Morris Minor Owners Club

Posted: **Thu Mar 30, 2023 9:31 pm**

I think you still have the old gasket stuck to the block, that old gasket needs to be removed.
Regards John

Posted: **Thu Mar 30, 2023 10:37 pm**

So I have seen all info and I can clearly see I should be fitting the early sprite/ midget spin on as shown by one of the members earlier the moggy spin on clearly doesn't fit the aperture.i get a feeling my engine is not original????.

Posted: **Thu Mar 30, 2023 10:41 pm**

It is not wrong. That is how the new filter head sits on the block.
What does appear to be wrong is that the gasket face of the block has not been cleaned up.
All traces of the original gasket must be removed before fitting the new gasket and spin on/off filter head.
Do the job properly and it will work as it should do with no leaks.

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:14 am**

The problem isn't the parts, it's the installer.....

Dotty traveller wrote: ↑Thu Mar 30, 2023 10:37 pm So I have seen all info and I can clearly see I should be fitting the early sprite/ midget spin on as shown by one of the members earlier the moggy spin on clearly doesn't fit the aperture.i get a feeling my engine is not original????.

You're looking, but certainly not, by any measure, actually seeing what's in front of you....
it does fit ...
the Engine is fine..
you just haven't done the job properly

This is what it should look like....Image from a nice clean engine on ebay...

: Filter IMage.JPG (61.02 KiB) Viewed 1487 times

Your Image clearly shows...
YELLOW ARROW = Old gasket still firmly stuck to Block (that's what the Orange thing is...)
RED ARROW = Big gap where Oil comes out!

: Filter IMage A.JPG (148.05 KiB) Viewed 1487 times

Take it all off, clean the old gasket off completely, every last scrap of it, and then refit.

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:18 am**

I think that Phil is absolutely correct (he usually is

). When I looked quickly last night, I thought that you had exposed the port into the crankcase, but looking more carefully this morning, it does look like the "hole" is just an oil stain contained within the old gasket. If you use a probe (small screwdriver/toothpick etc) can you insert it horizontally into the engine or only vertically into the crack between the filter head and the block. If the latter, then that confirms the diagnosis. If the former, then please attach a photo with the probe in position.

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:20 am**

The gap is not a gap or hole it is just where the original shape gasket has sat and which has allowed the oil to stain the machined face of the block on which the filter head fits.

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:37 am**

Yes but OP says "there is a noticeable gap above the mount when tightened up ,and oil runs out when engine is turned over." But we can't know at a distance whether the oil is truly 'running out' or merely seeping out. As suggested by others, he needs to take a closer look. Quite likely a poor seal caused by the remains of the old gasket.

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:54 am**

Is this an early April fools joke!

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:09 pm**

Too much conversation over a most simple conversion.

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:39 pm**

Can't beat a good old chin-wag, Phil!

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 2:10 pm**

myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:37 am Yes but OP says "there is a noticeable gap above the mount when tightened up ,and oil runs out when engine is turned over." But we can't know at a distance whether the oil is truly 'running out' or merely seeping out. As suggested by others, he needs to take a closer look. Quite likely a poor seal caused by the remains of the old gasket.

There’s quite a few threads protruding after the nut. Just a thought but the original studs have been changed haven’t they? It may be that the nuts are bottoming on the thread without actually taking up all the clearance and nipping the gasket.

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 2:56 pm**

Let's put this subject to bed...
This is the 2 gaskets side by side, both images sized by the distance between the mounting stud holes.
Note the hole in the old gasket extends above where the new gasket, and thus the new fitting, finishes.
Thus the area I previously highlighted with the red arrow is a ruddy great orange segment shape gap where the old gasket hasn't been removed. Either not at all or just very badly, leaving considerable debris behind.

: Housing gasket.JPG (25.04 KiB) Viewed 1423 times

Posted: **Fri Mar 31, 2023 3:10 pm**

Well illustrated, and goodnight !!

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2023 11:37 am**

philthehill wrote: ↑Thu Mar 30, 2023 5:06 pm Fitting the spin on/off oil filter is one of the best conversions you can do to a 'A' Series engine.
Some things are best left standard but the oil filter is not one of them.
I have fitted several of these conversions (which was fitted as standard to later 'A' Series engines) and I have never had an oil leak.
The studs have to be changed and new greased gasket fitted.
Make sure that you have the correct union/adapter fitted between the oil feed pipe and the filter head.
When fitting the spin on/off filter head the feed pipe in most cases has to be adjusted for correct alignment. If not correctly fitted/aligned there is a possibility that the pipe joint will leak and the possibility of the pipe fracturing is increased. To overcome any alignment problems a flexible swaged pipe can be fitted between block and filter head.
With a bit of care and thought there should be no problems with this filter conversion.
There is a better British Leyland spin on/off oil filter head which was fitted to later MG Midgets/Sprites. The filter head has much more metal to it so stronger and the original studs can be used.
Below is a photo of the better oil filter head. If doing a spin on/off filter conversion these are the filter heads I use and recommend.
filter head 3.JPG

Phil

where can I buy one of these please

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2023 11:54 am**

[/quote]where can I buy one of these please
[/quote]

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/engin ... er-p830101

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2023 12:45 pm**

The unit in the link above is similar to the one that you have already purchased (may even be identical). I think that you were asking about the more original style that Phil mentioned.

Another option is an adapter ring such as this: https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p/sp ... gILqPD_BwE

With that kit, you retain your original filter head and fix the adapter to that. It stays on place permanently and the new cartridges spin on and off the adapter. There will be other similar products around, the above is just an example. Very easy to fit!

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2023 1:05 pm**

I expect Phil will correct me, but I don’t think the filter head in Phil’s link is available new.
Here is a link to a used item.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275684359892

Regards John

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2023 3:06 pm**

The stronger spin on/off filter head has not been available for some time.
The ones I have acquired have all come from 'e' bay.

Posted: **Sat Apr 01, 2023 4:52 pm**

Looking at the photo I can see that the old gasket has not been removed properly but the gap seems too much to just be a badly cleaned mating surface. Is it possible that one or both of the new studs is cross threaded in the block? If a stud is at an angle the fitting will not go fully home. I would suggest to the OP that he takes off the nuts, removes the filter head, cleans the block and then ensures the the new filter head goes fully flush against the block before even putting the nuts on.

Another possibility is that those are the old studs in the photo. The black engine oil in the threads hints at this.

I apologise for my previous unhelpful comments. I should avoid commenting on forums after going to the pub.

Posted: **Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:36 pm**

Does anyone know why Morris abandoned the spin-on filter, as worked fine on the 803 cc?

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