Before....YUCK!

After....YEAH!

This is my Australian built, 1964 Morris 850. It's been restored to look like a Cooper 'S'. With twin fuel tanks, badging and wide wheels.

Engine is a MK1 Cooper 'S' block with a Cooper 'S' 12G940 head, which has bigger inlet and exhaust valves over a normal 1275 motor. It has a Cooper 'S' cam as it's the best cam that runs nicely that was available to me. The usual 'S' parts such as double timing chain etc.

The block has 0.060" oversize pistons making the the motor a larger 1330cc (stock is 1275cc), 'S' conrods and a balanced 'S' nitirided cranked.

Gearbox is 4 synchro Mini K 'box, with a Cooper 'S' diff (3.444:1 ratio) hardy spicer 'S' drive outputs with standard drive shafts.

Cooper S clutch, which is quite able to handle the power.

Supercharger, making 7psi boost (max), is from the 4AGZE motor from a Toyota Corolla. Very nice fit in a mini, almost as if it was meant to be there. The carburettor is modified HIF44 SU from a Rover V8 with high flow needles and jets, with a Redline ram-tube and 'sock' filter.

Burnt gas is exhausted by a set of LCB (long centre branch) extractors, into a straight 2 inch pipe into a straigh through Lukey muffler, out a 2.5 inch tip, makes a good note.

Ignition is provided by a modified Nissan Pulsar distributor.

Extras include, Hi-Flow 2 core radiator, Serck 13 row oil cooler, a modified 70 amp alternator from a Nissan Pulsar, thermatic fan in the wheel-well from a Japanese Rover Mini and an alloy rocker cover.

Performance against when it was N/A is highly noticeble, as expected. It has much more torque low down and power throught the rev-range. Making around town driving effortless and big hills a breeze. It's been dynoed at 74hp at 4900rpm (previously on twin SUs N/A - 50hp at 6000rpm, ~50% power increase!) at the front wheels, (74hp is approx 105hp at the flywheel) but due to igntion issues, any decent power at a higher rpm was not achieveable. Since then, the distributer has been replaced, and some wiring issues fixed, it now revs very well and makes power to about 6700rpm. My guess (yet to be confirmed) is about 80hp atws, approx 115hp at the flywheel, in a car that weighs between 600-700kgs, that's pretty quick!)

Suspension upgrades include 'hi-lo' fully height adjustable suspension all round, Spax Gas adjustable shock absorbers all round and adjustable camber/toe on the rear, soon to have adjustable camber/castor/toe at the front also.

Wheels are 10 x 6 'Minator' diamond cut alloy wheels, with Dunlop Formula R road racing tyres.

Brakes are boosted by a Mk1 Cooper 'S' vacuum servo. Front brakes a 7.5" Cooper 'S' discs with the rears being stepped drums.

Some extra include H4 halogen headlights, stainless steel bumpers as opposed to chrome, twin fuel tanks and bonnet striped (painted) and a 'bullet' mirror. Unknown type of wheels archs and 'Deluxe' wind up windows.

Interior is from a Mk2 Rover Mayfair Mini with 1/2 leather, front and rear seats. The dash and centre console are completely home made, and the steering wheel is from a Rover Cooper Mini. Rear alloy roll cage is currently removed but will soon be re-installed as it needed to be modifed to comply with local roadworthy laws.

Sound is provided by a Pioneer Mp3 cd player with four matching Pioneer 2-way Speakers mounted in the dash and on the rear parcel shelf.

The body, apart from the roof was painted in a day, rubbed back then re-done later on a another day on our property on a nice warm day. It is painted in Toyota Red, an acrylic paint, and this car is the first car both me and my dad have ever painted. The roof was a huge job and took a few days, but turned out really well, much better than then vinyl stickers that you can buy.

My first taste of motorsport. Car ran decent times, but lacked power and grip, it was running in twin carbies, with out a supercharger and skinny wheels. But was fun and beat some bigger and much more powerful cars.

Collingrove Hillclimb 2006.