1968 Hillman Minx Estate - 08/10/21 - Road Trip!

Well, at this point in time I'll just be happy to get the rest of this year out of it. Time is moving on and there's camping trips to be had...

I hadn't been able to do anything with this since last week but did go to the Enfield Pageant on Friday and got a couple of relevant items in the autojumble and my second recent order from Speedy Spares also came. So today it was time to start putting together.

First job was to get the bare block off the stand again and fit the new rear core plug. I had also dislodged the cam blanking plug so figured a new one (at 75p) was a sensible thing to do so that also went in, both with some red, semi hardening sealant. We'll see if they are fluid proof when either water oil or both pour out of the bellhousing...



Then it was time to slot the alloy head cam in, and fit half the new main bearings.



A bit of a jump as I neglected to take photos, but the crank went in without too many difficulties, checked that it still rotated OK as each bearing cap was fitted. Oil pump/dizzy drive fitted so that timing appeared to match the diagrams in the manuals. Then on with the timing chain and sprockets. I bought a new chain and tensioner in the end.



With the timing cover on and the water pump housing temprarily in place I did the final crud removal and degreasing of the block.



Because I had got this at Enfield.



There were three factory shades, including one metallic which I knew was wrong. It might be that I plumped for the wrong one as it is a bit bright! The other one just looked grey to me though. Ho hum.



I fitted the new rings to one piston today as well. Maybe tomorrow I will do the other three and get them in the block. Also need to paint the side cover and crank pulley so plenty to get on with in between half-term childcare. She's going to grandmas on Thursday though so I'm kinda hoping I can get the short block slotted back into the car then.

Curing oil leaks sounds to me much like stemming the flow of auto rust proofing fluid

In between science experiments with a seven year old I carried out further works today.



I realised that the old broken piston ring was a perfect shaped and sized scraper for cleaning out the old ring grooves.



Here's two I made earlier. The Cords middle and lower rings are multi-part so the bits need to go on in the right order.



Borrowed ring compressor made fitting the pistons nice and easy. New big end shells fitted.



All in and torqued. The factory manual says to use new nuts on the big ends. The ones that came off were slotted locking types, the new ones I'd ordered from Speedy Spares possibly a later spec, 12 sided but non-locking (the same as were fitted to the 'spares' engine). After some pondering I opted to re-use the originals as there was still some stiffness to the locking and so I'd have though they'd resist undoing a bit better.



Also did some more painting.



And finally got some externals back in place before thunder/rain came.



Once the engine is in the car I'll 'prime' the oil system a bit by squirting a load in the supply/feed holes in the oil filter housing.




(Edited to say I wasn't carrying out scientific experiments on a seven year old but was helping her do some things with recent birthday presents, sticky backed plastic, empty bottles, magnets etc. )

Worry not BC, she has been taking keen interest in what I've been up to, following each step of the way and asking questions I do like a clean engine too. Hoping this one does keep most of its fluids in.

I spent some time soon after taking the engine out getting rid of most of the accumulated muck from the engine bay. Finished off today. Yeah, it'd be nice to re-paint in there etc but I really haven't got the time and this is no show car. Finished up a bit back round the steering box this morning and also fitted the new clutch thrust bearing. Exhaust all came off after taking this too.



With the engine off the stand I could fit the flywheel and clutch. New mounts fitted too that I bought at Enfield last week.



Clutch was centrered by eye using a screwdriver. Always worked for me before.



Time to put it in the hole then. (Nothing obviously newer than about 40 years old in this photo except for that dormer roof ;D )



Almost there. Managed pretty well on my own with a little jiggle-ing. Jack under the box to adjust its angle. In practice for when I do the Oxford (which will be shinier!) I took care to dry and not mark paint etc.



Actually got the block slotted in and bolted up in less than an hour, including getting it and the crane through from the back garden. Then spent some more time fitting a few bits back on, fuel pump, cam followers (that all needed crud removal first) rocker oil feed pipe, oil sender etc.



That's a much cleaner place under there than it used to be!



Valves to grind and a few other bits to paint before assembly can continue.

Getting there, slowly. On-off weather, chores and motor racing over the past couple of days have got in the way a bit.

I got this far with fitting bits back on the car yesterday, rad, fan, pulley, tappet cover, distributor with new bits etc.



But then with the wet stuff descending I finally hid myself in the shed and got the new valves all ground in and the head assembled.



New 'Terrys' double springs.



Oh, here's a neat detail I had found earlier in the build. The casting core must have had a date plate screwed to it. So I know my car was built between the end of October '67 and the end of December as it was supplied right after new year. Not quite visible in this shot, the starter motor also has 10 67 stamped into it.



Finally today the engine got its head. Valve clearances and timing set about right.



Also plonked the exhaust manifold and down pipe on for a look see.



So the engine bay is filling up. If the weather is good tomorrow I'll probably get it all together, and then just need to adapt the downpipe to my system. But the forecast ain't great.

Good work sir! Will this shiny 'new' engine be making its debut at the Ace next Tues?

YOW!!! I bet this is gonna run like a swiss watch!!! (see what I did there?)

Thanks Bo11, revil.

Almost 20 (gulp!) years of daily driving old stuff mean I am well up on ignition parts. I always keep and carry the old ones in the car when I replace distributor bits, assuming they were working OK. I do have a 'red' rotor arm in this.

I don't think you can really claim one brand as being better or worse than others though as I have heard from a trader (who I trust and normally buy these things from) that its all much the same these days whatever box they come in. I think it comes down to duff batches more than anything else. Also, we bought NOS lucas points once and they lasted about 30 miles! They were a bit too 'O' and the cam follower had become brittle and snapped.

;D ;D

are you keeping the patina'd wing??

or will it get the seff treatment??

nice work on the motah