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A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:24 pm
by mab01uk
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Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:49 pm
by mab01uk
Image
The A+ as launched with the Austin (Mini) Metro.

Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)

Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 12:31 am
by Pete
Seems quite a few late GTs had an A plus in them too!

Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)

Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:42 am
by AndyPen
It was pics like these that got me into becoming a Technical Illustrator ;-)

Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)

Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 11:02 am
by Costafortune
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.

Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)

Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 11:24 am
by Peter Laidler
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....

Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)

Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 11:13 pm
by olddave
Costafortune wrote: Wed Oct 30, 2024 11:02 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 :D

Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)

Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 11:23 pm
by Spider
Pete wrote: Wed Oct 30, 2024 12:31 am Seems quite a few late GTs had an A plus in them too!
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.

Re: A Minor miracle - LJK Setright (Car magazine Sep 1981)

Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 2:39 pm
by Costafortune
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.