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Jun 10, 2006 12:31:05 GMT
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First up, might be looking at getting an A35 to replace my bike. What's the difference between the A30 and the A35 because they look the same to me?
What brake upgrade options does the car have? Something about A40 drums going on, something off a Farina or an MG maybe? I'm not too worried about discs but bigger drums at least and if I can juice the rear axle that will be handy.
Engines. They have a RWD 900cc A series as I understand it, but it's not compatible with the FWD Mini engine so I can't take a 1275 out of a Mini and hope it fits. However, the Midget engine is a 1275cc RWD A series and that will fit, is that right? Are the blocks the same width and height from 800cc up to 1275? Next up is heads, are all the heads interchangeable? More importantly is the Metro turbo head compatible with a RWD A series as that's the one I'd be looking to use.
Looking forward to the replies chaps so flood me with tech...
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Jun 10, 2006 12:59:07 GMT
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Your right about the engines, RWD engines form minors,midgets, sprites, a30 etc. have a differant crank and block so are not interchangable with FWD mini/metro/1100/allegro etc..
The heads are no differant between rwd and fwd but a 1275 head is differant to a 998/850 etc. The turbo head will fit a 1275 midget lump with no mods as will a non turbo MG metro or a standard 1275 mini/metro head. MG and turbo heads are very simlar but the turbo has special exhaust valves as and possibly less compression so unless you have a turbo head allredy you may aswell get a stock MG one. The 1275 mini/standard metro ones have slightly smaller valves and ports but its not a hige differance.
If you want to fit a 1275 head to a small bore (sub 1275) enghine you need to cut valve pockets into the block so thats an engine out, full rebuild job
they are all roughly the same height etc. small differances but wont casue you problems.
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Last Edit: Jun 10, 2006 13:07:27 GMT by slater
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Jun 10, 2006 13:38:19 GMT
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A30 has chrome grille and small rear window; A35 has a painted grille with chrome around it, and a bigger rear window. Two-door ones rock.
That's exhausted my A30/35 knowledge! ;D
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My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
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Jun 10, 2006 13:52:48 GMT
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I seem to remember reading somewhere that the A30 had mechanical brakes while the A35 had hydraulics. Though I've never owned either.
FWD and RWD A series engines have different exteriors. 1100 and 1300 A serieses have different heads from 1 litre and smaller ones. I think the last RWD A series car was the Morris Marina 1.3, though I have been wrong before.
A series trivia - they made a 1600cc A series diesel but they only fitted it to the small BMC tractor. Which is why nearly all of them you'll find today have knackered bearings because they didnt make many and the bearings are poor quality wobbly children's play pony poo. Surprisingly worth a lot to collectors though, ours was pretty knackered and still got 500 quid at auction!
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Last Edit: Jun 10, 2006 13:54:45 GMT by herald948
"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor
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Jun 10, 2006 13:57:44 GMT
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Great news! Need to use the Metro turbo head on a 1275 then as the turbo will have to go on a similar engine to what it came off.
Not too bothered about the number of doors but if I can get a 2-door in the budget then I will. The A30 looks like the less desirable of the two so I'll probably go for that. I don't care about small back windows, the one in the '34 is like a letterbox ;D
Any idea about suspension, lowering etc?
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Jun 10, 2006 14:06:27 GMT
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OK, I do know a tiny bit more..!
Yep, A30 has rod-operated brakes, which is why my old chap wouldn't let me have one as a first car (he was right, I would have killed myself). Suspension wise, can't remember what's on the front (definitely coils though), leaf springs on the back.
In it's defence, the A30 has trafficators which are infinitely cooler than indicators!
Edit: I thought that was right, but I remember seeing an A30 brake master cylinder advertised this week....
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My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
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Jun 10, 2006 14:14:59 GMT
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I think it's hydraulic front and rod operated rears
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Jun 10, 2006 17:23:21 GMT
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Think you are right on that Jonny. The rear brakes only are rod pulled.
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Jun 10, 2006 22:21:45 GMT
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Jonny Sierra, my first car WAS an A35! See pic! Jon, I know I said some of this elsewhere but maybe worth repeating and expanding a bit here. Rear brakes on both A30 and A35 are operated by a single "wheel" cylinder mounted about 12" back from the master cylinder under the floor. This operates rod linkages back to both back wheels. A30's came with 803cc engines (first of the A-series - it was designed for this car before Morris used it in the Minor) and I think some of the internals for this one are unique. A35's had 948cc engines basically the same as the early frogeye sprite. I believe these are actually quite tune-able engines if you want strictly period mods. 998's only ever came in minis! A30's are less desirable in some ways because of the (even) slower performance but I think are rarer and the chrome grilles are usually rather crusty. Frogeye sprites were absolutely based on A35 mechanicals and so the suspension is all the same. Later sprites and midgets had disc brakes which can be used to convert the Austin. Back axles are also the same so you can put in the 3.9 gears from a midget to replace the 4.55 in 35's or even 4.8 or something in A30's. Their larger (and hydraulic) drums will also bolt on. A definite must would be uprated midget half shafts as you'd break the originals the first time you tried to accelerate with even a stock 1275. There were marginal to start with. For lowering also use midget parts or get Paddington springs to make some new leaves and some shorter front coils. I cut the coils in mine and the sump would occasionally bounce off the road! Shocks are lever arm all round and the front ones are the top wishbone as commonly with BMC cars. Enough rambling. Might be able to help if you've thought of any other specific questions A30/35 owners club here with classifieds www.austin-club.co.ukMy first car in 1994 before it got written off by an Escort cabriolet Some pictures from www.flying-a.net/ which seems to have a mine of information. Chack out the "modernised" ones
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Shortcut
Posted a lot
I won't be there when you cross the road, so always use the Green Cross Code.
