Morris Minor Owners Club

Kevin wrote:Well Cams is bored out to 1380cc and I dont thing its advised to go beyond that and I think he puts out 120-130bhp which is beyond your requirements.

But I guess it depends on the cam profile used. I recently had a Rover 4.6 V8 built that made 280hp and around 300ft.lb torque, but with a different cam would have easily made 350hp, a bit less torque, but an unusable torque curve for the road.

I don't mind if I go over the 100hp as long as I have decent torque and a pretty flat curve. Capacity is the best of of getting to that - unless somone wants to correct me - I'm better with bigger engines ;)

Well twin cam 2000cc Fiat engines are often used and the occasional Rover V8 but it needs some heavy mods.

Hmm, I've got a 1275 Maestro engine - bet the conversion costs a bob or two though...

Kevin wrote:Well twin cam 2000cc Fiat engines are often used and the occasional Rover V8 but it needs some heavy mods.

FAR too much modification on the V8 - I started a project to put a V8 (mentioned above) in an A55 Pickup - it needed a new Chassis, the radiator relocated to the pickup bed, new front end, new everything basically. And the Fiat - well that's italian innit? I'll stick with a Brit lump then I don't feel so bad modifying a classic ;)

And the Fiat - well that's italian innit?

Yes but its a conversion that has been done for over 20 years to give you some Ideas have a look at John & Robins site
http://www.beardmorebros.co.uk/

Kevin wrote:

And the Fiat - well that's italian innit?

Yes but its a conversion that has been done for over 20 years to give you some Ideas have a look at John & Robins site
http://www.beardmorebros.co.uk/

Oh I know that and have investigated it quite extensively (spoken to JLH in the past too), but for the same reason that I was puting a Rover in the A55, I'll stick with an Austin in the Moggie - that plus the fact its already been set up with a 1300 and a ford 5speed g'box, so there a lot less work to do to get reasonable power.

Biggles the car you are getting its not a 1954 white 4 door that has starred in the BBC `Henratty` programme is it ?

Kevin wrote:Biggles the car you are getting its not a 1954 white 4 door that has starred in the BBC `Henratty` programme is it ?

Thats the chap - now your going to tell me a wreck **ARRGGG** LOL

To be honest I've seen pictures but not been able to get up there to it, so its been bought sight unseen - I'm expecting to have to do a fair bit of work so we'll see.

If you *DO* know anything about it though I'd love to know...

No just wondered if its the same car from your description, it was for sale at £2,000 with an mot until October, but seemed to have had a few bob spent on it over the years.

Kevin wrote:No just wondered if its the same car from your description, it was for sale at £2,000 with an mot until October, but seemed to have had a few bob spent on it over the years.

Yeah it has - Comes with a few spares to. Looks immaculate in the pictures Stewart sent me, so I'm hoping I don't find too many suprises ;)

Practically 1380cc or 1430cc is about as big as you want to take an A-series.....

1380 is a nice size and MED do some really good (Omega) pistons (73.5mm) which will take you to 1380cc with the standard crank.

If you up the compression to about 9.5:1 or 10:1 and get a decent gasflowed head with big valves then you should be able to turn 100 BHP with a FAIRLY docile ish cam.

Have a look at the spec of mine:
http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Members_Ca ... 9_1000.htm

http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Members_Ca ... engine.htm

You will definately need to replace the axle if you are pushing 100 BHP. I suspect that your car might still have the original axle as it will cope with the output of a standard 1275 and putting rear discs on it is total overkill for a standard tune 1275..... I suspect that it has front discs and rear drums......

Also watch the clutch too. It probably has a sierra plate, but a 1098 Minor clutch cover. If you uprate the power to 100 BHP then it will slip as the springs are not strong enough. You will then need to convert to a diaphragm clutch with a roller thrust bearing and a hydraulic clutch conversion will help matters too.

I have done all this to my car so if you have any specific questions fire away!!

Cam wrote:Practically 1380cc or 1430cc is about as big as you want to take an A-series.....

1380 is a nice size and MED do some really good (Omega) pistons (73.5mm) which will take you to 1380cc with the standard crank.

