If possible, it would be nice to know these names if they still work on mini’s or will look at a mini in the Detroit area. I have only had my mini 5 years and have not met anyone that really works on mini’s

Thanks for the responses!

The summary of a very long story...

Yes, I checked compression, it's 150+ in all 4.

It's a Bill Richards 1380, was done in England prior to my ownership. I tracked down the previous several owners and have a pretty detailed history on what was done to the motor. I've talked to Bill a couple of times and he thinks it's a ring problem. He sent a head, so guides and seals are good. Bores looked OK when I had the head off.

It sat for a long time, so the thought is that it has a stuck oil ring on one or more cylinders. It smokes like crazy on acceleration. Doing the lower end should take care of it at any rate which was my plan. 

I have a few names to work with now (Thanks Big Al) - I'll keep you posted.

Skip

Have you had a compression test done? Also a leak down test for valve guides?

dr mini..  I have NOT thought about willie for ever and ever. I think he sold off his minis?? later bc

Is Willie still wrenching on Minis? He lives just south of Detroit and is a great mechanic. I will attempt to contact him and see if he's available.

I am in the Detroit area, my experience is that they've all gone away through old age, or have never really worked on a mini. I would ship the car to someone like Steve at Coopertune in VA to have it done. 

The thread title says Detroit. maybe ???

Within a 100 miles of where?

bassdude..  guess you need to talk to big al guest in ontario. and he can give you the SKINNY on someone close to work on your mini engine.. later bc

Hi Guys. Long time.  REALLY long time. Good to see a lot of names I recognize.

My Mini is sitting in the garage with the same problem it had ten years ago, burns oil at about 1qt/125 miles. Apparently I'm not going to get to repairing it myself anytime soon. 

It's a Bill Richards motor A+ 1380, etc., and I'm trying to find someone near me that can replace the rings and do some other work to the car to get it on the road again. 

Are there any shops within 100+ miles that do restoration work on Minis or its many cousins? Including Canada? 

Skip
(BassDude, was once active here in the days before cell phones....)