18 replies to this topic

[Purple Tom]

top hose is the best indicator....

[minivanman]

as far as i can tell, early austin and morris ones were green, dunno about the black ones. i think bl painted engines in yellow or red. like i said its just a quick way of telling, there are loads better ways. i'm sure dan could put us right!

[sheepo]

Mine is a 998 and the engine is yello/gold/oily!! Most 1275 i've seen are red, so this could be a good rough guide, as you say if it is the original colour.

That looks like a mini 30 to me (i could be wrong!). I'm sure they all had 998cc engines.

[Purple Tom]

As I said already, the top hose is the best indicator.

If its a 1275 and has a 1275 head it will have the top hose shaped a bit like a question mark ? without the dot, due to the orientation of the thermostat housing.

If its a 998 with a 998 head (which is pretty much always the case - and if its got a 1275 head the owner/buyer usually knows that) then the top hose is shaped like a backwards r (sort of). Easy way of telling, none of this messing about with colours of the block or anything else.

Another way, but not usually visible from frontal engine bay shots, is if the engine has removable tappet chest covers. If it does, and the engine is an A+, then its a 998. If not then its a 1275. This doesn't work so well on earlier engines though because some 1275's ('S' engines amongst others) also had removable tappet chests.