Morris Minor Owners Club

i have got a 948 gearbox to put into my morris and wondered if i used a engine crane would i need to take the bonnet off after i have taken the grille out.

cheers josh

Lot easier if you do!

I never did when I swapped the engine in my car (left the grille on as well). Just took the pin out the connects the bonnet to the arm the holds it in place, tied some string abound the bonnet latch, run it over the roof of the car and tied it to the boot handle. Make sure you put something between the bonnet and the windscreen - I think I used a pillow ;)

When I changed the gearbox though I left the engine where it was and just took the gearbox out. I found this easy but there's mixed views on doing it that way.

i think its easier to take the lot out

If you have the means to easily extract the engine and box as a lump then its significantly easier to do it that way - if you don't then scrabbling round under the car is prob the best option

I'd vote for grill off but bonnet left on. That avoids any need to re-align the bonnet with the wings afterwards. You can get a bit more headroom by unbolting the bonnet stay and tying the bonnet up with a rope attached to the rear bumper

Worked for me.

No need to take the bonnet off. Loop a length of rope onto the bonnet catch spring and pull the bonnet vertical and tie to the back bumper, after removing the bonnet prop clevis pin. It also reduces the risk of smacking your head on the corner of the bonnet

But don't pull it back too far - it's very easy to snap the expensive hinges!