R50/53 Project 2003 mini S
#1
Project 2003 mini S
Hi, Just got a new project. 2003 mini S hatch. 110k miles. The car is a standard, but the hole in the block is not.
I'm sure the PO was revving the heck out of it and threw a rod. The oil then caught fire and that also did, what appears to be some minor damage. I plan to buy a donor vehicle and swap the engine from it.
The drivetrain is still in the car and I don't plan to remove it until I find the donor. So for now, I don't know what damage is done to the head.
Question for now is can I use the naturally aspirated Mini block for the swap? If I can, I'll remove the head and see what that looks like.
Everything will get rebuilt before the final install.
Thanks.
I'm sure the PO was revving the heck out of it and threw a rod. The oil then caught fire and that also did, what appears to be some minor damage. I plan to buy a donor vehicle and swap the engine from it.
The drivetrain is still in the car and I don't plan to remove it until I find the donor. So for now, I don't know what damage is done to the head.
Question for now is can I use the naturally aspirated Mini block for the swap? If I can, I'll remove the head and see what that looks like.
Everything will get rebuilt before the final install.
Thanks.
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OutlandishnessDue (07-02-2024)
#2
From what I remember, the crankshaft is a different kind of steel. I believe it was cast vs forged, where the latter is stronger and in the R53 Cooper S.
Some years ago one of the engine designers from Chrysler Brasil was on this forum sharing this and many other interesting details on that engine. I think his name was UnbreakableLump.
Some years ago one of the engine designers from Chrysler Brasil was on this forum sharing this and many other interesting details on that engine. I think his name was UnbreakableLump.
#4
JB Weld to the rescue!
Look forward to seeing how your build goes. There's a rabbit hole of things you can do "while in there" - I've started compiling the list on my build vs. expected budget and it's sobering to say the least. I also recommend you check out the @Boostmaster build on doing things right and reliably with the engine pulled.
Look forward to seeing how your build goes. There's a rabbit hole of things you can do "while in there" - I've started compiling the list on my build vs. expected budget and it's sobering to say the least. I also recommend you check out the @Boostmaster build on doing things right and reliably with the engine pulled.
#6
JB Weld to the rescue!
Look forward to seeing how your build goes. There's a rabbit hole of things you can do "while in there" - I've started compiling the list on my build vs. expected budget and it's sobering to say the least. I also recommend you check out the @Boostmaster build on doing things right and reliably with the engine pulled.
Look forward to seeing how your build goes. There's a rabbit hole of things you can do "while in there" - I've started compiling the list on my build vs. expected budget and it's sobering to say the least. I also recommend you check out the @Boostmaster build on doing things right and reliably with the engine pulled.
Are there folks here that can walk me through the engine and transmission rebuild?
And is this a reliable manual?
Thanks.
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#11
Luk clutches are great. That's what I installed and it's a go-to by many others on the board. The flywheel on your Mini is "dual mass" and can't be resurfaced. Some folks convert to a single mass flywheel but it's not as refined and can be noisy. I kept with dual.
As an example of "since you're in there" you definitely want to change the flywheel rather than come back to it later. Luk makes the one I bought and Amazon was the cheapest place I could find it: . Since I was in there, I also replaced the input shaft seal on the transmission and obviously the rear main seal also.
Finally, you're not technically supposed to reuse the pressure plate or the flywheel bolts. FPC Euro might be your best price for these, as they don't come with the Luk stuff. Will all of that, you should be good to go.
As an example of "since you're in there" you definitely want to change the flywheel rather than come back to it later. Luk makes the one I bought and Amazon was the cheapest place I could find it: . Since I was in there, I also replaced the input shaft seal on the transmission and obviously the rear main seal also.
Finally, you're not technically supposed to reuse the pressure plate or the flywheel bolts. FPC Euro might be your best price for these, as they don't come with the Luk stuff. Will all of that, you should be good to go.
#12
The current plan is that the new engine will get rebuilt back to stock with all quality parts, bearings, seals, rings, oil pump, honed, maybe decked and a valve job, etc.
Gonna think about the new flywheel.
So looks like another R53 as donor is the best bet. Need to find something that's not easily repairable, or worth fixing, or I'm gonna wanna fix that also.
Thanks.
Gonna think about the new flywheel.
So looks like another R53 as donor is the best bet. Need to find something that's not easily repairable, or worth fixing, or I'm gonna wanna fix that also.
Thanks.
#13
I have the Valeo solid mass flywheel kit in my R53 and I like it. The clutch is much lighter which makes it nicer to drive during stop and go traffic.
As for the "while I'm in there jobs", I would recommand replacing anything gasket or o-ring related. From the top of my head: valve cover, sparkplugtube rings, camsensor o-ring, dipsticktube o-ring, sump gasket, oil cooler housing gasket, oil cooler o-rings, timingchain cover gasket (that cover center bolt also has a tiny o-ring!), oil pump o-rings and the front and rear crankshaft seals.
Elring and Victor Reinz both have gasket sets for around €100 containing a lot these.
It sounds like a nice project.
As for the "while I'm in there jobs", I would recommand replacing anything gasket or o-ring related. From the top of my head: valve cover, sparkplugtube rings, camsensor o-ring, dipsticktube o-ring, sump gasket, oil cooler housing gasket, oil cooler o-rings, timingchain cover gasket (that cover center bolt also has a tiny o-ring!), oil pump o-rings and the front and rear crankshaft seals.
Elring and Victor Reinz both have gasket sets for around €100 containing a lot these.
It sounds like a nice project.
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kennedy71809
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
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09-21-2011 06:20 PM