Morris Minor Owners Club

Hmmmm well they're not terribly accurate but they're not too far out if I check with a GPS. Once I've fitted the rebuilt axlev we'll see what happens I guess!

As I have found out to my cost, the big ends have gone on a motorway journey at 50-55 MPH, which I thought was a reasonable speed and wouldn't strain the engine. To be fair it was only a matter of time before they went as the oil pressure was so low in the first place. The unit reached 88,400 miles.

Subsequently I learnt that the A30 engine is prone to bearing failure if flogged, which isn't hard to do considering the gearing and a top speed in the region of 55-60.

I haven't had it stripped down yet and it's being done professionally, so will keep you posted and hopefully have a few photos.

The lesson: the 803 is a useless lump and if it weren't for the fact that the whole car is original and has matching numbers I would be upgrading to 948!

For longer journeys then when I get a bit of cash I'm thinking Humber Hawk, Standard Vanguard III, Morris Oxford MO or, naturally a Javelin, but they had troublesome engines aswell...

The crank in an 803 is a bent piece of wire........ the bearings are tiny. And the oil pump is a useless 'vane' affair. I'm pretty sure all this was detailed to you a while back....... Personally - I wouldn't hesitate to upgrade to a 948 engine and box - but with the long 803 gear lever of course. To all but the 'experts' the car would appear original, but the performance and general usefulness would be enormously improved. The original engine can be repaired and stored along with the 803 gearbox - to be easily refitted at any time you wish to sell on the 'matching numbers' car. The other cars you list are all hugely greedy on fuel.......and of course spares are hard to come by and therefore v expensive. .

I agree with Roy Originality is important - especially if you still have matching numbers etc on engines and gearboxes - but the 948 just makes more sense if you are using the car for anything more than the occasional show etc. Yes i know there are plenty of Series 2 owners who won't or don't want to change - and whilst their cars are performing well, I would say leave well alone but if I used my car regularly, and the opportunity came along, as in your case, to upgrade; for peace of mind, economics and much more relaxed and assured performance I would go for the 948. Don't forget that the S2 carb and air filter can be fitted to the 948 engine and the only way anyone would be able to tell that it wasn't an 803 is the lack of the semi-uselesss spin on oil filter and the 950 stamped into the block.

Each to their own, of course, but I think I would really want to enjoy driving my car in the comfort of knowing that the engine is a sweet as any they ever put in the Minor. Good luck with whatever you do