Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi All,
I'm in need of an unleaded cylinder head for my 1970 1098cc Minor. I know that the Metro head will go with a bit of persuasion but I am not sure on the necessary codes for the right one and how to identify it as unleaded. Any advice would be gratefully received. Thanks.

I believe that all the unleaded Metro heads end with HE on the engine number however I think that nearly all of these heads do not have the provision for the bypass hose outlet, and that would then involve changing to a metro water pump as well, although I have not done this myself I am sure someone on the list must have.

You can either use a metro pump, or buy a small blanking piece that fits over the bypass hose connection on the water pump.

Of course this means that you will either have to use the metro thermostat housing (with the extra connections) or just loose the ability to turn the hot water off to the heater matrix, which means that your heater is on all the time!

I'm told that heads with a number 6 at the end of the number near the thermostat are ok to use. With the thermostat housing 'extra connections' on the Metro head, could one of those be used to provide a heater take off to fit the Minor? I have mates in engineering so could have something made if needs be. Perhaps make up a valve similar to the minors original?
Thanks.

You could always drill the blanked off waterway hole out, as the two screw holes either side are already there, then you could use the Minor take-off or Marina take off (which is what I have done).

Where can you get those waterpump blankoff piece?

and would it be ok to use my existing heater take off tap, and just glue the thread up so it couldn't be turned off?

I had a look at the Metro water pump on ebay, but it seemed not to have the stud for fixing the dynamo.

Where can you get those waterpump blankoff piece?

I think my last one came with the pump. But I would assume that most Mini specialists (Minisport/Minispares) would do them.

would it be ok to use my existing heater take off tap, and just glue the thread up so it couldn't be turned off?

Yes.

I had a look at the Metro water pump on ebay, but it seemed not to have the stud for fixing the dynamo.

Stud?? Mine has a hole for the top fixing bolt. Mind you I have an alternator fitted but the principle is tha same.

yeah, a hole sorry.

This one (on eBay) looks correct:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=10414

There are others but one is for the k-series Metro engine and will not fit the A-series.

Which one were you looking at?

that still has the bypass part though yes?

or is it just that the stud is there, but it has not been drilled through

Yes, that one has a bypass hose take-off. So you would need the rubber blanking cap and securing clip to run it with the Metro head.

The hole that you need for the alternator/dynamo mounting is the rightmost hole in the picture.

frank308d,
Back to your original question - you can use a Metro unleaded head but some people have come across problems to use a 1300 head on the 1098.
The lowest risk route is to have your head converted. This isn't too expensive if you shop around via the Minor specialists.
The dissadvantage to using a Metro head is by the time you've trawled scapyards, found paid for and removed a head from a scrap car, removed the frequently broken thermostat housing studs, solved the bypass hose issue, redrilled the heater take off etc.. you then fir it to find if the valves hit the block (potentially possible with the 12G940) or that the head is heavily worn anyway.
If you can find a good condition Metro unleaded head you've avoided a lot of pitfalls, but bear in mind that cars go to a scrapyard are not always have good engines.

Just planning for the future... (when SHY has a solid bodyshell mainly ) Is it possible to use the 1300 metro head on an A+ Ital engine ?

shymoggie,
yes

Is it possible to use the 1300 metro head on an A+ Ital engine ?

Just to add to Ray's yes I have the proof sitting in my garage!