Marina Engine/Minor (spridget) box

Post by **Matt** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:15 am

Hi Guys

My trav has a marina engine/box in it and due to a load of fiddling etc, i would like to put the marina engine in the spridge and the spridge engine in the minor.

What do I need to do to get the marina engine to mate with a minor/spridget 'box?

I know you have to modify the crankshaft, but can a spridget one be subsituted in its place? and do i need to aquire a backplate from somewhere?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:15 pm

You can certainly swap the cranks about - and I guess the backplate has to stay with the gearbox otherwise it won't match! Seems like a whole lot of work - what's the gain ?

Post by **Peetee** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:55 pm

The 1275 Marina should mate to a spriget box. It's the backplate that needs changing to fit to a Minor because the starter motor is in the wrong position - that's not to say it's going to foul in the spriget though. I think that's the only issue with the backplate (?).
I don't know of a problem with the crank. I believe that's only inline engines.

Post by **Matt** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:49 pm

The gain is that i can put the marina lump in my spridget after its been rebuilt, whereas I have a prefectly good spridget lump and a 5 spd conversion that will go on it, but apparently not on the marina.

I thought the crankshaft had to be drilled for a 4 bolt pattern as the marina is a 6 bolt on the clutch end?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:34 pm

Your 5 speed conversion should be able to fit on either engines - whichever engine you use needs to have the right backplate and flywheel but otherwise I can't see a problem.

Post by **Matt** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:51 pm

ok, the main problem is the trav is roadworthy except the engine, the spidge is nowere near roadworthy but has a reasonable engine as far as i can tell. Thats why i want to do this!

So people think the spridget box should bolt straight on to the marina engine? and the clutch etc will still work as it should....

Post by **rayofleamington** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:15 pm

So people think the spridget box should bolt straight on to the marina engine?

not if the marina engine is currently on a marina box - I expect the backplate needs modifying (some differences in the bolt pattern) - may be easiest to get a different backplate rather than modify it. You may be able to keep the marina clutch + flywheel but only if it fits in the bellhousing and the linkages work - otherwise you'll need to swap to a different clutch/flywheel.

Post by **Matt** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:04 pm

Would the backplate from a 1098 minor engine work? I have one in the shed...

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:17 pm

Very probably - can't see why not. All 1275 engines are 6 bolt crank tail - so yes Minor 1098 flywheel (4 holes) would need some new holes drilling. Two holes will line up anyway - just need to mark through where to drill the other 4 - and possibly one for a dowel too.

Post by **Matt** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:48 pm

There isnt much space in the bellhousing, and i *think* the marina clutch might be bigger. Is there why i wouldnt be able to bolt a spridget clutch on to the marina flywheel or bolt a spridget flywheel and then the clutch to the marina crankshaft?

sorry for the silly questions, but i havent got the engines in front of me... and im not too hot on the technical details of the engines!

Post by **chrisd87** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:45 pm

I think the Spridget clutch is of a different type which will result in a hellishly sharp engagement if used with the Minor linkage.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:52 am

They are both 6 bolt - and so should be interchangeable - but whether they will fit inside each others bellhousings is another matter! Best to keep the flywheels with their own gearboxes and clutch mechs.

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:54 pm

I think the Spridget clutch is of a different type which will result in a hellishly sharp engagement if used with the Minor linkage.

Quite right Chris it gives an awful pedal which is wonderful in traffic, and as its a smaller plate as well so probably wont last anywhere near as long.

Post by **Matt** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:42 pm

i was going to use the spridget hydralic clutch because i have a marina pedal box with a hydaulic clutch

Post by **IslipMinor** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:05 pm

it gives an awful pedal which is wonderful in traffic, and as its a smaller plate as well so probably wont last anywhere near as long.

I have a standard Spridget 6 1/4" diaphragm clutch behind my 1380 A-Series. The centreplate is an uprated AP item for the Toyota 5-spd box. Using a completely standard Minor mechanical linkage, the pedal and engagement is fine in all conditions, traffic, open road, track etc., and to date the whole assembly has done 25,000+ miles.

The standard Spridget unit is designed for the 1275 engine, so I do not understand why it should not last very long?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:40 am

Partly because it's designed for a small light car.