Temperature gauge sensor question

[bmcecosse]

Careless! If worried - could use a drinking straw I suppose......... The difference between 3" and 3.3" will be easily measured.

[PSL184]

From the picture above I notice the engine number has been removed also......

[bjm38]

Sorry, BMC - I didn't read your post properly, did I?

Anyways, no need to faff about with taking off rocker covers or shoving chopsticks in holes - it's definitely a 950cc lump. I should've looked further over to the right under the downpipe, sure enough it says quite clearly "950". I shall be having words with the people who sold me the car in the morning.

EDIT: I've spoken to Dominic, it definitely had a 1098 engine when he sold it and confirmed that the rocker cover was green and not black as it is now!

Bernard

[PSL184]

Nothing wrong with a 948 engine - It is much smoother than the 1098 and with a 1098 head, cam and decent exhaust it can produce just as much power....

[bjm38]

Nothing wrong with a 948 engine - It is much smoother than the 1098 and with a 1098 head, cam and decent exhaust it can produce just as much power....

But it means putting my hand in my pocket though...

[Dominic]

Hi Bernard

Great to hear from you that my dear old Morris is in safe hands.
I am more than happy to confirm that the engine that was in situ when I sold it was a 1098cc of about 2 yrs use, with about 12 - 13000 miles on the (refurbished and pretty accurate) clock. It had a green rocker cover, same as the rest of the engine which had been repainted by MGM when I bought it from them. It had also a new Borg & Beck clutch when I fitted it into the car.

The original engine had cork seals to the tappet chest, so I fitted new cork seals to try to keep it as original as poss. It also had a spin on oil filter, and duplex chain.

Any questions / advice / help required - feel free to contact me!

Kind regards, Dom.

[bjm38]

Hi Dom,

It was great to talk to you, and a comfort to know the car's pedigree like I now do.

My mind's working overtime at the moment and another thing that's nagging me is, was the speedo accurate? It's registering near 40 for 30mph which has got me wondering about the gearbox now - if it WAS accurate, then surely the gearbox has been changed also? I'm assuming that the speedo takes its drive from the 'box...? Ho hummmm...

Bernard

[bmcecosse]

It does - but it's the ratio of the back axle that determines which speedo should be in there - and how accurate it is. IF the car still has it's original 4.22 ratio - then the speedo should be something like 1408 tpm. Look for group of 4 small numbers on the dial.
If you were told the car had a 1098 engine - then that's what the people must fit! Looks like they kept the nice shiny MGM engine for another car - and gave you this 948.

[Dominic]

Bernard,
The gearbox that was in when I sold it was a ribbed one, with traces of gold paint (probably a goldseal). Might be worth checking that it is still in place? 948s had a smooth unribbed gearbox housing. I can't imagine they'd have changed the diff as well just to keep an engine but who knows?

Kind regards

Dom.

PS what is the mileage showing?

[bjm38]

Hi Dom,

Hard to be certain with my failing torch but it looks like a smooth gearbox casing. Current mileage is 82219, I've done about 120 miles since I picked it up 2 weeks ago.

Regards,

Bernard

PS - if you PM me your e-mail address, I'll send you the full-size photos that I had to send for the agreed valuation.

[bmcecosse]

The car is a 1965 model - it should therefore have a 1098 engine and ribbed gearbox - with a 4.22 final drive, and the larger 8" front brakes. You have every right to expect it to have these parts - and not to have been fitted with much older 948 parts........ especially if you were sold it as being a 1098 engined car. I would be taking it back to them - on their doorstep at 8am tomorrow morning! What capacity does it give in the V5c ?? And does it give an engine number ?

[Dominic]

Hi Roy
It's definitely an engine swap - the original number was retained on the newly reconditioned engine when I changed it over. It also had the original (to me) ribbed g/box fitted to the engine, which I used for about 13,000 miles only. That would explain Bernard's speedo being out - it's still the original speedo but with 948cc engine & smooth cased g/box.
Of course it's possible they simply put the wrong one back by mistake (being charitable and allowing room for the vendor to save face!)
Hope all is well with you.

Dom

[bmcecosse]

The car would be sold on as what it was - the vendor doesn't 'need' to have kept the original engine/box in the car - it all depends really on what the sales description was. If it said '1098 engine' - and it's not - then there is a problem. Also if it says '1098' in the V5c and it's not - same problem. As I suggested earlier - I would be at their door right away. The speedo reading depends on the final drive - the gearbox doesn't matter in that respect.

[mike.perry]

Just to finish opening the can of worms, if the front brake drums are the same size as the rears then it has 7 in fronts. If the fronts are larger then it has the correct 8 in fronts. You might as well go armed with all the facts.
Amazing where a simple question will lead

[Dominic]

I can't imagine they'd have gone to the trouble to swap over to 7" drums at the front. It had good 8" brakes less than 2 yrs old, when it was mine, apart from the drums themselves that were much older but serviceable.

[bjm38]

Well, tomorrow morning I'm going to the garage - I just wish I was that few inches taller for the full Roger Cook impersonation...

[bmcecosse]

Hopefully - they will be reasonable - but it all depends on whether or not it was advertised as a 1098 engine and does it SAY 1098 in the V5 - then you have a very strong case. But anyway - a car of that age SHOULD have a 1098 engine and gearbox fitted - and that's what you should expect to receive. May be the best bet is to ask for your money back - and return the car - would you be happy with that ?

[mike.perry]

Can't wait for the outcome. I hope it is in your favour

[bjm38]

Well, I decided just to phone the garage this morning rather than face a potentially fruitless journey. The owner's son seems genuinely mystified as to what's happened, and without any argument at all has offered to fit a recon engine when the car goes in for inspection in a few weeks. He's even offered to fit a temp gauge if I provide one and provide a loan car while mine's off the road.

Can't really argue with that, it's anyone's guess as to what's gone on here - both Dom and Paul (at the garage) vouch for the car having a 1098 engine before I bought it.Thanks to everyone on the forum, it would probably have taken me weeks to twig the engine swap without you all.

Bernard

[bmcecosse]

Make sure you get a 1098 ribbed gearbox too - but sounds like a good solution. Hope it goes well. Keep us informed!