Gearing?

[Terry Tanner]

I have a 1974 Registered Traveller with a 1275cc engine, which was fitted before I bought it. My problem is that the engine performs OK up to 60 mph and then seems to go no faster. The engine seems quite stressed at that speed. The car was bought from West Malling Morris Minors, who I now understand have a habit of putting different parts into different cars. Can anyone help make a good car even better.

[phurn]

if it wont goa bove 60 then timing would be my call, my standard 1098 is good for a touch under 80(bloody lound mind) on the motorway and happily cruises at 65... and its hardly the best example of an engine!

[Alex'n'Ane]

Terry is this your first classic in a while? Or at least a less powerful one. If this is the case then i think its probably more that your just not used to the engine revving that highly or sounding that stressed. The car will start to level out at about that speed and any more will be a much slower progression. The other possibility is it has a van diff fitted which is a higher ratio 4.55.

[dellerie]

i was going to say it's got a 4.55 diff in. with the 1275 you really need a 3.9 but the prices aren't cheap

[MarkyB]

4.2 should be cheap as chips, and will help a fair bit.

[bmcecosse]

Are you really SURE it's a 1275 engine?

[mike.perry]

Are you sure its a 1974 reg Traveller? Production stopped in 1971.
If engines and diffs have been swapped then you may have the wrong speedo which would give a false reading.