Morris Minor Owners Club

I have a minor million with it's original 948 engine, however its big end has gone.

I would like opinions about whether I should get a reconditioned larger engine or get the original engine fixed.

Would a reconditioned engine devalue the car if the number didn't match the chassis and it is the wrong size for the original car? Or should I get a recondtioned engine which would go up hills without decellerating and maybe cheaper?

All opinions would be gratefully received as its a big spend and I would like to make the right choice.

Many thanks.

if it is the factory engine it has to be worth trying to rescue it- it has held onto this engine for almost 50 yrs, shame to part them now.

For me originality matters for minor millions, far more than other cars in the range so i am with marcus I would try and get the original engine reconditioned, anything other than a million and i would have said go with a 1098 but, as you have identified it could have a detrimental affect on the price.. for me, if, when you come to sell it you can say original engine reconditioned it does show that you have cared for the originality of the car.

Get your original 948 engine rebuilt. Fit a cam from the 1098 and a 295 or small valve 940 head. This will give an increase in power over the standard 948 and no one will know the difference.....

I definitely agree, re-build the original engine! Especially as the car is a Minor Million.

I will fifth that. Definitely rebuilt your original engine. Apart from the big ends it might not need
that much more to recondition.
[frame][/frame]

Hi,
Do me a special favour!
Please rebuild your engine Please!
Cheers
Carlos

I would say it really comes down to the budget you have to work with!
I am all for staying with the original engine but if your circumstances don't allow for that then fit a different engine and put the original in the back of the garage to either rebuild when finances allow or to sell with the car if and when you do decide to part with it.
At least that way you will be able to use the car while saving for the rebuild!

If you get another 948 engine - just swap the number! But if it's only the 'big ends' Bull Motif do an absolutely bargain price exchange crankshaft, with shells for £89 + vat. Just fit that - with a new oil pump and a new timing chain. About £140 for parts - and a couple of days work - one day if you know what you are doing!

Hello,
I've just rebuilt my 948 engine which was original to my car, after running around for a few years with another engine in it. I decided to stay with the 948, as it's so much nicer than the longer stroke, gruff 1098 (although less powerful!), but I made a few mods as the engine needed quite a few bits doing anyway. I got it bored out to 998 + .040" (1030cc) and replaced the original pistons with some more modern flat top ones (the original are dished), and some second-hand fully floating con rods to match, to bring up the compression ratio. I bought a camshaft 'kit' from Swiftune, with camshaft (SW5), new followers, an oil pump and a duplex timing chain. Crank was polished, all bearings and thrust washers supplied, and I fitted a 12g295 head that I already had with a slightly larger carb. The resulting engine is (so far- I'm still finishing running it in) really nice- it is still smooth like a 948, but far livelier than it used to be. It feels like it would keep up with my 1098 traveller easily. And the cost (bearing in mind I put it together myself) at £800 is £150 less than you can buy a 'reconditioned' 948 for, which I'm sure wouldn't have half the new bits in that I've replaced. I'll no doubt be told now that it's far too expensive though!

If you don't want to do all this, the best bet may be to buy a second hand engine from one of the traders like I did with my previous engine- it cost £80 and was still running OK when I replaced it. I think the 'off the shelf' reconditioned engines are pretty expensive these days.

bmcecosse wrote:If you get another 948 engine - just swap the number! But if it's only the 'big ends' Bull Motif do an absolutely bargain price exchange crankshaft, with shells for £89 + vat. Just fit that - with a new oil pump and a new timing chain. About £140 for parts - and a couple of days work - one day if you know what you are doing!

That is very cheap!! good tip, BMC. If there is nothing else wrong with the engine, then it is a bit of a no-brainer. Re-build, with a reground crank and matching shells and new oil pump, the engine will last decades with proper care.

'liam' - Your engine does sound good, although I am not a fan of the SW5 cam. You are taking a chance upgrading the cam in a 948 block, because it doesn't have any bearings on the 2nd and 3rd journals! Hopefully you didn't fit strong valve springs - the problem with SW5 is the high lift (it has very 'soft' timing) which compresses the springs even more, putting extra strain on the cam bearings and the rockers. Would be much better to use a 1098 block, still with the 948 crank of course, and yes Mini rods and pistons.

a 2 litre million now that would be nice and thats what i would do