Morris Minor Owners Club

hi folks, i know some people don't meander around the whole site, so i figured i would post on here too...
i need a flywheel, an exhaust valve and a ditributor for a fiat 2 litre. I have bought a spare engine that i am rebuilding and it was missing a few little bits. also on inspection one exhaust valve was knackered.

also...i am thinking of getting the head skimmed, just because it's not too expensive and the engine hasn't been run for a long while. anybody got any ideas on whether i should just go for a light skim or skim it quite a bit to increase compression. thoughts appreciated...experience preferred!

cheers!

I might have an odd exhaust valve somewhere you could have, I won't be able to look until next weekend though.

Only go for a light skim, if you want to raise the compression it should be done with pistons on these engines. Many years ago I skimed an eight valve down to the 45 degree seats on the inlet valves, not worth it, just makes the head scrap if it needs another skim. Go for the 1800 or 1600 pistons if you want to raise the CR.

Martin

Hi martin, thanks for writing. am currently waiting on confirmation about a valve from someone else, if they can't do it, then i would be grateful!
regards to skimming, thanks for the heads up! i will just lightly skim it then.
cheers

I have a spare 2L motor if its any good. Its in bits but believed to be a good one. Flywheel has been mullered to fit onto a VW Beetle of all things

im good for engines Jonathon! i have the one in the car and this spare one. just a couple of bits missing! if that engine has a points dizzy or a complete ignition set, i'll snap your hand off for that! but don't have the space for the whole thing unfortunately!
cheers!

hi, i've got the chance to get a 1.6 flywheel/clutch, will this work on the 2 litre? i assume the clutch may be not as strong? would the flywheel actually mount on the 2 litre or are the spacings different?
any help appreciated!

The bolt holes to the flywheel are smaller but I think can be drilled out, I believe the spacings are the same, I think the clutch is smaller as well. Any flywheel/clutch assembly you get will need to be balanced with the crank, but I'm sure you know that anyway.

Martin

does it have to be balanced? i sort of just thought that was a performance thing! i can get it done at the place that does the skimming but was hoping to not have to take the bottom end apart!
damn...

Really yes, if it was the flywheel which came with the engine and was fitted in the same orientation as originally then probably no.

What spec are you building the engine to then?

just stock. can't afford to go all out on it as i've spent way too much on the car already! i just want it to be a good engine. it's my only car, so has to be reliable too. i am putting a DGAS weber on it though i think, as i have one. not sure about the jetting though, should probably get on a Ford site as they put them on the Escorts quite a bit i think.
any info you can give about cheapish mods to make it run well etc, im all ears.
or we could just swap cars...im sure yours only owes you a grand or so

Ok, if it is stock you might be able to get away with it but I think it should really be balanced, I know others don't. Personally I wouldn't bother with the DGAS, if it is an every day car you want half decent economy so I would stick with the stock carb but with a decent K&N on it. If the head is apart, probably worth doing 3 angle seats, back cut on valves and a small amount of porting. Don't shave/flush the guides in the ports. Free flow exhaust etc but you probably have that already. What condition are the bores/rings and pistons in. If they are not up to scratch you won't get what it should have had as stock let alone any extra. What mileage has the engine got on it?

The power with only really start improving if you can go to twin 40s, but then the consumption will not be good.

The best road engine I had in mine was with the 2 litre bottom end and the 16 valve turbo head with twin 45s (normally aspirated). The very short cam timing of the turbo cams gave great low down torque, response and the economy was pretty good even with the 45 DHLAs! That is all down to the more modern combustion chamber shape and of course the 4 valves per cylinder.

wow...that was the sort of info im talking about! cheers!
ok, well the fuel economy isn't a huge problem as i don't do lots of miles, i do lots of short drives and maybe one 60 miler a week.
i have toyed with the idea of twin 40's, but again, it's just cost. i had a 45 dellorto on my 1275, that was fun! there are twin downdraught 40's for sale atm on ebay, are they any good?
the head is soon to be apart yes, you will ahve to explain 3 angle seats to me though and back cutting valves?? i can do porting no problem, and will happily try my hand at anything you suggest. gotta learn somehow!
exhaust is straight through 1 3/4, so a nice balance i think.
the block has not been inspected too much yet. i was going to work the head first, as if all else fails, i can just chuck the head on my engine in the car as it works well. the engine was unknown mileage, blah blah blah, usual ebay gumph.
thanks again!