Morris Minor Owners Club

One of out 'fleet' developed a rattle a few weeks ago, it has now started to get louder. So, in a mad moment I decided to swap the engine for a good one I have lying around. It went brilliantly, total of just under three hours and she was done. Everything went well, the hockey sticks came off a dream, the new engine just slipped straight back onto the gearbox. In fact the biggest hold up was one of the nuts under the heater tap, which was a real pain to fit even with my special banana shaped spanner. This more than makes up for all the 10 min jobs that last a whole weekend.

Eric

Crikey Eric, am most impressed !
I note you are in Buckinghamshire ....anywhere near Thame ?
Richard

quite close, Naphill. Yes it was good to get all that done so quickly, and unusual, just had to let somebody know as it dosen't happen too often.

well done

well done , do you fancy doing mine ??????

well done , do you fancy doing mine ??????

I'll do it
I've got a spare 1098 in very good nick - do you want me to stick it in at the weekend....

thanks ray yes please
that is very kind of you

thanks ray yes please
that is very kind of you

no problem - I was looking forward to getting my hands on a free 1275

of course, so was I

But no need to take the front panel off - just pull the rad (4 bolts) and there is room to swing the engine up and out - IF you have access to a hoist.

Well, it's better if you release it from the gearbox and then turn it 90 degrees and then lift it out transversely.

I needed to take the front panel out as I didn't use a hoist, only a trolly jack and a small plank of wood. I am also pleased to say , now that the engine has been running a while that it is one of the smoothest running engines I have ever had in a Morris. It originally came out of a late van, not that that should make any difference. I do now need to rebuild an engine to fit into the said van when I put it on the road at the end of the year for my son. So all in all a very good swap, I guess osme things are meant to be.

Eric

It originally came out of a late van, not that that should make any difference

well if it is an original Van engine it may well be the low compression version. I'm not sure if they run any 'smoother' than the normal engine, but it may be a factor.

Were some of the later vans not fitted with 848 cc versions of the A series ??
I agree - if no hoist then front panel off is essential - that's how I do it these days - but I now have a hoist - just need a sky-hook to hang it on.

The later A35 vans were fitted with 850 engines, but not the Morris ones to my knowledge.

The Morris Minor series of vehicles (including Austin badged LCVs) were only fitted with 4 sizes of engine from the factory:

918cc sidevalve (1948 >1953)
803cc A-series OHV (1952 >1956)
948cc A-series OHV (1956 >1962)
1098cc A-series OHV (1962 >1971)

Hmm - i was sure I read somewhere that towards the end some 848 in-line engines were produced - to be super-economical.

i think you will find the early post office and gpo vans were fitted with the smaller engine, you know the first rubber wing jobby

Was that not just the 803 - a poor weak wee thing !

the 803 continued until 1964 on po and gpo vans, there was no 948 they then went on to 1098

as a thought the low compression engine on vans was fitted normally and high was an option