Morris Minor Owners Club

I have recently rebuilt my 1098 motor and used the head off another 1098. All the valves in this head have been lapped in recently. I am using a Morey's injector system.
Since the rebuild I have had oil leaks around the rear of the left side of the block. Have replaced the rear side cover. Today I cleaned everything and went for a drive and when I got had a good look to see where it was coming from. In the end I have taken the inlet/exhaust manifold off only to find that it appears that the inlet ports on the head are very oily and that oil appears to have come from these ports and then sits on the top of the side covers and then runs down the block near the water tap at the rear.
Do you think that there is too much moreys going in or valves guides. The oil level doesnt appear to have dropped at all.
Any ideas??

Not understanding 'Morey's injector sytem ' ???


Are you sure the oil is not just leaking down from the rocker cover ?

The Moreys is like an upper cylinder lubricant. Quiet a few here in NZ use it either is an injection through manifold vaccum injection or into each tank full of petrol.
No the rocker cover gasket isnt leaking at all checked that very carefully.
Beginning to wonder whether I should disconect the Moreys and put back together to eliminate that. But definately the inlet ports were very oily

Ahh - well I would do away with the Upper Cylinder thing - certainly not necessary! Then see what happens. If the valve guides are badly worn - and there is a lot of oil going to the rockers (due to wear there too) then it can indeed flood down the valve stems - but it should still be contained within the engine and simply show as excessive blue smoke!

No smoke out the exhaust at all. Probably would have done about 100 miles on that motor. Apart from this annoying "leak" goes well.
Will disconnect and try again.

Disconnected the Moreys injection system but leak still there. Will pull off manifold one night this week and have another good look. My my reckoning oil leaks on that side can only come from side plates and rocker cover.

It 'could' be leaking from the oil pathway up to the rockers between block and head - and creeping along the head gasket until it appears where you see it - but this is highly unusual! Are we talking 'just a trace' - or 'floods' of oil ?

Not floods of oil. Oil runs down the block and sits on the lip above where the sump bolts on. Once parked it leaves a small amount on the floor under the car but just enough to be a nuisance. I can understand the odd drip here and there but not with what I have got. Will have another go one night this week after work. Thanks for your ideas and it will give me something to look at. Will see if I can get clear photo when I do it.

Think I have found my problem. Oil coming from around where the centre bolt enters the rear sideplate. Have put a rubber seal on and it appears to have solved it. No oil there after going for a short drive. Roy thans for your input.
I found it quite interesting reading some of the other threads. Thanks guys

Always here to help! Yes - the side plate bolts should have cup washers and rubber seals - and of course, only 'nip them up' - don't over tighten ! Glad it was easily solved.