Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi can anyone give me some advice regarding suitability of fitting a morris ital 1.7 engine and box into my Morris 1000 ie: will it fit without too much cutting away good metal etc, Thanks

Dont think I have ever seen a 1.7 fitted before, or even heard of it being done, so it looks like you will have to let us all know how it goes, if its feasable.

Someone who knows more will be along soon but I think some have fitted the 1.8 Marina engine into a Minor but they thought it was a bit heavy so I wonder if the 1.7 engine from an Ital will be the same? You would need to consider the engine mounts as I am not sure if the Minor front plate will bolt onto a 1.7 ital to use the Minor front mounts.

Thanks for replies if I go ahead I will let you all know.

It's a very different engine to the A series! The 1800 MGB engine can be fitted - after all - it's much the same block as the 1500 fitted to the Wolseley/Riley cars using the same floorpan. If you have the equipment to cut and weld - I'm sure it can be done - but it's certainly not a 'drop in' replacement for the A series.

If I were to go with fitting an MGB engine do you think I would have to do much cutting because I dont want to weaken the cars structure, have you any idea what is involved? would I use the existing 1098 gearbox or would I be able to fit the MGB box which I have including propshaft and MGB axle.

Hi Geoff, I have a low milage,1600 Fiat twin cam engine and 5 speed gearbox I was thinking of selling, 100bhp
cheers Andy

You would have to use the MGB box (possibly with O/D) - and would be wise to use the MGB axle too! Ask Plastic Orange on this forum - sure he used to have a B Minor.

Pm'd about B series engine, don't know why folk would bother with the O? series, but no reason it can't be done.

Pete