Assembly begins on our classic Mini Cooper S 1275cc engine

Looks like Davin has everything he needs to get this 1965 Austin Mini Cooper S 1275cc engine back together... or so he thinks! Assembly begins with camshaft bearings and the camshaft. Then it's onto checking the main bearings and rod bearings for oil clearance, which is when Davin realizes we have the wrong rod bearings. Oops! That doesn't stop him from getting the crankshaft installed as well as assembling the valves and springs into the cylinder head.
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[@kl4prez]

Monday ain't so bad when Hagerty drops a rebuild video

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Oh yea!!!

[@pauldonnelly7949]

You'll love driving this when you get it on the road, like driving a go-kart, possibly the most fun car ever, everyone waves at you! Well they do in London anyway, and it fits down the cycle lanes too, oops did I say that?

[@christianmccollum1028]

Perfect lesson on discovery of the wrong size crank bearings. Much more helpful (and realistic) than having everything just fall into place of the sake of making a video. Thank you!!!

[@Onewheelordeal]

Lol that Engine Power printout sheet is like an old friend now. P.S. y'all forgot the reading a micrometer link

[@TheSleepyMechanic0524]

Did not know these little guys were pushrod! That's pretty cool. Simple stuff lasts forever

[@davidfreiboth1360]

Almost all the Brit stuff was pushrod. OHC was for high performance rigs (which the Mini was not designed to be) ... until the Japanese took that config main stream.

[@davidfreiboth1360]

My dad was a machinist who did all his own auto repairs. As such, I was raised in the garage and, as a kid, did all my own bike and car repairs. But I left that behind years ago and now use my “office hands” to make appointments so that others can do most of my mechanical work. This series is so meaningful in terms of my ability to remain in touch with my “working with my hands” past where eye protection and “blue gloves” were unknown. I still dabble with bikes and a race car, but I was always a amateur “component mechanic” … good at installing carburetors and brakes, not so good at pulling cranks. These videos take me back to my youth in dad’s garage. Thanks for this content. It is meaningful beyond words. Dave in Seattle

[@lothianmcadam1]

I "shrink" each cam bearing by leaving them in a cooler of dry ice overnight prior to installation. Liquid nitrogen is more efficient, but dry ice is logistically easier in every aspect (and exponentially less expensive). No need to drive any frozen cam bearings--each slips into place and each expands to fit within a few seconds.

[@mikecarpenter4760]

Hagerty has my vote as the best insurance to have on my vintage race cars! Thank you for the great videos!

[@itsjustcam247]

Loving watching your back catalogue! One note, please could you continue to number your redline updates? Makes watching them so much easier after the fact.

[@CanadaBud23]

That thing looks like it was painted with axle grease lol. It looks kinda neat.

[@samsonian]

I was thinking one of a few things…either a) it was plasti-dipped, b) it was powder-coated REALLY thick… or c) HOW did they make an engine block out of creamed spinach with an iron nougat core??

[@samsonian]

@@user-yi3ox8wy4k Right-o!

[@JustinSeara]

@@user-yi3ox8wy4k yum!

[@isaacsrandomvideos667]

Just an old car thing. They got the colour and the shine spot on, even down to the hand painted look. (And not in a bad way) If it ever gets faded, the oil leaks will help with that! 😂

[@rdyer8764]

Always sadly reassuring that even the experts sometimes go, "Oops!" :)) One thing about depending upon tear-down photos... They should be good if the engine has never been rebuilt - essentially if everything is just as it was from the factory. But if some yayhoo already rebuilt it without the same care Davin is using, it would be put together the same wrong way a second time. No?

[@flyonbyya]

I just commented the exact same comment. I only added that, factory assembly can be incorrect as well.

[@gilou275]

I love watching your engine rebuild videos. Thank you, cheers from France.

[@MoparMattt]

Love the feel good oldie style music!

[@barryphillips7327]

I looked up Mini Cooper S Mk1,s value in the UK up to about $50 000GBP, considerably MORE than when New in mid 60,s, Yes they race at Bathurst and WIN, they also rallied, and No Doubt raced in Britain, with great success what they lack in outright speed is more than made up for, by cornering, they are handle like a go kart do not lean going thru corners at high speed, never ever underestimate these little machines, they are deceptively quick!!!!

[@jackmehoff2363]

Man, is he was my teacher in high school id pay way more attention.

[@paulprescott7913]

The thing about this vid is that Bmc/Bl would never have put anything like this much love when the engine was originally built. So thank you for doing such. And the contrast of the A series and the big V8 on the engine stand is quite funny.

