Morris Minor Owners Club

I put a thread on here a while ago asking for general advice as my mum was looking for a Traveller. She's got one now and it's sitting in the garage. I've got plenty of questions to come but first I need advice on the engine so I can tell the DVLA about the needed corrections (V5 doesn't tally).

I've done a search on this and saw two related threads but there isn't a conclusion to either. The V5 (it's the old style and will be sent in today, hopefully) says the engine number should be 351485 but the actual number is RKM1123E 71535. I've looked on the carb side of the block for a plate and can't see anything. To make sure I knew what I was looking for I looked at the spare engine which came with the car (which we didn't know anything about!) and that has a tag saying 1100. Another curiosity is that if you so much as breathe heavily near the throttle pedal the car revs up instantly. I put that down to the carb being badly set up but now my brain's wandering, as it does. I'll post photos in a minute.

Then it's a case of sorting out all the brakes (car has been idle for four years), new tyres and replacing all the hoses to make sure she's safe and reliable.


edit - forgot to say it's a '68 Morris 1000 Traveller.

Engine number should be on a plate just to the left and below the thermostat housing (looking from the front of the car) It's not unusual for the engine number to differ from the V5, as engines often get changed, without the owner telling the DVLA.

Throttle problem is most likely a weak or broken/missing, throttle return spring. It fits between the carb linkage and the exhault clamp.

Fast reply.

I just checked, it's got its return spring. I've not put a tacho on so have no idea if it's running too fast yet. What's the tick-over for an 1000 meant to be? It sounds like a monster by the way. Probably something silly like a blowing exhaust but I'll have to check.

You might want a new throttle cable?
Once its running correctly the tickover should be doable by ear as in it will sound right if that makes sense.

Tickover should be about 700 RPM for the 1098 engine. Easily set with the idle speed screw on the carb.

Exhausts are famous for blowing at the clamp to manifold area. An extra exhaust strap infront of the silencer helps, you can add an extra strap to one of the bolts that holds the passenger seat in. Some people sleeve the exhaust joint at the manifold, using a piece of old exhaust tailpipe, slotted, and hammered into the manifold, leaving about one inch sticking out, for the downpipe to slide over.

I've found that using too much gun gum exhaust paste causes the joint to leak due to the clamp design, not to mention some of the replacement exhaust aren't really shaped correctly.

Quick exhaust leak check. Place a rolled up rag over the tailpipe and listen for blowing. Not too long though, or you can blow the head gasket.

Buy a new clamp.
They're pretty much 'one use' items, I'm sure someone will disagree but its true that they do stretch each time you fit them eventually becoming useless.

A new clamp is only a couple of quid and will 'form' to shape when you tighten it up.

Going by the amount of smoke coming out of the back and none coming from anywhere else I'm not sure it's not blowing. But I am jealous of the noise it makes.

I can't get it to run happy. Well, the car is happy but it's blowing out grey smoke with a slight blue tinge. The mixture test is telling me it's too rich one second and then too lean the next. This is with the jet screwed fully in. It's got an AN needle that's worn so I'll try the weaker one. I'm ok with SU's as my Herald has two of them.

I've given up for the day. I'll check the tappets tomorrow and do a dry and wet compression test. If all's fine I'll let some Reded soak after I've done the brakes so she can go for a run to burn it off. Got to buy the parts first.

The guy delivered it from Nottingham to Luton and unless he's over-filled her or stopped to top her up she can't be burning oil as the dipstick is on the top mark (where I don't like it to be).

Here we go;

dry
1 - 150
2 - 130
3 - 150
4 - 150

wet
1 - 200
2 - 195 (did give 80 first time round)
3 - 210 (did give 90 first time round)
4 - 220

So, #2 looks a bit iffy but not too bad. To me anyway, what says you? Wet tests look high to my eyes, but I don't know these engines. Getting very curious about what this engine is and where it's come from.
Sadly, after doing the tests the car is blowing out a huge amount of blue smoke. But at least that's helped me find out for certain that the exhaust is blowing up by the manifold.

Not sure what to do right now. Got to buy the brake parts before the engine gets dealt with really anyway.

If your right that there might be too much oil stick a new filter on and the contents of the old one will reduce it by that volume.
Have you put a timing light on?