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The A series in the Mini

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regularman

regularman

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Just looking over some Mini stuff to see if my memory is correct. I don't know if the mini A series is exactly like the Spridget, but I don't remember an differences. By this chart you can see that every one of the thousands and thousands of mini types out there all used the A series. Check out this link Minis and engines
 
As said above, obvious bits are different. That being, crankshaft and rear crank seal. One other interesting difference is the suction pipe connection. Where the in-line blocks are threaded the tranverse blocks are not. They have an o-ring at the face of the blocks surface and the pipe is bolted up to seal. The hole is the same size as the in-line engines, it's just not threaded. Funny again is the different cc's than in-line, 850, 970, 997, 998, 1071 just to name a few. I understand most of it is down to racing (except the 850),homogeneous for class.
I'm thinking my spelling for homogeneous is incorrect, "sorry".
 
Dug said:
As said above, obvious bits are different. That being, crankshaft and rear crank seal. One other interesting difference is the suction pipe connection. Where the in-line blocks are threaded the tranverse blocks are not. They have an o-ring at the face of the blocks surface and the pipe is bolted up to seal. The hole is the same size as the in-line engines, it's just not threaded. Funny again is the different cc's than in-line, 850, 997, 998, 1071 just to name a few. I understand most of it is down to racing (except the 850),homogeneous for class.
I'm thinking my spelling for homogeneous is incorrect, "sorry".
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Most of the minis were just for basic transport, and most of them were 1000 or 1100 when I lived in the UK.
 
healeyboz said:
Well, the 1100 was what you got when you really wanted some power! :smile:
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Or the Cooper version with the 1275, but people hung on to those and I never got the chance to abuse on of those. The vast majority were just Austin minis and were not the cooper version, but that seems to be all that they sold here and it seems to be all that they are selling of the new mini here as well. I hear that the new Mini one version gets killer gas mileage, but I have never seen one of those. They probably won't sell it here because of that government conspiracy that keeps us all getting crappy fuel mileage. :wink:
 
:lol: too true! Dad had Mini Coopers with 1275 that he used to race. I drove a Cooper with a 948 or comparable motor in it in high school.
 
healeyboz said:
:lol: too true! Dad had Mini Coopers with 1275 that he used to race. I drove a Cooper with a 948 or comparable motor in it in high school.
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I want one of those. I don't want the cooper because those things will roll and more power would help in the rolling. My next project will either be a mini or minor if I can find one that is within my range. Or I might consider a midget rigged up to be electric or something as a plaything for a while. It will depend on what comes my way.
 
Down here in Johannesburg

My first 2 cars were minis. First was some leather seated deluxe model with a single SU carb about the size of the engine - stunning performance. Wrote that off going upside down through a corn field, got out without a scratch.
My friend had the 1275 cooper S. What a beast, did a 500 mile trip to his parents averaging 75 mph. Swapped driving at the gas stations and the next driver tried to beat the previous average speed. At the time all youth and no brains.
 
SAMidget said:
Down here in Johannesburg

My first 2 cars were minis. First was some leather seated deluxe model with a single SU carb about the size of the engine - stunning performance. Wrote that off going upside down through a corn field, got out without a scratch.
My friend had the 1275 cooper S. What a beast, did a 500 mile trip to his parents averaging 75 mph. Swapped driving at the gas stations and the next driver tried to beat the previous average speed. At the time all youth and no brains.
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I did a trip from just above london to scotland in one of the old ones with the 10 inch tires. God what a rough ride and you really get tired of wincing evetry time you see a pot hole coming up. Some cars just were not made for long drives.
 
The Mini Cooper that I was driving in high school didn't get flipped, but I did take the door off the hinges and landed in front of the car. Young and VERY dumb at the time. The dumbest thing about it all was that it had a 5 point harness in it. Why I didn't have it on? That is part of it. The other question was why did I swerve for the dog in the middle of the road?

Stopped all that nonsense when I actually got on the track for a few years. Realized all of the safety requirements and idiots on the track that couldn't drive getting hurt. Shoot, even good drivers get hurt.
 
I've had seven Minis over the last 25 years. (Four sedans, a van, a traveler, and a pickup.) Various engines, from one 848, couple of 998s, couple of 1275s, one 1071. Every one was daily driven, and all but one RHD. I find Minis are great fun in all states of tune, depending on what you're doing. Here are my last two:

MiniBeigeRight.jpg


MiniPickupFront.jpg
 
Regarding Mini engines...
850 (very common in the U.K. and a fair number in the U.S. ... it was the standard Mk1 engine)
970, 1071 (-S engines prior to the 1275, there are not many anywhere. Limited production runs only lasting a few years.)
997 The original Cooper engine. Short production life.
998 The common Mini engine. Produced in A-series and A+ form from the end of the 997 in the mid '60s right up until the end of production a few years ago.
1275 Originally the -S engine, also available in slightly less aggressive form for the Austin America and other Minis after the separation with John Cooper.

