Morris Minor Owners Club

The cut-out is a standard feature of the 1098 (and 1275) gearbox. The engine is not a Marina - and has the small carb and manifold from a 1098 engine. It looks like the engine number is there - on a little alloy plate just under #1 spark plug. If you can tell us what that says we can identify the engine.

I am not an idiot, the cutout is not a clean factory made cut out, but very rough around the edges and not clean and precise but rough and not concentric, it you read the earlier posts I told you the engine plate had been removed from an earlier engine end re installed on this engine, I have removed it and repaired the damage to it, and re fitted it back on this engine.

Constructive comments most welcome, [personal comments removed - Ray]

Whether you like it or not - that IS the standard cut-out on a 1098 box. And that IS a 1098 engine..... You'll get no more help or advice from me! And I have 'reported' your completely unjustified comments against me.

Firstly, I don't see anyone at the factory, leaving huge burrs on the inside of the gearbox cut out, but you seem to know better?
There is insufficient space for bolt heads between the top of the bell housing and bodywork, and I said in my earlier posts it seems to be a 1098cc but "what is the difference between standard unit and MG?

I am uploading a couple more pictures:-
one with the engine in place but without the aircon / alternator in place.
and the gearbox mounting which seems a bit odd to me but I will await comments?[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

It's certainly not a 1275 engine. Most likely to be a 1098, but it could be a 1098 midget engine.

The easiest way to tell is the engine number (which you say may not be its original anyway), the midget 1098 would start '10CC', whereas the minor 1098 would start '10M' or '10V'. There's no real external differences between the two, the key internal ones are that the midget one has a thicker crank, so is stronger than the minor one. I believe 1098 midget engines had a different cylinder head to the minor, midget being 12G295 and minor being 12G202. If you take the cover off the top of the engine you should see one of those markings cast into the head.

Heads don't necessarily stay with their original engine though, so just having one head or the other doesn't guarantee what engine you've got.

Minor and midget gearboxes did both indeed come with a cutout in the bell housing to clear the steering rack, but it is possible that someone had clearance issues on your car and made the cutout a bit deeper.

The hole in the bell housing was never machined, it was cast in when manufactured.
The gearbox mounts should be a square section like the engine mounts, yours appear to be generic mounts.
I'd suggest you look for accident damage to explain the lack of clearance for the gearbox bolts.

Engine number that is on the engine is:- 10v-189E-H35605.
(but as I have said it seems to have been removed and refitted as it had extensive hammer damage and was broken at one end near the rivet, the last section being missing, I have re made the engine number plate and re fitted it),
Chassis Number is :-MA55-1267095J

with regard to the hole in the bell housing being cast, this one looks like it was cut with an abrasive wheel. the car shows no accident damage, however it did have a lot of corrosion, I have had my guys replace the floor, chassis members and anything else that was rusted (including a lot of minor holes in the body, all is done now and I am re assembling, it is my intention to use it as a local runabout for a while, then after I am happy with it, I will then flare the arches and make it look pretty, and fit the electric supercharger I have in my garage not being utilised (I will keep you posted if it actually makes any difference?).
time permitting I should have the car ready for initial use in the next 2 weeks.
on another note, the hole for the gear lover has been extended rearward to allow the gear lever into the car without contact, and the lever itself is very short and has had an extension crudely welded to it (I will upload a picture in due course).

I am not an idiot, ,

Please play nicely!!

BMCE's comment is fair based on the pictures - the size and location appears just like the usual cut out, and the pre-cast cut-out is standard on Minor and Midget boxes. Nobody suggested you were an idiot, so please reflect on your reaction.

As the cut out on yours appears home-made then maybe the donor gearbox is one I've never come across. If it's one of the more common gearboxes with pre-cast cut out and been hand-dressed by a grinding wheel, then goodness knows why.

