How hard could it be?

Whilst at junkyard with my dad a month or so ago, I came across a 68/69 Austin America. The car looked to be complete and in pretty good shape, definitely restorable to my untrained eye. In looking at the one pic of the interior it appears to be an automatic. How hard would it be to convert it to a manual? Since the Mini and America shared the engine and transmission, sourcing a transmission should be relatively easy. It's the details that have me wondering. Would the mounting hardware be the same? Could I use a Mini pedal cluster or were pedals America specific? I'm pretty sure that there are a ton of questions I haven't asked. Normally I don't wonder about such things, but I can't get this car out of my head.

The MG 1100 was the same car with different front end sheet metal and they were primarily sold with manual transmissions here. Most Austin Americas were autos.

The 1275 block in an American will not bolt up to the manual transmission and has to be modified. It involves machining some holes in the block and spacing the oil pump amongst other things. It is the kinda job that is really only possible when the block is torn down for rebuilding.

If you are going that far just VTEC swap it

It is probably the same amount of work and would most likely be cheaper in the long run.

Ditchdigger, since the America came with a manual from the factory why would the block need to be modified? Were the manuals in the America specific to the America only or were the blocks transmission specific? I thought about the Honda conversion, but it's a little pricey. Besides I kinda like keeping a British car British.

Upon further review (and using my ninja grade googlefu) I see what you're talking about Ditchdigger. Since the engine would have to be rebuilt anyways, that is not a problem. Now just a matter of cost. The VTEC conversion would make driving Dallas freeways a lot safer.

A million years ago, I had a 1972 Mini with a 1275 in it. I was told it was an engine from an America by the PO ,and it was a manual transmission.

Is it in a local yard? I wouldn't mind taking a look, and you don't have to worry about poaching, I'm all for supporting OTHER people's ownership of British cars.

The auto block will physically bolt to a manual transmission, but what Ditchdigger said about machining and oil pump spacing holds true. The machining involves drilling a 5/16" hole. Sounds simple, but it's an oilway, and it's long (7", maybe? I can't remember). Keeping the hole straight can be difficult.

Ojala, it's at CTC Auto Ranch in Denton, Tx.

In reply to lewbud:

Thanks, I think I'll go check it out this weekend when I go visit my decrepit old dad in Argyle.

I had an MG 1100.

RUN AWAY as fast as you can

I just remembered what that place is. I'm surprised they have a 'furrin car. I thought they were a pre-74 only place. I just looked at their website and that is just about the most complete, and saddest, Rover I have ever seen.

Ojala, It is a field of dreams. Some might be nightmares, but a field of dreams nonetheless. The three reasons I didn't buy the Austin were lack of money, lack of a suitable place to store and work on it, and lack of money. Unfortunately I seem to like lack of money.