Hi everyone,

More silly questions if you'll entertain me, I've tried searching with no luck.

I've acquired an 1100cc engine to rebuild rather than stuff about trying to rebuild the 850 engine in my er..850.

The 1100 engine came with a rod change box but not shifter setup. I have a total of 3 850 magic wand boxes here and with a thought to maintain an appearance of originality, I'd like to investigate the possibility of keeping a magic wand shift.

Can the rod change box internals be transferred to an 850 box with any success?

Can an 1100 engine be even mated to an early 850 box?

What are the chances of it being successful

Whats your opinion?

I have intentions of rebuilding a box whilst the engine is being rebuilt.

I have no intention of pushing the car hard, I consider myself to have a decent level of mechanical sympathy, the 1100 is going to undergo a standard style rebuild with standard cam, 12G295 head and a pair of twins purely for looks. Nothing racy or performance orientated.

My 1st mini was an 850 with an 1100 engine fitted, twin carbs, 731 cam, big valve head and would rev to 7000 rpm. Sadly the poor gearbox suffered and was being contstantly rebuilt. Short answer is yes it can be done and I think if you read a few old mini books you will find how to do it. I think the gearbox casing may need some grinding to allow for the 1100 crankshaft and to stop it hitting?
Your better option may be to try and find a pudding stirrer fitting for the remote type gearbox. Then you can keep the look and also have synchro on 1st gear.

_________________
1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

When i bought my car it had a 1100 on the original 850 magic wand. So it can certainly be done. Internal swap, im not sure about. I just changed my gearbox to remote and kept the 1098, as the 850 wand box needed a rebuild, plus i like the remote box's.

_________________
Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

I've put an 1100 on a 4 synchro box and added a magic wand gear change

_________________
David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

Fixed for ya.
That's the best way to do it. Unless you can find a puddin' stirrer setup which bolts under the stock remote diff housing, but these are not well engineered..
4 synchro 22G1128 boxes are stronger (particularly 1st gear) than the 3 synchro were. And any motor from an 850 to a 1275 will bolt on with NO mods.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks guys,

Looks like I'm in for a suitable gearbox search!