Engine question

Post by **wolvessiamese** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:57 pm

Hi All

Heres a question for you all.

I have a 63' moggy that I am planning to modify.

What engine and gearbox will easily fit without too much work.

Look forward to reading your replies.

Donna

Post by **bigginger** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:09 pm

1275 A series and a Ford type 9 - or srick with the original box.

Post by **wolvessiamese** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:38 pm

Ok maybe a lil more help is needed to what cars can I get the engine and box from.

Also if I go ahead with the engine / box replacement what else do I need to do obviously the brakes but not sure about the rest.

Donna

Post by **bigginger** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:51 pm

1275 A series was fitted to the Marina, Ital and some Midgets - probably others I've forgotten too, You'll be lucky to find one on a scrappy these days - keep an eye on ebay and the papers, or buy this one - http://morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.php?na ... pic&t=6540 . It'll fit with a little work and some parts. The only other thing to think about is suspension, I've never owned a saloon so can't give advice on rear suspension, but the front is adequate as is, though you might want to think about telescopic shock conversions - I do know that others here advise mods to the rear first, and I'm sure they'll be along in a minute to tell you more. Hope that's some help - oh, and do buy that engine, it's a good price.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:00 am

Regardless of shock absorber upgrades, you should fit upgraded brakes when using a 1275! Your insurance may not be valid without it, but that makes little difference if you crash and injure someone.

Make sure the 1275 is a RWD version. (or you can also use a Maestro 1275 which is an improved version but as the Maestro engine is front wheel drive, the fitting kit is far from cheap)

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:53 pm

Most certainly fit telescopic dampers at the front - IN ADDITION to the standard lever arms. Soft springing and good damping - perfect ! A little negative camber at the front helps too. Obviously good wheels and tyres are worth the weight in gold. I believe the K series engine mated to a Ford box works well - used by the Kit lads. Not to steal the thread - but has anyone fitted a transverse Mini unit to their Minor - converting it to front wheel drive ? It's very similar construction at the bulkhead to the Mini (obviously Minor came first - Issi then used bits of the design when working on the Mini - might be fairly simple to put a complete Mini subframe in there !!

Post by **Onne** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:13 pm

And lose the fun of RWD? I don't think so!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:58 am

but has anyone fitted a transverse Mini unit to their Minor - converting it to front wheel drive ?

Yes - Its called the Morris 1100 ;-)

Post by **Cam** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 11:56 am

bmcecosse wrote:Most certainly fit telescopic dampers at the front - IN ADDITION to the standard lever arms.

Well, most people use them instead as they are designed to act independantly, but there's no harm I suppose except that if you take the valve out of the original dampers and fill them with oil then you don't have to worry about them failing. If you get adjustable telescopic dampers then you can set them to whatever you like and the originals are redundant.

Soft springing and good damping - perfect !

Well, the springing is to do with the torsion bar which can be uprated by fitting different thickness bars like I have done on my car. I found the original torsion bars too soft. When you pitch the car slowly then it will roll with soft springs (bars) which can be reduced by fitting thicker bars.

A little negative camber at the front helps too. Obviously good wheels and tyres are worth the weight in gold.

Good wheels and tyres are worth their weight in gold but very few people seem to get it right!

A good example is my car. I have 185s on the back and they are really too wide for good traction as they spread the load too much. I like it like that as I like the back end to come out on power as it's a fun toy car and not a serious racer!

Neg camber at the front very much depends on your driving style. If you are really pushing the car around tight bends a lot and fighing the steering then neg camber will help, but otherwise it will just wear your tyres on the inner edge (depending on HOW MUCH neg camber you use!!). I was going to set mine neg at the front but I'm not going to bother now as my tyres are OK and perhaps I don't drive it as hard anymore!!

has anyone fitted a transverse Mini unit to their Minor - converting it to front wheel drive ? It's very similar construction at the bulkhead to the Mini (obviously Minor came first - Issi then used bits of the design when working on the Mini - might be fairly simple to put a complete Mini subframe in there !!

