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Hi, not mini but BMC A series related - I'm starting to lookout for a base engine for another project (a fast road 1098 inline for rwd install) are all early 1098 inline engines basically the same ie same crank journal dia and widths or are the midget/sprite ones stronger? I'm looking for a thin flange style of block for an early 60's car so choices are from A40, Morris Minor, or Midget/Sprite might go for thick flange but want to avoid A Plus as it obviously looks out of period.

Any comments / suggestions gratefully received thanks.

Paul.

There were 2 1098 engines fitted to Spidgets, the 10CC and the 10CG. The later one is vastly superior having the same journal diameters as a Cooper S.

What car are you building?
Tom

..Westfield XI?

Thanks Nick that's a great help. Tom I haven't got a project car for it yet but looking along lines of an A40 or Frogeye or if I can find / afford one a Series 1 Lotus Seven would be the ultimate and Jono I wish now I'd built a Westfield XI 20 years ago instead of my Caterham as it would be worth more now

Paul.

Sounds like a very interesting project!

I'm running a 10CC engine in my Frogeye with lightened flywheel, oversized pistons, Calver head and MiniSpares high torque cam, its a cracking engine. I have the same spec in the Mini but it just doesn't feel the same.

Thanks Mark, yes it should be if I can find a suitable car and with the Speedwell 7 port head I purchased from Andy, which I see you had a hand in a while back with refurbishing it, but first I should be getting on with my Ogle restoration which has stalled of late still only me to blame for that! Andy how much oversize bore are you running in the Frogeye? and any head gasket issues? The Ogle will be a 1098 +40 oversize with Speedwell 5 port head and Shorrocks blower so quite a different feel to my proposed inline 1098 project, which will probably be +20 although I may be tempted down the Imp piston route yet

Cheers for now
Paul.

I think it was either +80 or +120, they are the Australian pistons MiniSpares used to sell, they get mixed reviews. I don't think they do them anymore. No problems with head gaskets... (reaches out to find some wood, my head will do).

Paul,

How about a 1400 K Supersport in a Frogeye with the Caterham 6 speed - revtastic

Oh! Some of my favourite bits. Speedwell heads, Shorrock blowers Huuuuummmmmmmmmmmm!

If you need any help / advice, please feel free to ask.

Curious...when I saw the ad for the Speedwell 7 port, I thought it would be a great addition to the 948 I'm building for my A40! That engine has been bored to accept 998 hi compression pistons, 998 Cooper rods, Kent 266 cam, lightened and balanced bottom end, Maniflow LCB and exhaust and Maniflow twin 1 1/4 SU manifold, recurved Cooper S distributor, ported and polished 12g295 head, and Cooper S rocker gear.
I'm still toying with the idea of using the Speedwell Clubman head and Sprint kit I've got sitting on the shelf...
It certainly makes my mind wander!
Tom

The engine I had in the Frogeye before the 1100 was a very similar spec to yours Tom, 948 crank +80 pistons, Mini Spares high torque cam plus a Speedwell alloy head and Speedwell inch and a quarter SUs. Went very well and looked amazing!

The Speedwell head had 1275GT sized valves fitted, if you use these sized valves its best to pocket the block, I have one busted rocker as proof Me and Mark 'pocketed the block' after that little error of judgement.

Nothing like a bit of free hand block pocketing

If you are looking for a project car, I have a 1973 RWA Midget I need out the way....

I was going to build a fast 1098 for my A35 van....

I ended up with a 948, 12G295 head, twin HS2s and some 1:5 rockers.... went like stink until I hit a wall....

Also had a midget diff and 1500 halfshafts, midget lowered/toughened springs and ARB, saloon rear springs and Midget discs...

When it comes back on the road I'm gonna upgrade to an A40 pedalbox, as it was the awful A35 one that let me down!!!



Ed

Russel Engineering in Aus does 1098 flat top pistons in +040″, 060″, 080″, 100″ & 68mm

http://russellengineering.com.au/mini-products/

http://russellengineering.com.au/68mm-f ... t-9981100/

Here's my current 'moment of inline madness' project:



A 1098 Midget block (with 2" mains) into which has been fitted a crank from a 1275 Midget - which permits the use of a 6-bolt flywheel from the latter engine. Slightly amazingly, when fitted with the original 1098 rods & pistons, everything continues to turn over without a problem, albeit with the small ends offset within the pistons to a significant degree because of the different bore spacings on the small bore and large bore engines. Obviously the piston crowns are a couple of mm down the bore at present too.

Assuming I continue with this lunacy I intend to fit some +0.040" pistons with the bores offset if possible, to reduce the small end offset. This, by my calculation, will result in a capacity of 1099cc when combined with the 1275 stroke. No doubt someone will correct me if I have got my sums wrong! So, a poor man's Formula Junior?? Or a complete waste of time and (a modest amount of) money?

It might end up in my Series One Lotus Seven if all goes to plan.

Peter

That looks like an excellent plan Peter!

Glad to see that things are progressing.

33JOY wrote:lunacy

wasn't there a trick of using thinned down s rods on 1000cc cranks to get round the 'bendy rod' problem in old 1000cc miglias???

Yes there was. I used to have a set.