Morris Minor Owners Club

i have a nice minor van powered by a rather rough 2000 fiat twin cam/5 speed,i intend to pull the engine out and rebuild it at my leisure,but.............i was wondering if i could fit a lada engine onto the fiat gearbox and engine mounts..............which would keep the van on the road.
i know lada's are based on fiats so in theory it should all fit...........should'nt it?,also i need to know what size cc,year of engine and model of lada to look out for.
the van i have is a matt black mutant with a chopped roof,split sceen and a willys flip front.....the reg is JGU 38C.......does anyone know anything about the history (who built it etc).
thanks from tony

I have a strange feeling that the lada didn't use the Fiat Twin-Cam engine... If they did, it would have to be on a veerrrryy old Lada - so old and potentially rare, you may as well look out for a Fiat

My experience of Yugo's, which were also based on fiats is that *some* of the ancillary components are interchangeable, but the engines themselves have such large differences that as a whole unit they're not interchangeable. I would suspect the same is true of Ladas....

i know lada did'nt put fiat twin cam engines in their cars,i was wondering if i could put a ohv 1500 (or whatever)engine from a riva or suchlike onto my fiat 5 speed box,then i could keep the van on the road whilst i rebuilt the twin cam engine that i already have.

Why not just stick a standard 1098 & box (and prop) in... quick and relativley easy. There's usually a few about !

Why not just try and get another twin cam? i know they are getting harder to find but they are still about. There have been some on ebay recently.

Regards,
Wal

Kustom

Have a look at the Beardmores web-site.

www.Beardmorebros.co.uk

There is one of their early Lada conversions - Lada fitted with a Twinkie. Might be simple to do the same thing the other way round????

They should be able to advise.

Cheers

Martin

then i could keep the van on the road whilst i rebuilt the twin cam engine that i already have.

Unless the engine is a direct swap, you might waste more time than you save.
I like the idea of fitting a 1098 engine box and prop as running donor cars are dirt cheap, or for a few hundred quid more than the donor car, get a tatty Minor with MOT and drive that instead whilst you work on the Van...

http://www.motorbase.com/engine/by-id/2091482180

Would be a good place to start looking ... but it looks as though Lada's dont seem to use the twin-cam.

Donor 1098 sounds like the cheapest move ... although how different are the engine g/box mountings for the twin-cam?

I'm assuming that Kustom has a non-standard (stronger) back axle.

If he reverted to 1098 Moggie power then he would have to have a custom prop made, with all the extra expense etc.

Lada used their own engines and gearboxes in the Riva, in 1500 and 1300 form. I dont think that it would fit on a fiat box but it might. If you take an engine and box from a lada I would think it should fit fairly easially as it is designed to fit the fiat (ish). I have a lada engine at home burried under a hedge if you want any measurements e.t.c!

I have a lada engine at home burried under a hedge

Well where else would you store one

there is a Fiat engine and box for sale (was one-bay)
contact steverichardson for details - it's probably cheaper and less effort than going for a Larder engine.

Well where else would you store one

Best to hide it!