Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi im Jim im 16 and from surrey. Ive got a 1990 Sierra.

Neaver used to like minors but my dad bought a 1967 4 door 1098 about 18 months ago and they have grown on me.

Im going to look at a 948 2 door tomorrow which im doing as a college project with a few mates of mine, probably putting a sierra 8v twincam in it.

Jim

Hi and welcome Jim
Well that certainly sounds different I have seen a custom saloon with a Cossie engine in it but I think you will find the bulkhead will need some alterations to fit that engine in still good luck and let us know how you progress

Sounds like a plan kevin. Just remember that it will be more work than you think getting that Sierra lump into the mog, depending on the torque/BHP it puts out you will have to start looking at suspension, running gear upgrades, as well as chassis strengthening! Still, a twin cam mog that isnt a fiat should be good, surely you'd be better off with a 16v DOHC though (Celica, Corolla), ive always heard that the 8v sierra lumps arent particuarly revvy?

Good luck anyway!
YG

youngun wrote:depending on the torque/BHP it puts out you will have to start looking at suspension, running gear upgrades, as well as chassis strengthening!

...and, er, brakes

lol welcome jim, hope you like it here, pitch in and keep us updated on your progress

you don't sound like the sort of guy who needs much advice, but if you do get stuck on anything then ask, we bite but not that hard

wibble x

wibble_puppy wrote:

youngun wrote:depending on the torque/BHP it puts out you will have to start looking at suspension, running gear upgrades, as well as chassis strengthening!

...and, er, brakes


wibble x

Surely that goes without sayin!!

youngun wrote: Surely that goes without sayin!!

lol i hope so

The Sierra twincam is very much underrated. It's smaller and lighter than the Pinto, and it's a "square" motor (i.e.bore=stroke).
I'm not sure if it will fit without cutting the bulkhead (didn't think to measure the engine in mine when I had it!), but I've got the feeling that the gearlever will "coincide" with the handbrake. The MT75 box that comes with these twincams is superb, but the gearlever is quite far back.
It would be an ideal candidate for a bike carb conversion if you start with a carbed engine, as the ignition system's got a knock sensor which will allow the engine to run without melting anything, until you can get it on a rolling road.
Kepp us posted

The Sierra twinky makes good power but I've heard lots of stories about them being rattly and unreliable.

Of course, out of many 000's sold a few complaints can't be much more than to be expected. Worth looking into though.

The two main weak spots on the engine are the timing chain and the head gasket. I've had 2 Sierras with this engine. The 1st one blew a head gasket three days after I bought it (The car was a £250 clunker with 129k on the clock), but I put that dowen to bad luck, as it remained 100% reliable for the next 2 yrs until the tinworm finished it off. The 2nd car was reliable to the point of boredom.
OK the motor's not as bombproof as a Pinto, but it's a damn sight better than a CVH. Let's be honest, there's plenty of urban myths about problematic engines (K-series head gaskets, Pinto camshafts, Rover V8 oil pressure), but most owners find them OK.
As a matter of interest, I took the 2nd one on a trip to Norfolk, and managed 41mpg without really trying, so in a Minor this should be super-economical.

I'm not too 'up' on the sierra twin-cam.
Is it anything to do with the 'odd' twin cam lump they shoved in RS2000 escorts and Ford galaxies?
If so, would these also be an option for a Minor, mated to a sierra box of course.