Morris Minor Owners Club

I am in the process of rebuilding an Ital 1275 to fit to daughter's Minor 1000.
Was intending to fix this to standard minor box but after "borrowing" the car to go to show at Cholmondeley this Sunday I was suprised at engine noise etc with standard 1098 engine at say 50 mph.
What is the general feeling re using standard box with 1275? do you need to change diff ratio to get comfortable cruising on motorway.
Many of you must have tried all the permutations which is best and I dont mean most expensive!
Dave

Well, certainly at motorway speeds my car is pretty noisy. I can reasonably hear the radio, but I do have to have it up pretty loud. At 50 the noise is fairly good; but then I've got the twin-box exhaust... and my car always was relatively quiet (especially given the absence of any real soundproofing).

If you're after relaxed cruising you can go for the 3.9 or 3.7 diff. These will give better MPG, lower noise etc.. compared to the 4.22 but you'll loose some accelleration and notice the difference on hills etc..

They can be fairly cheap second hand, but cheap doesn't always mean good.

Some people have used the 3.9 with a 1098, but that is not going to be everyone's taste. When I do a lot of motorway I really wish I had one.

The midgets used a 3.9-1 diff with the 1275 engine but they were a bit lighter than the Minor. Mine was capable of 94mph and effortless to 70mph but,at
the time I thoroughly enjoyed the noise!

Some of the gearbox conversions with 5 speeds have an 'overdrive' ratio on 5th gear. I find most of the noise from my engine comes from the fan ! Very annoying 'beating' noise at 70. There is no chance of listening to a wireless in my car at anything much over 40 mph!

You might want to get your ears checked then! I can listen to my radio at 60mph

bmcecosse wrote:Some of the gearbox conversions with 5 speeds have an 'overdrive' ratio on 5th gear.

The Ford type 9 (Sierra) 'box has a 0.82:1 ratio which is excellent for cruising. It turns a 4.22 diff effectively into a 3.46!

I find most of the noise from my engine comes from the fan ! Very annoying 'beating' noise at 70.

That's just the character of the car!

There is no chance of listening to a wireless in my car at anything much over 40 mph!

Get a louder wireless! I can listen to mine (it's an old one too but with decent speakers) in my modified car no probs at speed and it's a LOT louder than standard. Not got one (nor am I putting one) in my 1098 car though so can't comment.

Ears have been ruined by years of noisy Minis and Minors.
No - actually the car is very noisy - exhaust screams because it's too small for the big valve head - and no air cleaner at the moment. Planning for leccy fan - but have been doing so for 3 years now!

No air filter at all? Now wonder it is loud. And that is not good for the engine. Not even on clean scottish air

Any cleaner I fit chokes the engine - I can only get it run completely cleanly with open carb mouth. Am working on it !

Try a K&N filter as they are very suitable in these situations. They also filter brilliantly and offer minimal resistance to air-flow.

I am watching ebay - but they are all stupidly expensive!

Go to 'Need for Speed'. They seemed prety "cheap"

What sort of price is "stupidly expensive", if you don't mind me asking?

Roy,
I have an air filter from an Austin Princess 1700 fitted to my 1 3/4" SU and was told that IT wasnt getting enough air for 295 head so I got the 2" drill that I have for fitting gauges and drilled 2 holes in metal case . Cured problem and sounds quite sporty now as well.
Ian.

it is only relevant to the person involved as to what is cheap or expensive.
a lot of guys i know would not pay any money for a morris, yet we do not mind.
i would not pay for a painting, yet a lot of people will.
so it is a difficult question, take a look on ebay as to what people will or will not pay

as example to me £5000.00 for a van or pick up, in original ex con would not be a problem !!!!!!!

Agreed I got K&Ns for £35ish, which struck me as reasonable as they'll last far longer than others - and filter the air/feed the engine better

yes that does sound resonable,

Oh my budget for this would be £10 ! Miserable Scotsman here.
Ian - i would think an air cleaner designed for a 1700 engine would pass more than enough air into a 1098. It's maybe a way to go for me.

as much as that, well that may buy you the cleaning oil for a k&n