Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi chaps,

are uprated halfshafts necessary with a 1275cc engine and 5 speed box?

Regards

John

Probably not if you're a sensible driver, but in order to have a good safety margin, I'd suggest using uprated ones anyway.

As above, I ran a 1275 on standard shafts without problem, however you can break them with a 1098 if harshly treated.

If its a standard 1275 It's not much more powerful than a 1098 - so just don't go for wheelspin starts and it will be fine.

When I fitted the 1380 engine, I fitted 'toughened' half shafts at the same time, and had no problems with them until I fitted a Tran-X limited slip diff. First time out and 200m from home there is a crossroads, and our road 'Stops' at it. I was going left, which is a fairly steep, short climbing turn, which before just resulted in a bit of wheelspin if attempted too enthusiatically!

With the lsd, no wheelspin, just a click and virtually no drive! Managed to limp back home to find that the RH halfshaft had broken - with the lsd, it had been loaded up much more than before. Good job it is a plate type diff, I had enough 'drive' to get home.

So then fitted the EN40 halfshafts from Peter May, and they have been fine for the last 9 years and ~30,000 miles.

I would say about uprating the halfshafts that it depends on the power of the engine and the use made of it. They are known to go quite frequently with standard 1098 engines - I do wonder whether the 5-leaf springs contribute to this with more axle tramp?

Oh indeed - axle tramp is a killer - it was an 'Autotest' with lots of tramp that broke mine.

One of the benefits of having an 803

BMC, I don't intend any wheelspin starts, the engine is standardish, big valve 940 head driving through aFord 5 speed box and a standard 4.22 diff, for the time being at least.

Is there any cure for axle tramp?

Regards

John

Yes - fit the 7 leaf Traveller rear springs - or the 'anti tramp' bars sold by JLH...... And moderate your right foot!
http://www.jlhmorrisminors.co.uk/store/ ... oductId=12