Morris Minor Owners Club

Good luck with it - do let us know if you get it *Jealous*

Yes and take lots of piccies too!

Speaking of OHV motors:
In Paul Skilleters book on the Morris Minor, it shows a Wolseley 8hp engine. I don't have the book handy but I think it says it's a 918cc engine.
Does anyone know if this is the same 8hp engine in the Minor ?
If so, are there any Wolseley 8s around ?

I am going to start looking right away..

If you find an Alta Head be carefull, they suffer from corrosion, especially if they come attached to an engine, they might not come off.
If you find one on it's own check all the parts are there, there are an awful lot of bits

Michael Perry

Wolseley 8hp is indeed also 918cc, but the head won't fit. I asked someone who has both sort of cars.

Thanks Onne.
I had a look in Skilleters book & the picture appears to show a different block also (the oil filler spot is on the other side).

Hi I have an ALTA head & its on my car - I have been trying to sell it for a while, I want to sel the car complete. It goes really well!

what model is it? MOT etc?

The car was registered March 1953, convertible (original) in Devon UK, it is my first car & i have been driving it over 20 years. It was extensively restored to concours standard in the early 80's & won a few tropies in the UK MMOC masters category at the time. Originally Clarendon grey, now it is black.

As I said 20 years use, so it now could use a repaint a new roof & some trim, but it is as solid as you can find anywhere!

I fitted the ALTA arround 1990, and it has proved amusing to run since, top speed is over 80mph. all running gear is authentic MM type, and in fine condition, I have changed a few details like the wheels, but I have the originals.

The engine was rebulit with new shells & pistons, but that was a lot of miles back, it smokes a little on start up so may need some new valve guides.

I have lots of photographs, & a write up of the modifications (in french).

I also have a shorrock supercharger in bits in the UK, having never enough time to fix it.

The cars is now registered in the south west of France (where I live) and is on the road used every week with a current Controle Technique (like the MOT), it is not garraged however. I have retained the original UK registration on annother vehicle, so it could be re assinged if returned to the UK.

As for price I am open to offers, not realy wanting to sell it but no longer anywhere to keep it.

As an asside I fancy some travelling & have the idea of working on old cars somewhere interesting in the world, for a few months, should you know anyone with a project in need of help who could pay my food & lodging.

Regards

John

Alphaone wrote: As an asside I fancy some travelling & have the idea of working on old cars somewhere interesting in the world, for a few months, should you know anyone with a project in need of help who could pay my food & lodging.

How many project cars would you like to help on John .

Fancy a trip to Australia ?
Just make sure the Alta head & supercharger come along for the ride - I'm sure they'd love to live in Oz .

Scott,

as an asside i spoke to my farther recently & he is looking to sell his car two - this also is fitted with an ALTA! A car i know intimately as I spent much of my childhood in the back seat! it is a 1952 for door in black - so original that most of the paintwork is the original black 52 factory paint & is still shiny (i remember pollishing it a lot when a child)! a better known example you will not find anywhere, and has been ALTA equiped since qrround 1980

Also in or stock is a few spare engines gearboxes axles etc plus a spare ALTA & the remains of a verry worn Shorocks blower - if someone is serious we can discus.

regards

john

I've managed to get myself a Mazengarb head for my sidevalve now.
I'm just chasing up some replacement rockers now & then it'll be just about reday to fit so hopefully I won't be needing an Alta head.
The supercharger is tempting though but I don't really want to go that route..........yet .

I'm sure you'll have some interest locally though .

hi scott,
glad you found something, the mazengarb is new to me but i took a look at the aus website & it looks pretty neet, if it goes anything like a well as the alta you will have a fun motor car!

If i hadent fitted the alta to mine i would have sold it long a go - it was just too slow to be any fun in normal use, in fact on busy roads it was downright dangerous! I fitted the alta in 1990.

the shorrroks is an abandoned project of mine i aquired it long before the alta but the ammount of work required to fix it up & lack of anyone who could help meant it just gatherd dust. I hoped to fit it to the alta one day & but i would need to find a better alta as mine has been refinnished so mainy times it now has a very high compression ratio (about 10:1) whch means it goes well but would not tolerate a boost without knocking.

i put some pictues of my car & alta on the UK MM register page

have fun

john