Morris Minor Owners Club

Does anyone know if the Morris Ital 1300 is the same engine as the Morris Marina 1275, and is it the same conversion to fit a Morris Minor?

It's a later , supposedly 'improved' version of the same engine. Yes - it can be fitted to a Minor.

So if I got the offer of, say a 1973 Ital (with engine) for £200, and I wanted to do a conversion on Betsy, then it'd be worth considering?

Definatly. Make sure you use the brakes too and offer up the remains to the Marina & Ital lot

Well - only if the engine is in good condition - and you really WANT a 1275 engine, with associated poorer fuel consumption. Little else off that car is much use to you (battery/horn....) - I would say £100 is nearer the mark!

pm charlie morris minor I think that's what he's doing

The brakes are not a direct swap (neither is the engine !) - so don't count on them unless you either know what needs doing, or are willing to PAY to have them fitted!

I would say go for a 1275, as for fuel consumption, mine is fast road engine that returned 40.5 mpg towing 4cwt trailer down to the Vendee.This is achieved with a 5 speed box and proper tuning.

Oh yes - they can be economical with the correct gearing - but a small capacity engine will always give better economy overall. I'm still looking for an 848! Can't really bring myself to use an 803.

Wasn't the 848 used in the A35 as a disabled car?

Aye, the ital engine has a few tweaks over the marina engine. Being greedy I've two of them; one with a fast road cam in my car and one in the garage awaiting rebuilding as a spare...

I just need to correct Ani, I am doing a 2ltr fiat twin cam conversion, but i have already done an ital conversion in the past with an overdrive box from a Dolomite.

I did not notice there to be any significant difference in fuel economy between a 1300 A+ and the 1098 i think it depends on your driving style more than a bit greater engine capacity.

Now I remember! I knew you said something about the Ital and now I remember my sharp intake of breath when you told me what you were putting into the traveller Memory is starting to fail - must be too long with head under a Minor bonnet

or you might have banged your head to often on the way out of it?

charlie_morris_minor wrote:or you might have banged your head to often on the way out of it?

Ouch!

So if I got the offer of, say a 1973 Ital (with engine) for £200, and I wanted to do a conversion on Betsy, then it'd be worth considering?

Surely this is a Marina. Correct me if i'm wrong but i thought Ital's
were only produced 1980/1984

Mog-nuts wrote:So if I got the offer of, say a 1973 Ital (with engine) for £200, and I wanted to do a conversion on Betsy, then it'd be worth considering?

Surely this is a Marina. Correct me if i'm wrong but i thought Ital's
were only produced 1980/1984

I think 1983 was the year, not 1973. That was my unthinking mistake...

848 in-line engine was certainly used in the last of the A35 vans - as ultimate economy device.

I've got an Ital A+ engine in both my Minors + 3.7 diff, economy just about the same. Look at my website for fitting A+ engine in my series II. I fitted a HIF44 Carb with standard exhaust to start off with, was a little down on power. Have now fitted a Maniflow exhaust, a bargain off ebay, with a BDL needle fitted to the carb, made a big difference to power. The exhaust is really suited to a tuned 1098 but does give a big increase to my standard 1275.

Would be a shame to break a solid Ital for an engine, a suprisingly rare car now. only something like 150 left.

Rotten cars can give good parts for Minors though, why use an Ital engine over a Marina's though? They seem to be easier to find.