84 replies to this topic

[The Matt]

I hate to say it, but if you're on a tight budget the A Series ain't the right choice.

There are cheaper, lighter, more powerful and higher revving engines out there that are easier to find parts for.

[steah]

To put it bluntly yes. The minor engine will be a second choice, it just sounds better saying its mini powered than morris minor powered. And I prefer minis, haven't thought this through 100% yet so any help would be much appreciated.

[steah]

And I know matt, I just like the engine, I will sacrifice practicality sometimes for something I prefer, like when you were younger and bought the more expensive, more easily ruined shoes because you prefered them to their cheaper more durable counterparts?

[The Matt]

Is the engine going to be transverse or longitudinal mount?

[steah]

? Sorry youve lost me haha

[steah]

Googled it. Longitudinal.

[The Matt]

Then a mini engine is definitely no good. A Series, yes. Mini engine, no.

[steah]

Well what would be better then? A minor engine?

[ANON]

if you are running inline then you've more chance of getting a sequential box cheaper. 

[AEM]

Go for a 1275 A+ from a Morris Ital, or a pre A+ 1275 from the MG Midget or Morris Marina, if they haven't all been taken by the MM (Morris Minor) folk.

I wouldn't use the MM gearbox as it's not very strong and soon expires when the power is upped, there are conversion kits for Ford RWD gearboxes.

[steah]

Thanks AEM, probably the best advice ive been given so far (no offence everyone else) you have given me some stuff to research tonight, cheers

[HarrysMini]

Were you thinking of longitudinally mounting a transverse (Mini) engine? When there's a version available that is designed for inline applications? 

 

What car is this going in?

 

What exactly are you trying to achieve?

[steah]

harry, i am trying to achieve madness more or less. the project thread is going up tonight of my plans, and itll reveal all, its too complex to explain here, and ill probably be hated by everyone on here, but hey, its my life so i will do what i want.

 

the basic idea is to run it to a rwd setup. but because of the shape of what its going in, it would have to be inline. didnt realise until today that other cars used the same engine (sorry, first car and all, learn by doing, not reading.). so it would be run kind of like a porsche, mid engined, rwd (not a porsche fan, but this was a cross bread idea by me and my friends. so its all gone a bit pear shaped) anyways, all will be revealed soon! ill post the link here asap :)

and its not going in a pre built shell, thats more or less all the hints im gonna give atm

[steah]

http://www.theminifo...he-mad-project/

 here is the thread

[Cooperman]

You definitely won't get a Mini engine to run longitudinally, but the A-series has been used longitudinally in many cars from the A30 and Morris Minor through to the Austin-Healey Sprite/MG Midget & Morris Marina/Ital.

 

Assuming your budget is large, which it will need to be for any sort of radical project, you could mate that to a good 5-speed auto box with full manual over-ride and select a diff and the FDR to suit the application.

 

It will require a lot of engineering design to make the interface work, together with calculations in respect of overall gearing, but for the right money it would be relatively straightforward.

 

A 1275 A-H Sprite/MG Midget engine, bored to 1330 cc, can easily give over 110 bhp. Maybe a 5-speed auto box from a small BMW would be good, although how it could be connected electronically to the engine characteristics might be a problem. Earlier boxes which are mechanically controlled will probably only be 4-speed (from a 1980's BMW 318i maybe).

Edited by Cooperman, 07 July 2014 - 10:12 PM.