Did you measure the stroke while the head was off? I have had an end mill sharpened and a radius ground just for pocketing 998 blocks. You realize a 998 and 1100 block are about the same. Mini blocks are transverse and the cranks are not suitable for a north south engine? If using a mini block you would have to design and fab a rear main seal of some type. So you would have to use a Sprite 1100 crank and I don't think a big journal 1100 crank will fit a 948 block. I pulled a 1100 from my lawyers Sprite ( a high school grad gift from his grand parents ) built a 1275 30 years ago. He is still driving it and eats up MGBs all the time. Steve (CTR)

To answer your query, we put new head gasket etc on thats how we know about the Head, Valves etc and we ahd it rolling road set up after the gasket and carb rebuild, I have pictures of pocketted head if that helps ? Certainly I had thought of a big journal 1100cc for my sprite.

Have you been here yet? It's a forum for Sprites and Midgets.

//www.mgexp.com/phorum/list.php?3

Cheers

Angel

I have a few questions, did you strip the 998 unit to get all these build specs and was dyno run after a rebuild or as purchased? You realize Spridgets came with 1100 power. They had serious problems breaking cranks in the small main type and came out with a large main later. I'm a little confused about block pocketing with a 295 cyl. head and a large over bore. Perhaps a 940 head was tried at some time. Why not just build a 1275 or a 1100 big journal? I have a couple of Sprite 948s stored because I don't throw anything away. I also have a square body Sprite 1/4 eliptic rear on steel wheels with the holes in them. I'd like to get out of Sprites and can throw in a 79 Midget kept for the 3.75 rear end non wire wheel. Steve (CTR)

Hi found your site looking for some advice on A Series Engine for My Frogeye Sprite, I'm nearing completing of Body restoration and need to do something to the engine, Standard 948 with it is "tired", My Son has a "998" mini with a terrific engine so I would like to copy it  but have a few questions.

His Engine ( as the car was bought) has 1100 crank, 12G295 head with 1300gt Valves, The Block is pocketed to allow valve movement, Pistons are Austin Devon ( we are told from part number stamped on top); Twin 1 1/4 SUs, Camshaft is unknown, Appears to be standard distributor . Power output first time on rolling road was 78 bhp and its tourquey as hell, Finally he worked out capacity at about 1150cc.

So questions, is this a recognisable "period" conversion, somebody has said it sounds like a Richard Longman conversion from 1970s, can anybody confirm and also does anybody have an idea what cam would be either in it or recommended so that I can copy this engine spec ?

Help appreciated