A plus Vs A series

Post any technical questions or queries here.
Post Reply
rolesyboy
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 2355
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:57 am
Location: Colchester, Essex
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 6 times

A plus Vs A series

Post by rolesyboy »

What components are interchangable between an A plus 998 and and A series 998 engine?
Also are any of the gearbox components interchangable?
Cheers
Rolesyboy
User avatar
rich@minispares.com
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6806
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2013 3:16 pm
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: A plus Vs A series

Post by rich@minispares.com »

rolesyboy wrote:What components are interchangable between an A plus 998 and and A series 998 engine?
Also are any of the gearbox components interchangable?
Cheers
everything but the dizzy drive and the dizzy its self will swop over.

in the box the only thing that wont fit would be the drop gears as the larger idler would fit an early box, the 18mm gear kit its self will go in
should you wish, you can contact me on rich@minispares.com

'long beard boss'
ianh1968
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1012
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 6:00 pm
Location: West Sussex

Re: A plus Vs A series

Post by ianh1968 »

Any A+ with a Verto or "Short-Arm" clutch will need the correct bracket for the slave cylinder
if this is going in a car which was previously "Pre-A+"... It might be necessary to change
either the clutch hose, of at least the orientation of this as well.

I've put an A+ in my car on a couple of occasions and still retained the original Pre-A+ hose
and slave cylinder. (which was obviously not left dangling in the engine compartment whilst
the swap was being done...).
:lol:

I am not sure whether you are supposed to be able to do this, but it worked out OK and
caused no problems.

It would also appear that the alternator to A+ block brackets are the same as the original
dynamo to Pre-A+ block brackets.

Starter motors are another thing... The wiring/routing for the pre-engaged type is totally different.
The tooth count for the inertia type and pre-engaged type is also not compatible. I tried to
put a late starter on an early flywheel once and the bendix engaged OK, but would not dis-engage
afterwards.
(Not good! With about a 10:1 ratio, the starter motor was forced to rev quite well with the engine)
:shock:

As Rich says, most of the "proper" engine and clutch stuff is fairly interchangeable, but much of
this external stuff depends on what ancillary stuff is included with the replacement engine. It can
add quite a bit of time if it's comes up as unexpected during a swap.

Ian
User avatar
Lord Croker
998 Cooper
Posts: 425
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:56 pm

Re: A plus Vs A series

Post by Lord Croker »

There were 2 versions of the A plus engine, the early one, which I am fortunate to have, has the old type clutch & inertia type starter motor, so if you have one of those the conversion is quite easy, Ian is right, the A plus alternator rear bracket is like the old dynamo bracket but the bosses on to which it bolts are cast further forward towards the water pump so it may be challenging to fit a dynamo, but I seem to remember it has been done.
Regards, Rich.
Cables
Basic 850
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 7:58 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: A plus Vs A series

Post by Cables »

Yes as with many things british leyland, there is a mish mash of parts, early A+ are pre verto and some cases still have a series internals in an A+ block.

It also makes me laugh when people say there isnt such a thing as an A+ 1100 engine, i have come accross several in the last few years!
User avatar
rich@minispares.com
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6806
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2013 3:16 pm
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: A plus Vs A series

Post by rich@minispares.com »

Cables wrote: It also makes me laugh when people say there isnt such a thing as an A+ 1100 engine, i have come accross several in the last few years!
you can also get small bore a plus blocks with early large core plugs in them
should you wish, you can contact me on rich@minispares.com

'long beard boss'
User avatar
Spider
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 4805
Joined: Mon May 07, 2012 6:10 am
Location: Big Red, Australia
Has thanked: 125 times
Been thanked: 34 times

Re: A plus Vs A series

Post by Spider »

rich@minispares.com wrote:
Cables wrote: It also makes me laugh when people say there isnt such a thing as an A+ 1100 engine, i have come accross several in the last few years!
you can also get small bore a plus blocks with early large core plugs in them
Thems the ones we got out here.

Even the Big Bore A+ Blocks we got, it would appear on a world scale are in the odd or minority, they take the early slippers in the mains.

The more I work with the A+ engines, the more I become convinced for the most part that the 30 millions they recon they spent developing them was a waste of money - UK Tax Payers money if I recall :lol: Yes, it could only be the result of a Government operation........

IMO, the series of blocks they had right before the A+ they had gotten it as right as they were ever going to get them.

However, while it did take them a while to get right, the late (A+) gearboxes are pretty good.
User avatar
rich@minispares.com
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 6806
Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2013 3:16 pm
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: A plus Vs A series

Post by rich@minispares.com »

Spider wrote:
Even the Big Bore A+ Blocks we got, it would appear on a world scale are in the odd or minority, they take the early slippers in the mains.

.
both the early large and small bore a plus motors use the side tag mains, its only the later ones that use the centre tag ones.

makes it great fun when your selling main bearings to people!

I think most of the 30 million was spent in the pub deciding what colours to paint the a plus blocks......
should you wish, you can contact me on rich@minispares.com

'long beard boss'
User avatar
Spider
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 4805
Joined: Mon May 07, 2012 6:10 am
Location: Big Red, Australia
Has thanked: 125 times
Been thanked: 34 times

Re: A plus Vs A series

Post by Spider »

rich@minispares.com wrote: I think most of the 30 million was spent in the pub deciding what colours to paint the a plus blocks......
Ah, OK, yes, I can see that now ;)

Especially since every since A+ Big Bore block that we got here, out of the local factory, had crooked - very crooked - bores
Post Reply