qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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;D Well beein imagineering this for a little while..... As we know the Morris Minor was originally intended to be powered by a Flat Four engine. But due to cost restraints it got the A series bunged in. So obviously what i've been thinking is...."hmmm wouldn't it be well cool to fit a flat four". I've searched the web but I'm presuming my google-fu must be weak as I can't find anyone who's done it before!! Does anyone know any different?? The way I see it is theres 3 main engine choices The mOst Obvious is the ever so common easily attainable and tuneable(  ) VW aircooled Motor  Is it being air-cooled a help or a hinderance?? Mounted up front there'll be plenty of air?? 2nd choice and for some reason my favourite is the Alfa Boxer engine.  Most prolly a 1.7 as they were I believe used right up until the demise of the 146 therefore will be more readily available. I have no idea how tuneable or "good" these engines are but the italians build cracking engines so I can see it being a goodun. 3rd Choice is of course the Japtastic Subaru Flat four:  Again don't know much about these engines.... But with the amount of rusty Legacy's and smashed Up impreza's Hitting the scrapyards I imagine they would be easy to get. However the Complicated Electronic jiggery pokery puts me right off. Wouldn't be going for turbo power either...... to much power for my ickle Minor. So those are the engines.....What about Gearboxes......Well this bit has me stumped!! My 1st thoughts were for the Venerable Ford Type-9 with a bellhousing adaptor.....But I dunno if this would work??? Would it?? Is there better Gearboxes to Use? As for rear axle I was wanting to use a Ford English. Should be able to take the power any of these engines (maybe not the subaru) can take?? Anyway these are just my crazy ramblings!! What do you peeps think? Have you got any hints or tips? Anyone know of such conversion? What engine/Gearbox/axle set up would you go for?? I don't want a snarling 4wd Turbo beast just something along the original lines but more interesting....    |
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Is your Moggy an early, low-light version? I reckon they'd pull it off best  *n |
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Top grammar tips!
Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated
Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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Obviously a factor I haven't mentioned is the width of the engine bay. I know its wide but I'm not sure how wide.... No its a late model. I'm not wanting to build a "how it should have been" (hells no to that idea!!) I more just like the concept.
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Last Edit: May 15, 2008 9:43:09 GMT by qwerty
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
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May 15, 2008 10:07:00 GMT
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Cool concept. You could just buy a Jowett!
I'm guessing that you might be able to find a cheap but good running Alfa engine wrapped up in a rusty shell. Don't they also have a transaxle? Would be cool if you could fit the whole caboodle.
I feel that VW engine just doesn't suit for some reason. Don't think it'd make the right noise.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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topcat
Part of things
Posts: 289
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May 15, 2008 10:08:58 GMT
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I think I saw a picture of a minor converted to FWD using a VW engine in practical classics. It was a poorly caried out conversion carried out somewhere overseas.
There was a chap that was considering exactly the same train of thought as you. I believe he wanted to use a Jowett javelin engine but I doubt it ever came to anything.
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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May 15, 2008 10:17:17 GMT
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Hmmm Wouldn't really wanna go FWD I don't think.......although I dunno why not it might be an easier prospect no Gearbox etc to worry about.
Seth I know exactly what you mean aout the VW engine.....It would be......weird!
Jowett Engine sounds....interesting
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topcat
Part of things
Posts: 289
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May 15, 2008 10:24:40 GMT
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At least if the minor has a 'boxer' engine you can finally see sense in that damned underfloor master cylinder (read: bain of my life hate it so much...)
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Odin
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,406
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May 15, 2008 10:52:06 GMT
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I wouldn't go with a VW flat four. Compared to the other two it's an ancient design, and woefully underpowered. You'll have to spend a fair wodge on tuning to get a decent output.
Personally I would go with the Alfa motor as the conversion is likely to be less hassle than the Subaru one with regards to electrics. However, the J lump will probably give you more bang for your buck.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,950
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.stealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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May 15, 2008 11:23:09 GMT
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First thing, beetle engines. It staggers me that people still modify them. People spend thousands on them and they make wibblepoo power. Brilliant engines standard but pointless.
