Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi I am in the process of fitting a Fiat 2L dohc Engine to my Moggy 1000 I have Ital / Marina back axle and having problem finding the U clamps to fit this if any body has any ideas ie. Size etc please let me know. Thanks Andy

I've just tanken a marina/ital axle off mine! Have you moved the spring mounts yet?

The U bolts all came off. I can measure them if you want (but im not sure when I will get to my workshop, but it may be a couple of weeks). Alternatively the axle and front discs are all available - the N/S halfshaft on my axle isn't any good though

Thanks Mat, I have already done the front end Disc conversion all I need to do now is find where I can get the U bolts, Cheers Andy

dunbusking
Hi
Grayson used to supply and may still do after market Marina 'U' bolts.

They can be contacted at:

Grayson Engineering Ltd
115 Roebuck Rd
Chessington
Surrey
KT9 1JZ
tel:- 02089741122
'e' mail:- sales@springassisters.co.uk

I have also spoken to John at my favourite car accessory shop in Frome and he has various rear axle 'U' bolts but you will have to contact him with the measurements. The contact details are:-
Auto Care
St Catherine's St
Frome
Somerset
Tel: 01373462926

If you do speak with him regarding the Marina axle 'U' bolts he has already been primed so he will be aware of what you want.

You may find a Grayson set of 'U' bolts in a local independent car accessory shop but I doubt you will find them at Halfords.
I used the Grayson ones when I fitted the Marina rear axle into my split screen Minor. The threads on the Grayson ones are 3/8" UNF.

You may find that early MGB rear axle 'U' bolts fit as I understand that the early cars had the same size axle tube and diff as the Marina. If they are the same there are a set on 'e' bay Welsh MG Online, item No 230888752629. If they are not the early ones they may be able to help you get a set.
MGBhive advertise MGB 'U' bolts with nuts @ £1.50 each. They can be contacted on sales@mgbhive.uk tel: 01945700500. They are located near Wisbech.

You may well have carried out the modifications below and if you have well done but there may be persons thinking about the axle conversion so the extra detail will not go amiss.
You can get axle brackets from ESM Pt Nos DIF166 & DIF 165 but you will have to modify them and re-position them on the Marina axle. If I remember correctly the Owen Burton Marina to Minor book (available from ESM Pt No BOOK200) had full instructions on what is required then fitting the Marina axle to the Minor.
The bottom spring clamping plates Minor Part Numbers SUS714 & SUS 713 had to be modified because the holes for the 'U' bolts are farther apart fore and aft. The spring pad Pt No SUS712 and keeper plate Pt No SUS711 will fit nicely without any modification though you may have to take a nick out of the corner of the keeper plate.
You will have to obtain a Marina rear prop-shaft flange and fit to your Minor prop-shaft as the bolt holes are set differently and the bolts are of a different size i.e. 3/8" UNF. I never had a problem with prop-shaft balance when I changed the rear flange.

I hope the above is of help.

Thank you very much I will let you know how I get on, Cheers Andy