Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi Guys

I was driving down the motorway yesterday in moderate traffic, I got a loud banging noise, I lifted off the accelerator and the engine died

It wouldnt turn over on the starter or the handle and I had to be recovered the 5 miles home. I have whipped the rocker cover off (vainly hoping its something to do with head) but everything appears normal

So off comes the sump, everything is covered in oil except rod no 4, which is dry and a pale grey colour so its obviously seized

I have a midget engine I can put in while I sort this out, so It not the end of the world (other than this is a marina engine and box). Obviously the engine is coming out and going to be stripped down and inspected and the bits reground etc, but what is the likelyhood of rod 4 still being any use? Its obviously got pretty hot...

BTW I think my oil pressure guage pipe split, dumping a large quantity of oil fairly quickly which is whats caused the problem

good chance the rod itself will be salvagable so long as it hasnt spun the bearing. Make sure you check the little end as well as its splash lubricated. Recon you gonna have a messy crank journal though.

Rod

Me too...

hence the grinding comment

but so long as the bearing itself hasnt been spinning it will probably be ok?

If the bearing spins theres a possibility it could mash the rod. So long as the damage is confined to the crank the rod should be fine. The grey look to the rod is the heat cooking of the oil film. Just have a good look over it. Check the little end for wear. I've never replaced a rod that hadn't actually snapped.

Matt wrote:Me too...hence the grinding comment but so long as the bearing itself hasnt been spinning it will probably be ok?

I'd take the shells out, clamp the rod back together and check the inside diameter carefully, not for size, but ovality. Good chance she'll be OK as it was a quick-destruct, rather than having been hammered for some while! also worth inspecting the crank journal carefully before spending money on a re-grind, it MIGHT just be smearing of the white metal making the mess, which could be dressed off. A slim chance, but nothing to lose

Matt - throw that rod away - it will have been damaged. Same as 1275 Mini , so plenty around for little cost. If the engine has seized like that after running short of oil it probably has damaged the bores/rings/pistons and the camshaft bearings too, as well as the obvious crank problems. Check it out carefully!

Well the bores and camshaft are still coated in oil (at least the 3 bores at the front are. There will be careful examinations happening!