Cheap modifications

[ASL642]

You could always add one of those coloured stickers across the top of the windscreen with names on "Andy & Teddy"!! (They must not obscure the visibility so have to be transparent though)

I believe seats from a 80's JagXJS (green leather) fit but they're very rare to find and you still have the problem of the different floor pan shape.

[polo2k]

You could always add one of those coloured stickers across the top of the windscreen with names on "Andy & Teddy"!! (They must not obscure the visibility so have to be transparent though)

IIRC they can not be more than 100mm in height (commonly used to viaually lower the car)

[irmscher]

i prefer nodding dog and janspeed sticker and maybe max power sticker in side window which they will overtake you on only teasing

[polo2k]

No more Wax Flower (max power) stickers, they succumbed to the recession earlier this year

[charlie_morris_minor]

No more Wax Flower (max power) stickers, they succumbed to the recession earlier this year

so a period accessory then

[charlie_morris_minor]

No more Wax Flower (max power) stickers, they succumbed to the recession earlier this year

so a period accessory then

[ben_minor_63]

What 5 speed gearbox can you fit onto a 1098?

[Alex'n'Ane]

Non as a straight forward replacement. Ford type 9's can be fitted with a 'fitting kit' which has a custom bellhousing etc, but were talking many hundreds of pounds here.. If you can find a 3.9 or 3.7 ratio diff from an mg midget this will give you a more relaxed cruising speed engine rev wise.

[melanddoug]

I have a 3.9 ratio diff on my traveller (1098cc, 1971, with Midget gearbox which I gather has closer rations for 1st 2nd and 3rd) . It seems to hum along happily at 60 in 4th (1:1 gearing, of course), but any faster and becomes a bit rev-happy. I'm convinced it runs out of revs rather than power though, and I long for a 5th gear or longer legged gearing.

I was wondering about the 3.7:1 diff. I need to change my differential anyway, or reset it, because it whines horribly.

Has anoyone tried 3.7:1 with a standard moggy engine ? is the lower speed driving ok? it's quite a jump from the original (4.2?) to 3.7:1 and I wondered whether I'd have to start slipping the clutch loads just to pull away.

I don't particularly want to go fast (ie.. 90mph), but being able to sit at 70 with the engine relaxed would be very nice because sometimes I do long-ish motorway journeys. I'm pretty sure the 1098 has the power to do that.

[Neil MG]

It wouldn't make a big difference in the lower gears, just slightly less acceleration. It would take your comfortable cruising speed from 60mph to just over 63mph (and with the original 4.2 that would have been just under 56mph). This may sound a little strange but you might find that something simple like suspension overhaul and wheel balancing will make the car feel much smoother at speeds above 60mph.

[charlie_morris_minor]

i have a 3.7 diff in my car the trouble i have is that with a standard 1098 engine it struggles to accelerate, once on the motorway / dual carriageway yes it is nice but it is getting up to that speed i just feel I am holding up the traffic. it would be nice with a 1275 or a mildly tuned 1098. so if you do a lot of motorway driving or your engined is tuned then yes well worth it but otherwise not so sure.

[melanddoug]

hmm.. ta for that. food for thought!

Another alternative is an overdrive, as I have a Midget gearbox and I understand the overdrive will bolt straight on. I might nee to modif the transmission tunnel though. hmmm .. <scratches chin thoughtfully..>

[bmcecosse]

No - there is no overdrive unit to fit the Midget gearbox........... The 3.7 final drive is fine with a 'warmed up' 1098, but - 1st gear becomes quite high and with the closer ratio box it will be even higher - so I suggest not ideal for hill starts.

[mike.perry]

Everyone seams to have forgotten about the matt black bonnet - worth an extra 5 mph top speed

[bmcecosse]

GO-FASTER stripes!

[Alex'n'Ane]

Cut in the manifold to remove the heat spot. Apparently actually worth an extra 1/2 bhp.

[bmcecosse]

Eliminating the hot spot is certainly worth about 3 bhp! I'm not convinced a 'cut' will separate the two sufficiently to do the job.

[MarkyB]

Cut in the manifold to remove the heat spot

Easier said than done, very easy to break into one or other manifold.

[chrisryder]

oh yes, much easier to get hold of an extra manifold and deliberately sacrifice half of each. works especially well with that manifold everyone's got lying around with the exhaust flange broken off the bottom!

[melanddoug]

Halfords do a range of extra fairy lights,trim and shiny exhaust extension pieces whcih surely will make it all go much faster.