Good god no! That's one of the reasons I got out of Minis and into Minors was that the Minors were 'real' RWD and not FWD!!

Plus if you do that then you limit the size of Mod engines you can use as they have to me mated to a FWD box which is in the engine bay. Can't see a MOPAR 440 mounted transversely!!

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:33 pm

but has anyone fitted a transverse Mini unit to their Minor - converting it to front wheel drive ?

Well a couple of years ago Roger of Morris Surplus had one for sale that had been altered and fitted with either 1100 or 1300 running gear and a rather unusual soft top, realistically it looked a bit of a mess.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 7:48 pm

But was the Minor not originally designed with front wheel drive in mind ?
And Colin Chapman (Lotus) - was very enthusiastic for soft springing and good damping. I don't need stronger springs. I have huge telescopics on the front - in addition to the lever arms which are filled with thick oil. Fantastic damping - but still soft springing. It rides really well. I have not found a satisfactory way to fit telescopics at the rear- there is just no strength in the rear of a Traveller ! Just had a thought - maybe the answer is to fit some kind of crank arrangement, and have the dampers mounted under the rear seat, lying horizontally. Hmmm.

Post by **Cam** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 6:58 pm

But was the Minor not originally designed with front wheel drive in mind ?

Erm......... I don't think so, no. It was originally designed for a flat four engine with independant rear suspension and rear wheel drive. Anyway, if FWD is so excellent how come all the 'proper' cars (F1, Ferarri, Porsche, Lamborhini, BMW, etc) are RWD??

If you are happy with your setup then great, but if you have soft springs then if you pitch the car the dampers won't stop roll, just fast changes of movement.

Rear telescopics can be fitted with rear towers fitted:

I got mine from JLH

Post by **chickenjohn** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:34 pm

rayofleamington wrote:
but has anyone fitted a transverse Mini unit to their Minor - converting it to front wheel drive ?
Yes - Its called the Morris 1100 ;-)

which was updated to give.........the Austin Allegro

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:37 pm

Isn't a transverse A series engined car quite well known as a Mini, too?

Post by **wolvessiamese** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 11:08 pm

Thanks for all the help guys, now does anyone know where you can get body kits from ?

Also how much can I lower by and what size wheels can I safely fit

Donna

Post by **Kevin** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 11:49 pm

What do you mean by a body kit, dont mind me asking but are you running before you can walk so to speak as you started of with a question about an easy engine and box change and have now gone on to 2 other areas and none of them will be that cheap and depend on how much of the work you can do yourself.
A useful starting point may be to get a copy of Owen Burtons book from the Bath Centre or have a chat to Jonathon at JLH.
Donna dont think I am trying to put you of for one minute but basic things like disc brakes and tele shockers will cost over £500 how much do you intend spending it can be far cheaper to buy an already modified car.

Post by **wolvessiamese** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 11:55 pm

Hi Kevin

By body kit I mean front and rear spoilers and side skirts.

I know its not cheap but I want to look at her and say I have done that when its finished not " uncle fred " did that if you know what I mean.

Donna

Post by **Kevin** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 12:29 am

Hi Donna front spoilers are available from places like JLH, not seen rear spoilers and side skirts i have only seen them on custom pickups and the like.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:27 pm

Better go buy a Corsa if you want to mess about with 'skirts' and 'spoilers ' !! The Minor just does not suit any of that stuff. Only 'bodykit' available is the sunvisor - now that's a real 'spoiler' - spoils the top speed by about 10 mph. Why anyone would want to do that is beyond me - but if it rocks your boat.......
And CAM - there is just no real strength in the Traveller at the rear for damper turrets like these. I tried something similar - and it just wrecked the floor ! At least the saloon has a nice stiffening diaphragm across the rear seat back - the Traveller has nothing. The wheel arches are held by virtually nothing - and screwed to the wood to stop them flapping about !!

Post by **Willie** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:33 pm

BMC.. well said, at last someone has pointed out the drawback
of the 'desirable fitting' same goes for the headlamp peaks. It
seems to take another 5MPH off the top speed too.