More midget rebuild jigsaw questions

[welshrat]

In the process of putting an early midget engine back together, I am at the stage of putting things back together that I did not dismantle, so I have a bag of bits. This one relates to the bolts/washers that secure the timing cover and sump, can you name that bolt?[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Looks right enough to me - if they fit - use them.

[beero]

It's the Law, you MUST aways have at least one bolt or nut left over after every job!

[welshrat]

Agree with the law when putting Ikea type stuff together, however the mm is different, its a bit like promising your old mum that you will pick her up from the station, poor show if you let her down.

[IslipMinor]

Top right are the sump bolts, there should be 14 of them, all 1/4" UNF and should have a spring washer and the oval shaped flat washer. The oval washer spreads the clamping load to reduce distortion of the sump flange. Worth checking that the flange is flat and also the oval washers - or make sure that they are fitted with the convex side towards the bolt head!

Timing cover bolts are a mixture of 6 x 1/4" and 4 x 5/16" UNF. All have a spring washer and a flat washer - I have seen both a conventional round washer and oval ones used here. The BMC Parts Manual for the 948 and 1098 shows oval, but I do not have a Parts Manual for the Spridget 1275 engine - our 1380 has standard round flat washers.

All the 1/4" bolts screw only into the front plate and not the block. There are 2 x 1/4" UNF that have to be short at the bottom and also from memory one at the top as well, which look like the 4 in the picture on the top left, the other 3 can be about 1/2" long, as there is nothing directly behind them.

The 4 x 5/16" are about 3/4" long as they have to pass through the front plate and screw into the block itself.

As in a previous posting, use a sealant on the gasket side facing the sump and timing cover and grease on the side facing the block or front plate.

[bmcecosse]

BMC didn't use any sealant - why do so now??? It's REALLY not necessary - smacks of Pratical Classics to me........

[IslipMinor]

More reliable sealing if the sump/timing cover is coated with a thin layer of sealant before fitting the gasket, and very much easier dismantling next time if the block/front plate side of the gasket is smeared with grease. Sames applies to the rocker cover gasket.

Necessary, maybe not, just better/easier!

This one has been very well covered many times, and each is to their own opinion.

[bmcecosse]

Well - i've never ever had a leak from that gasket - don't disagree with a wipe of grease but more to hold it in place while fixing the plate in position.