I'm sure it's been mentioned, but if you're fitting any 1275 engine to a Mini you must fit disc brakes for it to be legally road-registered. All 1275 Mini's built or sold new here were fitted with discs, so you've gotta have them if you retrofit a 1275.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Brand new drums running a vaccum booster are aparrently very good. But anything less than brand new and adjusted fortnightly is bad (for a fast mini)

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

ok well clearly i will have to look at upgrading to discs, especially if i get the 1275.

So if my thumb fits between the rocker cover and thermostat housing its a 1275?

When talking about a 1275 mini, its not a debate about the virtues or short comings of drum brakes.

Its a legal requirement.

That cant be said any clearer. If your not prepared to fit discs then dont buy the 1275 or fit a 1275 into a mini with drums.

Some 1275 mokes have drum brakes because of a precedant set by BL in its dying days when they were using up existing stock.

No 1275 mini sedans were ever factory fitted with drums. If you were ever in an accident that involved injuries and the investigators twigged it was a 1275 with drums you could lose all insurance cover and could be left with a compensation claim by the injured that reaches hundreds of thousands.

Mike

ok no problem, if i buy it i will fit discs.

what im more concerned with right now is how to determine that it is what the owner says it is ( a 1275)

Going off the head is not always reliable, it could be an 1100 with a 1275 head, a moderately popular modification.

Get the Engine Number and if you can, have a look down the back of the engine (behind and under the manifolds) for removable tappet covers and provision for (or could be fitted) a mechanical fuel pump. No tappet covers = 1275. If it has tappet covers it could be 1100 or 1275.

Generally, 1275 Engines will have a 12H, 1200, 1204, 1207, 12G, 12Y, 12YA, 12YD prefix but there are also others.

1100's on the other hand generally start with 10*** or 1001.

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dont 1275 's block s start with 12 on em. first 2 numbers.

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PrOuDlY aSkInG qUeStIoNs FoR uR aMuEsMeNt

No - some are 9SAY etc - they are the true cooper S bocks.

Mk1 S = 9F/Sa/Y
Mk2 S = 9F XEY

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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.

Oops left of a character - Doc is right. Moral - never type and hit submit while wife is talking to you about another domestic issue

Sorry
Mike