Morris Minor Owners Club

Cam wrote:

Packedup wrote: under extreme loads!

That's it isn't it?

I mean the Series MM and early series 2's never had the cable OR a top engine steady...

The one that got wrecked was the engine bucking and trying to stall up a steep slope. Due to the very silly layout and mounting points on that car, it meant teh fan could meet the top tank, tearing a large gash in it. On my current car the rad looks to have met the fan in the past, and it's a conventional rwd. And the brakes aren't mind-numbingly brilliant enough to really invite this sort of thing.

But looking at the cable on a Minor, it doesn't really look hefty enough to stop an engine going radwards with any force. I did wonder reading this thread if it had something to do with drivetrain - Is it possible for the axle to try to move forwards pushing the prop into the box, and the engine into the rad when putting your foot down? Probably not, and I'm typing out my rear....

Well I know we've been here before, and now agree that the main reason for the wire is to stop forward movement, it's in the manual! I have found though that if too slack there can be quite bad judder when reversing.

No CAM, the MGB engine mounts were not knackered,they were brand-new!
The problem of forward engine movement was only cured by refitting the
steady cable. That was all the proof I needed.

Willie, yes I still see your point, but the early Minor engines did not need one and neither does my 1380.

Les wrote: and now agree that the main reason for the wire is to stop forward movement, it's in the manual!

Right! Now we're onto something! Which manual and where abouts?

British Leyland manual; number akd 530, section aa.36. Engine steady cable, fitted to cars later than car number 264013, there is also a drawing showing all dimensions to enable it to be retro fitted.

So there is! Also says that the engine steady in the bay is there to pevent clutch judder - you learn something new etc etc

Yeah, that's the problem isn't it? If they are using the term 'engine steady' to mean 'clutch judder prevention' as in the top case, then fine, but it's a little vague.

Steady to me has a different meaning to engine anchor!