Morris Minor Owners Club

1969 Morris Minor w 1098 A-series engine.

I've been working on my engine and it's installed in the car.

New rod bearings and piston rings. Skimmed head, new valves, new valve guides and seats (unleaded conversion). New Payen head gasket.

I'll try to keep this brief, but still provide enough information. This has been a learning experience for me; I don't claim to be an expert by any means. That will be apparent shortly.

I installed the motor, then realised that there is a metal hose that attaches to two of the head studs and the engine steady bracket attaches to another. I installed these two bits without releasing the torque on the entire head. I then re-torqued them back to 40 ft/lbs.

Then the other night, I realised I forgot to lap the new valves in. I removed the head, lapped the valves and re-assembled it.

The engine has not been started. Presently the head is off the car.

FIRST QUESTION: Can I re-use the Payen head gasket I just removed?

For the next question, may I reference page 27 of the Haynes manual?

Please note the "Key-Gear and Pulley" (#40). It appears this key should fit thru the "Gear-Crankshaft" (#39), "Thrower-Crankshaft Oil" (#42), "Pulley-Crankshaft" (#43), and "Lock Washer-nut" (#45).

The key engages all the parts except for the lock washer-nut. The pulley will not go rearwards any further. This prevents the key from fitting into the cut out section of the lock washer-nut.

SECOND QUESTION: Is the failure of the lock washer-nut to engage over the key a problem?

Many thanks,

M

I would re-use the head gasket - I used to use nothing but cast-off gaskets when I was a poor student. It will be fine.
I assume you are meaning the crankshaft pulley - in which case - the key does not penetrate the 'lock washer'. It is simply bent over into the pulley and then folded outwards over the dog-bolt.

Thank you, BMC. As always, I appreciate your willingness to help.

And just to offer a counter point of view, if you do re-use the head gasket then make sure that you carry a spare and some tools. This is so that when it fails you can replace it at the road side.

Remember to re-torque the head once the engine has been run up to normal temperature, and again after 500 miles. Reset the valve clearances (cold) after torquing the head. Some people recommend that torquing and/or valve clearances should be done with the engine hot, others say when it's cold. Feel free to search the many posts on this subject - plenty of opinions, no (that I can recall) definite answer!

The gasket will be absolutely fine - torque it down to 44 ft lbf - it's never been run, so there is very low risk.

Good stuff, lads...thanks.

I'll advise how it all turns out! Likely, I'll be back up in a few days with another question or two.

Hope you both enjoy your week

M

Lol... I secretly hoped this would be a question about fitting 2 engines in a Minor - one in the front and one in the back - to make a 4wd car, just like that 4wd 2CV!

I started a thread about twin engines a dew weeks ago and am still thinking about it.

as for re using the not run but torque'd down head gasket, I definitely wouldn't. But that is only my opinion.

I've re-used many head gaskets that have been run - when a poor student I used to scrounge them from a Rallying mate who had a load more money than me! Never had any bother with them. An unused gasket will be absolutely fine - especially if torqued as I suggest - although perhaps not in a supercharged engine !

bmcecosse,is correct the engine hasn't been heatedup it
will be fine ,Don't forget to tighten in the right seqence.
The only head gaskets togive much trouble,are 1275's
the little brass plugs in the head move if engine gets overheated.

when a poor student I used to scrounge them from a Rallying mate who had a load more money than me! Never had any bother with them.

That was recent then
In those days all the gaskets were of a decent quality.

It wasn't exactly yesterday!