A+ fitting

[dougieboard]

Dear all
I've got two 1275 engines - one A-series and one A+ - Both need rebuilding before fitting and I am hoping somebody can offer some advice!

First up, any reason I should favour the A+ over the 'A' - Both are Marina / Ital units and both will be sent off for machining. Is the A+ stronger?

Secondly, the A+ has a damaged front pulley. Can I fit the one off the 'A' series or even the one off my car's 1098 unit? The damaged one is a damped unit, the one on the A-series appears to be too, whereas the one on the 1098 is a solid one.

Thirdly, I have no distributor for the A+. A lot of the A+ engined cars appeared to have electronic ignition systems and black boxes on the dizzy. For a standard points set-up, what dizzy should I be looking for? Alternatively, if I went for the normal A-series engine, can I use the 1098cc dizzy off my Minor with a 1275cc engine?

Any advice would be useful, before I start spending money on the machining!

Regards

[bmcecosse]

The A+ is a later upgraded design and is therefore the better of the two - you MUST use a damped pulley. 59D dizzy - just treat it to a new one from simonbbc or accuspark. Sell the engine you don't use to finance the rebuild! And - it would be well worth searching out an MG Metro camshaft (or a 266 cam) to fit in the new engine - and a NEW oil pump of course.......

[dougieboard]

Thanks for the answer. New oil pump is on the shopping list already!

With regard to cams, presumably new followers are a given, but do I need to consider the rockers with a cam upgrade? Or is that only for quite hairy set-ups? I've looked up the various cam options and really want something for better torque and flexibility.

Thanks again!

[bmcecosse]

Standard rockers are fine - don't do silly strong/double valve springs - and yes new followers with a new cam.

[dougieboard]

Grand. Thanks for the advice. Sounds like it is time to get the credit card out!

Cheers

[dougieboard]

Ok. Sorry to come back again...

Should I treat myself to a 1275 Midget box? As I understand, these have better quality bearings. Have a chance for a rebuilt one at sensible money. The 1098 box in my car is ok, to the best of my knowledge.

Worth doing? If so, do I go for a 1098 Minor clutch, 1275 Midget clutch or something else, seeing as I'm going from an A+ to Midget box...

Also, has anyone else used Rob Walker Engineering for machine work? I am planning on getting my engine to them for unleaded head work and a big-end check over. They seem to have a good reputation in the Mini market...

[MarkyB]

I think the 1275 box has bearings rather than bushes on 1st gear, apart from that, if it's true, they are the same, still no syncromesh on 1st gear.

[bmcecosse]

Yes the 1275 box has better bearings - go for it if the price is right - although I would question what the 'reconditioning' consisted of.... I would use 1275 flywheel and clutch - with the mechanical actuation from the 1098 box. Rob Walker is a well ken't name from the past - although no doubt in different hands these days.....and don't waste money on any 'unleaded' work - it's not necessary. In any case - an A+ would be 'unleaded' from the factory.

[dougieboard]

Once again, thanks very much for the precise advice. I will ask what exactly has been done to the box. It is up for sale from an MG specialist, so I'd hope they'd know.

http://www.robwalkerengineering.com is pretty much a two man operation and Rob Walker himself answers the phone so he is very much involved!

In terms of the flywheel, will a Midget flywheel mate up to the A+? And presumably a modified Minor 1098 backplate is the best way to join everything together?

[bmcecosse]

Perhaps son of the original Rob Walker then?? And -I meant to say '1098' flywheel and clutch since finding a 1275 one may not be easy..... The flywheel will need to be accurately drilled to suit the Marina crank.

[dougieboard]

Perfect. Thanks again

And I haven't met him, but my Dad met Rob Walker when he took him a MGC straight-six for some work recently and said he was in his sixties, and he was hobbling about having recently dropped a engine on his foot...

[bmcecosse]

Probably is son of then, at that age. They should be able to modify the flywheel for you.