Engine and Gearbox upgrade.

[Brouchard]

Hello,
I would like to give my Traveller an engine and gearbox upgrade. Most people in the past used Midget 1275 engines with Ford 5 speed gearboxes,then Fiat Twincam with 5 speed gearboxes.
What is the best route to go now.?
I would like extra power ,5 speed gearbox,ease of fitting and reliability.
Also disc brakes on the front,which type.?
Any other upgrades worth their while.?
Any suggestions.?

Kind Regards
Gresham

[chrisd87]

Depends what you want out of the car really. If you just want a bit more oomph then the easiest option would be to tweak the 1098 engine you already have (by changing the cylinder head, exhaust, carb, etc.), or slot in a 1275cc unit from a Midget or Marina.

Otherwise you're looking at fitting a Rover K-Series or Ford Zetec, both of which seem to require quite a bit of work to fit, along with being rather expensive. That said, the sky's the limit as far as power is concerned although as the power increases so does the need for other modifications such as an uprated axle, suspension and structural stiffening. The other downside is that you start to lose the mechanical simplicity that makes the Minor what it is.

As for a 5-speed box, it seems the Ford type 9 is almost universally used.

[mike.perry]

What you fit depends on your bank balance. 1275 Midget engine plus 1098 or 1275 box is the easiest with a taller diff. Ital or Marina engines are probably easier to find and cheaper but need more instalation. 5 speed boxes are expensive with special clutch housing although Roy could probably pick one up for £50! And don't forget to add on the cost of a disc brake conversion or 9 inch drums

[Brouchard]

Why I am asking is because I have been down the Midget 1275 engine route with Minor gearbox and different diff plus Wolseley front brakes about 30 years ago.
Times have changed and cars we were robbing parts from for nearly next to nothing are not about in plentiful supply any more,people are restoring them now.
I have looked into the Ford Zetec engine + Ford type 9 gearbox route but it looks like you need so many extras to make this work that the cost can spiral,plus is this engine going to be something you can tune and repair at home ,or does the fitment of all this modern engine management equipment rule that out.?
I need a simple engine and 5 speed gearbox that will fit into the existing engine bay + tunnel without too much cutting and shutting,something you can repair and tune in your home workshop without all this modern diagnostic equipment,and finally an improvement on the power output.
I have heard the fitting of Ford rear axles is the way to go nowadays,is it the MK 2 Escort they use.? Mind you they must be hard to find.?
Is using the Marina front brakes still a popular choice if you can find them or has that gone Ford based.?
Your thoughts please.
Kind Regards
Gresham

[hotrodder13]

im using a mk 2 axel, (you can use mark 1or 2) on mine with marina front hubs and disks, i got mine from a breakers yard but they do come up on ebay

cheers tom

[Ratbag]

Daihatsu Sirion engine (also Peugeot 107/Toyota?/Citroen) with Daihatsu Hijet RWD 'box.
3 cyl, 998cc- small, light & powerful.
Ought to go in without bulkhead cutting required of bigger 4 pots.

Just my 2p having done some research (and owning a Traveller and a 107).

Cheers,

Phil.

[rayofleamington]

I'd recommend the Toyota 5 speed box over the Ford type 9, any day of the week.
Not only is the gear lever in a much better location (although it does benefit from adjusting the lever away from the drivers knee), the box is just better in all aspects. I've had 2 with Fords 5's and only one with a Toyota box I sold car with Toyota box in the car - I wish I'd swapped it out as it was REALLY nice in comparison. (At least the new owner is getting the benefit.)

Sirion engine - they have a good reputation, but I've no idea what's involved to use one in a classic.

[Brouchard]

Ray, What engine did you use with your Toyota 5 speed box,and which car was this Toyota gearbox from.?
Regards
Gresham