22 replies to this topic

[Jumpinjacks]

I am considering getting the above engine, but my main concern would be that the engine is very old.
The engine has had a rebore to 1330, different cam and the head has been converted to unleaded 25,000 miles ago.
But as a mate has pointed out to me, it is a very old engine at the end of the day, and may not take as much of a beating as the newer engines.
Has anyone on here got one in their mini or had much experience with them?

[mab01uk]

1300GT is nearest engine spec to the Mk3 Cooper S with 11 stud head, twin SU's but without the block tappet covers, much sort after in their day by Mini owners and like any A-series engine everything depends on wear and condition rather than age. It could be in better nick than a much more recent engine out of say an MPi Mini.........
http://www.ado16.inf...tin1300gt.shtml

Edited by mab01uk, 14 October 2011 - 10:45 PM.

[jaydee]

It was fitted to the innocenti cooper 1300.
Great engine with a good crank, dont believe who said its on his last legs, check yourself and evaluate.
It will beat modern MG metro engines.

[mab01uk]

1300GT also had the standard close ratio gearbox of the MCS and early 1275GT.

Edited by mab01uk, 14 October 2011 - 11:24 PM.

[Jumpinjacks]

1300GT also had the standard close ratio gearbox of the MCS and early 1275GT.

the gearbox has a 3.1 final drive so I guess its different. It has also been adapted to pot joints for the driveshafts.
Also will it be crap because Cam has been changed to a Kent 266?

Edited by Jumpinjacks, 15 October 2011 - 12:30 AM.

[oltonlad]

whoever changed the spec of that engine must be mad, i had a 1300gt engine in my old 1275GT and it went like F**K, i did take the remote box off the engine and put my 1275GT box onto it tho'.......i sold the 1300GT gearbox for £80.....but that was in 1987 when mini bits were really cheap.

[AndyMiniMad.]

My first car was an Austin 1300GT...It was purple with a black roof...It was a very quick car for its day, Mine had a problem with the carb linkage and would jam when the throttle was wide open, Which made for some interesting journeys. The brakes were rubbish...I scrapped it!!! Wish I had kept the engine, but sooo many cars went to the crusher back then...If only we knew what we had!

[jaydee]

1300GT also had the standard close ratio gearbox of the MCS and early 1275GT.

the gearbox has a 3.1 final drive so I guess its different. It has also been adapted to pot joints for the driveshafts.
Also will it be crap because Cam has been changed to a Kent 266?

The cam originally fitted to the 1300GT engine is the 510 or an equivalent.
In theory the kent 266 should be hotter..but being the engine modified in bore size, valves etc the camshaft have to be choosen to suit the engine spec so really cant say without knowing the datailed engine spec.

Do you know if rods and crank have been worked too?

[Jumpinjacks]

Apart the mods mentioned above, the flywheel and backplate have been lightened and it has an uprated orange diaphram clutch cover fitted. I think that is it.
So the full spec is the above
1330 motor
Original head but converted for unleaded fuel
kent 266 cam
rod change gearbox with 3.1 final output
Hiff 44 carb
Lumenition dizzy
So what cam would best suit this spec?
I was thinking of changing the cam to a 286 before fitting it into my mini.

[Jumpinjacks]

But then thinking about it wouldn't I need to change the output to something like 3.7 to take advantage of the 286 cam?

[Cooperman]

If it's to be a road car then the 266 is the ideal cam. The 286 is rather too 'lumpy' for everyday use and you need an engine capable of pulling 6800 rpm to get the real benefit as the 286 has peak power at around 6400 rpm. A closer ratio gearbox is also needed to keep it 'on the cam' combined with a lower final drive. You would need to do a lot of work to a 1300GT engine to make it capable of those sort of revs.
I have exactly that engine in my Innocenti Cooper 1300 and at 1330 it's just great with the Cooper 'S' 11-stud head, 510 cam, 1330 cc, twin 1.25" SU's, etc.

[Jumpinjacks]

So in your opinion its probably best to leave the cam as it is for the current setup?
It is a road car, but not an everyday driver, just a toy for fun on the country roads here in Cornwall

Edited by Jumpinjacks, 15 October 2011 - 01:41 PM.

[Cooperman]

So in your opinion its probably best to leave the cam as it is for the current setup?
It is a road car, but not an everyday driver, just a toy for fun on the country roads here in Cornwall

If I were building a car for those lovely Cornish roads I would fit a 266 as my first choice, together with an MG Metro head and an HIF44 or HS6 carb. If the bores are OK just give it a hone and fit new rings. Set the compression ratio to about 10:1. With that spec the 3.1 final drive will be ideal with lots of useable torque and power in all gears.
Good luck. I envy youy living in such a lovely area with such super roads so suited to a Mini.

[Jumpinjacks]

So in your opinion its probably best to leave the cam as it is for the current setup?
It is a road car, but not an everyday driver, just a toy for fun on the country roads here in Cornwall

If I were building a car for those lovely Cornish roads I would fit a 266 as my first choice, together with an MG Metro head and an HIF44 or HS6 carb. If the bores are OK just give it a hone and fit new rings. Set the compression ratio to about 10:1. With that spec the 3.1 final drive will be ideal with lots of useable torque and power in all gears.
Good luck. I envy youy living in such a lovely area with such super roads so suited to a Mini.

So apart from the 12g940 head it is ideal. I know nothing about internal engine specifics, i'm learning as I go along. So what do you mean with regards to 10:1 compression? Also would it really need new rings, or is it just a case of ' may aswell as the engines out job '?

[Jumpinjacks]

The trouble is as well that its always a risk to buy the engine without knowing the condition of the internals, as with everything I suppose. It has been stood for a few years in a garage as well. I am not expecting it to sell cheap either to be honest.