Completed my engine rebuild and had the mini dealer time it. I started it in the bay and fired up just fine. Drove around for like 3/4 mile with the tech and no boost from the turbo... Turbo looked a little wet by the feed line so maybe feed line is bad or something. Anyway paid the arm and leg mini charges for service drove away and a block later power is gone oil pressure light comes on and smoke is coming from the hood... I pull over and oil is dripping everywhere on the underside. This morning they put it on a lift and discovered a hole in the crankcase by the downpipe. So my question is where can I find a crankcase replacement. I don't wanna buy another whole block just to pull the crankcase off of it. Would a junk/salvage yard be my best bet? $4k deep in this already

 

What caused the hole? I would think something internally failed..

 

Yup, find a rear end wreck Cooper S with the same motor.

Or part it out and cut your losses. I would be scared what the condition of the block is in with a hole like that.

 

I would assume so, maybe a bolt came loose from a rod or an oil spray nozzle under a cylinder. I don't know yet I am gonna pull the crankcase off this week sometime to find the exact cause. I just wanna find another crankcase rather than having to spend a bunch for a block just to use the bottom part since my bore is 77.5 mm for the new pistons I put in.

 

If I see any damage on the cylinders I'll look into a complete engine from Mini Mania for 5695 and have it and just pull parts from it if my parts fail.

 

You paid an arm and leg and you are NOT going back to the dealer for a recourse!!!!!!

If i were you , i will sue them and with settlement money buy the office and fire everyone..lol

Seriously, why doesnt the dealer fix this issue. no warranty on their work?

 

Would you think is their fault? I did the rebuild up to the timing. They installed the cams and put a new vacuum pump on and timed the car. I did everything else. Would it being out of time cause something like this?

 

I didnt know you did half the work. Did you install the pistons or cranshaft? Did you do any bottom work?

Since the engine needs to get out, take the oil pan and see what broke it. That could be your lead as to whose fault it is. Also take the valve cover and see what is up there.

 

Man that sucks. My thought is that since you built the bottom end you will never get them to admit fault. My 2 cents is something in the bottom end came apart. Until you pull it apart you won't know what damages you have. You may need much more than a crankcase.

 

PM me. I have a freshly honed block with crank