Morris Minor Owners Club

Okay folks,

My Ital engine came complete, apart from the starter (which I need to swap for a minor one anyway). But I'm faced with what to do with the Ital manifold/carb/minor exhaust.

I've got no way of replacing the Minor exhaust (it being way out of the realms of moneytary possibility - and also it's a stainless exhaust, so I'm a little loath to replace it at only 3 years old, since I won't be able to afford a stainless steel larger bore exhaust....).

So, question is:

Do I just fit the Minor carb and manifold (and does it fit okay?)

I seem to recall someone mentioning that you could lop the exhaust bits off the marina manifold - leaving only the intake bits - so you could keep the minor exhaust manifold but use the bigger marina carb. Is this possible - and if so, how do you go about it (it being cast iron... am thinking it'd be a bit easy to break).

I'm currently intending to slap the minor bits on there, because that'll get my car back on the road nice and quickly; but.... medium and longer term...?

Suggestions on the back of a message please

Well......... you can run a 1275 with a Minor inlet/exhaust manifold, a Minor exhaust and a Minor carb but it will be a bit down on power. Oh and you'll need a needle change in the carb. Yes, it fits fine.

If you have NO way of replacing the exhaust then you'll have to use a Minor exhaust manifold. So that narrows the options a bit........

So the options now are:
1. use Minor complete manifold & carb

2. use Minor exhaust manifold (after some chopping) and Mini/Ital inlet & carb

Option 1 is MUCH easier, but option 2 is better, but probably not by much as you'll be wrecking the performance with the tiny exhaust anyway! But that's OK as the whole point is not performance, it's getting the car moving!

If I was in your situation with your parts and cash, then I'd just stick the Minor set-up on and bung in a new needle.....

As for the needle, well, that's a tricky one as it's such an unusual combination...... Hmmm......

Hmmm... I had voiced an opinion that Kate and I could go searching the local scrapyards for other A+ engines... Any suggestions for Manifolds we could scavange a 2 into 1 downpipe from?

Well, the problem is finding an in-line installation as the transverse ones don't have the exhaust manifold exit at the correct angle. You COULD use a marina/ital one but then you'll have the problem of mating the Minor exhaust to the Marina downpipe as they are different diameters......... The metro 1275 has a twin exit manifold but the angle is probably wrong to match the Ital one.

If you do manage to get a manifold, I've got a larger bore stainless exhaust pipe with squashed ends sitting in my garage gathering dust. The courier managed to squash both ends of it so I got it replaced. It needs cutting shorter at the silencer end anyway so that's probably not a problem, but the tailpipe will look funny. The snag is that you'll probably want a larger silencer too as that's usually the biggest restriction in the system.

Anyway, if it's any use to you lettuce know...

[stig28] Oooh, oooh, yes please!

Can I please have it, please, can I? can I?

[seriously, if it's going I'd love to have it!]

It's yours! Next time you're near Reading give me a shout. I've got a Janspeed silencer (relative term) for an MG Metro too which you might be able to bend/weld/hammer to fit if you want to scare other road users. Not sure about ground clearance though...

Do I just fit the Minor carb and manifold (and does it fit okay?)

it fits fine and works well enough - it will certainly get you going and you may even leave it like that permanently. I guess it depends on how much extra speed you need, as the 1275 with Minor carb/exhaust is very good, but as cam mentioned - less power than using the bigger carb/exhaust.

Another option is to find a Mini 1000 exhaust manifold and carb. It is a slightly larger bore to the Minor one to take a 1.5 inch carb but the exit pipe is the same diameter and at the same angle as a Minor one.

Stig28 wrote:It's yours! Next time you're near Reading give me a shout. I've got a Janspeed silencer (relative term) for an MG Metro too which you might be able to bend/weld/hammer to fit if you want to scare other road users. Not sure about ground clearance though...

How about we pick it up on the way back Kate?

<<For the uninitiated I'm still moving from Reading and am back home for the weekend packing, and so again in the right place at the right time

The best inlet manifold is the alloy effort from an MG Metro - there are always some on ebay - try not to pay more than £5 !! It will take either 1.5 SU or 1.75 SU. There is a substantial HP gain to be had by just separating the inlet and exhaust manifolds to eliminate the hot spot - so until you get something better - use the Minor exhaust manifold and system - with the Ital inlet and carb.

I've got a nasty 'log' style inlet manifold from a Metro you can use if you want it - might be better than the standard one 'til you get a better one... I'll bring it and the crane over sometime soon - or tom the MMOC meet on Tues - then you can have a go at the Minor Manifold with a grinder.

PS From an Austin(!) Metro MG Turbo, BTW, but I think it'll do - anyone know different?

Nikki - if you don't mind!

Stig, I'll take anything on the exhaust front you want rid of (that Nikki doesn't mind putting in her car!)

The LOG manifold is indeed nasty - better with the nicely flowing alloy standard manifold from the MG (non turbo) Metro.

I know - thay's why I got one. Am I right that the log will work though?

The LOG was designed for the Turbo - specifically to keep the air/fuel mixture turbulent. The MG non turbo manifold is nicely flowed - but can be further improved (see Wizard) to make it even better !

Aha - good to know why it was so odd...

Hi Kate,

I sent you a PM in case you/Nikki were around Reading over the weekend -I guess you weren't. I think I've got an HIF44 carb in a box somewhere too which I tried to fit once but couldn't get the air filter to fit.

Well - it will always 'work' - but it won't be the best !

After reading all this, is there a Ital or Marina manifold going spare? If so I am after one.............anyone