Engine removal/installation advice

[Vespanation]

Hi Mini folks,

OK, so I've got a 1960 Morris Mini Minor that came to me with a non-original engine. I think it may be from a 1972-1973-ish Austin 1300. I sourced an original engine for the car, and I've been working on it getting back to as correct as possible. My question is about how to do the engine swap. Do most folks, A) lift and lower the engine/gearbox, or, B) drop the subframe, fix the engine/gearbox to the subframe, then lift the subframe assembly back into place? I can do either, I just would like to know people's experience with this and what may be the preferred way.

Thanks,
Paul B. USA

[GraemeC]

Depends what tools you have, specifically whether you have an engine hoist.
I prefer to go from above - saves buggering about with brakes.

[Polarsilver]

I would drop the Engine & Subframe out from the underside .. less issues to damage paintwork.. while the subframe & engine are out of the shell you will find a host of jobs that also need attention.. so you may as well get them all fixed at the same time that you do the engine swop.

[woodypup59]

True enough Polar - but you then have an immobile shell.

So get a pallet and 4 hefty castors to put the shell on.

Really handy when painting the shell if like me you have a narrow garage.

[mk1]

Adam & I pulled the engine out of our 1960 1152 Speedwell car at the weekend. We pulled it up through the bonnet hole, it took 35 minutes from start to finish. Leave the rad on & pull it complete.

You do need a decent hoist or block & tackle though.

EASY!

[roger mcnab]

hi
it is the best way to remove the engine from the mini is out through the bonnet hole easier than mucking about lifting the body of that is a dumb way of doing an easy job
cheers roger mcnab
ps i used to pull the engine out of my mk1 nearly each weekend it was out saturday back in sunday some times a different engine but thats mini life
cheers roger

[mk1]

"a dumb way of doing an easy job"

Couldn't agree more.

[Vespanation]

OK, thanks for the advice. I think I'm going to go the hoist route. I've got a good hoist. What does a complete 850cc Mini motor weigh, anyway?
Approximately. Do folks just strap or chain around the motor, or do you go with the original type lifting hooks. Man, those hooks seem so...tiny. Scary to hang a engine/gearbox assembly from them!
- Paul B.

[GraemeC]

Personally, One lifting eye on the centre front head stud
Factory was a frame on the outer two front head studs.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&url=h ... AdAAAAABAE

[mk1]

These are by far the best type of bracket. Has all the angles you will ever need.



Second to that are the screw on type.

[Polarsilver]

Been into Cranes & Lifting all sorts of weights throughout my working Life & sorry i cannot agree to lift a Mini Engine with Gearbox from a Car using just one head bolt.. as our Leaders Post shows a Red Bracket ..This engine lifting bracket kit was produced back in the day by J.W Pickavant of Birmingham they produced their JWP 371 Engine Lifting Sling for BMC Mini & 1100 Models their description" Two Position bracket lifts engine unit at necessary tilted angle and then vertically to facilitate dismantling ",
I got my Pickavant engine lifting bracket off ebay in its original box & i have never used it.
I position a lifting sling around the Engine & box adjust the Chain Hoist to balance the load & the Mini power unit comes out easy & safe .. the sling allows some swing to clear the snag points .. i do this as a lone worker so i need & do keep safe.
If i cannot find my lifting sling i have often used a suitable length of old climbing rope to create a lifting sling that also works a treat.

If a Mini Engine has been installed a good number of years i will always drop it out with the subframe from underside.. because then you can see all the other issues that will become apparent.

[Vespanation]

And just a further small question. When putting the engine/gearbox back into the car, do you:

A) secure the motor mounts to the gearbox, then position the engine into the car, then bolt the mounts to the subframe, OR
B) secure the mounts tot he subframe, then position the engine, then bolt the mounts to the gearbox.

I'm thinking about accessibility of the various bolts once the engine is sitting in the car.

Thanks,
Paul B.

[GraemeC]

Definitely A.
That can be tricky sometimes if things don't want to play, but I don't think B would be possible.

[roger mcnab]

hi definatley a as it is easier to get the bolts into the mounts by as you can ease the engine up slightly and get the bolts to go in then lower and tighten
it is a lot harder trying to do b as you still have to juggle the bolts in a more awkward position cheers roger

[agricola]

I still think slings are ok are best avoided for engines as you have distributors etc which are all relatively delicate. Now you have the choice of ARP bolts these are best left undisturbed though 40 years ago I would have used head studs. So I rummaged in the scrap bin and came up with this which I will try