Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi, if anyone can impart wisdom or knowledge on how to do this, I would be eternally grateful.
I am embarking on replacing my moggys blown head gasket because I don't have a lot of money (being a student) and I would like to get more involved in the mechanical maintenance of my car.

I have no idea on where to even start with the job, can someone help me?
A website with a step by step guide would be amazing or even a word processed step by step guide?
I have the owners workshop manual and moss parts and accessories book so any references would be amazing.

I live in Twickenham in south west London, so if anyone is local and wants to help, there might be bottle of wine or some beers in it for them..
Thank you for your time,

Lewis.

hi may i respecfully suggest your best bet is to find a local chap or chapess who can do it with you,the job itself isn't too hard but you are tackling jobs that need knowledge and experience, plus specialist tools ,The beer and wine might be enough
get it wrong and you can do major damage and as you stated.....

"I have no idea on where to even start with the job"


good luck

Thats a brilliant suggestion.
So if anyone happens to read this and lives in the west/south west london area and is willing to lend me some of their valuable time, I would be eternally thankful.
Cheers lambrettalad

Read the relevent part of the workshop manual so that you get some idea of what is involved. Spend some time under the bonnet identifying the various components and their function

It's all detailed in the manual - hopefully you have the REAL manual and not the Haynes...... What tools do you have ? And - why do you think the gasket has blown? Start by draining the water.....

How much mechanical work have you done before ? I've done a little bit but I'd never had too take the head off before. When the gasket went I read the relivent parts in the manual, to be honest its prety straight forward. You've got to learn somehow

Minors are a great basic engine to learn on and, provididng you prepare properly and have the right tools, it is perfectly possible to tackle a change of head gasket. As advised, first check that it really needs to be changed - what are the symptoms? Perhaps posting these here will allow others to assist.

If you do need to remove the head, follow the steps in the workshop manual. Make sure you know where each nut and bolt goes and store them carefully whilst doing the job (it makes it sooo much easier when you come to putting stuff back. If necessary take digital photo's for refgerence. Make sure you have a full set of gaskets (bronze head gaskets are best, carb inlet gaskets, manifold gasket). Read up on the job lots of times before removing any nuts or bolts and don't forget to get hold of a good socket set, spanners, torque wrench and feeler gauges.

I'm sure there will be a member nearby who can offer advice and assistance if you need it and, of course, there's always the forum crowd who are alwsy happy to help

Good luck

Thank you to everyone who has posted, the systems are the radiator water is white and oil is leaking from the seal under the spark plugs. My father had a look at the engine and knew straight away (he used to own a Minor) but he never had to replace it himself. I do have the Haneys manual and I have done near to no mechanical work before... This is my first car so its all a learning curve I have changed the spark plugs and fitted a new battery but thats as far as it goes.
Whats the 'REAL' workshop manual? can I order that from moss or will it be on the MMOC website somewhere?

E-bay or auto jumble your best bet. See these for a flavour:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-MINOR- ... 5d30dce62f

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-Leyla ... 2eb6a40cc4

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Minor- ... 1c2110955a

Good luck

You should get a proper BMC Workshop Manual, Part No. AKD 530.
For working on a Minor you will need a set of A/F spanners and socket set and Whitworth spanners and sockets. Forget about Metric tools from Halfords, they will be of no use to you. You will also need screw drivers, pliers, a spark plug socket, a torque wrench and feeler gauges for starters.

If the engine is running ok - I don't think the gasket has blown..... By all means get a spare gasket in stock - just ask at your local autofactor for a 998 Mini gasket. I have PMd you re the Workshop manual......no need to waste money!

Sorry- I have to disagree with the above post- if the radiator water is 'white', that suggests there's oil in it, which means you're quite right- the head gasket has probably blown. I've had plenty of cars with blown head gaskets that ran 'ok' ish, but had either oil in the water, or water in the oil etc.

Also, the Haynes manual is probably fine for doing that job, although the BMC manual is more comprehensive. It's really good to have both side-by-side as even the BMC manual is missing some bits that the Haynes covers.

Good luck!

I'm sure you know far more about head gaskets than I do liammonty . I intended to follow up with questions about overheating/bubbles in the water etc etc. I shan't bother now!

Forgive me for thinking that I might have something useful to suggest. I bow to your superior knowledge, oh wise one!

i am not far from twickenham.

Oh the gasket 'may' be blown - (which is why I suggest getting hold of a gasket) - it's just not conclusive on the evidence so far - not 'beyond reasonable doubt'. I've pointed the OP to a Workshop Manual.

I think we agree Mr Ecosse- it's just the suggestion of oil in the rad that makes it sound feasible to me, though as you say, that doesn't prove it.

Oil doesn't usually get into the water though - with a head gasket blow. Oil only passes through the gasket at one point - on it's way up to the rockers, and is pretty much distant from any water ways......