Morris Minor Owners Club

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But since I hadn't noticed this thread before - has anyone used the Maxda Mx5 engine/box in a mInor ?

What a time to revive a thread with all that advertising in it Runs for cover

I wouldnt put a K series in anything but a bin.....just spent 3 months studying the damn things at Uni. Great piece of design badly executed, and even if you replace everything that should be they're still fragile as hell!

People keep saying this, but me and my brother have run them for a good while without problems (1.8 in a 1998 Freelander and 1.6 in a 1999 Rover 416SLi). As long as you keep an eye on the coolant level and temperature gauge, they're not as bad as the reputation would suggest.

Well done to the original poster for reviving their trusty A series engine.

Having an A series is one of the major plus points of the Minor as it is a reliable, economical and easy and cheap engine to work on. I also think it is s good looking and sounding engine- tough too you can boil them dry without harm! I would though, go back to points ignition having seen and heard about the amount of problems people have with their electronic ignition conversions. If the distributor is worn, just get a recon one!

youngun wrote:I wouldnt put a K series in anything but a bin.....just spent 3 months studying the damn things at Uni. Great piece of design badly executed, and even if you replace everything that should be they're still fragile as hell!

Better off with an A series then!

my scimitar had a K-series which was great, lovely and reliable, had good acceleration and fuel economy.. would fit one to my moggy if it was not for all the bulk head mods, if i was going to do those mods i would fit a zetec engine because it is a good 15 years newer technology.

Nothing wrong with the K series so long as you make sure that the cooling is re worked ie. not as Rover intended. Its really a superb engine let down by the need for fast warm up and low emmissions.Best K's are the 1400 and 1600, which were really the max limit for this engine design, which was originally only intended to be an 1100cc.
Agree however that the Zetecs are a great engine well suited to the Minor.
The Mazda motor is basically a for runner for the Duratec engines and are again superb motors.

chickenjohn wrote:Well done to the original poster for reviving their trusty A series engine.

Having an A series is one of the major plus points of the Minor as it is a reliable, economical and easy and cheap engine to work on. I also think it is s good looking and sounding engine- tough too you can boil them dry without harm! I would though, go back to points ignition having seen and heard about the amount of problems people have with their electronic ignition conversions. If the distributor is worn, just get a recon one!

It had to be done, John - I originally purchased the engine for £60 and rebuilt it back in August 1994 (my first ever engine rebuild), and it's still going strong to this day, 37,000 miles on And yes, I have had to run it very hot after the fanbelt snapped on the M2 - temperature gauge went right over to H (hot), yet it made it a few miles before I could fit a spare, with no apparent ill effects.

I've not had any real problems with various electronic ignition installations on it over the years, though I do keep a set of points and condensor in the car just in case. I prefer the generally improved starting and running with electronic ignition, and indeed was called upon to fit Lumenition to a Triumph Stag last month - that has two sets of points as standard!

Just reading through old posts and liked this one. Did anyone put an MX5 engine in a moggy ?

Ive gone through some kind of petrol portal time warp thing and ended up on a kit car website.
How did that happen?

Ive gone through some kind of petrol portal time warp thing and ended up on a kit car website.
How did that happen?

I think what happened is that you clicked on a thread with a title referring to engine swaps, and found discussion on engine swaps...

LOL!

rayofleamington wrote:

Ive gone through some kind of petrol portal time warp thing and ended up on a kit car website.
How did that happen?

I think what happened is that you clicked on a thread with a title referring to engine swaps, and found discussion on engine swaps...

Aaaah, another hat in the ring then, when The Mosquito was first fitted with a flat four engine, Issigonis was also bench testing twin cylinder 2 strokes.
Now, where did I leave that Wartburg?................

A chap in my road used to have a Wartburg, 3 cylinder 2 stroke as I recall.

MarkyB wrote:A chap in my road used to have a Wartburg, 3 cylinder 2 stroke as I recall.

I honestly dont recall, the lead mechanic in a garage I spent a small ammount of my apprenticeship in had one and loved it to bits,I remember it was red, made lots of noise and created lots of smoke.
To a callow 17 year old it was old and wholly dull.
Now I may take a different view.

6 volt electrics and 3 separate coils.
I remember this because we replace one of the coils with one I had in stock from an old motor bike.
Very distinctive engine noise unsurprisingly!

Oh dear - but it's NEVER the coil !!!!

Wartburg engines sound good when tuned

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omPOld3nYG0