Morris Minor Owners Club

Dear All,

The 1098 engine that is in my 1967 Traveller isn’t sounding very happy. It’s got a low down grumble / rattle that sounds ‘orribly like big ends or main bearings to me, and it’s getting worse.

So, as I’ve got a spare 1098 engine in the back of the garage, ( … and who hasn’t?) I’ve set off to look at it. It’s of unknown provenance so I’ve stripped it down to have a look. Everything is now in bits: pistons out, crankshaft out, bearings out etc. etc.

Measuring the crankshaft shows that there is a maximum of 2 thou ovality in both main and big end journals. Doing these measurements and comparing these with the manual shows that the neither journals haven’t been ground at all, yet.

So, the questions to this messageboard are:

1. Has anyone got advice as to what is ‘acceptable’ ovality on big end and main journals on a 1098 engine?

2. If ~ 2 thou is too much wear, should I get the existing crank re-ground and put in (say) 10 thou undersize bearings to fit, or buy another crankshaft / bearing set to fit the same engine block?

Here’s hoping…

Pat Jeater

I think 2 thou IS too much - my crank was spot-on when I measured it when I got the car - and the ends were rattling. New shells and much hard driving later and it's still fine. Perhaps more important is whether or not there is any scoring or ridging. But Bull Motif were doing what appeared to be a bargain deal on an exchange crank - and since you would have to buy shells anyway - I suggest you spend the extra and get the exchange crank. Get a new oil pump too!

I purchased this recently, excellent value.

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 3ab7c5bd5f

The Bull Motif one is much the same price - I notice Bully offer free delivery if you spend over £60, so in theory it should should come free. However both are probably from the same source, and quite frankly are 'screaming bargains'. Just check if the price shown includes vat..... Definitely the way to go for peace of mind. Check the oil filter spring and plate are present when fitting a new filter - nothing ruins cranks faster than unfiltered oil, except running with NO oil, obviously......
Edit - MOSS also sell the exchange crank for the same price - may actually be slightly less - and they have various depots around the country, so since carriage costs are involved twice - if there is a depot nearby where the exchange can be done over the counter. great savings will be made! http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... exID=17070