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Okay guys-how crazy is this

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tdskip

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Hi guys so I've hatched a bit of a plan here and then I wanted to get your input on. Keep in mind that even if it turns out to be a stupid idea I will probably still do it, so those of you that know me may need to moderate your expectations. Ha.

I am in the process of buying a 66 Cooper with 1275 an event will be from rebuild for who I am to Oregon to pick it up. I will then be driving, with my significant other mind you, down the Oregon and California coast back to Southern California. The car itself will have been professionally reviewed by a Mini specialist but the engine will still be tight and run in for the first time on the trip.

it will end up being about a 1200 mile drive back home, and I think that means I'm probably going to need to re-torque the head as part of my roadside maintenance.

Any tips or ideas or warnings for me? Thanks!
 
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Whew... good luck. I found that prolonged drives in my Minis were very tiring (even a drive from here in Portland up to Seattle) - loud too. Frankly, that's quite the shake-down journey... beautiful drive (if you take 101) but a potentially fraught adventure nonetheless.
 
Wow, bad voice translation. The car is going to live in SoCal, so around 1,500 miles total drive. Sorry about that.
 
As Mark said, with the 3.44 final drive and 10" rims, the 1275 will be turning 4k RPM at 65 MPH. It will be a loud and buzzy trip so plan to stop often to relax. An hour a 65 MPH is about all I can stand but I am getting old and soft. While at those stops take a look under the bonnet just to keep an eye on things. Carry extra water/anti-freeze, oil, a change of points, rags, and a copy of the service manual with basic tools. I am one of the few people left who don't have a cell phone. I assume you have one so keep it charged in case you need to call for help.

While you are supposed to re-torque the head somewhere around 500 miles, I would discuss this with the engine builder if you can. Taking this step on the road may be more trouble than it is worth.
 
Hi Doug! Thanks for he note and hope you are doing well.

i was planning on 6o mph or so going down the coastal 101, with frequent stops to walk/hike/eat/ get the **** out of the car. :smile:

Last 1,000+ trip like this was in a '72 350sl so this will be a bit of a different drive.

In talking to the builder he said that as long as I didn't drive like a dope this would be an OK way to break in the engine and that re-torquing the head wouldn't be a bit deal. Sound right.
 
Following on Doug's great comments, I'd also bring along a pair of earplugs (at the risk of not hearing new engine sounds). Definitely carry water... as you never know (with the cooling system). Yes, tools, oil... spare bits. Maybe brake fluid.
 
Ask Mark. This car has extra sound deadening in it, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it's going to actually make. Your plugs along with your other things are definitely a good idea, thank you.
 
My last Mini had some sound-deadening... but it was still loud at freeway speeds. I once took a sound-pressure-level meter along and hit 105 dB pretty consistently at high speed (plus the vibration). A terrific car to drive, but not so fun for long distances at a constant high speed (but, like Doug, I'm getting old). :wink-new:
 
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Boink said:
My last Mini had some sound-deadening... but it was still loud at freeway speeds. I once took a sound-pressure-level meter along and hi 105 dB pretty consistently at high speed (plus the vibration). A terrific car to drive, but not so fun for long distances at a constant high speed (but, like Doug, I'm getting old). :wink-new:
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Wow, that is pretty loud.
 
That was a 1275 +20 (I think that would be 1293cc). If I were you (both for break-in and sanity) keep the speed down to 55 tops.
 
105 db, Wow, that is pretty loud.

Yeah it could deafen one.:smile-new:
 
Actually, it could peak at 110dB!!! But even routine driving was at 95dB.
 
Hi, thanks for the response and great background! Sounds like the mini has been a source of quite a bit of fun for you guys.

so by way of update the engine has in fact been rebuilt and gone through a series of shakedown tests so it looks like this is going to happen. I'll try taking a bunch of pictures and posting them along the way. What is the old saying, "have torque wrench will motor"?
 
Good luck and I'll be interested to hear about the drive.
 
If you have any problems, I am 35 min from the 5 freeway as you go through Sacramento, I have lots of tools and a rack that we could put the car up. I also have big hammers!

Jerry
 
Thanks Jerry, very gracious.

As it turns out the trip was scrubbed rather to issues on the car that I discovered upon arrival. Bummer.
 
tdskip said:
Thanks Jerry, very gracious.

As it turns out the trip was scrubbed rather to issues on the car that I discovered upon arrival. Bummer.
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Bummer indeed. Well, glad to find out then than on the road.
 
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