After finally getting the thing on the road, it has only taken me a day to realise how God-awful the engine and gearbox are.

It's not like I want to go fast but it would be nice to keep up with the traffic. I can't afford a 1275 so I'm thinking an 1100 would be top of the list? A 998? Whatever it is, it needs to be drivable around town. The 850 is the original engine so I'll probably hide it in the shed for later years.

Gearbox? I don't mind the magic wand and I'm not really interested in cutting more holes in the floor. Must have the ratios to allow driving on the open road and synchros on all gears.

What are my best options?

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Behold! The mighty 850!

Fit a 1098, with 4 synchro remote box with puddin' stirrer shifter on it (as per early Moke and pov pack Mini K). No need to cut the floor.
Stick an RE13 or similar cam in, use a single HS4 carby, and bung a 3.44 diff in.

Back in the 60s when 850s were common and spare 1098 motors weren't, I used to modify 850 blocks to take a 1098 crank, then bore them for 1098 pistons and woohoo! Instant torque and another 16HP.

[edit] typo

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Flash get in touch with Jason (babes) he has a 1100 forsale I beleive.

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The best part of fixing your mini is the test drive

Minis..

1976 van daily drive
1975 van
1968 deluxe in the shed
1967 deluxe high strung 1310
1959 austin healey sprite

Just at the planning stage at the moment due to some mahoosive bills that have just arrived. At least I can still drive it.

The 1098 sounds like my best bet. Apparently the heads were good for warming over too?

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Behold! The mighty 850!

between our family we have 5 minis
all are running 1100 stockish engines (some rebored up a size ) with extractors and 1.5 SU Carbies with1.75 in exhausts

good solid reliable motors for road use

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65 panel van Sprog
73 panel van Iggy

Yes the 1098's 12G202 head is better than the 850 & 998 heads, and can be well ported to equal and exceed performance of a 12G295 (998 Cooper) one.
202 heads are still pretty common (unlike 295 ones) and are less likely to crack than a 295.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks everyone.

I wouldn't mind building my own as I have access to a large, well equipped workshop and several tradies to help. I would have to get the head sorted by an expert but I'm sure the lower half can't be any more complicated than the Ducati 900SS engine I'm halfway through rebuilding?

Hey, that would fit under a mini bonnet with room to spare!

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Behold! The mighty 850!

I've got plenty 988s and 1100 needing rebuilds spare heads and cranks rods cheap as InPerth

Hey Flash, where are you located? If you can update your profile details it'll make things a bit eaiser for people to offer help.

But I agree with the Doc, find a 1100 moke and swap the diff ratio out and you've got a great base to build on.

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Even a 998 in good condition will keep up with traffic around town - just avoid highways with big hills.

Next question is, are you sure that you want to swap out the original engine? I'm not sure how long you've had the car for or it's condition, but it seems a shame, as matching number 850's are getting harder and harder to find. Have you considered looking around for another mini with a larger engine?

Your car and your choice, but just food for thought

I'll keep all the original parts I have but a lot of the ancillaries were already gone when I bought it. A larger capacity engine is only a drop-in and can be removed any time.

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Behold! The mighty 850!

850s with a bigger engine really zoom up hills- where bog stock 850s hold everybody up!
If it to be driven around regularly and not just to shows, I'd bung a 1098 + 4 synchro box in and leave the 850 + it's antique 3 synchro in the shed... you can always drop it back in if you are selling it.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

We'll I've managed to get hold of the required 12G1128 gearbox but it has a 998 with the 4004 head sitting on top. Do I clean it up and use it or look for the bigger engine? For what it cost, I could throw the engine away and just keep the gearbox.

Or keep the 998 and find a better head?

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Behold! The mighty 850!

Put A 1098 crank + pistons in, port the 4004 smog head a bit and fit 1098 inlet valves. Or find a cheap 202 head... i have one here but it's hardly worth posting it across the country!

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I got an 1100 crank and rods here you can have flash. Unsure of quality tho

_________________
The best part of fixing your mini is the test drive

Minis..

1976 van daily drive
1975 van
1968 deluxe in the shed
1967 deluxe high strung 1310
1959 austin healey sprite