Morris Minor Owners Club

Instead of replacing my engine with another 1098cc... will a 1.8 from a Marina, and the gearbox, fit?

What would be problematic??

PS I mean the engine in my Minor, not me! *grin*

Thanks again!!

The B-series is a heavy lump, but it has been done before.

I think Plastic_Orange knows more about this conversion

Thanks...

It's a heavy engine for it's size - same weight as a Rover V8, and unless it's a TC or MGB (about 100hp) it is not particularly powerful - about 85 hp. It is however a torquey engine, and would be ideal for towing.
To fit it, you require to make up front engine mounts (A60 mounts used to be the preferred choice), and a gearbox mount. I'm not sure about Marina box, as I used B series box in mine, so you would have to try it and see (may have to notch bellhousing - I did). You will also have to modify front crossmember to clear bottom pulley, and get a prop made up. My recommendation for a radiator would be a Sherpa Diesel one - same physical size as Marina, but more cores - and matches up with minimum fuss to engine.
You will also have to raise suspension 2 splines to compensate for weight and sump clearance ( I wrecked mine on numerous occasions), fit at least Riley drums, but preferably discs. I would also highly recommend uprated tele shocks for front (spax/Koni).
The Minor axle will fail quite quickly, so if you enjoy working on diffs and halfshafts just leave it, but if you have the Marina axle to match the engine, then use that.
In conclusion, I don't think that nowadays it is the best combination to choose, but if you have all the bits, then give it a go - you have nothing to lose, and can always return it to standard if you wish.
I had a highly tuned MGB engine in mine - around 130 hp, and it was really quick - on a par with RS2000's and the like. I fitted a lower tuned engine when my race engine went bang, and this was every bit as quick as a Fiat 2 litre powered minor, but with better torque. This was however 20+ years ago.

Hope this helps.


Pete

Many thanks! Cant get a better answer than that

The Wolseley 1500 and Riley 1.5 used the original 1500 cc version of this engine - and the chassis is (effectively) the SAME as the Minor. Obviously some 'Minor' changes - if you look under a Wolsely bonnet you can see it's very obviously the same basic car. In fact - that engine started out at 1200 cc in it's original Austin form - and was developed up to 1500 then 1600 then 1800 cc (all B series) - and was also developed down into the original 803cc A series - which then grew up to 948/1098/1275 cc. As P-O says - it can make a beast of a car, but unfortunately it's not a straight drop-in conversion.

So would a 1.8 marina lump bolt straight on to a gearbox off a 1.3?