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which engine should I fit

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scott421

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I have a 66 Mk2 Midget which I have been rebuilding . I have in the garage the following choices of engines -
1) original 1098
2) 1300
3) 1500

Is there any point in installing one of the larger units or is the 1098 Ok ? I have never driven a Midget in any form so cant compare any myself .

Regards Scott
 
The 1098 will be ok, but if by 1300, you mean an "A" series 1275, that would be the better choice. Do you plan to run the original smooth case transmission?
Stay away from the 1500. It won't bolt to the existing trans., and has it's own set of issues.
Jeff
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif 100%!!!
 
Mostly the issue that it's a Spitfire engine...

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
1275 or a <cough> mazda rotary.... since you have a 1275 Id go with it. I drove a bugeye with a 1275 recently and it was a blast.
 
DrEntropy said:
Mostly the issue that it's a Spitfire engine...

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
Click to expand...

They are both spitty engines (with gearboxes) but having 2 TR6s Im not too concerned about the Triumph issue!
Thanks for the replies though . The 1098 engine is all reconditioned but I need to source the correct carbs .
 
The spit engines can't compare to the TR6 engine. Though they appear similar, the 1500 is cr**. I believe the 1300 also has the same siamese port issue as the a-series.

The 1098 is quite a good engine though the long stroke means it's limited in rpm, maybe to something like 6500 in stock form. I'm using one in my BE. The a-series is still a strong and reliable unit.
 
Having a '77 Midget with the 1500 engine all I can do is agree with the above. Stay away from the 1500... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif
 
The 1300 should have an 8 port head, correct? I think it was the 1147 that had the siamesed ports. If not you should be able to adapt the 1500 head to the 1300 rather easily.

The Spit 1300 motor is a much better unit than the Spit 1500. You should be able to coax a bit more performance out of the 1300 than the 1098...

But if it were my car, I would stick to the 1098. Lumping the 1300 will destroy the car's value.
 
Many thanks for your replies guys . I think it will be just as easy to keep the original if , as it seems ,there is no great benefit in changing . I am kinda looking forward to putting it all back together now the welding is done.
 
Scott, my first two cars were a 1966 Sprite and then a 1967 Sprite, the first had the 1098 engine, the second had a 1275.

Although on paper the horsepower and torque aren't that much different, the driving experience is much different and much better with the 1275, which has noticably more torque and revs easier.

It is the same block, so carbs, starters, transmissions, all parts should just bolt on, you may need to change needles on the carbs, not sure, but it is easy to do, very accepted in the spridget community, there are probably more 1275 bugeyes that 948.

The only way you can tell the difference is by looking at the engine serial number or driving the car.

I would only go with the 1098 if I was going for perfectly correct as original unmodified in any respect show car.
 
The 948 and 1098 have side plates in the castings of the block under the carbs. The 1275 block doesn't. So, other than looking at the serial no. it is impossible to tell the difference between the first two blocks.
 
kcbugeye1275 said:
So, other than looking at the serial no. it is impossible to tell the difference between the first two blocks.
Click to expand...

Other than the 950 or 1100 tags on the left side of the block. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Or, if it's a bare block, measure the bores. 2.477" for the 948, V 2.542" for the 1098.
If it's a 1098, measure the main bearing journals, as there is a 1.875" version, and a 2" setup, the '65~'66 big crank engines.
Jeff
 
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