Morris Minor Owners Club

I've heard that its possible to use Fords Pinto engine in the moggy. I'm just thinking about getting a bit more bang for my buck so to speak.

1275s seem a bit scarce on the ground at the moment without laying out a small fortune. I was thinking that a Pinto might be a good plan, especially if it comes with a 5 speed box!

So for those who have done it, whats needed and whats the spanner rating?

Pinto engines are pretty large and heavy Dan.

having said that... with a carbed engine it shouldn't be too difficult to make it work. EFI would be a different kettle of haddock

Quite heavy and to be fair better power to weight available. Late 2 litre was only 109 bhp

Also can't be huge numbers left. How long ago did you see a pre 89' Sierra?

The engines are easily obtainable on fleabay

OK but still not great Power for the work. And to be fair I'm a Ford Fan!

I'm a fan of the blue Oval too you know!

Might just see how Matts Zetec conversion goes then...

Hi Dan I put a 3ltr v6 essex t start with really heavy engine lasted for 10 yrs then a pinto 1.8 but that was ok but just needed a bit more then a 2.1 pinto that was good but I could not fit the carbs it needed because of room on that side of engine so for the last 4 years a standard 2ltr dead cheap to buy £100 with gearbox m75 only 35 thousand on clock dead cheap for parts and they say bullet proof the only problem I have is back axle gearing as I get to 90 in 4th put it in 5th 93mph and its out of steam it is heavy but 100% reliable if you go down that road put electric ignition on and that will cost you nothing as if you get the ignition unit from the the car I will shoh you how to wire it up its got loads of wires coming out of it but you only need a few of them that will include a rev counter. if your not in a rush I am going to sell mine next year as I am looking at a 2ltr vauxhall red top or a 2.5 v6 vauxhall<br><br>

I'm not in a huge hurry to do it. I did also think about a vaux lump but don't know enough about them

last week I was asked if I would do a bit of work on a 1.2 corsa only to wonder why they all laughed as I lifted the bonnet 2ltr vauxhall redtop turbo shoehorned in there I sorted the problems as he bought it as a non runner 2 grand under its value and all that was wrong with it after 4 hours tracking the wiring sytsem back was the fuel pump feed comes out of the redtop ecu and goes to the original ecu but it had dropped on the turbo and melted bet the last owner would be gutted if he had know that after a road test I was amazed at that power unit and hat is why I am thinking of going down that road. Zetec is another good engine you can get them standard at about 170 brake horse

Problem is thats an FWD system, what gearbox would it need to be mated to for a RWD app?

you can get 170 from an ST170 engine but they arnt common and they are expensive!

1.8 using the 2ltr cam and maf sensor with an appropriate ECU is 130 and pretty cheap

Dan the m75 gearbox from a sierra would do it or a type 9 these came on pinto,s and I have had someone look at mine who says it will just fit on as normal inline rear wheel drive. you can pick up a zetec easy enough and they have been known to be ok for 200 thousand miles looked after

I was refering to the Vauxhall Lump being FWD not the ford one (which is RWD anyway!)

sorry Dan thought you was talking zetec well the vauxhall is no problem as the earlycarlton and I think the early cav was rear wheel but dont worry as I know a man who knows these things he quoted me £600 for full fitting ecu everything but you have to find the engine and box he even offerd to fit electric power steering from a corsa onto my pick up

Dan this is one I am building for my lad its nearly what I want but its from a 2ltr carlton 8 valve and gearbox its a very fast thing to drive and a lot nicer smoothwise than my pinto in the pick up he is going the whole way after we finish it by using it fot a year and then getting a redtop turbo put in it he has even had the guy over to see if it will go in the guy says no prob with that gearbox<br><br>

vaux sounds a far better idea than a pinto. Pinto was a lovely old engine in its day but compared to what has come after it is a heavy old slug.

Rwd vaux needs a manta 1.8 or carlton gbox. Getting hard to find. You can buy an adaptor to fit vaux eng to ford type 9 box but you are starting to talk money now.

Zetec on a type 9 has to be the cheapest alternative at the mo.

Daft thing is I know the answers and what to do but still carry on trying to get more out of my supercharged 1293.

good luck.

Sorry to stick a spanner in the works here........but why all this talk of pinto's, Vauxhall red tops etc etc......if you stick one of those in its not a moggy any more!!!
Stick with a well sorted A series!!

1275's were not standard equipment either were they, nor roll bars discs, radial tyres ,two spd wipers, laminated screens etc etc, so when does a Minor stop being a Minor.

When it's ajar.

Ello BG, how's it going