[@oh8wingman]

When I was in the business I rebuilt dozens of these "MOWOG" engines and I was always in a state of wonder as to how these little devils powered so many different vehicles. They were certainly not designed for a long life but they were designed to be easily rebuilt. The big failing in the Mini though was the fact that the transmission and the engine both used the same oil since the trans was actually the engines oil pan. All those metal particles created from the trans syncro rings and bushings were free to get into the engine.

[@aolsen6874]

Didn't have to make it so damn personal at the end there. God damnit. Imma head out... haha

[@1chish]

That is some nice machining work and bad luck with the rod bearings! But on that distributor jackshaft you engaged in the cam before the crankshaft went in that will have to come out! Basically you time the camshaft first and then slide the jackshaft in noting it rotates as it goes in using 5/16" UNF bolt to thread into the jackshaft to stop it becoming part of the gearbox! Ultimately you want the rotor arm pointing to "1 o'clock" @ TDC Compression No 1 piston

[@TheLastSock]

I always remembered that the Distributor could be rotated to match TDC, so it doesn't matter where the shaft is fitted, once you set the camshaft and Engine to TDC, you can rotate the distributor separately to TDC then adjust for your timing. Mind you its been over 30 years since i rebuilt my 1000cc Mini engine so my memory might be on the fuzzy side.

[@michaelhart5886]

@@TheLastSock it can go in anyway if you like and then find TDC compression stroke number 1 and set dizzy up from there BUT it ideally goes in a certain way which makes ignition lead orientation neater

[@KevinJohnson-fx6wq]

I don't always see. I don't always see when I see what I see. Taking a deep breath, opening my mind wider, digging deeper, earning more, being careful where I share my trust. Might make for a better day. Why? Because? I don't always see when I see what I see. Bad is a part of good. I'm working on a better day, are you? Sincerely, Jekelex Happy holidays.

[@frankpratt529]

Nice to see Hagerty is doing a Mini. Check out Project Binky for a much more radical build & very entertaining.

[@mobiledevto]

Yes, but unlike Binky. This Mini will actually see the light of day THIS century.

[@frankpratt529]

@@mobiledevto Hahaha! Isn't that the truth. The silver lining to that is that by the time I've watched the whole series, I can start all over again & it's like new because I've long since forgotten how it began.

[@paulprescott7913]

@@frankpratt529 make the noise 😊

[@fixedguitar47]

Rebuilding an engine is a lot more fun outdoors in the snow.

[@brianmaynard7320]

Glad to see amateurs affect the only ones who make some mistakes!!👍👍 Great re build!!

[@bobmillerick300]

Yup, fell for the old Rod Bearing trick. You new guys....sheeesh

[@yodasbff3395]

Enjoying the rebuild 👍

[@rickpalechuk4411]

And remember to give those valve springs a light wack with a soft blow hammer to confirm the keepers are holding correctly. Cheers bro

[@Cartier_specialist]

How did you teach the valves and springs to walk? The time lapse segments on this channel is second to none!

[@ngajibareng100]

Yang di tunggu - tunggu video merakit mesin mini cooper akhirnya muncul..kerja bagus

[@WorkshopRebuild]

Another engine almost back together. Great work Davin & Hagerty!

[@عبداللهالحجوري-ي5ر]

السلام عليكم انت مهندس رائع استفدت منك الكثير. 🥰

[@serdardawliyev4778]

Happy New Year! 😊 wish you all the best, strong health, success and prosperity.

[@Hagerty]

You as well, Serdar!

[@ClaudioSantos-xs8pf]

Great job, very clear in the explanations, I will definitely watch all the videos

[@TornadoCAN99]

Over on HREIRL 's channel, were a skilled Mini engine builder is doing a race engine build up currently, he advises only using valve seals on the intakes, as the exhaust valves/guides do not benefit from the seals (no suction to pull oil down the guides) and actually benefit from small amount of oil reaching the guide bore/valve stem wear surfaces. BTW, what happened to the block gouges in a previous video? Did they machine out?

[@CatchMeOffroad]

They showed a video before this one where the block gouges were machined out with no issues 👍🏼

[@TornadoCAN99]

@@CatchMeOffroad Thx, found it now....all good.

[@metalwright]

"you probably got lots of parts to put together" I feel attacked.

[@boingkster]

Finished shift, 3am... Hagerty assembly video? I'm in, cheers mate!

[@jonsingle1614]

How did you know I just had knee surgery !? Its slowing me down but who else is gunna get my car done !!!

[@jet_black]

Dope intro!

[@GH-rt8ih]

What do you use for assembly lube? The red stuff you brushed on for the cam

[@tommytar222]

you can still buy full mini bodys in UK they still have the machines to press body pannels see you tube

[@islandaerial3414]

Davin has every tool and measuring devise NONE of us has. LoL

[@steveanderson5888]

That engine looks like a toy. Merry Christmas to you all

[@skylinefever]

I find it interesting that many European gasoline engines use 2 piece oil rings. When I first saw a rebuild of one (VW VR6) I said "Who puts diesel rings in a gasoline engine?" I'm much more used to seeing American and Japanese engines getting rebuilt. Some parts companies make special piston and ring sets for European gasoline engines, but use 3 piece oil rings. I find that kind of odd as well.

