All,
Got done replacing the timing chain (chain, crank sprocket, guides, tensioner, etc..). Everything torqued to spec. I find the engine a harder to turn by hand now than it was before I did the timing chain work. It had been sitting a little bit since I took the old chain off and I drained the oil. My thoughts go to things just being a bit tighter and little to no oil in the crank case. I was able to get the engine to turn a couple of complete revolutions by hand, just seemed to require a bit more force. Is this normal and expected?

 

Makes perfect sense when you consider that your previous chain was most likely stretched and now you've reduced the chain length and added a new tensioner.

 

Add engine oil to see if the higher resistance to hand turning becomes reduced or eliminated.

 

Got everything back together earlier in the week. Crank, no start. Pulled the valve cover to see the timing had jumped. Got around to taking things apart to do the timing only to find 7 and 8 cam journals, caps and camshaft scored. I snapped two of the cap bolts when I had everything apart previously and there were shavings left over.

 

Unfortunate outcome. What's the plan moving forward?

 

Going to pull the head and call a machine shop. At least get an idea if it can be fixed and how much. Otherwise it's remanufactured head

 

 

Long time update on this. Engine got trashed. Called around to get quotes on replacing the engine, nothing in my area cheaper then $7,500 (including engine and new turbo). It cost me $5,500 to buy a 2011 Cooper S and junk the 2009 Clubman.

 

Expensive mistake. Thise cam caps are line bored, and when removed, need to go back where they were removed.

You “Could” rebuild the engine… I’d be willing to bet that not everything is trashed, and you could get a decent build out of it.

 

I don't have the expertise, or access to the equipment needed to do a proper rebuild. Calling the engine rebuild shops netted me quotes more than getting a quality used engine, new turbo and labor to have a shop replace the engine. I don't have the space for a project car either to slowly rebuild an engine and learn as I go.

I would have loved to save the Clubman. It was British racing green, hot chocolate brown interior with white color ways and a manual.