Morris Minor Owners Club

Is there a 'modern' rear wheel drive diesel available that would fit in a MM engine bay? I wasn't thinking of the 'B' diesel engine but perhaps one made for the Indian taxi market, I assume they have diesels in their Ambassadors.

AFAIK, all the recent (15+ years) small Diesels in Europe are FWD, but they are still a possibility (Just needs special engine mount/brackets)
The European RWD diesels are all big-guns

The boss's 3-series BMW diesel is the pretty nice. wouldn't fit but atleast it points in the right direction. I think I've read something about a front wheel drive escort (?) diesel moggy?
jim

Hindustan Ambassador might be a good bet - on their website it appears that there's a 2 litre 51bhp diesel on offer as well as the old B-Series.

However shipping an engine from India will probably cost a small fortune - perhaps it'd be best to spend that money converting a more modern European diesel to RWD. You might find parts are difficult to obtain here for the Indian engine too.

I thought Hindustan converted over to using Isuzu or some other Far east/japanese engine to get within emission controls to sell over here. (Edit nly Petrol)

Mind you a 2 litre diesal will be pretty chunky and at 51bhp not much better than the 1098 but probably much heavier.

http://www.hmambassador.com/

Edit

Found their website and could not believe they've fitted front
Disc brakes to the 2.0l Diesal

Wow

And they are still using the old B diesal 1489cc coughing up 37bhp

Yes 51bhp from 2 litres isn't particularly impressive, but it's probably tuned like that so it can run on marginal quality fuel. If you're after power then it looks like you need a European diesel.

I do like the sound of the old B-Series diesel though - might make sense in an LCV as it's basically the same power as a 948. I wonder if the injection system is mechanical or electronic? I'm surprised the emission controls haven't caught up with the B-Series yet, especially the diesel version.

I'm surprised the emission controls haven't caught up with the B-Series yet, especially the diesel version

.


I think they probably have nearly everywhere else.

But to be fair its a tradition out there. Like the Enfield bullet (not sure if they still make them)

Yes they do

That have a cult following here too...

I had thought of looking to use a gold tdi engine but hadnt found a rear wheel drive box. Guess it must be a custom adapter to the good old ford 5 speed!

If you are looking for low cost motoring - hard to beat using LPG in the Minor engine. Can be bought for 36p/litre ! So cost per mile will be way less than diesel cost per mile.

LPG is also far kinder to the environment than an equivalent petrol or diesel unit in all respects; CO2, CO, particulates and sulphur dioxide.

Far kinder to the pocket too !

tavistock wrote:Is there a 'modern' rear wheel drive diesel available that would fit in a MM engine bay? I wasn't thinking of the 'B' diesel engine but perhaps one made for the Indian taxi market, I assume they have diesels in their Ambassadors.

What you need is a 2ltr Turbo out of a montego, get the backplate, flywheel clutch and gearbox out of a Sherpa and it will fit nicely.

Engine will return around 50mpg and will be capable of over 100mph

Depending on your skills you could do the whoile conversion for less than £500

I was reading up about the Vauxhall engine. Aparently the modern 8V transverse unit is basically the same as the RWD Cavelier unit. That got me thinking. perhaps the 1.5 Isuzu Diesel used in the Nova(and Corsa?) used a Vauxhall gearbox? If so, then perhaps a 1.5 turbo diesel will mate to the in-line Cavalier box and fit in a Minor?

Finding a RWD Vauhall box is probably going to be a lot of work in itself! Cavaliers have been FWD for a heck of a long time.

Yes, I can't remember the last time I saw one!

Would a Manta box or Chevette box work?

Mind you haven't seen either of them for a while