James Carpenter sez:
I presume that the 1300 block can't take a 1500 crank. I therefore can
conclude that I have the Mk4 style (with more robust, but not so good
main bearing) 1300 engine in my car.
There are two versions of the Spitfire 1300 (1296) engines. The early Mark 3
motors had the same crank journal diameter as the mighty 1147 motors, while
the Mark 4 motors had the "new" block that is functionally the same as the
1500 Spits. The small journal 1300 motors will be FD and FE series, the later
large journal blocks should be stamped FKxxxxx. A later FK block will accept
a 1500 crank, no sweat. For daily driver street use you are better off with
the large journal later motors. If you are a serious racer, the early small
journal motors will have a *slight* power advantage, and since you will replace
the main and rod bearings every few events, no longevity problems.
mjb.
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