A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)
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mab01uk
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Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)
The A+ as launched with the Austin (Mini) Metro.
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Pete
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Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)
Seems quite a few late GTs had an A plus in them too!
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AndyPen
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Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)
It was pics like these that got me into becoming a Technical Illustrator 
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Costafortune
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Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)
It was a good upgrade. The only mistake was that stupid plastic cage gearbox main bearing - if they'd kept the original it would have been pretty much faultless. The 998 A+ was a particularly good unit. A pity the HLE version wasn't a 1098 as the extra torque would have made it even more economical.
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Peter Laidler
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Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)
Yep, agree entirely...... That plastic/paxolin gear cage was the 20,000 mile downfall of my wifes car too. Otherwise it was just fine. Just such a bastard to fix it....
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olddave
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Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)
Costafortune wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:02 am The only mistake was that stupid plastic cage gearbox main bearing - if they'd kept the original it would have been pretty much faultless.
A good source of warranty revenue for dealers
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Spider
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Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)
My first Moke, I bought new off the lot, was plated as October 1979, that was fitted with an A+ 1275. Given the date on the plate was when the vehicle was dispatched to the dealer, it was likely sitting around Leyland's yard for about 1 - 2 months, then add to that the import lag, these would have been in production from early 1979 at least.
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Costafortune
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Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)
The first BL to officially use the A+ was the Morris Ital, April 1980 ish.
But, the Mini Clubman and 1100 Special were using A+ ribbed blocks from June 1979. I didn't know about the 79 1275's.
David Vizard offered his services to BL Cars but was declined. BL did a good job but it could well have been even better.
Compared to that bag of bolts Valencia engine in the Ford Fester, the 998 A+ was a marvellous thing. The idle was almost silent.
But, the Mini Clubman and 1100 Special were using A+ ribbed blocks from June 1979. I didn't know about the 79 1275's.
David Vizard offered his services to BL Cars but was declined. BL did a good job but it could well have been even better.
Compared to that bag of bolts Valencia engine in the Ford Fester, the 998 A+ was a marvellous thing. The idle was almost silent.