[@13slot28]

I'm digging it.

[@thewholls7176]

I’ve had a bad experience with Rod bearings on a Fiat 1500cc as a DIYer long story short I was measuring number one journal and assuming that from the factory they are all the same…… big mistake Number one was standard BUT another one was 10 over another one was 30 over which is why out of the crate the motor was originally sold at a very special price because the factory had issues during production and used different size Rod bearings to avoid waste and get the motors out the door and they were being sold at one point in time as exchange over the counter swaps……. So when you go to recondition one of them unless you measure every journal you could be caught Needless to say once it was running it didn’t take very long for the bottom end to be knocking its balls off and the whole thing had to come out again……..!!!!!!

[@ronlynch7744]

Good one. It’s coming together. 😎👍🇨🇦

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

tHank you. The clean working environment is a future goal! Maybe New Year's Resolution for 2022.......naaaa...but soon!

[@nearenuff8796]

think your snap gauge technique needs a bit of work. you're supposed to put the gauge into the bore slightly skewed, lock it, then pull the handle to the side so the plunger is pushed into the body as it squares up in the bore, when it goes loose as you go past square so you can pull it out, and it should be set to the smallest diameter

[@moparedtn]

Perhaps you should just realize there's more than one way to skin a cat. I reckon Davin's built a few (hundred) engines in his time and might know what he's doing.

[@theslimeylimey]

This is the technique I've always used in tool making/machining. It is tricky to manually position a telescoping gauge perfectly perpendicular at exactly centerline and then lock and remove it without disturbing it. The prelock and sweep method takes care of all that for you and gives more reliable measurements imho.

[@GTE_Channel]

For a special build like this I would not have chosen a (for classic mini standards) relatively unknown camshaft manufacturer.

[@lanesherman9075]

ohhhh yes I saw it, I saw it... using an "Engine power" build sheet. it's ok though... I use them too...

[@Miha_Poo]

So cool. Good job! Hi from Russia 😎

[@savoryflan]

Micrometering the oil clearances of the crank and the rods is critical. A friend of mine assembled his Honda engine just like it came from the machine shop, trusting they machined correctly. The idiot destroyed his engine at first start-up; oil starvation of crank bearings.

[@thiagoemorge]

Espero ansiosamente por novos vídeos,top essas montagens!

[@scottmcbride5514]

Hey, My wife had knee replacement last Monday, so she said I still need to stay in the kitchen, and keep out of the garage...

[@timothyearp631]

9:08 You need Undersized bearings, not oversized. Getting that wrong will delay you again when you measure .024" of clearance or worse if you just assemble it and realize you have rod knock at every hole

[@closeenoughmicron]

I think he means +10 to the thickness of the bearing which is technically oversized.

[@timothyearp631]

@@closeenoughmicron The bearing would actually be oversized if it had been welded up and reground which would cause utter confusion when ordering bearings

[@roomwithapointofview]

Use a pointer, instead of your finger. Perhaps something with a big red pointed wedge or arrow.

[@PhillyDee215]

Detailed👌👌👌

[@FurkanCemTurfanda]

Love it!

[@жизньвкотеджеизопилок]

Мегопрофесионал,уважуха,мне бы так мой фордомотор так перебрать мечта

[@vitaliytatarinov4578]

everything is very cool

[@mylifesaga]

No mention of crankshaft end float which is straight forward, but would really appreciate your opinion on Camshaft endfloat and its' retainer plate???

[@dot73]

An artist 👍🏻

[@billywhizz98]

I would have thought that the cooper S would have had double springs on the cylinder head

[@peterdausel7387]

Didn’t you forget the thrust bearings at the middle main🤔

[@Hagerty]

Nope, they’re in there.

[@simongroot7147]

How did you orient the distributor drive gear without having the camshaft timed to the crank?

[@dougb3699]

Shame about the rod bearings. The expression I like to use is Sustained Forward Motion.

[@paulscott6605]

I've got a weber 40DCOE that would wake up that 1275

[@jeroendesterke9739]

Still no idea the reason for the brass plugs in the head and block - and why the block plug 'problem' wasn't addressed?

[@fraud_hunter]

it’s a mini adventure

[@stanleydenning]

No mentioned how the deck of the block was dealt with. ie, the grooves on the top.

[@Hagerty]

We did in the previous episode at the machine shop.

[@HaythamBuKhadra]

Legends use plastigauge.

[@billmiller7138]

Rods reconditioned and crank ground and I'm sure that machine shop checked the line bore so yeah, plastigage is plenty. Needed to fill a video...