I'd go for an alfa engine as they're not as complicated as the subarus.
Matt
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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May 15, 2008 12:02:27 GMT
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Yeah the Subaru Electrics would be just about impossible to sort for me. Alfa on Downdraughts FTW!! Will the 1.7 Boxer bolt to a 75 Manual Box??? With a custom prop that would make it waaaaay easier!!
How powerful is the 1.7 Boxer?? You reckon that the Minor axle with Uprated Halfshafts would take the POWAAAAAAH?? Suppose it depends on what the gear ratio's and Diff ratio's are as to whether it would work well....
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Last Edit: May 15, 2008 12:18:52 GMT by qwerty
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mk14dr
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 4,472
Club RR Member Number: 85
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.mk14dr
@mk14dr
Club Retro Rides Member 85
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May 15, 2008 12:27:51 GMT
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Nice concept. Keep it nice and sutble, undestated  You reckon that the Minor axle with Uprated Halfshafts would take the POWAAAAAAH?? You can only break shafts with traction Standard steels FTW!!!1!  D |
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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May 15, 2008 12:39:14 GMT
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Haha I like the idea of slightly banded Stock steels.....Maybe 6" wide in Black with Very shiny original "M" Logo Hubcaps haha...
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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May 15, 2008 13:13:09 GMT
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Theres an abandoned alfa (T-Reg and its a 156 i think) outside my house, although i have no idea what engine it has
want me to enquire?
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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May 15, 2008 13:19:45 GMT
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It'll be an In-line 4 If its a 156. Plus I'm no where near ready to getting a donor yet. The car is still in its "sieve" phase. Thanks for the offer though
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madmog
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,160
Club RR Member Number: 46
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.madmog
@madmog
Club Retro Rides Member 46
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May 15, 2008 13:46:03 GMT
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Wonder if a Porsche 911 flat 6 engine would fit in the bay.
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May 15, 2008 14:05:04 GMT
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I've got a legacy with the turbo lump, same as imprezza. it's a beast of an engine nigh on 200bhp as standard from new. may be a squeeze into a minor though. you can pick up legacys for scrap value... and the engines go on and on if looked after. if you require any measurements then i'd be glad to help... pic of what hides under the bonnet of my legacy..  |
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Full of automotive and culinary delights visit:  1994 Subaru Legacy Estate Turbo 1985 Vauxhall Nova SR 1995 Fiat Cinquecento Sporting |
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May 15, 2008 14:15:57 GMT
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I read somewhere that the Alfa and Scooby engines have exhaust ports that 'coincide' with the chassis rails. I don't know how true this is though. I'd love someone to disprove this.
The Alfa in 1.7 16v form puts out 130+ bhp. That would get a Minor from 0-60 in about 7 secs.
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1953 Minor (Long term project)
PT Cruiser
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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May 15, 2008 14:17:40 GMT
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The thing that Scares me anout the Subaru engine is the electronics. Alfa I should be able to bung in on a Set of Downdraughts with not to many problems electronically.....but all that ECU shizz and such may be a right pain!
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Odin
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,406
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May 15, 2008 14:44:27 GMT
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A friend of mine is currently putting a 2.5 out of a Legacy GT in his T25 crewcab and the loom resembles the rigging on an 18th century warship. It has an ECU-integrated immobiliser and all sorts of nonsense.
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Flats, Minors and Sharps.qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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May 15, 2008 14:55:22 GMT
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A friend of mine is currently putting a 2.5 out of a Legacy GT in his T25 crewcab and the loom resembles the rigging on an 18th century warship. It has an ECU-integrated immobiliser and all sorts of nonsense. Exactly!! That would scare the living bejesus outta me!! Couple of wires wrong and the thing won't work!! Yeah it'd be trick and really clever, but I am neither haha. |
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) VW aircooled Motor
