Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello all

I am trying to remove the oilpump from my low compression austin 948 engine.

Flywheel is off
Backplate is off
Bolts are removed (3 holding it in, 2 holding the cover on)


But the **** thing won't budge. Not with cold chisel, or whacking it with a big hammer.

Has anyone got any bright ideas? (And I do know it SHOULD come off without any hassle)

Onne

Yep - should just fall off! You could gently whack the camshaft through from the front (take the dizzy drive shaft out first) to 'encourage' it to fall off.

Or just take the cam out entirely and give the end of the pump a good clout. That's what I did with the 1098 I dismantled.

Yes - but take care not to damage the camshaft bearing - only in the front section on a 948 (1098 has all three running in proper bearings) - but it will be ok with an AEA 630 cam - just don't use super heavy valve springs.

So I do need to remove the timing chain cover. Might as well change the chain and the cam when I'm there.
Do I need to remove anything else? Or do I just remove the rockershaft to replace the cam?

Rocker shaft, pushrods (which can be very stubborn to withdraw if there's a buildup of crud in the holes), tappet chest covers off and cam followers out (as you're fitting a different cam use the followers that go with it, and keep them in the right order), timing chain cover, chain and cam out.

I wonder if a drift made from a load of ratchet extension bars might be a handy way of shifting the pump?

Yes - as pup says - use the followers that ran with the other cam - but do inspect them carefully and reject any that show pitting or cracking on the wear surface.

That would be a problem. I don't have the old followers. I will inspect the ones in the block and use those.

Hmm - I thought you were taking the cam etc from your old 1098 engine? I have never had any problems mixing and matching followers - but others usually jump down my throat (shurely not on the Minor board!!) when I suggest something like that. New followers don't cost the earth - if there is any doubt about the old ones - then it would be better to renew.

Yeah, you're not supposed to use used followers with a different cam, or even get them mixed up when refitting, but to be honest if they're not worn out then I can't see the problem. I know they're meant to mysticalyl wear to suit each other, but I'm sure I must have mixed them up the odd time I've stripped and rebuilt an engine to that exgtent, and I've never noticed a problem from it

I have finally managed to remove the oil pump

Removed the head, all looks very nice, then I removed the pushrods, keeping them in order of course.

Out came the cam, and a lenght of wood helped the oilpump make up its mind

New timing chain and sprockets on (how tight should the chain be)

Onne

Just snug - there is no adjustment. If the sprockets are not perfectly aligned (check with steel rule) it can make the cahin feel 'tight' - then you should sort it out with shims - or recently I had to machine 40 thou off the camshaft sprocket rear face to get the camshaft endfloat correct. Seems this is not unusual (according to the Mini board) although first time I have come across it.

they look nicely aligned. Have changed to the 1098 cam btw

You will notice the difference - even more so once you get the 202 head on there as well.

Rockers etc all the same? I have got a recently rebuilt 202 head.

Onne you are getting ahead of me!

Actually I started from behind. I've got sort of stuck at the do I rebuild the suspension then respray or................

Its time I stopped worrying and got on with it. I've collected a 12g940 head and a 1.5 inch carb and MG manifold. Chris87 has a 1098 cam for me. So it should be all go soon.

By the way have you got your interior kit yet? I ordered mine from Bullmotif last week along with the other bits and pieces to get it finished.

I haven't got my interior kit yet. It is starting to really really annoy me actually, since I ordered it last december.

They say they can't get the colour. I have already paid for it of course

Rockers are the same - but you would need to get the 202 head skimmed by 60 thou to keep your compression ratio up.

I'll stick to my standard head then, I can't afford any skimming at the moment.

So the choice:
Standard 12G202 (been skimmed a bit maybe 20 thou)
Standard 948 head

Stick with the 948 head then - and save up for the skimming. You can check the 202 head by measuring the thickness - all standard heads start life at 2.750". Anything less than this is what has been skimmed off over the years. Or - go the 12G940 route - as several seem to be now doing. To be honest - if the car is just a run-around and not expected to pass everything in sight - just stick with the standard head and upgrade to the 202 when you can.