The book didn't actually say if it was a four or a five but it is the same box with a spacer instead of fifth gear so the weight would be fairly similar. (there are a few little bits in the selectors that are different as well)



It does not look like much of a difference in weight but the Auto makes a big difference to the weight over the front end and it is only about 12kg heavier, so the 34kgs of the E-series ohc motor would make a huge difference.
I prefer to remove weight to make a car faster not add it.

hmm, yea looking at it on a fresh day, it is close to 22% more weight. oh well, i have an engine or 3, so the old a-series isint about to run out! (or run at all for that matter)

_________________
speed costs....how fast do you want to go...

About the only B series part that will transfer to a Mini is the 1.75 SU.

I've seen an Austin 1800 engine fitted to a hillclimb Mini in the UK but
(a) it's much heavier than an A series;
(b) 130 - 135 bhp is about tops for the 5 porter unless you go for the Derrington cross flow head, and you can get this from a comp Mini.

Admittedly the torque is greater but this is largely negated by the extra weight.

I had an 1800 ute for many years as a tow barge and it was a good workhorse but needed more power.

As for the E -seires I know of one that was fitted to a Mini in Vic in the '70s but the power unit was pretty unreliable and it went no quicker than a well tuned Cooper S.

_________________
Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)