Morris Minor Owners Club

I just spotted this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-AUSTIN-MORRI ... 240%3A1318

in the add it states that this is an early k series that doesn't have wet liners.

Is there such a thing or is he talking out of his exhaust pipe?

I don't know about the engine but those fron lights look horrible!

can't say as I disagree with you there.

To be honest i thought the head gasket problem was the lack of head gasket, as it were.... Rover used a sealer on the early engines in the hope to save money on proper gaskets and failed all round... Jonathon is the expert though - He's sure to put us right

The original engines had a top hung wet liner.This was replaced across the 1.4 – 1.8L range with a floating half-wet liner. The block on the early 1.4 was closed at the top, and this is often seen to provide a stiffer and better block.
The main reasons for the K series headgasket issues are four fold, one cost cutting in the use of plastic rather than steel/alloy dowels, movement of the liners against the headgasket, headgasket material and design, and the bonkers factory cooling system, inducing thermal shock and gasket demise.
The K is a fantastic engine when built correctly and is capable of huge power, for such a light engine.