Morris Minor Owners Club

I am just wondering if anybody has done an automatic gearbox conversion to a Minor. My mother in law is slightly disabled and cannot drive a manual car and really wants a Minor. i guess lots of people have done great conversions such as Rover V8 engines and auto boxes but sadly I'm talking about a normal run around car here.

Anyone got any ideas ?

I seem to remember reading somehwere (Owen Burtons manual) that the Dolomite or Marina auto box can be used.

Yes the Marina one used to be the one to use however these are vary very hard to get nowadays, so good luck.

This might be a bit of a blind shot... - take it only as inspiration if you will - but, with ford gearbox conversions being so commonplace, how difficult could it be to adapt an automatic out of a sierra (or maybe a smaller engined mk2 escort)? The escort one may possibly have better gearing due to being stuck behind a smaller capacity engine?! Just my 2 cents

I've got an autobox for my Minor. It's a BW65 out of a post 76 Marina or Ital. The earlier BW35 out of the pre 76 Marina is more common but too wide to fit in a Minor.
Hens hind teeth are easier to source than an A Series BW65.
If I was searching again I'd go for a MKII Escort 1300 "Kent" engine with C3 autobox.

Paul Humphries

Hi Paul
How did you get on with things like the prop shaft and mountings etc. ?
Did you have to fabricate all your own or were some of the Marina/Minor bits compatible.

Cheer Nigel.

Hi Paul

An automatic morris marina is currently for sale on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/morris-marina-130 ... 240%3A1318

sorry for the long link.
yes you will need a new prop shaft but there are lots of local engineering companies around that will be able to make one up for you. yes you will need new engine mounts, exhaust etc

If you read owen burtons book it explains all that you need to do to allow you to fit the 1300 engine and box from the marina.

charlie

It would be a shame to destroy yet another marina just for it's parts, being so rare and that.
There are actually a few old Ford auto gearbox's in the classic ford department on ebay right now. Being easier to get parts for I would think thats a better route anyway.
The escort-tec guy on there will probably be able to sort you out with all the parts you'll need, engine, box, propshaft for modifying, and axle I would think.

The Marina woudn't donate the correct autobox.
It's a pre facelift version and therefore will probably have a BW35.
The later 76 Marinas had the correct BW65 and can be identified by different grill and dash.
I've had both in pick-up variants and prefer the earlier style.
The BW35 has the controls external so there isn't enopugh room between Minor chassis rails to fit unless extensive surgery is done.
BW65 has the controls inside the box and thus slimmer so fits without having to cut and reweld Minor chassis for clearance.

Paul H

There are actually a few old Ford auto gearbox's in the classic ford department on ebay right now.

The escort-tec guy on there will probably be able to sort you out with all the parts you'll need,

Any chance of some links especially as I didn't realise there were tec guys offering expert advice.

There isn't tec guys offering advice . The chaps shop/company is called 'escort-tec'. And they sell escort mk1 & 2 parts .
For the classic ford department on ebay: Search in the 'classic car parts' under the 'Ford' section.

Link to automatic box:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Escort-mk2-a ... 240%3A1318

Chaps other add for all thngs escort:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mk1-and-mk2-Ford- ... dZViewItem

Hi Folks!

I have always loved Morris Minors in the early 1970's my dad bought one from a workmate for £5 for the battery and my brother used to drive it up and down our drive with my gran in the front passenger seat and me in the back sadly the car was scrapped after the battery removed and installed into my dad's Mk1 Cortina (also sadly sold on in 19892 for £20!).

I have a physical disability and so drive an automatic I am also a Renault 5 enthusiast my first three cars 1988-1991 were three mark 1 Renault 5 three door automatics the Mk 1 is well known for the old tin worm. I presently own an F Reg mk2 Renault 5 Supercinq which is about to clock 30K.

Anyway today I found this Morris Minor Traveller on Ebay which was converted to an automatic in 1992 using a Nissan Sunny engine and gearbox. I thought that I would post the link here and to show that other automatic gearboxes and engines can be used in the lovely Moggy!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-MINOR- ... 2ec93938c6

Regards

Harley

If you need an auto - could be right up your street. The Trav is far from perfect, but not too bad. The price will depend how much you NEED an auto.... It would be expensive if it was a normal Trav.