Morris Minor Owners Club

Help! Had to get a tow from Milton Keynes home to Swindon today. My car sounds like a lawnmower. She's now parked outside a local classic car garage and I'll go and see them tomorrow morning, but would appreciate some suggestions so it looks like I know what I'm talking about.

Breakdown bloke said she's only running on two cylinders. He changed spark plugs, checked points, dizzy leads changed, no improvement. she's only just been serviced, so maybe that's related, running perfectly beforehand, and did the hour to Milton Keynes OK, though I thought on slopes she maybe hadn't got quite the same power I was expecting. He suggested rocker valves? Anyone got any commments / other suggestions? Sorry to ask a stupid question, but what exactly is a rocker valve anyway?

Most likely it's blown the headgasket between two of the cylinders - thus knocking these two out and making the engine sound like a tractor - and virtually NO power! It will be obvious when the head is removed. Rockers are the little levers that open the valves - they are under the rocker cover - the green lid on top of the engine - you can see some of them when you take the oil filler cap off.

I agree completely. Most likely blown between cylinders 3 & 4. It's easy to confirm the diagnosis with a compression tester and a straight forward repair, as long as you have the right instructions and tools. The materials are about £5 but expect a couple of hours labour charge.

Yes, you're both right, it was the head gasket. She's all sorted now, collecting tomorrow morning. £225 though, eek! Must have a high hourly rate at the garage I used!

I'd say that wasn't too bad for 2 or 3 hours work, but it's a heck of an incentive for learning to DIY

after doing the HG on my old nexia 8valve, and dads nexia 16valve(well i made the wets!) doing the minor one was fine if you read the manual! so lynda...if it happens again, DIY all the way!

You'll have to ask Rob and Ash for a few pointers!

£225 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Were they wearing masks and pointing guns at you ? Good grief - it's a 'side of the road' job. That really IS robbery!! I did it in 2 hours flat - and that included walking 15 mins into town to buy a gasket, and 15 mins back to the car. And I only had hand tools - no socket set with me. Now I never go without a spare gasket, and a few sockets!

So you've said before, but £80 an hour isn't all that much for a garage to charge these days, I gather. Sadly not all owners have your skills and talents - I for one would think twice about a head change in the gutter without tools.

Well it wasn't exactly without 'any' tools - just a few ring spanners! Needs must at the time - I was stranded - wearing my good business suit at the time too!

bmcecosse wrote:wearing my good business suit at the time too!

The image in my minds eye now of Roy in his best Sunday suit and pink marigolds

I don't think I had marigolds with me at the time - hands got terribly dirty - but I did take my jacket off and roll my sleeves up. It was a boiling hot day too!

that gives a new meaning to the term boiler suit

Indeed!