Morris Minor Owners Club

Thanks all, this is really helpful

Hi, I need some new tyres for my Traveller. My usual supplier is being pretty hopeless, I ordered some Bridgestones weeks ago and they still haven’t got them for me so I’m exploring alternatives. Has anyone tried these?

https://www.blockleytyre.com/product/145r14

Thanks

A weak battery can cause the starter to turn without engaging ..... I've used a battery booster that will get a reluctant 7.5 tonner going, still no joy so I don't think it's anything to do with the battery. Thanks for the suggestion though. Haven't had a chance to get the starter motor out yet but...

Thanks guys :) Starter handle is fine when the car is warm but I wouldn't rate my chances when she's cold! :-? Before you go and buy a replacement starter motor - remove the existing starter and see if the starter bendix is turning freely on the starter shaft and that the teeth on the flywheel are o...

Hi, I have been the proud owner of a 1968 Traveller for almost 21 years, it’s pretty much original spec. Today we got a bit stuck when out & about because the starter motor failed. It’s making a whirring noise but not turning the engine over so I presume something isn’t engaging as it should. Lu...

Hmm - you say it's an 'update' - but did we have a previous on this ? That has been run for quite some time to get to that state! No wonder the block (and almost certainly - head) are scoured.... It's important to stop right away when a head gasket blows..... Meantime - torque it down again after t...

...very blown indeed :o http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o233/rancidprong/DSCN1114_zps7f280c45.jpg New gasket has been installed & the old girl is running beautifully :) However the not so good news is that the block is scored, so we are taking things steady pending an engine out job for the w...

As far as I can tell, the average guinea pig forum member could start a fight in an empty room. As for me, I just want my car back. I'll speak to J (mechanic) - I'd be up for a bit of spanner monkeying - but as for what he does once he's got the thing in bits, I'll go with his professional judgement...

:roll: There is just as much chance of the block being scoured - as there is of the head... However - you seem set. Good luck! Just taking the advice of my mechanic, he won't do the job if it's not skimmed & I trust him - after being a mechanic for over 50 years he does have an enormous amount ...

No it's already converted to unleaded but I'm getting the head skimmed too - some people may regard this as a waste of £s but I'm leaving nothing to chance here. Money well spent if I end up with a happy car that I can enjoy driving again

Thanks for all the replies :) The engine has been converted to unleaded, no idea what the valve clearances are currently so I'll print out this thread & let my mechanic decide. As for £22.99 for the Payen gasket - the cost of getting the old girl back on the road will run into the hundreds sadly...

Thanks guys! Much appreciated. My confession is that I have no technical aptitude whatsoever and am quite capable of b***ering up even the most mundane task, so although I will have a crack at a few jobs the idea of having a go at this myself really doesn't appeal. My mechanic is a diamond, he remem...

Hi, I was hoping the techy folks on here might be able to give me some advice. My '68 Traveller had a new head gasket about 10 years ago after the old one blew (my most vivid memory of this was removing large amounts of mayonnaise from the underside of the rocker cover!). I don't do that many miles ...

I never realised that dynamo vs alternator was such a controversy! If I've made a crap decision it's not the first & it certainly won't be my last but if the dynamo only lasts 16 years instead of 34 I think I can cope with the humiliation

I did consider an alternator but the dynamo on this car has served me well for 16 years so I'm going to stick with the devil I know Thanks for the suggestion though

Thanks, I'll attempt some DIY dissection after consulting the workshop manual - although the biggest challenge for me will probably be trying not to self-harm in the process!

I think the problem has been diagnosed - I took the car for a run so fully warmed up & making the noise (which has become a sort of whirring noise now), took it to my mechanic & he could hear exactly where it was coming from. He then nearly suffered full thickness burns when he touched the d...

Oooh now I like the sound of both those suggestions! I'll have a play when I can get the car out the garage (its snowed in currently). I would hope it's not the clutch because it was all checked out & bits replaced as necessary when the gearbox was swapped out but that's no guarantee of anything...

does braking alter the noise at all? Which direction does it come from? , does opening windows help to locate it? any vibration? Thanks for the reply! Nope, braking doesn't make any difference, I can hear the noise when the car is at a standstill if I rev it. The whine is most noticeable when the r...

Hi, I have a '68 Traveller all original spec. I've had the car for nearly 16 years but this is a new one on me - a new and bad sounding high-pitched whine has suddenly developed, it's hardly audible when the car is cold or just ticking over but gets worse as it warms up & sometimes is accompanie...