Morris Minor Owners Club

off with her head!!

The head is off. The gasket is missing a 6mm section between cylinders 3 and 4. I just have to wait for a new gasket to arrive which may take some time, there is one road to Western Australia, one road to South Australia and one road to Queensland all of which are still either currently under water or badly damaged due to the Wet Season. Unfortunately, my new head gasket is in New South Wales.
On the bright side, this gives me a bit of time to do a decent job of de-carbonising and lapping the valves.
I have a quick question about cylinders though. Mine are marked with a number 2 inside a small diamond and the word MOWOG. Given that there is no other marking, would this indicate that the cylinders are 'Virginal Bore'?

Indeed they are - and grade '2' at that ! I suppose you know that a Mini 998 engine head gasket is the same ? Just in case local garage/supplier has Mini stuff in stock !

No such luck BMC, in this part of the world unless you're after a part for a turbo diesel Toyota Landcruiser, you're out of luck. One place I went to had a listing in their parts inventory for a head gasket for 'One of those old Mini things' as the pimply youth described it. Of course, none in stock. I'm happy to wait for the waters to recede.