Morris Minor Owners Club

I have just purchased a 1275 Ital A+ engine and matching gearbox which are just being 'serviced' at the local engineering company. A few questions if anyone can help:

1. Will the original engine mount positions be OK?
2. Will I need to modify the tunnel to accommodate the gearbox?
3. Will an Ital propshaft fit straight onto the original Minor diff?
4. Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

Is there a thread on here that will help with the change-over?

Many thanks for your help!

from what i recall the original mounts will not be ok, the gearbox tunnel is ok but the gearbox bell housing will need to be modified. I think the prop shaft will be too long. the fan will hit the radiator so the oil breather pipe will need to be modified as well.

it might be worth considering taking the back axle if you can as the gearing will match.. but you might have problem with the stud pattern.. speak to ESM they might have the parts you need.

some people prefer to mate the ital engine to the minor box.. but you will need a new back plate ( which ever box you decide to use).

drop me a PM with your email address and i can scan some material which might help you

You will struggle to use the Marina/Ital gearbox (the A+ flywheel and bellhousing are much larger) - it's been done - but I think the starter has to be repositioned. Far far easier to use a Minor gearbox - with Minor engine backplate, and Minor flywheel/clutch modified to fit the Ital crankshaft. Then you use the Minor propshaft of course. The A+ engine front plate needs to be changed for the Minor type front plate - to take the standard Minor engine mounts.

In addition. If using Minor 'box ESM do an excellent exchange flywheel BUT, you lose the spigot crank mounting which some frown upon.
Electric fan to solve fan problem (and gain a few more bhp). Exhaust plumbing will be not easily solved if using Ital manifold.

If you do decide to fit the Marina/Ital gearbox you will have to find a 'one piece' Prop-shaft as the majority of Marina/Ital prop-shafts are articulated with a third U/J approx. halfway along its length.
If you do have a prop-shaft made the rear pinion flange of the Marina/Ital can be replaced with the Minor pinion flange as they both use the same U/J.
The overall length of the Marina/Ital prop-shaft is too great to fit between the Marina/Ital gearbox and Minor rear axle.
As above the easiest way to transmit power from the Marina/Ital engine to the rear axle is to use a Minor or Midget gearbox and then there will be no worries over prop-shaft lengths or rear pinion flange sizes.
When removing the Marina/Ital engine mounts make sure that the holes in the block are blind as some bolt holes are drilled right through the crankcase and will gush oil if not blanked off.
When fitting the Minor front engine plate unless using a duplex set up you will need to drill the plate to suit the simplex timing chain tensioner.
Use the original Marina/Ital front engine plate as a pattern.
This is a Minor front plate modified to suit the Marina/Ital simplex set up and timing cover.[frame][/frame]