• Hi Guest!
    If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Visual ID of a 1275

Share this page

drooartz

drooartz

Moderator
Staff member
Gold
Country flag
Offline
I'm looking at a possible donor car to support my Bugeye redo, and want to make sure the engine I'm looking at is a 1275. I used to have this more in my head, but it's been too many years.

Car does have the smog ports in the side of the head (blocked off), but what else can I look for? Unsure if the engine number plate is still present. Is there anything else I can look for to confirm?
 
1275 does not have the tappet or side covers that I believe both the 948 and 1098 did have. Latest Moss catalog seems to agree.
 
I think Drew's referring to the 1275/1500 -
the ones that have smog equipment.
 
Even easier. Carb(s) on the wrong side on a 1500.
 
Not the 1500, just the 1275. Good call on the tappet/side covers.
 
If you can fit your thumb between the end of the valve cover and the start of the thermostat housing it is a 1275.
Smaller engines have a much smaller gap there.
 
And don't many 1275s have a plaque-thing that says "1275" on them?
engine-tranny - right side.jpg
 
Boink said:
And don't many 1275s have a plaque-thing that says "1275" on them?
Click to expand...
If it's still there. I don't think the one in my Morris still has it. Good to look for, though.
 
The heater tap outlet on the cylinder head sits at an angle on a 1275 while it sits perpendicular to the head on the small bore engines.

However, a 1275 block could be hiding under certain small bore cylinder heads.
 
Thanks for that info. Good to have a few more things to verify.
 
If you can get the engine number, I can compare it to the one on my 1275 and see if it is "in the ballpark".
 
There are two types of 1275 blocks. Go to the minimania.com web site and they have a sections that helps you identify your engine. Even without an engine tag.
 
Thanks all for the tips and advice. The parts car I was considering has sold to someone else, but still good info to know.

I'm not particularly sad, as I wasn't sure I wanted to go that route anyways. So now, back to working with what I've got on hand.
 
Back
Top