Morris Minor Owners Club

My wife is slightly disabled and unable to use a clutch pedal but would like to drive our traveller (if it ever gets it's new wood on!). Has anyone explored the possibillities of an automatic box?

I've got the parts for converting my own Minor to auto.
They are difficult to source and not a simple nut & bolt swop (although not too difficult either). The donor is a late Marina or Ital. The auto Marina with BW35 autobox isn't suitable so you can see why parts are rare.
Another option, which I have for my Land Rover, is an auto clutch.

http://www.rse.co.uk/twinclutch.htm

Paul Humphries

Why can the complete marina engine + autobox not be used Paul ?

bmcecosse wrote:Why can the complete marina engine + autobox not be used Paul ?

I'm going by what I've read several times by other peoples experiences.
The BW35 autobox fitted to pre '76 Marina has the control "devices" outside the gearbox and thus there are clearance problems.
The post '76 & Itals had BW65 with internal controls thus were a lot slimmer.
I've got a couple of BW65's (Ital and Dolomite versions) but have had BW35's (FX4 & XJ6) in the past and there is definatley quite a difference in width.
On a Minor I suspect the BW35 MIGHT foul the chassis leg but seeing I haven't got one around any more cann't confirm 100%

Paul Humphries

Ahhh - good reason then.

Personally if I was going to consider an auto Minor again I'd forget trying to find a 1275 version of the BW65 and would go for a complete transplant of the Ford Escort MKI & II C3 together with 1300 Kent engine.
The MKI & MKII Escort autoboxes are still quite common and easy to find.
I had a Salamander (which was a strange little two seater that was a cross between Postman Pats van and the Popemobile) factory built on a Reliant Kitten chassis with 1100 Ford Kent engine & C3. Went quite well.

Paul Humphries

Many thanks, Paul. It's something to think about.