Morris Minor Owners Club

I have the option of getting a midget 1098 unit, probably without gear box. Is there anything that is going to make it difficult to fit?

At the moment i have an 803, I know the gearstick is in the wrong place if I want to update the gearbox. Will the 1098 bolts straight onto my existing box though?

I guess I'll need to find a later diff center so that I can take advantage of the 1098.

I have somewhat had my arm twisted into putting the 803 on the shelf as i plan to use the car daily. Does anybody use an 803 daily?

Matt

There are some people (not many) who use the MM (sidevalve engine) daily but these are not the norm. The 803 is I guess similar power to the sidevalve.
Realistically for daily transport a 1098 is a good option as it has enough grunt for getting off traffic lights etc.. in rush hour. I'd suggest that it would be a false economy to fit a 1098 to the sidevalve gearbox as it's not going to last so you'll end up doing the job twice.
You can pick up a donor car for the engine, gearbox, back axle and brakes very cheaply in the uK (approx £50 to £150 on ebay) so I guess rotted Minors are pretty cheap in Australia too, but I have no idea if they are as easy to find.

Presumably you have the 'long gear lever'? This is the early version of the smoothcase 'box, and is pretty weak. I would fit a rib-case box from a later 1098 Minor, or Midget which will bolt straight up to the Midget 1098 engine. Also you will need the later gearbox cover that has the gear lever hole further back.

If you want to use your existing 'box, the you will likely need to change the front cover inside the bellhousing for one from the rib-case box to ensure that the clutch works properly. This will also mean drilling/tapping two additional holes in the front of the gearbox, and blanking two that will not be used.

Am I right in thinking you have to cut a larger hole in the floor pan of the car if fitting a 1098 box as the 803's having a smaller size box (hence longer leaver) had a smaller hole in the floor, so the new remote part on 1098 would fowl the floor? can't be sure though.

sii803 wrote: I guess I'll need to find a later diff center so that I can take advantage of the 1098.

I have somewhat had my arm twisted into putting the 803 on the shelf as i plan to use the car daily. Does anybody use an 803 daily?

Matt

Matt,
I too have a series II , that mid late last year had a 803 in it as a daily. It then was upgraded to a 948 and instantly noticed how sluggish the 803 was. I could get 70 mph out of the car instead of the standard 62.

In Christchurch(NZ), you would get away with a 803 as a daily, due to light traffic. But don't know what the traffic is like in Adelaide (busy in comparsion I guess).

2 months ago, I dropped in a 1098 diff in the car, the revs are much lower(no more ringing it's balls out!), fuel economy is increased, top speed is reduced (65-ish mph) but the pickup is sluggish and you definitely have to start in 1st gear rather than 2nd. Unfortuantely for me the diff, was developed a nasty noise so I have reverted back (temporarily I hope) back to the 803 diff, while I repair the 1098.

-Grant
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rayofleamington wrote:I'd suggest that it would be a false economy to fit a 1098 to the sidevalve gearbox as it's not going to last so you'll end up doing the job twice.

You won't break the sidevalve gearbox.
Slow to change gears, Yes. Easy to break, No.
I've tried.

and wrote:I guess rotted Minors are pretty cheap in Australia too, but I have no idea if they are as easy to find.

Extremely easy to find, but the largest engine you'll find will be the 948cc as 1098cc cars weren't sold here.
There are some 1098cc cars here, but not usually wrecks as they're rare.


PS How long before Grants post gets edited?

You won't break the sidevalve gearbox.
Slow to change gears, Yes. Easy to break, No.

fair enough - maybe I am confusing it with the early OHV gearbox, which are renowned for being breakable

PS How long before Grants post gets edited?

not long I expect. Lets just hope it doesn't end up with another slanging match

The 803 is OHV and had a very weak gearbox! Is this the engine you have?

If it IS a 918 sidevalve, then no other engine/gearbox/rear axle/diff will fit as they are entirely different. 803 to 948/1098/1275 is straightforward, so long as you use the mating gearbox, the transmission tunnel is a straight swop as far as I know, which puts the gear lever hole in the right place.

If you change the diff yours will almost certainly have the filler in the nose of the diff. Most of the 948's did as well, but if you get a 4.22 from a Spridget it will likely need to put a filler in the axle casing, as it was moved there!

It is the 803 OHV, for all those of you wondering, I thought that maybe my user name gave it away.

Thanks for all your replies, i never would have picked the little detail about the filler location on the diff.

1098's are difficult to attain in australia. However I sit next to a bloke who is secretary for the marques car club. Lots of bloke in it have midgets and they all want 1275s or maybe a datsun 12A. So the prospect of getting a 1098 is apparently fairly good I think.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to need an engine steddy to. Any more feedback about being able to stay with my existing gear box will be apprectiated.

Cheers,
matt

1098 engine and box or 1275 engine and minor box will bolt in to an 803 (just done my sII)

the engine mounts, gearbox cross member need to come from the 1098 donor car, but it all bolts in, no holes to drill.

You need to get the gearbox cover from the 1098 (or 948) car and use it as a template to cut the floor at the back of the gear box .

You will also need to trim it to suite the 803 pedel layout.

But it is only 1/2 hrs work to modify the car to suite.

turbominor wrote:
You will also need to trim it to suite the 803 pedel layout.

Iain,
I take it you used the Series 2 pedel layout rather than using the donor 1098. Can I ask, why you decided to go down this route?

-Grant

They are basicly the same, just they are wider spaced on the 1098

Had moddified the cover and fitted it

Never realy thought of altering the pedals!