Morris Minor Owners Club

I have an A series engine which I believe was from a 1275 Sprite. It appears to be a Gold Seal replacement but it has the following identifying marks:-
Engine number 8G180 EP81***

Cast in the block on exhaust side are the marks
2
162 MOWOG and the number 10D

This doesnt seem to fit any numbers I have in my Sprite / Midget book, has anyone got any ideas what it is????

Thanks for your help

Dave

I have found that the 8G refers to an Austin A35 engine, but the bore of an A35 is 62.92 mm.

I have just taken the head off mine and that has a bore of 70.55mm.

Could this mean that the gold seal replacement involved reboring the A35 engine out to 1275cc.

I must admit that when I had this engine in my frogeye it certainly went a lot better than the old 948 engine!!

Dave

I believe that 8G refers to a reconditioned engine
A 1275 engine would have no tappet chest covers. The Midget normally has a canister oil filter in the same place as a 1098 engine. A Marina / Ital engine has an upside down filter at the rear of the block.
A 1098 engine has the centres of the tappet chest covers pointing outwards to the bolts, a 948 engine has the centres pointing inwards.

At that bore - it's a standard size 1275 engine.
It is NOT possible to bore out a 948 (or a 1098 for that matter) to 1275!

8G is the prefix for a gold seal engine. 10D is a 1098cc engine from an
Austin A40 Mark 2.

But not with that bore!

Pls excuse the mess on the garage floor I am trying to have a clear out!Here are some photos of the engine and gearbox.
The head is a 12G940



Hope that these will finally solve the identity problem
Dave

From what Mike Perry said (no tappet chest covers, Minor style oil filter), that appears to be a 1275 Midget engine.

That's an early 1275 Midget recon. engine with a paper element oil filter and a 1098 clutch assembly. The gearbox has a Midget rear mounting and I can see the cables for the reversing light switch. Look after the gearbox, parts are in short supply.
The 1275 engine relies on a negative pressure crankcase ventilation system to stop the oil from leaking out of the back of the engine. If you don't know how to set the ventilation system up email me on mike.perry@mmoc.org.uk. and I can send you instructions.

Thanks for your help everyone.
I am probably going to sell these units as part of my clear out, any idea what they are worth?
Dave

Yep - excellent gold seal 1275 Midget units. They could fetch quite a bit - especially if you can show/confirm that the bores are not worn ? Frankly - I would ebay them in separate auctions -and post a link on here.
As for the 'negative pressure' vent system that MP mentions - that's the way to run ALL A series engines - not just the 1275. The engine eats it's own fumes - you don't breathe them, oil consumption is reduced, and oil leakage is much reduced if not completely eliminated.

Thanks for your advice BMCecosse
By the way did you ever get that pm I sent you with links to steam engines??
Dave

Yes indeedy - link to the Forum ? Had so many computer problems recently (major virus stuff - and still not restored to full health) I did glance at it - but have yet to sign up to the Forum. But thanks - and i will get there some wet day!

Speaking of identifying an engine.
A few days ago I bought left overs from a scrapped Danish Van.
Among it was an engine; a Silver seal replacement unit
engine number RKM 1121 E 13957.

Does 1121 E say anything about the type of engine?
It has a "remote controlled "heater valve and you could fit a mechanical fuel pump.The timing pointer is not under but like for instance a Marina 1275 situated at Ten o 'clock .

Regards Jan

The number means nothing to me - but if you post up some pictures - all will be revealed !

It doesn't look very posh but I was assured it was never really used and the engine is "loose" but ofcourse it will need T.L.C.

regards Jan

I'd say 1098....

if its a morrie engine then i would say 1098 i think i can see some ribbing on the block

It's definitely a 1098!
Edit - Reasons I say that are - hole provided for temperature sensor in the cylinder head (but never used in Minors!), later type oil filter unit and feed pipe, later type cam follower covers (which take the neoprene seals) - and fitted with the 'thick' backplate. Also has later HS2 carb - although these are often fitted to earlier 948 engines as an upgrade!

Thank you all for identifying !

Regards Jan