[@boingkster]

Hey, nothing wrong with it if that's what you have. But if you're doing this on the regular why not use the proper tools? Gotta admit, I've used Plasti in the past but nothing beats a concrete measurement from a good gague.

[@billmiller7138]

@@boingkster Just unnecessary overkill with freshly machine parts from a Competent machine shop.

[@boingkster]

@@billmiller7138 no, it's 100% necessary. If you want a good, long lasting engine you check the clearances. All it takes is one bad measurement to ruin the whole thing.

[@mikescherrer4923]

Plastigauge works great, for its intended purpose. Legends use both - measure clearances and confirm measured values in practice with plastigauge. I’ve discovered out of round and other issues that measuring would have missed, but if things don’t measure right at the outset there’s no need to use Plasti.

[@justaguy8347]

I moved from Los Angeles to Bullhead City Arizona, my classics are still in Los Angeles so I have nothing here to work on 😞

[@blstsem1070]

very qualitative video! which brand of red grease is used on the crankshaft?

[@S_t_E1]

Селиктивная сборка во всей красе. Какой ресурс будет у двигателя?

[@superiordental]

you guys need to turn the lights back on, its not an adult film.

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

What kind of assembly lube is that? Looks nice and thick.

[@autka_me]

Most likely Red Line Oil - Assembly Lube

[@jakem5339]

No link shown for me about the tech link for micrometers

[@Classicmodeler]

Why didn’t you just use plasti-guage for your bearing fitting?

[@miyaaaaw]

That is one mini engine

[@korykimbrell8676]

I got a neat engine for you to rebuild. I have a 66 Pontiac Lemans Sprint. Has the overhead cam 6 cylinder with a 4 barrel. Factory 4 speed car

[@windmill1965]

10:35 I'm surprised to see that these nuts are mounted without any washers?

[@oldschoolmotorsickle]

You cut the valve seats during the rebuild, right? Then you need to check the installed valve heights.

[@Hanzyscure]

Just came for the Plastigage and missing links comments.

[@Мистер_ЗМЗ]

Intersting - Dave is big, or block is small?

[@Zofsm]

Hmmm. Theres a lot of funk in this mini video. Seems that somebody might be a closet fan of Bad Obsession Motorsport,

[@thegreatcornholio4349]

Speaking of ball rolling, how is Snowball's build coming?

[@Vano_bitum]

Великолепная работа,привет из России 👍✋

[@deangiacopassi1951]

These people are professionals?

[@thecaptain3773]

Took me a week to get in a alternator for a 06 Escape, I can imagine you would have issues getting parts for a '65 Mini.

[@allareasindex7984]

Austin/Morris Mini Engine parts and entire engines are easily available. The basic engine was in production for four decades, with varying displacements but the bore spacing never changed. Sort of like our small block Chevy.

[@timsminigarage]

Have a look at Minispares, minisport, minimania. Minis would have to be one of the best supported classic cars for parts

[@ricksweetser1683]

Why don't you just plastic gauge the crank and rods? Much easier and faster (and accurate).

[@schrauber_sams9159]

What’s the type of oil is he using? What ist it called? (The red oil he is using before he puts the parts back together)

[@jjmac3561]

Did you skip the thrust bearings?

[@Hagerty]

Nope, they’re in there!

[@michaelhart5886]

@@Hagerty assuming you measured end float as its super important on these

[@neilperry2224]

They were the original pocket rockets, the best one and rarest is the 1071cc. They fly literally esp off ebglish humpback bridge's personal story available. Where's your cuppa?

[@Copozeras]

Well, thats not how you use a snap gauge :D

[@andrepienaar6459]

Isn't it necessary to grind in the new valves?

[@guitartec]

Just wonderin'... I was told by Master mechanics long ago that thick assembly grease change clearances during assembly, thus making you have to retorque all of the nuts you already torqued after the grease washes out. Is this not true?

[@ellieprice363]

A product like Motor Honey” or “STP” is what many racing engines use on main and rod bearings. It only needs to be thick enough to stay on until full oil pressure is reached.

[@guitartec]

@@ellieprice363 I get it, but he's using thick red assembly grease on bearings in that cooper engine, and I was just wondering if what I heard was bs OR he's going to need to re-torque everything after he runs the engine. In other words why isn't he using a normal light weight assembly lube instead of a grease.

[@oseiasalves6437]

Hello where do i find this tool to install the bushings. what is the name ?

[@flypawels]

👍

[@larryburrough3024]

Its a telescoping gage, not a snap gage. 42 year tool maker

[@ruslanivanov6255]

Двигатель как на шкода фаворит((

[@kylethestyle]

6:18 Is that a Snap-On or Icon torque wrench?