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Posted:
Sep 14, 2016
05:52PM
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Never meant to imply that they were identical just that they shared the same basic configuration. There are plenty of variations of the right side up engines as well. :^)
Kelley
Kelley
"If you can afford the car, you can afford the manual..."
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The Marina and the Ital have upside down filters, like the MPi Mini, but I'm not convinced they are the same blocks as the SA blocks. Having looked at Chuck's gorgeous estate at MMEMW and compared it to the Ital engine in my racing A30, they are different to my eye.
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I owned one it was in a restored 1967 1275 SA Mini pick up.
If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.
Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.
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They were also used in the 1300cc version of the Marina.
Kelley
Kelley
"If you can afford the car, you can afford the manual..."
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I have one of these blocks, it came with a UK built car.
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The person to contact for the South African Mini book, Thanks for the Mini Memories, A South African Mini Story, is Ryno Verster. I had a stock of his books in the U.S. and another had them in England, but we're out. Try Ryno directly: ryno (dot) verster (at) vodamail (dot) co (dot) za.
Learn about the South African engines -- only the later ones had the upward facing oil filter, and it's not messy to change the filter. The earlier ones were the same as the English engines.
Also learn about South African specific Minis; such as, the Wolseley 1000 and the Mk 3. So you think you're up to date on those cars. Bet you didn't know that the 2nd generation of the Mk 3s was going to have the ugly Clubman front end. Didn't look too bad because of the extended tail. It didn't happen, however.
Learn about the South African engines -- only the later ones had the upward facing oil filter, and it's not messy to change the filter. The earlier ones were the same as the English engines.
Also learn about South African specific Minis; such as, the Wolseley 1000 and the Mk 3. So you think you're up to date on those cars. Bet you didn't know that the 2nd generation of the Mk 3s was going to have the ugly Clubman front end. Didn't look too bad because of the extended tail. It didn't happen, however.
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I read somewhere that the SA castings were modified for fitment to the Sprite to allow clearence of the chassis leg/oil filter and they used it for all the A series range rather than cast multiple blocks
Mini's are like buses they come along in a bunch
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Imagine seeing a line of large bore blocks: 1071, then 1275 and 970, the thick flange S blocks and thin flange Sprite midget blocks and then thick flange 1300 and 1300 GT and then SA blocks and then A+ and then SPI and then MPI and then MPI Automatic.
There have been many have been many changes in the last fifty years. There aren't many folks who can describe the differences.
There have been many have been many changes in the last fifty years. There aren't many folks who can describe the differences.
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wow that would be really cool to see! It just goes to show how narrow a view one has of the world if you don't ask questions or try and research different things.
I will have to see if I can find that book someplace online
I will have to see if I can find that book someplace online
Once you replace everything that is attached to something else. It will all be fixed.
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If you buy Ryno Verster's book you would have a resource that would explain all of this.
In the old days, before the Internet, that is how we learned things; reading books, exchanging letters, visiting foreign countries. A person can still do this. Also, there are a few SA cars in North America and their owners are always very happy to show off the differences. At mini meet west in Prescott AZ a couple of years ago you could walk along and see cars from nearly every factory in the world: UK cars, Belgian, Italian, Australian, and South Africa were present. Each have distinct finishes to the rain gutters in the corners of the roof, and the differences continue on down.
In the old days, before the Internet, that is how we learned things; reading books, exchanging letters, visiting foreign countries. A person can still do this. Also, there are a few SA cars in North America and their owners are always very happy to show off the differences. At mini meet west in Prescott AZ a couple of years ago you could walk along and see cars from nearly every factory in the world: UK cars, Belgian, Italian, Australian, and South Africa were present. Each have distinct finishes to the rain gutters in the corners of the roof, and the differences continue on down.
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Since they are on the opposite side of the world and nearly upside down they put the filter that way to keep oil from spilling. 
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So where would that block have been made? why was it made different? what is the benefit of having the filter at that angle? it does keep it away from the bottom and possible damage but would be really messy when changing the oil.
would the SA cars have been shipped without engine?
very cool trivia I guess.
would the SA cars have been shipped without engine?
very cool trivia I guess.
Once you replace everything that is attached to something else. It will all be fixed.
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Yeah, if the oil filter is located like that, it's a SA car. ( not sure if other countries had that set-up )
"Everybody should own a MINI at some point, or you are incomplete as a human being" - James May
"WET COOPER", Partsguy1 (Terry Snell of Penticton BC ) - Could you send the money for the unpaid parts and court fees.
Ordered so by a Judge
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This is a South African A series. Chuck H. has an estate with this type of engine. I am sure others will provide more info.
Terry
Terry
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OK so over on the face book page for the big mini's someone has started a project with a classic mini. they are in Africa. so that may make it different.
note the location of oil filter.
I am sure that that is a 1275 head for sure. I just am curious
note the location of oil filter.
I am sure that that is a 1275 head for sure. I just am curious
Once you replace everything that is attached to something else. It will all be fixed.