Regarding the 1100, that was originally part of the ADO16 program that spawned the MG-1100 and later the Austin America. It was never in a Mini imported (prior to 1970) to the U.S. MG-1100 engines were common transplants in the U.S. to create 1100cc Minis. The 1100 did appear in later Minis after they were no longer regularly imported to the U.S.

As for the 948, while I believe it was in the Minor, it was never in transverse form for a production Mini.

The most obvious differences outward differences I can think of for the inline and transverse engines were mentioned above... crank, fan, flywheel, carbs at different angle.... Not to mention that the Mini's sump is the gearbox so it's pretty obvious when you see the two engine types next to each other.
 
Just to ad a little bit to Doug's post, having been a Mini owner myself:

The 970s was a little beauty, and a screamer. Possibly the nicest of the lot, bearing in mind its size. If I rmemeber rightly, it was produced so BMC had a homologated 1 litre engine for racing.

I'm not sure the 998 was the common engine; I'd bet there were more 848, weren't there? Or do you mean common in US? There were 998 Cooper as well as standard mini engines.

The 1275S engine was different in a number of details from the 'softer' 1275s, which isn't perhaps clear.
 
The 998 engine started life around 1964 and was used in A- and A+ forms in the U.K. right up until the end of production. It was introduced in the Elf and Hornet and the next year replaced the 997 Cooper engine. It was the engine behind the Mini 1000 that continued to be imported to Canada after the Mini was no longer shipped to the U.S. The Cooper version was distinguished by things like dual HS2 carbs but I'm not sure there were other significant features (such as a cam change) that distinguished the 998 in Cooper trim from that used in standard Minis.

There were indeed a lot of 848 engines built but they were limited in what could safely be done to eek more power out of them. The 998 gradually became the more common small bore transverse engine even in the U.K.

I know a couple of people who have owned the 1071. The 970 was so rare I have yet to meet someone who owned one.
 
I knew a young lady in Liverpool who had a 970S, which I drove once or twice. That's how I knew abou tthe little screamer!
I thought the 998 Cooper replaced the 997 in '64, with the Hydrolastic suspension etc. I don't think I ever saw a "wet" 997 - or did they keep on making the dry 997 for a while?
My Mini connection goes back to 1959, when my father bought a light blue Austin Se7en for my mother. Last I knew, that car was still around in southern England.
 
With respect to the Spridget guys, I guess we need to wrap this up or move it to the Mini forum.

The 998 did replace the 997 in the Cooper in late 1964 but it first appeared in the Elf/Hornet. The 997 was gone by 1965. Also, wet suspensions arrived on the scene in September of 1964 so most 997 Coopers are probably "dry".

An acquaintance of mine directed me to the following Wikipedia link that should be of interest to both Spridget and Mini owners who have been following this thread.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMC_A-Series_engine

You'll note in the article/timeline that the 848 ceased production in 1980 while the 998 made the transition to the A+ series and continued on for another decade. That's why I believe the 998 probably represents the highest volume production transverse A-series.

EDIT:
A friend in the U.K. just sent me this link as well. It will be worth looking at regardless of whether your A-series is inline or sideways.
https://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?engineaseriesf.htm
My friend also concurred that there were millions of the 998 produced in A- and A+ series and that it would represent the most common A-series.
 
dklawson said:
With respect to the Spridget guys, I guess we need to wrap this up or move it to the Mini forum.

The 998 did replace the 997 in the Cooper in late 1964 but it first appeared in the Elf/Hornet. The 997 was gone by 1965. Also, wet suspensions arrived on the scene in September of 1964 so most 997 Coopers are probably "dry".

An acquaintance of mine directed me to the following Wikipedia link that should be of interest to both Spridget and Mini owners who have been following this thread.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMC_A-Series_engine

You'll note in the article/timeline that the 848 ceased production in 1980 while the 998 made the transition to the A+ series and continued on for another decade. That's why I believe the 998 probably represents the highest volume production transverse A-series.

EDIT:
A friend in the U.K. just sent me this link as well. It will be worth looking at regardless of whether your A-series is inline or sideways.
https://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?engineaseriesf.htm
My friend also concurred that there were millions of the 998 produced in A- and A+ series and that it would represent the most common A-series.
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Thanks for the link, man. I drove a lot of those little cars and would love to have another real mini over here. Its a shame they are so rare, but they are importing some but they are all $$$ from what I can see. I want another one.
 
Kim, though I do not necessarily endorse this... you could always visit Bill Cox outside of Shelby. He's not too far from either of us. Bill imports Minis for resale in the U.S. He has runners from perhaps $5k on up and can get most any car you want if you're willing to wait on shipping.
 
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