Morris Minor Owners Club

Looked to me as if the crank was longer on the Maestro engine than the ital one, but has a similar 6 bolt end

aye to Robin's comments on Bath Minor Centre. I found them very helpful and efficient.

As it sounds like it is still possible to buy brand new Maestro engines, it'd be great to see this made to work

Carrying on with this thread,.

Now that we have in theory a Maestro engine that fits onto the backplate and flywheel etc, what gearbpx to couple it up to?

With the 1275 lump, the original 1098 box will I'm sure expire and the Marina box is still a lumpy unforgiving box, what cheap Jap alternatives are there?

Expensive, but the Sierra 5-speed is a good box. The boxes themselves are cheap but the conversion bellhousing is not.

Cam, from your experiance would you say the sierra conversion is worth doing? now you've tried and tested it.
And is it worth the money? (meaning are they over priced for what you actually get in the kit).
What does the kit consist of?

cheers.

I would say that if you have to convert to a higher power handling 'box, then the Sierra conversion is worth doing as the Sierra ratios are pretty good with 4th being the same as the Minor's 4th (1:1) and 5th as a nice 0.82 overdrive. The shift is also closer and if you make your own gearstick out of the bottom of a Sierra one and the top of a Minor one it feels better (no vibration damper), looks original and is in roughly the right place!

In the conversion kit (if memory serves!) you get a bell housing, throw arm pivot, roller thrust bearing, crossmember, speedo cable, fibreglass gearbox cover, propshaft and clutch pedal to throw arm adapter (although I did not need it as I converted to hydraulic)

But I think that the modified flywheel, Ford clutch (& diaphragm), centre flywheel spigot adapter and engine backplate are extra.

To be honest, the reason that I converted was because the Minor 'box could not handle 120+BHP and the Sierra one can!

It all depends on what speeds you are planning to do. If you do 60-70MPH on a regular basis then a 5-speed is a really good option, otherwise don't bother as it is a bit of a mither to get everything lined up and working properly.

I had to make my own throw arm pivot as the one that I was supplied with was MILES out and had no hope of ever working!!

All my stuff was from the Morris Minor centre in Birmingham.

It is probably not worth the money, as I spent £350 on the conversion kit and £300 on a recon gearbox from them.

If I was doing it to a standard Minor then I would probably not go for it as £650 is a lot of cash just for a bit of extra cruising ability, but I had a slightly different objective and pretty much HAD to convert to it if I wanted a reliable gearbox for my freshly rebuilt (£1500) 1380cc Ital engine.

If I was doing it to a freshly rebuilt 1275 as a daily driver, then I might go for it as well, as it would make it easier on motorways, and I can't think of a good strong box that can fit the bill as well as the Sierra one. As stated above, the Marina 4-speed is a bit of a dog.

martinminor has posted a maestro experience 13 Aug, end of 'Lack of Marina/Ital engines.... Sounds like a job for those with access to a machine shop.

Is the Montego engine the same? There still seems hope if a suitable g/box can be found, pref without marina parts (backplate). Shame, without that A-series twin exhaust port other engines don't sound like a minor. I have good 1275 heads from minis - anyone tried valve pockets in a 1098 block? Do you loose bottom end torque? Cam - does your Maestro HIF44 hit the bonnet crossmember?
Mike

Cam - does your Maestro HIF44 hit the bonnet crossmember?

Nope! nowhere near, mate!