just fitted another engine

[dellerie]

hi everyone. i have just fitted another engine to my moggy. the old one was the original 850cc. i am replacing it with a 950cc. the bottom end/block has been fitted. now i need to know how to fit the head. i am going to use a copper gasket and fit it to 45LB? is that right?

then when it comes to the distributor, do i fit it with number 1 cylinder at the top and rotor arm pointing towards it for a start?

thanks.

[bmcecosse]

The 850 engines are very rare - i've been looking for one for ages! Don't throw it away!! Use any 'small bore' gasket - the merits of the 'copper' one are much over-rated. Yes - torque the nuts in sequence - and in small steps to 45 ft lbf - then reset after the first heat cycle. Set inlets to 12 thou gap and exhausts to 15 thou - and reset after the second torquing. The dizzy can go just about anywhere - it's not possible to specifyu it the way you suggest. You must of course get #1 firing when #1 piston is at TDC on the firing stroke with both valves closed -set this up before you fit the rocker cover. Be sure to crank the engine with plugs out until it raises oil pressure - before making any effort to start it!

[dellerie]

The 850 engines are very rare - i've been looking for one for ages! Don't throw it away!! Use any 'small bore' gasket - the merits of the 'copper' one is much over-rated. Yes - torque the nuts in sequence - and in small steps to 45 ft lbf - then reset after the first heat cycle. Set inlets to 12 thou gap and exhausts to 15 thou - and reset after the second torquing. The dizzy can go just about anywhere - it's not possible to specifyu it the way you suggest. You must of course get #1 firing when #1 piston is at TDC on the firing stroke with both valves closed -set this up before you fit the rocker cover. Be sure to crank the engine with plugs out until it raises oil pressure - before making any effort to start it!

thanks for the info. yes i will keep the engine. i won't discard it ever.

how will i know when it fires at number 1 cylinder?

so i turn the engine over on the starter with the plugs out to build up oil pressure?

[mike.perry]

Are you sure that the original engine was not an 803cc which is the normal engine for a Series 11, not 848cc which was the original Mini engine although I believe that it was used in a few A35s
If you still have the Series 11 gearbox I would recommend changing it as well as it is not suited to the 948 engine.

[dellerie]

Are you sure that the original engine was not an 803cc which is the normal engine for a Series 11, not 848cc which was the original Mini engine although I believe that it was used in a few A35s
If you still have the Series 11 gearbox I would recommend changing it as well as it is not suited to the 948 engine.

my friend has done the same to his car. his has a 950cc engine instead of the 850cc. he has driven it like that for 10 years with no problems. he drives it carefully. i think it could be a 803cc but i am not sure. the car is a 55.

[bmcecosse]

Yes - churn on starter until oil pressure shows on the gauge - or the light goes out and then keep going for 10 seconds. You get #1 on compression at TDC - then set the dizzy so the rotor arm is pointing at the terminal in the cap which has the shortest HT lead attached. Once it starts - you then fine tune it to get best idle.

[mike.perry]

The identifying feature of an 803 engine is the screw on oil filter canister on the side of the block.

[dellerie]

The identifying feature of an 803 engine is the screw on oil filter canister on the side of the block.

no. mine has the paper type.

[bmcecosse]

Well - it's certainly not an 803!! What's the engine number ?

[dellerie]

it begins 8AG

[bmcecosse]

Intereseting! 848 engines did begin with '8' - but so did factory recon engines of 948cc capacity. If you look at the block - on the exhaust side - does it have '950' cast in the side ?

[dellerie]

just spoke to my friend who i purchased the car from and he now tells me it used to have an 803cc at first but was changed in the late 80's to a 850cc. so it's not the original engine. so the one i have put in today is the 3rd engine.

[bmcecosse]

So it probably IS the rare 848 engine - which I reckon will have the best economy hopes of all the range!

[LouiseM]

8AG is the prefix for a 948cc post 1962 Morris 1000 GPO van engine. See here: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/news/news498.html

[mike.perry]

I have copy of that list and that is an error. The GPO never used 948 engines, they kept the 803 until 1963/4 and then fitted 1098s.
The list also implies that the GPO used A35 vans with 848 engines (8G) which is incorrect.

[dellerie]

it is an engine from an A35 van. a 1968 van. apparently the last year they made them. it's knackered now though.

[bmcecosse]

I wish you were nearer!

[moggydriver62]

To B M C. First it was up and down,now its round and round.
Its bringing out my dark side,and I am going RUSTY.
Ken
ny.Happy new yearto all may the rust be with you.

[POMMReg]

Mike is quite correct, neither the 848cc nor the 948cc was fitted to GPO vans;

Below,a quick run down of GPO/PO engines; (as detailed in my 'bible'!)

(Date ranges are approx.)

APHM (803cc) Oct 53 - Jul 57
8M/J/ ( " ) Jul 57 - Feb 58
8MA/J/( " ) Feb 58 - Jan 63
8MC/J/( " ) Feb 63 - Feb 64
10MA-U-L (1098cc) July 64 - Aug 69
10V/189E/L ( " ) Sept 69 - Dec 70
10V/451E/L ( " ) Dec 70 - *

* 101-4999 Grn/50001-10150 (approx) Blk.

I hope this clarifies the 803cc v 848/948cc saga!

Chris Stevens
POMMReg Historian

[mike.perry]

Didn't the GPO use 848cc Minivans?