 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / MINI / August 2005Metro engine swap
I have a 1970 automatic Vanden Plas Princess 1300, so it has the 1275cc A-series engine as fitted in some Minis.. Does anyone know if the head from a 1990 MG Metro will fit or, alternatively, if the Metro engine is a straight swap for the original one? Hello Simon: If it is indeed correct that the 1275cc engine from a Mini will fit or is currently fitted then the MG Metro engine will also fit. You may have to change some minor stuff around, for example the clutch system. I am not familiar with your particular model but I am assuming that it is one of the fluffy Mini models such as Elfs. I just finished doing similar to my 1967 Austin Mini Moke. I installed a 90s MG Metro into the Moke, needless to say he runs like a scalded Cat now. See my website url'd below for more information and let me know if you have any other questions.  SignatureQuickSilver - Visit my world Searching for a Class A Coach in SoCal http://AustinMini.OsiTech.Net >I have a 1970 automatic Vanden Plas Princess 1300, so it has the 1275cc >A-series engine as fitted in some Minis.. Does anyone know if the head from >a 1990 MG Metro will fit or, alternatively, if the Metro engine is a >straight swap for the original one? The head will fit, but if I remember correctly your will have an extra stud and/or bolt holding it to the block that are not used on he MG - these can be dispensed with. As for doing an engine change, if you wish to retain the automatic i would recommend fitting a complete engine or engine/box from an Auto Metro. If you are wanting to go manual you will need an engine/box unit and fit a clutch peadl, gear change and disable the starter interlock on the wiring. Either way you may run into problems with inner driveshaft joints, these may need to be changed along with the driveshafts themselves (I had to do this some years ago putting a 1300 princess engine into a mini but both were manual). I hope this helps, good luck. Dave >I have a 1970 automatic Vanden Plas Princess 1300, so it has the 1275cc >A-series engine as fitted in some Minis.. Does anyone know if the head from >a 1990 MG Metro will fit or, alternatively, if the Metro engine is a >straight swap for the original one? >The head will fit, but if I remember correctly your will have an extra stud >and/or bolt holding it to the block that are not used on he MG - these can [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >>a 1990 MG Metro will fit or, alternatively, if the Metro engine is a >>straight swap for the original one? an engine swap would be similar to swapping a Metro engine into a Mini, which is discribed here: http://www.ime.org.uk/ime/m/metro_info.html changing from auto to manual makes it a bit more work as you need the pedals and shfit mechanism, also the auto subframe on mini's is slightly different from manuals (maybe also on your 1300 VdP?) and the Metro 1990 clutch will be cable operated, so you'll need to do some extra work there as well (also watch the verto <> non-vetro differences; may include the starter motor) also the metro was equipped with a front rad, so there some more changes to be made there. there's one guy in Holland doing an automatic Metro > Mini swap http://www.snarfvz.nl/1013.html (in Dutch though ;-) ) good luck, Theo van den Bogaard >The head will fit, but if I remember correctly your will have an extra stud >and/or bolt holding it to the block that are not used on he MG - these can [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >>a 1990 MG Metro will fit or, alternatively, if the Metro engine is a >>straight swap for the original one? The engine is different depending if it has an auto of a manual transmission underneath. The auto has a bigger oil pump and the oil is routed differently in the block, the oil pressure relief valve seat insert is different. The swap can be done. I think we used a plate with suitable hole positions under a "manual" oil pump, its about 30 years since we did it. The valve seat is threaded and can be pulled out and a "manual" one fitted. SignatureDavid Toft >I have a 1970 automatic Vanden Plas Princess 1300, so it has the 1275cc >A-series engine as fitted in some Minis.. Does anyone know if the head from >a 1990 MG Metro will fit or, alternatively, if the Metro engine is a >straight swap for the original one? The head from an A+ MG Metro won't fit onto a standard A series block as there is no bypass hose connection on an A+ head. All A series engines fitted to the automatic gearboxes have subtle differences to the manual gearbox models, so you can't graft the MG engine onto your auto box as a straight swap. Best options are to fit the complete MG engine & manual box into your Princess or get hold of a complete Metro engine and auto box assembly and fit that. Hope this helps Alan >>The head from an A+ MG Metro won't fit onto a standard A series block >>as there is no bypass hose connection on an A+ head. If that's the only issue, then all you have to do is also fit a water pump with the bypass blanked off and make sure you drill a few small holes around the circumference of the thermostat body. The waterpump I bought for my was dual fitting it had a rubber cap and clip to block of the bypass outlet maybe one of these can be sourced seperately saving the hassle of fitting a new pump. Alternatively you could drill and fit a bypass outlet a friend did it when fitting a head on his Minor > >>The head from an A+ MG Metro won't fit onto a standard A series block > >>as there is no bypass hose connection on an A+ head. > > If that's the only issue, then all you have to do is also fit a water > pump with the bypass blanked off and make sure you drill a few small > holes around the circumference of the thermostat body. Quote: "The head from an A+ MG Metro won't fit onto a standard A series block as there is no bypass hose connection on an A+ head." see picture, it can be done very easily, A+ head on a cooper S block, 2x extra holes may need to be drilled if you have 11 studs, a bypass hose outlet can be fitted, or water pump outlet blocked, dead easy :-) modify thermostat as required pic: http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6220/0019ui.jpg Steve. >Quote: > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Steve. I stand corrected on the A+ head issue!! Bet you can't come up with such a simple conversion for fitting a manual engine to an auto box though!!! Regards Alan >>Quote: >> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Alan No, it would be harder, I wouls be kind of inclined to make it into a manual, drop a whole metro unit, ( late one if poss with hardened valve seats, ) but then again you should be able to recondition the existing unit, & re use the cyl head after getting hardened valve seats fitted, Steve. Why do you want to change the head? > I have a 1970 automatic Vanden Plas Princess 1300, so it has the 1275cc > A-series engine as fitted in some Minis.. Does anyone know if the head from > a 1990 MG Metro will fit or, alternatively, if the Metro engine is a > straight swap for the original one? |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.