morris minor with odd looking engine bay

Post by **robertkemp** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:00 pm

saw this on ebay slightly tempted but i don't really trust ebay.. has a strange looking engine bay probably because its clean, no morris stamp on rockercover (think thats what its called self teaching myself) very tidy new wiring and painted gold can anyone shed any light on it is it worth the risk?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0341684355

Post by **ani** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:03 pm

I know nothing but I wish my engine bay looked like that

Post by **aupickup** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:03 pm

seems ok to me

Post by **aupickup** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:05 pm

it takes a lot of work to get an engine bay looking like that

and also do not be put of with ebay look at mine in sig

Post by **LouiseM** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:26 pm

is it worth the risk?

Check it thoroughly before you buy. I'm guessing that you don't have much experience of Minors (the engine bay is not odd looking) so take someone with you who knows what to look for.

Post by **dalebrignall** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:29 pm

i was looking at that earlier,it looks fine in the photos,and the price is good ,i agree with louise take someone with you who knows moggies before you buy.

Post by **robertkemp** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:31 pm

ok cheers for the help, just thought it looked odd because of the missing morris name.

Post by **8009STEVE** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:37 pm

Remember, with fleabay, you are buying a picture.

Post by **eastona** » Thu May 14, 2009 9:12 pm

As others have said, looks fine. Don't worry about missing stickers. Give it a good look over before bidding/buying.

That's a lot cleaner than mine

Andrew

Post by **Dean** » Thu May 14, 2009 9:33 pm

If you do go and view the car, can you do us a favour? Give the seller a slap for calling it an old banger in his add.

Post by **mike.perry** » Thu May 14, 2009 10:11 pm

It could do with a new tax disc shortly and I would be happier with a new MOT. It looks ok in the photos but you need to have a good look underneath

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu May 14, 2009 10:33 pm

It looks great in these pictures - but would be so much better with a new MOT. If it's had new cylinders and shoes - I don't understand why there is now a brakes problem. But - whatever that is - brakes are easily fixed - chassis rot is what you should worry about. Judging from the engine bay shot - the car will be in good condition.

Post by **Peetee** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:33 am

There are lots of cars out there that look nice on top but are rotton underneath. Fixing the underside can soak up £1500 so don't buy unseen!
As for the engine, it would appear to me a replacement 'Gold Seal' unit with (as the seller states) a replacement cylinder head - hence the gold/black/gold colour scheme.

Post by **MarkyB** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:48 am

Looks tidy but I don't think you could get gold seal battery straps.
I would take the gold seal engine claim with a pinch of salt.
As Peetee says rust is the enemy. Mechanical issues are much easier to resolve.
Have a good poke around underneath to decide if it's a good car or not.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri May 15, 2009 2:22 pm

ok cheers for the help, just thought it looked odd because of the missing morris name.

the engine has been repainted is an odd shade of gold. Goldseal engines were just factory reworked (faulty) ones with some gold spray to help the marketing people. This gold looks different to the paint used on goldseal engines (not that they are special anyway) but it's fairly obvious the owner had used their own gold paint as they've used the same stuff on battery clamp etc..
Personally I much prefer the original Morris engine green, and missing sticker on rocker cover is the last thing to worry about when buying a car - rot and bodges first, running gear second and paintwork last (a respray is expensive but pointless if the car is too rotten to get an MOT ;-) )

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:11 pm

The paintwork looks a bit 'flat' - but hopefully just needs a good T cutting and wax polish. As others have said - that's not a 'gold seal' engine - so don't place any reliance on that! Do the usual tricks of letting it idle for a while - then rev up and look for cloud of blue smoke from exhaust. Also remove oil filler cap while engine hot and running - if plume of blue smoke/fume from there - factor in an engine rebuild. But overall - it looks a nice car - and my favourite colour too!