Posts: 3,037
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van ftw!
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This space available to rent. Reach literally dozens of people. Cheap rates!
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I started out my motoring career with A35's ;D I had eleven of the little buggers one after the other including two vans (one was an ex RAC van). They are great fun and so easy to upgrade. Easiest swap at the time was a Marina 1275 which required the front and backplate to be replaced and if I remember rightly a Midget flywheel with a little machining. My first one just had a stock 948cc with twin SU's and later a 1098cc. I eventually ran Midget front brakes and Minor rears plus a diff from a Wolseley 1500 (3.7:1). The stock brakes are utter toss and stop working about once a fortnight so you are best rid of them no matter how you go about it. As Seth said, the half shafts are made of plasticine, although a change of diff ratio means that the gearbox usually breaks more often than the half shafts (they aren't very strong either) You can drop the front a bit by spacing the spring retaining plate down from the arm. I also fitted telescopic front shocks by welding the upper front mounts from a Mini to the inner wing and making a bracket obn the front edge of the wishbone to mount the bottom. I filled the lever arms with oil and removed the valving. Seemed to work okay like that. I may have run a Marina front anti-roll bar too...can't remember. That may have been on my A40 instead. I still have the grille from my very first car, an A35 two door, hanging on my wall Here it is on the day I got it, in all it's brush painted, bogged up glory. Later that same day I put it in a ditch ;D -Ed
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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Jun 11, 2006 10:12:56 GMT
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Don't forget a dog with a net ;D
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Jun 11, 2006 13:12:47 GMT
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Cool guys I'm loving the info, keep it coming...
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filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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Jun 11, 2006 14:57:50 GMT
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The later 1500 Midgets also came with a 3.7 diff, and I think somebody now makes a 3.5?
The Midget halfshafts (and lesser extent diff) are marginal for midget power - I have 105-odd and am on second diff and third halfshaft...
I guess a load of the Frontline and Peter May Midget upgrade stuff will fit the A30/35 then? ;D
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'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention '02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think '03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic) '09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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Jun 11, 2006 17:39:39 GMT
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My dad had fun with his A35 van in the snow because they used to ice up the brake linkages! Not fun in hillier parts of Yorkshire. Ran it right across a roundabout taking out a shrubbery once. tee hee, and he complains about my driving...
I'd been tempted with an A30/A35 a few times but lack of anyone to suggest how best to deal with the awful brakes was an off-putter. I've driven sotckers, and apart from my albow hitting the window /door when turning the giant steering wheel (forgetting how very narrow they are LOL) and the scary brakes, they are fun little cars.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jun 11, 2006 20:35:32 GMT
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I've driven a 100E with a 140hp crossflow and stock brakes. Pulling that thing up from 100mph wasn't fun I tell ya.
actually it was, who am I trying to kid? ;D
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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Jun 11, 2006 21:21:49 GMT
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Perfect timing to see and chat to the owner of this one today! 120 hp 2 litre Fiat twincam and fiat auto box. Midget front brakes but stock rear brakes as he reckoned when set up right they were OK and he could lock the rears without much difficulty. He has got a servo under the bonnet though. He believed that one of the big Healeys have the same master cylinder but with a larger bore but couldn't confirm that. He had midget 3.9 gears and half shafts in the back. He was plannign to use various Frontline kits on it including front suspension all of which is designed for the midget but would bolt straight on to this. He had no front anti roll bar yet and reckoned it did need it really. He hadn't actually built it but had had the engine out a couple of times to sort gearbox issues so knew his stuff He had a mate with one with a K series in too though it wasn;t out at the show today. So there are people out there doign this stuff!
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Jun 11, 2006 22:41:09 GMT
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one of TAZ racings lates creations... 11 sec runs ;D
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once again rocking with 1117cc and 4 gears!
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Thats an A60 not an A30 though Anyone else thinking of Camblewick Green or Chiggly every time they see an A60 LCV? LOL.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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i swear the halfwit thats allways on the tannoy said it was an A35 i thought it looked a bit big for an A35 and the front end was all wrong
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once again rocking with 1117cc and 4 gears!
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