Morris Minor Owners Club

It looks like it is very hard to keep the original wheels on an 803, unless the diff is the original 803 style.

Could anyone prove me wrong on this one? Is there a way to install a 1098 diff but retain the original splitty wheels?

On the other hand I was considering using the 803 diff on an 1098 engine, which I would be installing on this car. Is this harmful to the diff?


tanx

A 1098 diff on an 803cc engine would be extremely sluggish and very frustrating to following drivers as well as to yourself. The 803 diff with the 1098 engine would give effortless acceleration at the expense of very high revs.

Excellent acceleration - high revs (but no higher than they were with the 803 engine!) and poor fuel consumption. But if not doing high mileage in the year - it should be fine.

Unless yours is a very early 803cc series 2 the wheels will be interchangable, the Series 2 ones having a more bulbous shape and the 'cross' shape behind the hubcap.
If your car still has MM running gear and the split rear axle, the only way to fit a later diff is to change the axle, and then the wheels as the stud spacing is different. Then of course it'll be differnt to the front so you'd need to carry 2 spare wheels or change the front hubs to later type ones with separate brake drums. A lot of work for an increase in gearing.
The last 803cc, I drove seemed quite lively and buzzed along at 55 - 60 ish quite happily. Not really sure that an increase in gearing would really make it nicer.

Anyone has this set up: a 1098 engine and gearbox and an early 803 diff and could post his views Pl ? Better than that ...

I was able to use a 1275 and the stock mm wheel on my '52. Mgb rear end and mgb front disc brakes. Probably more work than you are willing to do as you already have the 1098 diff. I'd say just find some later model minor front hubs and use later model wheels.

downsey wrote:I was able to use a 1275 and the stock mm wheel on my '52. Mgb rear end and mgb front disc brakes. Probably more work than you are willing to do as you already have the 1098 diff. I'd say just find some later model minor front hubs and use later model wheels.

Hi downsey, what you said is probably the best thing to do, but the whole point of the issue is to retain the original wheels...I shall have to find a compromise

That's because the MGB has 4.5" pcd - same as early Minor.