Help - What Do I DO?

[Joshmm]

Hello

My 1954ish split screen morris is not well. He started to lose power and stuttered to a halt. The garage have picked him up and say that they think the head gasket has gone.. They said it may cost 400 to 500 and I thought .... arghhh should I buy a new engine? One MMOC member has suggested a new gasket kit and making this post. I am located in the New Forest (in between Southampton and Bournemouth). Any ideas, Cedric is a really great car and this is the first trouble we have had ever in 5 years. He only has 54,000 on the clock. x

[bmcecosse]

You need to tell us more about the stuttering to a halt...... Was there a lot of vibration and some unexpected noise - or did it just 'cut out' and roll to a halt? A head gasket costs about £5 - and takes an hour to fit - (less if in a hurry) - so don't be fooled into ideas of £500 for this!!!!!!!! It's typical rip-off stuff from some garages these days. Someone from here may even offer to come and help you/show you how to do the job - bit too far for me unfortunately - but I am sure there are some active forum members near you. Meantime - don't panic!

[MarkyB]

For £500 I'd expect a new engine!
As stated above, an hours work.
The sooner you get it away from that garage the better!

[ASL642]

Hi Contact Laurie Blewer from the Dorset Branch - based in Bournemouth. He'll be able to help you 01two02 5two2673

[Joshmm]

Thank you so much!
I shall contact the Bmth branch.
The car was doing well, then it started stuttering, like I had left the choke out for too long (which I hadn't), then it stuttered more and lost power in fourth, so I dropped down and it stuttered but kept going, then I had to change down again to keep the momentum... it rallied a bit for me to change up to third, but then lost it again at the bottom of a hill ( after dropping down to second). Finally he stopped altogether, exhausted and then would not start.
Poor cedric.
I will call the garage tomorrow and let them know they have it wrong... they have been really good in the past as theyare small and local... Thank you for your advice.

[bmcecosse]

They may not have it wrong - it may well be the head gasket - but their estimate of the cost to fix it is ridiculous........ But it could also be simply needing a new condenser and/or ignition points. It needs a compression test to determine the general health of the engine.

[Joshmm]

Thank you.... Am on the case tomorrow!

[kennatt]

I would give the fuep pump a tap sounds like the classic starvation to me, pump, carb float valve.Suerly a head gasket would cause a loss of power and maybe a missfire but would not progressively slow down to a stop.And even then would start and run. One sure sign is that it would be blowing water out of the rad. Is it? £500 rubbish If you were nearer to me I would do it for nothing, hour if you hurry two at the most as long as the head isn't warped.

[Longdog]

Hi, I also live between soton and Bournemouth, am a member of Dorset branch and would be happy to have a look if you like.
Regards, Andy.

[jothina]

hi
sorry to hijack the post but can anyone recommend a suppler of recon engines,
my big ends are knocking and i wondered if it may be just as well to fit a recon unleaded engine and have done with it or repair mine, i am quite good with the spanners but havn,t delved into an engine before

john

[beero]

Jothina, there won't be much difference in cost between a recon unit and doing it yourself.
I have just rebuilt mine and have a sense of satisfaction but I wouldn't advise anyone to do it with no previous experience.
Of course if you DO want to rebuild it yourself there is always help online - here!

[bmcecosse]

Maybe it just needs new big-end shells - a simple job to do. Is the engine otherwise in good condition - not burning oil/clouds of smoke etc etc?? And -don't get suckered into the 'unleaded' thing - it's absolutely NOT necessary, unless you do lots of hard driving miles on the Mway.