Morris Minor Owners Club

My '60 saloon has always been a good runner, but the only 'problem' is that it has always been much louder than other minors. When one passes in the street most are so quiet you sometimes have trouble hearing them at all, but mine is simply louder when on the road.

A new exhaust went on about 3 years ago which made it a little quieter, but not much. It just doesn't purr like other cars do. The engine has done 74,000 from new and has been well looked after with regular oil changes etc.

Any ideas about making it run quieter? Thanks.

Paul.

hi

did you mean it rattles more than others or that it roars ... if you always keep the oil topped up it shouldnt make much mechanical noise. one place it can be noisy is in the air intake, is the air filter alright ? does it have holes in the case ? ... what about the manifolds themselves ? theres no leaks around the exhaust is there ?

cheers
grainger

Hi.

No rattles, and its always full of oil, good quality stuff too. So far as I know the manifolds are ok, but I will get the garage to check when it's MOT time in a few weeks.

Interesting you should mention the air filter. It's the saucepan type, but the top is slightly different from all the others I have seen, namely completely flat rather than with a cross shape of raised bits in it. Idon't know if this will make much difference, but it may be something to go on at least.

Thanks for your prompt reply anyway.

Regards, Paul.

Hi again. I forgot to define the noise...it sounds just like any other Minor........only LOUDER!!!!!!!!!!!

Ideas? Paul.

Several things can make the car louder. Engine aside, the body could be responsible. If you are talking about from the inside of the car perhaps the insulation on the bulkhead/under the carpet is tatty. The engine steady bar rubbers may have perished causing vibration. Likewise the exhaust hanger straps. Maybe the exhaust is too close to the floorpan. More likely is that the exhaust is catching the bulkhead aperture (visible at the back of the engine bay). Stainless exhausts are usually noisier than mild steel ones. Also if the end of the exhast doesn't stick out beyond the end of the boot it can cause a lot of resonance. Last but by no means least check the manifold/exhaust joint; they are a bugger to get sealed on some cars. a tiny gap here can make an almighty din.

Paul you mention a different type of air filter its not one of the flat pancake type of sports filters with K & N or Pipercross on the top of it because these type of filters do have quite a bit more induction noise

Paul, you have seen the above points to check,you could not
miss the row if it is coming from the Manifold/exhaust joint in
the engine bay and you will feel the 'blow'if it is leaking too!
I fitted a new mild steel system some years ago and found it
so loud as to be embarrassing to drive. (unlike the majority,
I dislike the roar on the overrun anyway) so I fitted a stainless
system. It was noisier! I fitted an extra stainless silencer at
the rear,between the petrol tank and the spring which improved
things consderably. Only problem was that the extra silencer
cost more than the whole stainless exhaust system! It is not
worth fittting a MILD STEEL box at the rear as it will rot very
quickly due to lack of sufficient heat. (though you could use
the original silencer to test the effect).

It just maybe Rosie, that you drive badly, try changing up from 2nd!

joke