Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Richard H]

Quick question. My aunt has a 1987 998cc Mini Automatic. Bit modern for this forum maybe? Anyway it has failed the MOT on a cracked manifold and I have been told the carb flange is different on auto and manual Minis so the manifold is different. Is this true?


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Richard Hughes

[bob2]

sorry rich but I've no idea. all i know is that the subframe for an auto is different to the manual one and that it!!
you could always try the mini forum, thay will be able to help you surely!

[Rick]

I've a vague recollection that it is different. Years ago mum had a tweaked Mini and I remember dad specifically looking for a manifold from an auto, when he was hoping to fit a different carb to her car.

R
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[victor 101]

It maybe that it has a vacuum takeoff for the auto box, I have a repair manual for Mini automatic transmissions somewhere, I will try and find it later.

[exbmc]

Many years since I worked on mini's, but I recall that the auto's, certainly the original 850's, had a bigger bore manifold and larger carb than the manuals. This was to try to restore some of the performance lost through the auto box.

[victor 101]

[bob2]

most probably as exbmc and victor 101 said
Rick I htink yours mum's was a mark 1 countryman right?
so the most probable upgrade was in the form of a 1 1/2 inch su carb instead of the 1 1/4 fitted by the factory so that would mean that the reason to find an inlet manifold from an auto was the inlet's bore, more than anything else!!
He would have needed a bigger air filter as well since the small one fitted to 850's with the 1 1/4 su's would not fit on the bigger su

[Rick]

[bob2]

i think that cylinder head was very similar to the one fitted to 998 cooper engines, wouldnt mind one for my 998 mini, together with a set of twin su's!!

[Rick]

[Richard H]

I think we've managed to source a secondhand one now, spoke to a Mini specialist and he confirmed Mini autos had a different carb/manifold until 1972, from then on it was the same. Now we've just got to struggle with the very rusty looking manifold studs to get it off

Thanks everyone
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Richard Hughes

[bob2]

yes rick thats the one!!! want to sell?

Richard H, so that confirms what has been said in this post cause till 72 minis were still being fitted with the smaller su.

[Richard H]

That's right Bob, thanks everyone.

Should be back on the road soon
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Richard Hughes