Having mentioned the engine number plate many times in earlier posts, I was disappointed that he was telling me where it is located, as I said I am not an idiot, I know a fair bit about cars, having built and raced several specials over the years, I just felt he was talking down to me with regard to obviously simple matters, I agree I am not a specialist on Morris Minors, that is why I joined this group, however if my presence here is not welcome, then just advise and I will discontinue posting?

I at present own 6 cars a couple I am renovating on a long term plan, they range through the Morris (which is a kind of "on the side" project) , to a 1930 Armstrong, I own my own company that works in the oil and Gas business and cars, boats and planes are hobbies, I have Ph.D. in Mechanical engineering which I obtained in early 70s, I am now in my 60s and don't need someone to tell me where the engine number plate is located, however should I require any assisitance in locating or identifying anything, (as you may have noted), I WILL ASK .

Many thanks for the assistance to date.

On any one day I am replying to many different threads - and not just on this forum! I can't hope to keep track of the fine details of each case - and I don't have time to re-read each thread before posting up another answer. I0 V is a very ordinary 1098 engine - as is borne out by the dead standard carb and manifold fitted. Seems to me the engine/box are fitted too far back in the engine bay. Be aware that 1098 engines snap the crank if revved above 6000 for any time.

Be fair, you have posted here 18 times so far, we don't know you from Adam.
The vast majority of new posters are more or less clueless, at least out of their depth a bit.
Just because you are an exception doesn't mean you should take umbrage because something fairly obvious was pointed out.
It's not enough reason to suggest anyone was being unhelpful or abusive.

Sitting with a cold beer, in front of the partially assembled Moggie last night, i had a revelation! I think the engine has been shunted back slightly to allow for the extra radiator for the aircon!
This would explain the lack of space at the top of the bell housing, the butchered hole in the bell housing and the fact the gear lever access hole has been extended rearward.

Workload permitting, I will complete the assembly and send the car for inspection within the next few days, I will keep the board updated on progress,

The inspirational power of cold beer is highly under-rated

Hmmmm, Maybe that is why the crank is strapped, anyway if it explodes? I will look to putting some sort of twin cam engine into it, I have access to very good facilities,and have the possibility to do this, However I am a bit sorry the car was already so extensivley modified as I would have like to have kept it standard, but as it is so "non- standard" I will not feel guilty fitting an alternative engine, as I said it goes for inspection soon, and as such I want it to look as standard as possible, this inspection is a one off to transfer the vehicle into my name, from then on no further inspection is required unless I increase the engine size beyond 30% of original, in which case it goes somewhere else for inspection to confirm brakes and suspension have been also been upgraded, (as I have already reported, it has disc brakes and servo fitted, and I have some larger vented disc in my workshop that could be fitted).
Anyway I will continue to send regular updates if anyone is interested?

I'm interested!

Then I will continue to post, thanks for your interest, sadly over here in Malaysia, finding parts is difficult, having said that I recently found engine mountings at one of the old Chinese parts shops, they were still sealed in a dust covered bag with a BMC label, and the cost.....wait for it....................MR 9, and the exchange rate is MR 5+ to the pound sterling at the moment. so 2 mounts for less than 2 quid (I am not sure what they cost in U.K.), it is my opinion that the guy thought he would never get rid of them after all these years and was very happy for me to take them away!

I am now hunting gasket sets, not that I need them at the moment, but it would be nice to have them at hand.

You didn't need a cold beer to think that the engine was mounted too far back - I suggested that to you yesterday..... I suspect the front tower mounts are fitted wrong way round. Of course that may be a necessary evil to get the air-con in. You really must fit the top two bolts holding the 'box to the engine - otherwise it tends to 'hinge' and work loose.

I will let the board know if this supposed "hinging" happens, as I have no intention of carrying out any further modifications to fit the top bolts.

I seem to recall that on 14th bmcecosse said he would not give any more advice?

Seems to be conflicting information from the same person regarding the need for the top bolts connecting top of bell housing to engine?



"Postby bmcecosse » Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:15 am
Is this the voice of bitter experience ?? On the upside - I think it will still be ok to use the gearbox without that top part - not ideal - but useable."