5 replies to this topic

[Telejmp]

Hey,
Ive been considering putting an engine from an 89 mini into an 81 mini, both minis are 998cc. My 89 is a Racing Flame and I think my 81' is a city.
I dont know much about mechanics, but Im assuming these engines are almost Identical , so the swap should be fairly straightforward?
Im only doing this because my 89' is being restored at the min so the engine is already out, and my 81' is VERY unreliable,I thikn it needs a head gasket repair. And the engine is still leaded, which is a pain having to put redex in all the time. Also the gearbox is a LOT better on the 89', dunno if its just had less wear , or its a better one.
pEaCE
DOm

[Guess-Works.com]

The only difference which there may be, is the one in the 89 is an A+ were as the original in the 81 will probably be an A series....

Which means...The later one will have a preengaged starter and the earlier one may have a inertia starter ..If this is the case then the cable from the battery may not be long enough to reach the starter, as will you other wires currently connected to the starter soleniod... but apart from that, as long as you take all the ancillaries across then it should drop straight in

[Telejmp]

hey,
thanks guessworks, ill look into that. Just out of interest, are there many other differences between the A and A+ engines?
thanks again.
pEaCE
Dom

[Jordie]

couldnt the clutch's be different, verto and non-verto (aint a clue) just somet u could easily overlook and not realise till u drop engine in.

[Guess-Works.com]

The clutch will probably be differen, but I believe the master is the same, so you only need to disconnect the pipe at the bulkhead and swap it over..

Some other differences, are, the dizzy is different, and the heater pipes changed their route at some stage in the 80's, instead of one going through the drivers side, both go through the passenger side, The timing chain got a tensioner, but they're all pretty minor changes...

[Purple Tom]

it might be worthwhile swapping flywheel and clutch assy's too, i always prefer the non verto for any engine, seems to be simpler to me, none of this self adjusting mechanism, and supposedly able to take more power too. Swapping them over isn't at all hard, the only special tool needed is a flywheel puller - available from any good motor factors - its a half hour job max to swap them over - that way you get to keep your original master cylinder (of course all of the above assumes that you do actually have the non verto clutch!), and in my opinion looks less cluttered as well.