Moggy minor engines into midgets
Turbo Mini Forums

I'm after a spare block for the midget and found this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Morris-minor-engine_...id=p3286.c0.m14

i assume it will be the same block casting as a midget?

Cant go wrong for £30 and its local to me.

Probably be sold mind by the time i get an answer, nobody go poaching it from me!!!

Yes, but Minors were never bigger than 948cc. Aka Junk!

ah, bugger. thought that was a 1275?

right so basically i want a cheap 1275 block as a spare for the midget.

what are my options?

Go on the midget and sprite club site classifieds.Also Marina a+ block will fit.

'Where does the engine go?'

Edited by Paul S on 29th Sep, 2008.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Were they? I thought not.

I've ownded a Marina 1300. Rolled it on my dad's field. Quality!

Montego 1300?

steve, any links to the good ones?

The Maestro (is that spelt right?) 1300 had the A series engine but with an end-on (rather than in the sump) front wheel drive gearbox (like modern front wheel drive cars) so may well also be the "in-line" version of the engine.

If that makes sense ???

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

not sure abount the montego/maestro units - I know they used a VW gearbox - not sure if the bell housing would be the same?

Marina/ Itals are a constant source of engines and gearboxes for the Minor boys

Try http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub.

'Where does the engine go?'

1098 post 1962 is right.Marina/Ital engines will fit,but beware of possible oil filter clearance problems.I have also converted a Metro block to inline operation with a tuftrided Marina Crank etc.That block is available if you live close enough.PM me if interested.

whats involved in converting one?

I have mini blocks spare and if its mainly changing the crank then i would use the one coming out of the engine thats in. i could still get everything else built.

if its minor maching mods thats not a problem.

Main problem is in the rear main bearing area -you need an inline cap to take the sump seals OR modify the sump to suit.You do need to use a crank with a flange to attach the flywheel of course.While you are at it,take a look at the sealing arrangements for that rear main bearing and consider whether an aftermarket kit with a proper lip seal might be worthwhile.Also look at increasing the size and number of breathers,because,as you probably already know,rear main oil leakage is almost endemic with these motors.

I forgot -if you go the modified sump route you will need to modify the cap to allow oil to drain away from the rear main into the sump If you use the rear main cap from the inline engine it must be line bored to match the others.

Marina Van on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Austin-Morris-Marina...id=p3286.c0.m14