Prima into Moggy

Post by **dnac** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:01 pm

About two years ago (i think) I came on the forum asking if it was possible to fit a Perkins Prima (2 ltr turbo diesel fitted in montego's) into a moggy, there was a guy who was well up for it,

I just wondered if anyone had done it?

Post by **chrisd87** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:05 pm

I've seen it done to a white traveller a few years ago, but it looked quite a tight fit. Also surely there are better, more modern diesel engines that can be fitted, as the Prima is quite an old design.

Post by **Onne** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:47 pm

Wasn't Jonathon doing something like this? K-series alike diesel?

Problem with 'modern' diesels ( and their strong point) os that they have a lot of torque, I don't know if the body/chassislegs can handle that.
It will also be quite nose heavy.

Have you ever thought about LPG?

Post by **JustinMinor1000** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:00 pm

Onne wrote:Wasn't Jonathon doing something like this? K-series alike diesel?

Problem with 'modern' diesels ( and their strong point) os that they have a lot of torque, I don't know if the body/chassislegs can handle that.
It will also be quite nose heavy.

Have you ever thought about LPG?

My LPG project is back on track now that I have another moggie ... LPG is certainly the easiest way to go ..

Post by **dnac** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:09 am

The reason for the Prima, is cause I work for Perkins, and know a lot about them, I also have quite a few spares lying around.

Despite being old, its a very good engine, returning about 30 to the gallon even in my Landrover

The suspension legs should be OK, if they can take the Twin cam they can take a Prima, Will have to upgrade the front suspension though.

Post by **Robins** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:11 pm

Hi dnac
I thought the perkins engine gave more like 50mpg. email me mate:
danielrobins@freenetname.co.uk

cheers.

Post by **moggyminor16** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:56 pm

lpg is the better way cleaner and better for the engine the only problem is the boot space you will lose a lot but im waiting to find a place that can help out with the mixer adapter on teh su carb

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 7:46 am

I wouldnt have thought you would have had any problem obtaining mixer plate. I run lpg on my 1098 through a 1 3/4" SU.
Which SU have you got and I,ll make some enquiries if you like.
Ian.

Post by **moggyminor16** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 10:03 am

a standard one but the big problem is the space in the boot of my traveller like my space in there

Post by **Onne** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 3:54 pm

You could do away with the spare tyre, and get a can of tyreweld in the boot. This way you can fit a tank under the floor, where you can't see it either!

Post by **Robins** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:02 pm

LPG is so expensive to install in the first place. At about £1000 on avaerage for the basic kit, then the fact there is few filling stations around (well, in my area anyway) and it is only a matter of time before the governement push the price up near to petrol prices by taxing it, it will happen and soon. A Diesel is the scrapyard alternative that can be done on the cheap if your on a budget and want something different. Also with a Perkins Prima you would use a sherpa gearbox which means 5 speed, a bonus there. You can fill up anywhere you would get petrol. And in theory needs less maintenance than the good old A-series and more MPG. It's just down to the individual and what they want.

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:44 pm

I'd have thought that the diesel motor would add too much weight over the front end. The 1.1 K series will give over 65mpg and out perform the diesel, the 1.4 K series offers over 55mpg and the 1.8 tuned to 185bhp will return 45 mpg. All engines except the modified ones are available cheaply in a scrap yard near you.

Post by **Cam** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:47 pm

I agree with Jonathon. The K-series is hard to beat for power to weight, availability, cost and MPG, but then I'd never fit a Diesel to a Minor as I don't like them in cars. Trucks & vans yes, but not cars for me personally.

Post by **moggyminor16** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:56 pm

i dont know were you have seen the price for a basic lpg kit for £1000 that is very high as i have done my rangerover with 2 30 letter tanks for £650
yes the goverment can push up the price but think about the camping gas for caravans or the big 50 ltr gas bottles at the moment the 6 kg gas bottle will cost £7.50 and you can get a adapter to tranferr the gas to your car
if i could find a way to get a easy swop for the moggy engine i would but there all a lot of work to swop over
there has to be another way to get around this lets all go and play in our garages to find somthing cheap to use

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 9:01 pm

I've only got a 20 year old racing bike in my garage though !!!

Post by **moggyminor16** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 9:03 pm

well that will help ill use a old lawnmower engine

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 9:14 pm

If I get a mate round, does that qualify as a twin engine ???

Post by **moggyminor16** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 9:15 pm

er yer why not

Post by **dnac** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:27 pm

Trouble with the K series is it is expensive to Fit, Conversion kit costs a fortune, and the engine is not the most reliable in the world either, plenty of head gasket problems, and now the company has gone, how long are there going to be spares around?

The prima will give you 50 to 60 MPG, will be plenty fast enough for a Moggy, and it almost bolts straight in, and the best bit, it is just so simple to work on.

Post by **Cam** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:55 pm

dnac wrote:Trouble with the K series is it is expensive to Fit, Conversion kit costs a fortune

True.

, and the engine is not the most reliable in the world either,

I disagree. They are a good reliable engine.

plenty of head gasket problems,

This problem was two-fold. 1. From factory, plastic dowels were used to locate the head and if you get severe overheating problems these dowels fail. The new gasket kits have steel dowels which solve the problem.
2. Rover used a really tiny capacity water system, so when there was a leak it does not take long for the car to boil up and so coupled with the plastic dowels you have a knackered head gasket.

When doing a Minor conversion, if you use steel dowels and increase the capacity of the cooling system (which I believe JLH does) then problem solved!

and now the company has gone, how long are there going to be spares around?

For a LONG time. Lots of other old cars, kits cars, 3rd party tuning houses and OTHER car manufacturers (Freelanders use the K-series) will ensure there are plenty of K-series parts around.

The prima will give you 50 to 60 MPG, will be plenty fast enough for a Moggy, and it almost bolts straight in, and the best bit, it is just so simple to work on.

But it's heavy and as Jonathon said:

The 1.1 K series will give over 65mpg and out perform the diesel