VIN no explained please

[brucek]

Series 3 (948cc) or if you like Mark 1 Minor 1000

[retyred brummie]

Thank you Brucek. It does have a 948cc engine albeit not the original. Goes well but has a rattle when warm under no load condition, but put your foot down or take it off and it disappears. Someone suggested this is quite common on most A series engines and not to worry, could be little ends. Car came with a complete used 1098 engine. Are they interchangeable?

[brucek]

Yes the 1098 and 948 are interchangeable BUT there are some points to note. If using the 1098 engine you would need to use the 1098 clutch. Also the gear ratios on the 948 gearbox are different to the 1098 gearbox so for best performance it's as well to mate the 1098 engine with a 1098 gearbox. they go straight in where the 948 comes out when fitted as a complete unit. Also, the 948 diff has different ratios to the 1098 diff so again, if fitting the 1098 unit it's best to change the diff too. However, if you do this, and you still have the original 948 back axle, be careful as the 948's had the oil filler in the diff itself wheras the 1098's had a filler in the axle case. It has been done many times where a later diff is fitted to an early axle and there is no filler at all to put the oil into.

Most agree that the 948 is a super little engine and runs sweetest of all the engines used in the minor. Rattle at idle could well be valve clearances - well worth checking these every now and again (despite what the book says, 12 thou for inlets, 15 thou for exhausts works very well) or possibly timing chain which is a notorious rattler. Unlikely to be little ends I would have thought but others may have a different view

[alexandermclaren]

looking good m8
in fact awesome work

[retyred brummie]

Thanks again brucek. I strayed from the topic a little but your info on changing to the 1098 engine very useful, I shall keep to the 948 unless I get problems. Moving over to steering rack now.

[lambrettalad]

The 1098 keeps up with todays traffic that bit better than the smaller one

[bmcecosse]

It's 'never' the little ends....