up and spray the engine bay with new paint. The car has been sitting for 17 years and the front wheels are very hard almost impossible to roll forward and back. The car is in neutral though.

[@SmugwoodMini]

I’m pretty much new to working on minis but if it’s been sitting for 17 years that’s a long time. I can park my van for a week and the brakes stick so perhaps worth starting there? Guessing at that age it’s likely to be drum brakes so might be worth a google or Haynes manual on freeing up sticking brakes?

[@timakrill]

Great video. I'm just starting the same job with no experience at all, mine is a 96 SPI though so a little more involved unfortunately. What did you use to clean the 1275?

[@SmugwoodMini]

Trying to think now...I think its Gunk Engine Degreaser.

[@justonemorego4079]

Great work. Can I ask why you swapped to a Metro 1275 Engine specifically? Cheaper? Easier to fit on same subframe? Reliability of Metro Engine? Etc. Also what is the BHP of your new engine? Thanks. I've subbed on my TV!

[@SmugwoodMini]

Hi. I was basically just after a 1275cc a series that i can take eventually for reconditioning and beefing up a little. I was told the 1275cc engines were all pretty much the same, although i did find a handful of things ive had to either alter or look at altering in the future. I struggled to find a 1275 engine and one came up on ebay which had been installed into a mini moke and the guy was wanting a 998cc so i knew it was gonna be a relatively easy swap. So it was more the fact that i found a 1275 runner than actually going for a Metro 1275cc engine. Fitting wasnt too bad as it had already been installed in a mini, but it did seem a little closer to the bulkhead and im sure i read that later subframes allow for this and bring the engine forward a little...so i may look at fitting the newer subframe as the one i have is being replaced. As far as BHP goes, im not sure, but it was so much easier to drive with the 1275 than the 998...especially when it came to hills etc. It'll be going for a stage 2 recondition shortly so whilst not racing speed it should be a nice little nippy car.

[@mikeschinzel4633]

How long did it take you to take out the engine?

[@SmugwoodMini]

First time about a week because I had no idea what parts were what. Second time I did it I started in the morning and it was out by dinner time.

[@michaelschafer9621]

A Haynes manual is always a good idea 😉

[@SmugwoodMini]

Very true 😊👍

[@romeo9017]

Excuse my ignorance but what did you brush over the engine to clean it please?

[@SmugwoodMini]

I think if I remember it’s a degreasing agent called Jizer by Swarfega. Worked quite well.

[@romeo9017]

Thank you...

[@donmartinramos8598]

Do you live close to Chicago? I need help with my mini!!! Hahahha

[@SmugwoodMini]

Haha...probably quite a few miles between us 😊. There’s some great advice on the Facebook groups if you ever get stuck.... Mini Classic 1959 - 2000, Just Classic Minis and MADD Old Minis spring to mind. Plenty of mini owners on those groups. I’m certainly no expert as I’m just starting out...but I hope to be by the end of the build. 😂

[@AGClassicCarTuning]

Nice video in general, but you didn't mention removing the engine mounting bolts at either the flywheel or crank pulley sides?

[@SmugwoodMini]

Id have to check. I thought Id ticked off each process from the Haynes manual as I went along...I'd have to have a look.

[@kikrotin]

For your cooling system : just unplug the radiator pipe, put it on the side and start your engine. Let it run for a few seconds and all your liquid will be out. (you can connect your pipe to a jerrycan) Otherwise great vid :)

[@SmugwoodMini]

Thanks...great tip. And I’m only a few weeks away from removing it once again for restoration work. 👍

[@owencook2332]

I believe the video didn’t include the 4 bolts at the bottom of the engine ( attached to the inner wings (2 either side) )

[@SmugwoodMini]

Id have to check...knowing how it was put in theres a chance the bolts were missing haha :-)

[@tcellen2136]

They are a massive pain for such tiny things. I’m welding the nuts on this time!

[@Rob-hx6on]

40 odd years ago me and my dad who was a mechanic did it by unbolting the subframe and lifting the body off, after removing cables and pipes of course. Was a bit of a doddle as I remember. Just another method I suppose. Good luck with your mini.

[@SmugwoodMini]

Yep it’s certainly another way of doing it...it’s the way we’ve done it on the latest video 😊👍

[@malkolmlundgren1275]

How long did all of this take?

[@SmugwoodMini]

Trying to think now 🤔. I did it over a few days...I spent a lot of time trying to suss out what all the parts were. But if I had to do it again...which I do...it’d probably just take me a morning to do it.

[@mad-maxx2211]

The shops are all closed. I need to take the ball joints off next. To pull my motor out. I need the tool. 😓

[@SmugwoodMini]

Some people don’t use the ball joint splitter tool. Some strike the side of the ball joint with a hammer to release it. I’ve done that before. Worth googling to see how it’s done...might be an option if you don’t have the tool?

[@martinfidel7086]

@@SmugwoodMini makes a mess of your bottom arm and top arm however you need a ballast weight something about 3 times + heavier than the hammer you wish to use, placed on the opposite side and a sharp tap with the hammer on the first side of the arm should pop it off, don't try to hit the pivot pin as it will simply swell and then cause more issues later

[@Peter-oz8ec]

Good effort. But you did remove lots of items that you didn’t need to. They would have been much easier to remove when the unit was out ... maybe it was the Manual that advised this , so I’m not knocking you

[@SmugwoodMini]

Yeah I followed the manual to the T. It's not something I'd done before so I didn't want to improvise in any way :-)

[@Peter-oz8ec]

@@SmugwoodMini well you did good. I wouldn’t have commented at all on this if I didn’t know what I was talking about , there are lots and lots of things that I haven’t got a clue about , but anything to do with the original mini cars I do have a lot of knowledge of , I was trained on them by the best. Knowledge nowadays that’s hardly any use to anyone , but it’s embedded in my brain :)

[@martinfidel7086]

Its never a good idea to remove hubs and wheels and brakes as they are safety related, also to remove the mini unit you simply do not need to remove them, its far better to pop inner CV from the gearbox (do not cut or remove the rubber boot) and once you have one done its simple to remove the other side and out comes the engine and the car is still rollable, simples, no decent mini specialist will ever remove hubs etc.

[@SmugwoodMini]

Thanks. I was just following the manual. But noted for future reference 👍👍

[@satheinpuengprajuab5896]

austin is very good