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mtbtimr & Sammy1222's 1972 Austin 1300 Discussion


mtbtimr

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  • 3 weeks later...

These don't really like running without a thermostat, the water circulates to fast and they will still overheat. They should have a 84 degree thermostat. I would check the compression on numbers 2 and 3 cylinders as they have a habit of blowing the head gasket between these two.

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What an awesome colour! Did you photo shop that first photo of Maggie in the shed though? Looks so sparkly. Looks cool as anyway- congrats.

I'd just have a good go at running some rad flush through. Even though previous owner might say something was done you'll never know if or how well. Once you've driven it hot a bit with flush compound inside, making sure to have heater on, then drain and use a garden hose to flush back and forth the system. Disconnect heater pipe too and run it through from there. Quite satisfying watching the gunk come out. Keep at it each way till clear.

Then fit a Vtec.

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What an awesome colour! Did you photo shop that first photo of Maggie in the shed though? Looks so sparkly. Looks cool as anyway- congrats.

I'd just have a good go at running some rad flush through. Even though previous owner might say something was done you'll never know if or how well. Once you've driven it hot a bit with flush compound inside, making sure to have heater on, then drain and use a garden hose to flush back and forth the system. Disconnect heater pipe too and run it through from there. Quite satisfying watching the gunk come out. Keep at it each way till clear.

Then fit a Vtec.

 

Nope, no photoshop involved! It was a long exposure (15 seconds I think) and we walked up and down the car shining our phone torches on her to light her up.

 

Thanks for the advice with the radiator - we'll definitely do that. 

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  • 2 months later...

Just remove the garden hose and let the clutch cover vent to atmosphere. I've had a lot of these things and Minis and I've never seen that vent connected to anything. Some of them don't even have a vent, just a place where the hole in the casting never got cut out. Look at a few others, especially later Minis, and you'll see what I mean. Even having a squiz at engine bay pix on trademe should tell you something.

As to the rust in the cooling system you must remember that the car is nearly 43 years old and it is going to have a lot of shit in there no matter how well it has been maintained. That said it does look like you have found a good one. It looks a lot better than my Wolseley.

The first thing to look at when you suspect a blown head gasket is the oil. If it has water in it you will notice immediately as the oil will be milky grey rather than black. Being a push-rod motor replacing the head gasket is dead easy. While you've got the head off have a look at the bores and the valves, rockers, etc.

You may be interested to know that BMC 1800 valve springs fit these. They are the same external diameter but have heavier coils. I belive that this makes them a valid alternative to Cooper S double springs. I used one once when I broke a valve spring. Should have changed all of them at the same time. Means you can rev it harder before it starts to valve bounce.

There is tremendous devlopment potential in these motors. I knew a guy in the '80s who had one just a bit hotter than Cooper S spec and it blew away a lot of V8s. Looked stock as a rock just like yours but was good for 105 mph.

Early Toyota Starlet 12" rims fit these things too. I know this because I bought some with good tyres on them thinking that I would need to swap the tyres onto my BMC rims but found that the stud pattern was the same and they fitted.

Good luck with your project. Mowogs Rock.

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Sorry to delete your comment igor, we moved it here to the discussion thread.

 

Just remove the garden hose and let the clutch cover vent to atmosphere. I've had a lot of these things and Minis and I've never seen that vent connected to anything. Some of them don't even have a vent, just a place where the hole in the casting never got cut out. Look at a few others, especially later Minis, and you'll see what I mean. Even having a squiz at engine bay pix on trademe should tell you something.

As to the rust in the cooling system you must remember that the car is nearly 43 years old and it is going to have a lot of shit in there no matter how well it has been maintained. That said it does look like you have found a good one. It looks a lot better than my Wolseley.

The first thing to look at when you suspect a blown head gasket is the oil. If it has water in it you will notice immediately as the oil will be milky grey rather than black. Being a push-rod motor replacing the head gasket is dead easy. While you've got the head off have a look at the bores and the valves, rockers, etc.

You may be interested to know that BMC 1800 valve springs fit these. They are the same external diameter but have heavier coils. I belive that this makes them a valid alternative to Cooper S double springs. I used one once when I broke a valve spring. Should have changed all of them at the same time. Means you can rev it harder before it starts to valve bounce.

There is tremendous devlopment potential in these motors. I knew a guy in the '80s who had one just a bit hotter than Cooper S spec and it blew away a lot of V8s. Looked stock as a rock just like yours but was good for 105 mph.

Early Toyota Starlet 12" rims fit these things too. I know this because I bought some with good tyres on them thinking that I would need to swap the tyres onto my BMC rims but found that the stud pattern was the same and they fitted.

Good luck with your project. Mowogs Rock.

 

Thanks very much for all the information! - pretty relieved about the cooling system. 

 

We'll check the oil; did notice a bit of white gunk under the rocker cover... 

 

Sounds like these little engines can pack quite the punch if you nurture them right! I think we'll aim to cover the basic things before looking to improve the power but it would definitely be cool to surprise some people at the lights.  :thumbleft:  :thumbleft:

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

I found my 1300 overheated and lost coolant because the radiator cap was faulty new. I noticed it was very easy to install and there was no pressure against the spring. I did replace all my hoses and cleaned out the radiator also since I was driving every day and don't like having to fix things on the road.

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I found my 1300 overheated and lost coolant because the radiator cap was faulty new. I noticed it was very easy to install and there was no pressure against the spring. I did replace all my hoses and cleaned out the radiator also since I was driving every day and don't like having to fix things on the road.

Yea thats what we initially put it down to, but took it to a radiator specialist to have a look at and he seemed to think it was fine. Waiting on a compression tester to see if its a head gasket and would make sense

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Don't bother flaring the guards. Just pump the hydrolastic right up and run it rebel. Most cops won't notice a tidy looking grandpa spec car like that. I've only been pulled up once in my Wolseley 1300 but lots of times in my Falcons. Love that replacement washer reservoir. To get the dints out of the bumper you might get away with just beating the fuck out of it with a hammer if the chrome plating is good and well stuck on.

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