Description
Mk 1 Morris Mini Cooper project, including shell, 1275S engine and gearbox and fittings from an original Cooper S.
This is a project that I had been getting together for a few years, but change of circumstances forces sale before I can do the work.
It comprises of a 1966 998cc Mini Cooper, but with a 1275S engine and gearbox, (car still registered as 998cc Mini Cooper, as per original, but that engine is not available), as a bare shell with no wings or bonnet.
It includes a front subframe, S front hubs, drive flanges and drive shafts, but no discs or calipers, brand new CV joints etc, S steering rack and track rods, original Mk 1 steering column with plastic shrouds,(one slightly damaged but usable), but no steering wheel.
The important Mk1 narrow rear window glass is included, as are two doors that need extensive repair, but with glass, opening rear side windows included, windscreen, rear suspension arms, drive flanges and backplates with good drilled lightened / vented wider track drums, but no rear subframe, and lots of bits and pieces. No interior or instrumentation. The shell is in very poor condition, and will be a real labour of love to resurrect. I initially thought I'd do this, but each time I looked at it, I thought less of the idea. Better probably to get a new Heritage one, now that Mk1s are available new.
Engine / Gearbox.
Bought by the previous owner for a spare in his Cooper S, but the car was sold and so the engine was sold too. I thought that it would be a great contemporary upgrade for this car.
He was assured by the previous owner of the engine that both engine and box were from the same original car. Stored covered in grease for twenty years.
Block is AEG 312, labelled 1275. It has a thin flange and characteristic large core plugs, (new spares included), thirteen studs and open tappet chest. Pistons are marked +60. Bores appear in decent condition with no sign of blow by. Pistons are shallow dish. Rods are AEG 177, so genuine S rods. Grinding marks on end caps suggest balancing, and are marked AEG 147. Crank is marked EN40B and 480. It is cross drilled. Both mains and big ends are -10 with no sign of ovality with a micrometer. Thrust faces are excellent, as is the taper. Main caps are marked P835 and P836.
The cylinder head is a 12G940 casting, stamped 12G938. I believe specialist tuners chose this head because it has more metal around the ports and this allowed a better profiling of the ports. Original S heads cracked between the valves as you will know. The inlet valves are 1. 4” and the chambers appear to have been polished. It comes with an S rocker set and genuine S rocker box cover which has the indents for the extra studs punched out. The cam has no significant wear on the lobes. It has the single ring that characterised the S cam, and a star drive pump. The distributor is a genuine 45D without vacuum advance. The engine comes with a standard flywheel, idler gear, primary gear, starter motor, dynamo, oil filter housing, crank damper, timing chain gears and cover, front plate and a new S water pump.
The gearbox is stamped 22G1128, showing it is a 4 synchro box. Mainshaft gears have 31, 26, 21, 18 teeth and the layshaft, 15, 20, 25, 29 teeth, which are standard S ratios. The final drive is 17/ 64. The teeth are coated in oil and unchipped. The box comes with a transmission casing, clutch cover, and clutch actuating lever. The remote is stamped 22A 250, the correct Cooper unit.
Also included is a load of parts, including, clutch straps, and the special bolts, pushrods, a set of S valves and double springs, thrust washers, distributor drives and sleeves, sets of cam and crankshaft gears, and many of the special bolts required for engine assembly. Also included are a large amount of head and other gaskets.
The engine was bought “dismantled for inspection”, and so while everything appears good and sound, some work will obviously be needed, for example overhauling the head, main and big end bearing renewal, and gearbox strip and bearings replaced etc for peace of mind.
Off the top of my head I believe that with the addition of a rear subframe, there's virtually enough there for a rolling mechanically complete car. Although I don't have any wheels.