If you up the compression to about 9.5:1 or 10:1 and get a decent gasflowed head with big valves then you should be able to turn 100 BHP with a FAIRLY docile ish cam.

Have a look at the spec of mine:
http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Members_Ca ... 9_1000.htm

http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Members_Ca ... engine.htm

You will definately need to replace the axle if you are pushing 100 BHP. I suspect that your car might still have the original axle as it will cope with the output of a standard 1275 and putting rear discs on it is total overkill for a standard tune 1275..... I suspect that it has front discs and rear drums......

Also watch the clutch too. It probably has a sierra plate, but a 1098 Minor clutch cover. If you uprate the power to 100 BHP then it will slip as the springs are not strong enough. You will then need to convert to a diaphragm clutch with a roller thrust bearing and a hydraulic clutch conversion will help matters too.

I have done all this to my car so if you have any specific questions fire away!!

SPOT ON - cheers Cam - I'll definitley be back to you

Did MED source, and build the engine and heads or did you source the A+ Ital engine and get them to work on it?

Its possible I'll eng up being considerably lazier than I first though if I can get this engine "off the shelf" so to speak.

cheers

Well......... I sort of did a deal with them. I had a low mileage 1293cc mini engine that I part-exchanged with them and told them to source a good A+ in-line unit for me. Unfortunately they did struggle to get one, but they did in the end. It would be better if you got one and then got them to work on it.

MED built the engine and did the head work. I wanted them to do this as they have the reputation for being the best and I wanted it as good as I could get it. Once the 'big' stuff was done by them, I did the finishing off (fitting oil-pressure valve, dizzy, water pump, etc.). They also fitted the head and sump which I was going to do but being as they did it in a few minutes I thought it would save getting bits inside the engine during the drive back home!

I think you will be able to get the engine 'off the shelf' pretty much, but there's plenty of other car mod stuff that will keep you busy!

Cam wrote:Well......... I sort of did a deal with them. I had a low mileage 1293cc mini engine that I part-exchanged with them and told them to source a good A+ in-line unit for me. Unfortunately they did struggle to get one, but they did in the end. It would be better if you got one and then got them to work on it.

MED built the engine and did the head work. I wanted them to do this as they have the reputation for being the best and I wanted it as good as I could get it. Once the 'big' stuff was done by them, I did the finishing off (fitting oil-pressure valve, dizzy, water pump, etc.). They also fitted the head and sump which I was going to do but being as they did it in a few minutes I thought it would save getting bits inside the engine during the drive back home!

I think you will be able to get the engine 'off the shelf' pretty much, but there's plenty of other car mod stuff that will keep you busy!

EXCELLENT - this is pretty much the route I'd want to take as I simply don't have all the tools and machinery to do a full engine modification from scratch. So I think I'll follow your lead and try to source a decent A+ Ital (probably) engine and get it off to them. I assume I "could" just find a block and get them that and mate it with new heads?

Cheers for the help and advice - its much appreciated and makes me more confident that I can get to where I want to be (eventually) ;)

Oh yes, just get the block + internals to them and they will perform their magic!

Actually, I already had the head done by them before (was fitted to the 1293 Mini engine) but I gave it to them so they could skim the block to get the compression right. It was a standard Metro 1275 head before they turned it into a stage 4 head with 37mm inlet and 31mm exhaust valves. Trouble was that they could not fit unleaded valve seats as there was not enough metal inbetween the valves!!

Oh and one other thing............ you keep mentioning 'heads'. The A-series only has one head! Are you used to Type 1/Type 4 VW aircooled engines by any chance??

Cam wrote:
Oh and one other thing............ you keep mentioning 'heads'. The A-series only has one head! Are you used to Type 1/Type 4 VW aircooled engines by any chance??

OOpps - no - big V8's - Hard habit to break ;)

Ah right!

Trouble was that they could not fit unleaded valve seats as there was not enough metal inbetween the valves!!

yes that a bit of a dilema i faced ( well for about 10seconds) in went the big valves and i bought addative ......

Anyone on here actually used a Maestro 1275 engine ? Does it take a normal Minor gearbox ok ? Does it need the backplate changing ?