good to know all's safe and enjoying the event . 

//youtu.be/IlzLl5nOLHA

Lee and Sue are now in Abbotsford.  Sans car, but here anyway!

I disagree with the stuck ring diagnosis. But I haven't seen it in person yet. Rings don't suddenly stick after hundreds of miles of continuous use.

I was told piston was burned and suspect upon initial teardown at Jet. Initial plan was to replace the one piston. A solvent test showed the piston was still sealing enough to keep most of the solvent in the bore overnight. So as I understand it, those results, plus time and other obligations so other minis could make it to MMW, had them agree to put a rebuilt head on and see how it goes. They were going to do a compression and leakdown test right after putting the head on and then decide if it was worth proceeding with the final carb and exhaust hookups. Not sure what events occurred, but obviously it was fully hooked up and made to drive. I did hear compression was just as low in one cyl after it was reassembled as before it was disassembled.

Current plan is I'll be trailering it home. I'm going to Shelton, WA (The Ridge Motorsports Park) to race in 24 Hours of LeMons July 10-12th and am choosing to bring only 1 car to the event so I have space on the trailer to bring their mini home to SoCal. We'll dig into it at home. 

Kind of a bummer that we ALREADY had the engine out and split from the trans a week before they departed to install a 3.1 final drive, center oil pickup, and a 4-pin dif.

From Jet Motors Facebook post today, it sounded like piston #4 had a stuck ring And the head was cracked (probably between 1&2).  I gather they were unable to free the ring. Big bummer. 

Will they trailer it back to Escondido after MMW Or have Jet fix it?

Yea, it is sad. I got the call today, too. Lee was supremely thankful to everyone at Jet Motors and their affiliates for their heroic yet fairly priced efforts to get him going again. And they indeed did get the mini going. Alas, it became a mosquito fogger and they had multiple drivers pull along side telling them their mini was on fire on their short drive.

Glad you are there to help them make it to Canada, Andy. I say let them load their mini on the little trailer and you drive your inno the last bit across. At least it LOOKS great

Bad news from Lee today - the repair attempts didn't do the trick.  Piston problems for sure.  The car is parked at a Brother-in-law's in Salem.  Current plans are for me to meet them at their son's place in Vashon Island on Sunday and they will ride up with me in my truck on Monday to MMW. I'm towing my Inno but don't have room on Spank's trailer for a second Mini.

Sad, sad, sad.

Jet employees at the ABFM in Portland went out of their way to help me replace an alternator.  

They should be in good hands with JET Motors. and not too far now from MMW2015.. Hopefully they have an uneventful run the rest of the way. Jet Motors is one of our sponsors for MMW2015, as is Mini Mania.. Mike

Report is that the one damaged piston may not be all that bad. Definite sign of pre-ignition. Owner reports that the distributer weights / springs appear to have possible been sticking despite having lubed and checked all of that prior to departure...

That would explain a lot.

Pistons held solvent/fluid, but it's possible that there could still be a broken ring.

Original head is out for new guides and kiss the valves. It will then be bolted back down and a leakdown test performed prior to anything else getting adjusted up. This will take place late Mon or Tuesday.

Sorry to hear they are having so many problems, but in glad they are in good hands at Jet Motors.  Hopefully he can get them back in business soon.  

Before the replacement head was put on, the Pistons looked Ok, but they are now believed to be burned?

From Jet Facebook because we all like pictures

Latest report has the head off again with some piston erosion/burning in one of the cylinders. Plan is for Jet Motors to pull engine, replace piston (if it proves to be do-able without major block work) and rebuild the original head, and have them back on the road I think Tuesday...

No idea. This was a no-expense-spared rebuild prior to their ownership.

Do you know if they ran valve stem seals on the exhausts?

Update-- 

They are on their 3rd tow, now. Getting towed to Salem, OR or something like that. Pressurized crankcase or somesuch.

Lee's number is [email me for his number]. He does NOT text, but that's his cell. I'm guessing they burned a piston or broke rings. Dunno. Wish I could help more. :(

I sent along to them a few minutes ago the number and address for Jet Motors.

Latest report (as of last night) is they have a replacement head on their motor and are prepared to head north into Oregon today. The original head reportedly had tight manganeze bronze valve guides that were binding the exhaust valves, and one guide was completely loose in the head. 

(they keep gushing about isleblue65 's generosity and kindness and how wonderful this community is for all of the help you've all offered)

(tmsmith-- that 'stang was from a different couple who have since moved to hemet, I believe).

A friend just sent me a pic of their car on the carrier in Cloverdale. Don't know how I missed this thread.

Funny. My wife was just telling me about seeing  a mini with a full roof rack going north up 101 yesterday as she was coming back from a wedding job. What a mini world! 

Shawn