917 Side valve engine advice

[Alan Lane]

I have just got a 1955 split screen side valve minor.

It didn't run so i have taken the head off to inspect.
2 of the cylinders have significant damage. I suspect they have broken rings.
The pistons are marked as +60 which i believe is the maximum size available.

Does anyone have any advice on either machining the cylinders in some way, like dry lining ?
Or the availability of usable engines ?
Or maybe an alternative engine/gearbox.

I am a competent home mechanic but i have no experience of anything quite this old, any help is much appreciated.

Al

[chesney]

'55 split screen with side valve? Not from the factory it wasn't!
You shouldn't have any problems sleeving it back from 60 thou, Morris themselves were going to bore out the production engines to 980cc I believe but costs were prohibitive

[Alan Lane]

'55 split screen with side valve? Not from the factory it wasn't!
You shouldn't have any problems sleeving it back from 60 thou, Morris themselves were going to bore out the production engines to 980cc I believe but costs were prohibitive

I agree its not the original engine. The chassis plate doesn't match the engine plate.
What should it have in it ?

[chesney]

803cc OHV A series, and an aluminium casting gearbox with 'pudding stirrer' lever. So yours has been retrofitted with a side valve?

[Alan Lane]

803cc OHV A series, and an aluminium casting gearbox with 'pudding stirrer' lever. So yours has been retrofitted with a side valve?

Is the side valve worth the effort and expense to rebuild?
Am I better trying to get the original engine type back in ?
Can I make use of my existing gear box or does that have to go too ?

For info the existing box has a long gear lever that is well forward and leaves through (almost) the front bulkhead. So is this what you call the pudding stirrer ?

[chesney]

For what it's worth, I'd be finding an 803 to replace it, far more parts available, or even a 948.
Sounds like an 803 gearbox, but the way to tell is the 803 box has an aluminium casting, the side valve box is cast I think.
Are you certain it's a Morris side valve?

[Alan Lane]

For what it's worth, I'd be finding an 803 to replace it, far more parts available, or even a 948.
Sounds like an 803 gearbox, but the way to tell is the 803 box has an aluminum casting, the side valve box is cast I think.
Are you certain it's a Morris side valve?

I'll post some photos tomorrow if i can. I am making assumptions its a Morris Side valve based on the car its in and that it is a side valve engine.

The 1st (or maybe last. I cant remember) 3 digits on the engine number are 917. This would point me towards a 917 or 918 Morris engine ? The head has manufacturers marks of "Qualcast".
There is a brass engine plate on the offside engine block. This has a manufacturer on it, but not 100% what is said.

Thanks for your advice so far. I will post more info tomorrow.

[IslipMinor]

Al,

Can you post some pictures so that we can see what has been fitted? Also what is the car number? That would help to identify what would have been fitted originally.

[bmcecosse]

Definitely go for a 948 or 1098 OHV engine and gearbox. The side valve is all very well if it's there to maintain 'originality' - but it's not right for your car anyway......so why persevere with it?

[Alan Lane]

Photo[frame][/frame]

[Alan Lane]

Photo[frame][/frame]

[Alan Lane]

For interest... What do you think this engine should be in ? (don't say the bin)

[chesney]

Definitely a Morris sidevalve and radiator. Does it have a cheesegrater grill, or the later slatted grill? Does it have a central speedo on the dash?

[Alan Lane]

More photos[frame][/frame]

[chesney]

Looks more like a '52 ish model to me, which would have had the sidevalve engine as standard...

[Alan Lane]

More photos[frame][/frame]

[chesney]

That Minor is 100% not a '55, too many features (dash,engine,bonnet trim, coil mounting) for it not to be. It is almost certainly a 51/52 model, and that is very probably the original engine.

[Alan Lane]

it has a speedo on the right. Its the Art Deco dash with aluminum bit in the middle[frame][/frame]

[mike.perry]

I have checked the DVLA records which list it as a 1955 with a 998 engine - rubbish.
The car is a Series MM built between mid 52 and early 53 with a USHM3 918cc side valve engine fitted with an export market oil bath air filter
Don't even think about swapping the side valve engine, it has a character of its own which you would destroy by fitting a later engine.
Please send me the chassis no. so that I can add it to the register

[chesney]

If that's an export air filter, possibly imported from overseas in '55 then?