1275 tuning - Questions about Vizard and a few more

[GeorgeHurst]

Wow, thank you all so much for those responses, loads to think about there... I have just had supper after getting back from a day of multiple van trips (one of which was to pick up the engine ) so am too pooped to properly absorb it all, but will read them properly tomorrow when I'm back from Beaulieu!

Will hopefully also start a resto project thread tomorrow also to chart the progress and the other work I'm doing.

Cheers!

[GeorgeHurst]

Once again thanks very much for all the detailed and informative responses...

Charlie - Yes, I'm definitely going to take it to a rolling road, there is apparently a really good one in my town which is classic friendly.
Alec - Thanks for those pointers, I'll have a chat to my neighbour and see what we can sort out.
IslipMinor - Wow, if I could get 100 bhp and 100 lb/ft torque I would be a very happy bunny! Presumably the 20bhp over PSL's quoted figure comes from the balancing and the overbore? These are mods out of budget for the moment unfortunately. What is a main bearing strap used for?
I forgot to mention originally that I will be using a K&N filter and stub stack also.
The quoted CR for an Ital engine is 9.4, should I be looking to increase this at all?
Roy - Thanks for looking for the valves, no worries, I'll just buy a set new - still cheaper than a big valve head
I'm probably not looking to be revving past 6000, I just want to be able to use it for 'spirited road use', so it looks like the Metro cam or a 266 is on the cards. Do you know the 'number' of the metro cam or a Kent version that is similar?
hotrodder - I saw your manifold in another post and its most impressive! Can't believe you got all those bits looking so shiny - was that all hand polished?!
LA - thanks for those comments, an RC40 single box is definitely another option and they do sound really good... going to keep my eyes peeled on ebay to see if one comes up cheap. Though part of me really wants a cherry bomb, just for the 'heritage' factor, and I just love the raspy note

I think to begin with I'll crack on with a standard head, metro cam, modded HIF44 and inlet, K&N and exhaust as mentioned and then approach the head porting and larger valves on the spare head and fit it as and when I get it done.

Thanks again, G

[GeorgeHurst]

Also I forgot to ask... is it a 45D or 25D dizzy for the Ital engine? The one on there is knackered, so I think I might buy a SimonBBC electronic dizzy as they're only £60 brand new.

[bmcecosse]

Could be either - is the engine A or A+ ? Is the dizzy held in by a fork with one bolt, or by the earlier two bolt/clamp system ??

[GeorgeHurst]

I'm thinking because it is an Ital engine it is A+, but maybe Ital's used both? How do I tell the difference between A and A+?

I don't have the engine in front of me but have some pics which might help clarify...
[frame][/frame]
[frame][/frame]

Also, can anyone clarify that this flywheel has been modified for mating Ital to 1098 box?
[frame][/frame]

This is the backplate that came with the engine, which I'm pretty sure is the standard Ital one. Does anyone have a link to details/drawings of how to modify this for my application? Have searched on here but can't find anything specific.[frame][/frame]

Cheers

[IslipMinor]

George,

The balancing is to reduce stress on the engine and the centre main strap is to reinforce the centre main bearing to take the extra loads from the additional power. The power increase comes from the overbore and all the other mods to the engine.

[GeorgeHurst]

Ace, thanks for clarifying that Richard. At what bhp do you think balancing and a centre main strap would be sensible to implement?

[linearaudio]

Your flywheel has indeed been drilled for the Ital engine. The engine you have is an A+ (lucky boy!) so the 45D distributor is what you need. Do you have the Ital cast lcb manifold? If you have, and are going to use it, you must chop the horrid cast inlet bit off and fit something alloy, MG Metro/Howley etc. Some of the cheaper new items don't appear to be very well executed, so probably better looking for one of the above one ebay or similar! For goodness sake, if you are going to put the Holy MG Metro cam in, then at least do a bit of work on the exhaust ports of your standard head so you can actually get more than a childs finger past the valve guide area!!

[Kevin]

Any experiences with the Swiftune SW5 cam, anyone? That seems to be another favourite with the Mini boys now MG Metro cams are getting thin on the ground!

Yes I use a SW5 in mine and its fine without a hint of a lumpy tickover that was an issue with the previous Kent Cam that was in my last engine and I find it has really good torque even at cruising speed.

[bmcecosse]

Your picture is not too clear - but I 'think' that dizzy is being held in by a 'fork' and is therefore a 45D. You can't use ital backplate - but if that engine has been used on a MInor box before - that will be (and looks v much like!!) a modified Minor backplate!

[hotrodder13]

all my stuff was polished by me on a professional polisher (looks like a bench grinder) my dad baught but i have used it more

[GeorgeHurst]

Thanks for that LA, I've got an LCB from a Marina, but it doesn't have an inlet on it (nor does it look like it has had one cut off, so perhaps an aftermarket LCB?) I've got a 'D.P.E.' alloy inlet (looks like the metro one) - I haven't heard of them like I have Howley or Oselli, but I'm assuming the fact that it's branded means its not a shoddy copy of the Metro inlet.

I suppose I should do the porting work really! Probably worth working on this infact in the initial instalation, and then doing bigger valves at a later date...

Roy, the engine was used on a Minor box, but the chap that sold it to me said that the backplate wasn't the minor one- perhaps he was mistaken. I've got a spare box so will try and mate them up tomorrow and see if it fits.

Hotrodder - good effort on the polishing, looks really grand I was wondering how on earth one would do that with Autosal, but obviously a machine is the way to go!

[hotrodder13]

yes it is and mine is a metro inlet manifold was a cast finsh now polished will be doin my alloys next

[bmcecosse]

It may be (likely is) a Spridget backplate - from a 1275 engine.

[IslipMinor]

The backplate in the picture is not a Spridget 1275 one - they are solid plate, about 5/16" thick. If the flywheel is a 1098, drilled for the Marina crank, is it a 1098 backplate so that the Marina block will mate up to a ribcase gearbox?

[bmcecosse]

Ohh yes - you are right Richard (as usual !) - I hadn't noticed it is a pressed steel plate - from a 948 engine, which has been opened up below the main bearing hole to allow it to fit over the larger 1275 main cap. These are quite prone to cracking - so check it carefully!

[GeorgeHurst]

I had a go at mating the back plate to the box and engine today... found that all the holes from plate to box correspond (1098 ribbed box) so it definitely fits that, and all the holes also correspond from plate to block. However, the middle of the top three holes is too small to fit the spigot on the block. I measured with my vernier and the spigot is 10mm and the hole in the back plate is 9mm - can I simply open this hole up to 10mm and then use this backplate? (Fingers crossed!)

Here are some further pics of the dizzy to clarify how it's mounted...[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[PSL184]

Yes - That is one of the mods required.

[GeorgeHurst]

Is that all that needs doing? I was envisaging a lot more work!

p.s. just seen Matt is selling two Metro cams in 'Parts for sale' so hopefully will be getting one of those off him

[bmcecosse]

That is the earlier clamp style dizzy mount - so your engine is NOT an A+, it is the earlier A . you can fit a 25D dizzy in there if you wish, and yes - open up the hole in the middle - but keep it 'snug' to the dowel!