Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello,

I am not technically and most of this doesn't make much sense to me - but I know my moggie is not right.

It has had a new lead free cylinder head and gasket in August last year and then this April it had new exhaust valves and a new head gasket fitted and reseated.

It was running beautifully after April but then in the last couple of weeks it has started to shudder, especially at low revs but in any gear (and this is getting worse) and is getting more and more noisy - sort of making tractor like engine sounds. It is also going through oil (from max to min in a quarter of tank of petrol).

I can't take it into my usual garage as that is miles away, so I took it into a local pace. They suggested a rebore. My usual garage suggested getting a reconditioned engine (and upgrading to a 1048) from Ivor Searle. Both a rebore or a reconditioned engine will come with a 12 month warranty.

The reconditioned engine will be a bit more costly but is this the best idea? I am concerned that if I just get it rebored the problem will carry on happening and it will be good money after bad?

As I said, I really don't understand the technical bits and I am aware that I have spent quite alot on the car so far. I don't mind paying to get it fixed but I am keen that the problem stays fixed for a while - what is your advice, rebore or reconditioned?

Unless you're doing the building up of a rebored engine yourself, my guess is that it would work out more expensive that a recon. Incidentally, what's a 1048? Again at a guess, I'd say you mean a 1098

I can't understand why if it had a 'new' lead-free head - it then needed new exhaust valves not long after. Sounds like some dodgy dealing going on there. Exhaust valves should last many many years if properly installed. However - the progressively worsening description you give suggests to me that the engine has blown the cylinder head gasket - or just possibly that it has again burned one or more of the exhaust valves. Two checks to make - a) check the valve clearances - should be ~ 12thou for inlets and 15 thou for exhausts (many set the exhausts too tight and result is burned valves) and b) have the garage do a Compression Test on each cylinder - and report back the result here. Both tests can be done in less than half an hour - for the two, not each! It should give ~ 150 psi on each cylinder, but the main thing is for all the readings to be similar. If one or two are dramatically less than the others - blown gasket. Has the oil consumption only increased since the shuddering etc set in - or has it been steadily increasing over time ? There is also a possibility of a damaged piston and/or rings - this would be accompanied by a huge pall of blue smoke from the exhaust and you haven't mentioned that so far.
Also - if you post up where you are - someone near-by may be willing to pop round and help diagnose (maybe even fix) the problem!

bm has just about got it right,there must be another owner near you who would be able to have a look at it

Yes, I did mean 1098, oops.

There is no blue smoke from the exhaust and the water is fine - it's not gone creamy or discoloured. The consumption of oil started a little after the shuddering. The garage did a compression test and said that at it's lowest it was 90 (they said more but I can't remember). I'm near Saffron Walden and really unsure of what to do next.

Thanks for all the help so far though.

the cost of a recon unit starts at about 650,then you have the fitting to add on to that,that will probally be cheaper than a rebore.and a lot less messing about.

Thank you - I'll get the recon.

I'm afraid you are getting stitched up here
Its fine to say you know nothing and need help here.
But if you you do the same in an unscrupulous garage their eyes light up with pound signs and they star dreaming about Caribbean holidays and Rolex watches or something.
Surely there is someone in Essex that can take a look and give you advice.

You would be mad to pay that kind of money - although 90 psi is on the low side - the engine should still run ! Get the valve clearances check - and get the actual figures of the comp test. It may even just be needing a new spark plug -or a dizzy cap/lead. It could well be something trivial. Don't rush in to a 'recon' unit - certainly not at that price !! There's probably nothing seriously wrong with your engine. Get a second opinion either from another Minor owner - or fom a small 'friendly' garage.

i only said get a recon because i was thinking of an easy hassle free fix,for someone who is not mechanically minded.i know its a lot of money,but there are advantages in having piece of mind,and not worrying if you are going to break down today.i did go down that route when the big ends went and the oil pressure dropped,its ceaps decision in the end