Morris Minor Owners Club

A speedy sleeve fitted over the flywheel mounting flange would work but it needs to be properly fitted.

I changed the piece of cardboard on the garage floor under the engine every three or four months, approximately.

It is a good guide to what is dripping where.

Sorry to jump on this but regarding the breathing on a 1275.
I have just replaced the head gasket after it failed within 6 months with a rocker box full of mayo.
The breathing system consists of a modified canister on the timing which had nothing in it ( now has a scouring pad fitted) this is piped up to the carb. There is a spout on the rocker which is blanked off.
My question is should I install a small filter onto the rocker cover spout or leave it blanked off.
There is a blanking plate fitted to the side of the block where a mechanical fuel pump would have been fitted.
TIA

most breathers rely on pulling air through the engine to venilate the crankcase, if you bresther can goes a spout on the carb that will draw fumes out, you then need a vent on the rocker cover to allow some fresh air in and stop condensation in the rocker cover. This is how virtually all NA engines of the last 40 years are ventilated, the spout on to carb acting in a similar way to a pcv valve. There seem to be a multitue of different minor systems, some original and some a mish mash of parts.

Meggie moggy wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 7:32 pm Sorry to jump on this but regarding the breathing on a 1275.
I have just replaced the head gasket after it failed within 6 months with a rocker box full of mayo.
The breathing system consists of a modified canister on the timing which had nothing in it ( now has a scouring pad fitted) this is piped up to the carb. There is a spout on the rocker which is blanked off.
My question is should I install a small filter onto the rocker cover spout or leave it blanked off.
There is a blanking plate fitted to the side of the block where a mechanical fuel pump would have been fitted.
TIA

As already said, as well as your oil separator (whether on the tappet chest cover as on a 1098 or the timing chain cover on a 1275) and the pipe to engine vacuum (whether via air cleaner, PCV or carburettor) you need to have fresh air going in as well. The long vented oil filler cap has a specially restricted air entry. These caps can get blocked. There is a gauze inside and they can be washed out with petrol or they don't cost much to replace with a new one. With the long vented cap, a very small adjustment towards rich may be needed to the fuel mixture. With a fully functioning crankcase ventilation system, I have never seen the slightest trace of mayonnaise inside my rocker cover.

Stephen

the breather air intake filter doesen't need to be massive, rover V8's used what looks very much like a plastic in line fuel filter.

philthehill wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 7:52 am A speedy sleeve fitted over the flywheel mounting flange would work but it needs to be properly fitted.

anyone know what size is needed on a marina 1275 engine?
would like to have one to hand before stripping things down,

I asked ESM about a speedy sleeve,


"Unfortunately, we do not offer a speedy sleeve for the end of the crank, this will need to be machined smooth in order to work properly. Alternatively, the issue could lie elsewhere e.g engine breathing, worn main bearings."

its a rebuilt engine, was fine for first 200 miles, new crank seal fitted and another 200 miles its leaking again,
machining the crank isnt really an option,
as said elsewhere, the new kit looks like it only works with machining and or a speedy sleeve,
would like to have a seal and sleeve to hand before taking engine out,

Just because ESM do not offer a speedy sleeve does not mean that you cannot get a correct size speedy sleeve. Measure the dia of the flange and then for example go on the likes of 'e' bay and find a suitable speedy sleeve. As I said in my previous post the speedy sleeve does need to be fitted correctly which should mean precision grinding the outer face of the flywheel mount flange to suit the speedy sleeve. The speedy sleeve does need to be pressed and glued/Loctited squarely onto the outer face of the mounting flange.
The only other way and it is worth a try is to locate a scrap 1275cc Marina engine - rescue the top half oil thrower cap as per my photo above and see if you can get it to work - it may or may not work but what have you to loose.
Below is a link to various sized speedy sleeves. The raised rim at the rear may need to be removed for correct installation.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/197725657299 ... BMiPSn69Fn

Thank you all I have ordered new pipe throughout from the timing cover lid to a T peice but the rocker cover with a tail to the rocker cover then another length of pipe to the stub on the carb.
I have kept all the pipe at 13mm to allow for the timing cover and rocker cover stubs with acreducer to take thebpipe down to 6mm for the csrb stub.
Finally I have given the filler cap a thorough clean ready for two round trips of 60 miles each