Morris Minor Owners Club

Reinstalled my 'new' engine yesterday, started first time BUT after 10 minutes there was water everywhere. One of the core plugs I fitted had blown out - What did I do wrong?
Took the engine back out its easy when you know how and yet more problems.
Because of the screwup with core plug I thought I'd better check all of them including the one on the back of the engine. When I removed the back plate the cover for the oil pump had quite a lot of oil in it What else have I done wrong.
I did mention earlier that I've got the mechanical knowledge of a rabbit

I note your user name, were you the first part when you rebuilt the engine?

No just the second part but I do feel like getting the first part now

Have you fitted the plugs concave side in? You should do, then tap with a hammer to 'swell' the plug to grip the perimeter of the hole, maybe using a little sealant before inserting. Looks like the pump may need a new gasket.

Why did you disturb/change the core plugs ??

There was a rust stain spreading downwards from the front plug and the engine reborer recommended that it (or they I cant remember which) was changed as it was, he claimed, very difficult to replace with the engine in situ. He also told me replacing them was easy
I did tap them in with a hammer but looking at the one I have in my hand all I did was dent it in the middle and the only thing holding it in place was the little drop of sealant i put on. Bigger hammer I suppose?
With regards to the new oil pump I have been told that it is worth looking at engine parts from Minispares and other Mini suppliers and I notice on their website 2 types of oil pump gasket a paper one (seems the same as came with my gasket set) and an 'original' one. Whats best?

Any gasket will do - last one I fitted I cut from thin card! Note - the oil pump mounting cavity has a drain hole at the base - to let any oil flow back into the block. If there is pressure in the crankcase - it will blow fume/oil out there - and if the drain is blocked of course - any oil won't be able to escape! Check the pump is assembled fully and the screws are tight - and the mounting bolts are also tight!

Bigger hammer? What I use is two hammers. The flat faced end of a small ball peen hammer (about 1/2 to 2/3 diameter of the plug) on the core plug and a big one to mell it with. You end up with a flattened dimple rather than a dent in the middle as you mention as you mention

billlobban wrote:Bigger hammer? What I use is two hammers. The flat faced end of a small ball peen hammer (about 1/2 to 2/3 diameter of the plug) on the core plug and a big one to mell it with. You end up with a flattened dimple rather than a dent in the middle as you mention as you mention

I'll give that a try

BMC you have me very worried now. Why would I have pressure in the crankcase I only just rebuilt it? Could it be yet another bleep up.

Hello Bill,

I was taught never to hit a hammer with a hammer, as they are both hardened, the exception being copper, lead etc?.

A better choice would be a bit of round bar or even a large bolt, head in.

Alec

Good point - although should be ok if you keep your thumbs out the way.......... So saying - I bought a huge brand new Thor doubleheaded copper hammer at a car show at the week-end - for £3!

Alec what I should have said was a great big copper headed hammer used for all manner of thumping and mashing

Hello BMCE,

"Good point - although should be ok if you keep your thumbs out the way."

It is not thumbs, I was told that due to the hardened steel it is possible for it to chip and send steel fragment(s) flying about. Seems difficult to envisage but I've always followed that rule.

Alec

The Mythbusters TV programme tried and failed to get a hammer to shatter that way. The handles snapped first.

The 'thumbs' comment - relates back to a very old joke about how to castrate cattle - one method being to use two hammers. "Doesn't that hurt" - not if you keep thumbs out of the way...............

My wife had a similar theory----------but she wasnt talking about cattle

Hello Alex,

I don't believe that it is possible to 'shatter' a hammer as such but getting shards off one is another matter, one I'd prefer not to risk.

BMCE, nice one, but a new one for me.

Alec

Alec wrote: but I've always followed that rule.

Alec

So have I Alec, in fact it's nice to know someone else has been told this. Good engineering practice lives ok!!

The 'chinese' hammers are sometimes very easily 'broken' - glass hard on the face - with no depth to the hardening.