Morris Minor Owners Club

jonathon wrote:Mind, you will only achieve these theoretical figures on a rolling road, once the other factors such as drag are taken into account they would look a whole lot different in the higher speed ranges. Look good on paper though!!

I don't see why drag would have a significant effect on the ratio of engine speed to road speed.

I think he means the top speed attainable. The Minor engine will rev to 6000, but you won't be able to get it there on the flat in top gear due to lack of torque and too much air resistance. That's what hills are for!

Onne wrote: All LCVs (1956-end of production) were fitted with 4.55:1 diff, no matter what engine.

As you know, I know zip about the earlier vehicles, so I'll ask. Were the LCVs from May '53 - '56 (Series 2) the same, or is the axle different anyway?

It was....92 on a downhill and with three blokes in the car with me! And then a little later on my own on the M6 toll - both quite scary though!!!

I think they had the same as the saloons, a 5.286:1 diff.
This was to make the 803 faster than the sidevalve.

Sorting through some junk in the garage yesterday I came across a rev counter off a Midget, wonder if it's worth fitting it ???
Any idea how to do this ?

Mal

I think you will find the valves bounce in a standard 1098 engine at about 5500 - maybe less if they are a bit 'tired'.

What happens when the valves bounce? Does the engine just not go any faster?

So can you go at 16 miles an hour in 4th with a 1098? I need to be going about 30mph before I even think about it.

Was the 92mph read from the speedo or a sat nav? I found Maudes speedo is 10mph out at 70mph actual (ie reads 80mph, well shakes around the 80mph mark)

Btw THe M6 toll is a great road for wellieing it. Nice tarmac and smooth corners.

92 was the speed indicated by the speedometer......and I do accept that the thing may not be accurate!

It won't be right even if the speedo is working correctly. The Smiths speedo would over-estimate real speed by 4-5mph.

I seriously wouldn't recommend thrashing the engine to that extent on a regular basis.

Could anybody find this useful?
Click for an Excel[1] spreadsheet for calculating in-gear speeds. (File was virus-free when I uploaded it but you are strongly advised to check for youselves.)

It's made for various Ford gearboxes but one of the 4-speeds must be similar to the Minor box. At the top is a box to enter the diff ratio you have - I've been using it to choose one of the many ratios available for Ford english axles.

As for speedo: I'm leaning towards a GPS unit...

[1] Sorry.