This job really has been a long time coming, with many changes in plans and spec over the 10-year build, but at long last it was time to build the short block for our Clubby Estate 'Subby'. Good friend Stuart Wright was kind enough to take on the build of the 1330cc engine, which is based on a 12A (SPi) block. The first job was the crank, which I teased you with in a previous column. I've driven a few Minis that Stu has built with engines using cranks he's re-worked, including MiniWorld's Cooper 35 LE, Sputnik, so I was more than happy to give him free reign with his ideas for the crank. You have to remember this is a road car first and foremost. It has to be drivable, reliable and fun, so lightening the crank to death really doesn't make any sense. What does make sense though is a full on balance and light polish.
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