Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello to all!!
We`ve just bought ourselves a lovely moggy 1959 4 door saloon!
She is great!!
I have 1 worry about her wonder if anyone can help??
When she is driving up hill or under strain a tinkering sound comes from somewhere underneath roundabout engine and gearbox i think! Goes in tune with engine the faster you go the faster the sound, although no sound at all when going on a straight!
The motor is fine and no sound when on idle speed or when accelerated, only when running up hill or under strain!!
Can anyone help us out on this ????
Thank yous!!!

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like the engine is 'pinking' - caused by fuel quality too low/ignition timing too far advanced. You could use the better quality unleaded petrol, and it may disappear - or you could just retard the timing slightly. On the distributer side there is a little knurled knob - marked A and R. Turn it towards R (probably several turns) to retard. If there is not enough movement with the knob - you will need to slacken the mounting bracket and twist the dizzy anticlockwise slightly - and then retighten the bracket.

Thanks for that !! I shall try in a min! Should i use a lead substitue in the un leaded also ??? (there is no 4 star were we live )

Divided opinions on additives.

If you do use it, make sure you use tetraboost as its the only one with the proper lead in.

In terms of use, IMHO unless you run at high revs regularly then theres no point. The car will likely have many years of "lead memory" which will have to be worn away before you experience any problems. Everytime you fill up just stick a quid in a pot and then when (if!) you do get valve seat recession you'll have enough to replace your existing head with an unleaded one!

Should i use a lead substitue in the un leaded also ???

it's up to you. If you want to avoid VSR failures then it's a wise choice, but make sure you get an additivie that works.
There was independant / thorough testing of many additives funded by the FBHVC and some failed and others refused to submit theirs for testing.
There are additives which include an octane booster - this may cure your pinking.
Therefore it's worth getting

Thanks Dan.
Ive just bought Millers classic vsp on line , Ill try it but your idea on the quid in a pot is good, The moggy is a nice one, 2 owners , 43000 on the clock, want to look after her !!( she is older than me )

The only real worth of most additives - is the Octane Boosting - which is more easily achieved by buying Premiun Petrol! As Dan has pointed out - only Tetraboost contains Lead tetra-ethyl - and it effectively makes 'leaded petrol' . Unless your car is going to be pounded over Mways constantly - don't bother adding ANY additive. Nothing serious will happen - it will run for many thousands of miles. Wise to check the valve gaps, and set exhausts to 15 thou (12 thou for inlets) and recheck/reset them every 5000 miles of so.

Thanks for info chaps!!
David (ponky is my dog)<br><br>

Sounds like 'Pinky' would be more sensible name choice !

Yea!!
Have you seen the price of TetraBoost ???
Ill try the higher premium fuel, and i did the A&R knob thing !!

Hi David
You have a nice Dog. Plse. put in the forum some picks from you Moggy so all of us can see your great love!!
Greetings from Portugal.
Regards
Carlos

Hi Carlos Hows the weather, Hot ?? I spent some time in Lisbon once, very hot !!
Heres the new girl !!!<br><br>

Ponk in the Landy !!!<br><br>

Hi David
Here in lisbon we have now 25º C. Is hot.
Your Moggie is super!!.
Did you saw also my 3 babies?
all the best for you
regards
carlos

I really like your split screen convertible. She's a babe!!
Cornwall is wet as always...!
regards
David and Ponk

Yes - Tetraboost is quite expensive - although that's partly because you usually have to buy a case of the stuff. But - that's the additive that WORKS. The rest - well - the 'tests' were doubtful at best and open to much criticism at the time. Sodium and potassium are not substitutes for good old LEAD. Just keep the valve gaps at 15 thou - and you will have absolutely NO problems without ANY additive.

Good advise there bmcecosse i adjusted the A&R knob and now my Pinking has stoped and i put vPower unleaded in her. Running sweet!

Great success. Enjoy.

Hi bmcecosse,
could you please explain better this matter about the adjustement , to avoid add additive into unlead??
thanks in advance
regards
carlos

You must not let the engine 'pink' - so you should retard the ignition timing - turning the little knurled knob towards the R mark - until you hear no pinking when you accelerate. Unless your engines are being worked very hard for long periods on fast roads - no additive will be required. But DO set the exhaust valve gaps to 15 thou - and recheck/reset every 5000 miles.