Morris Minor Owners Club

whats the easiest way to tell the 2 apart? i have just aquired one, it has a 12g 202 head which i believe fits both?!? came with a gold gearbox, is this 'special'!?

The gold gearbox may have been reconditioned to a high standard at some time in it's life, or just painted gold.
A 948 engine will have 950 cast into the block above the sump on the manifold side, a 1098 will have a stamped plate saying 1100 in the same position.

The 202 is standard for the 1098 engine - and although it can be retro-fitted to a 948, it was never fitted as standard.

gearbox may have been reconditioned to a high standard, but it looks like they emptied a swarfe bin into it! lots of play in the tail shaft and lots of tiny bits! the engine is a 1098, i was going to sell it as i was told it was a 948 now i know its a 1098 i dont know what to do with it, ive already got one spare!!

Can never have too many spares

Ditto that! Now, if I could just persuade my wife of the wisdom of that philosophy, she wouldn't complain when my boxes of spares take up her parking space in the garage...

reconditioned to a high standard at some time

It could have been 30 or more years ago is what I was hinting at .
It would be interesting to know when they stopped being produced.

why did they spray them gold?

or what was special about them

That was the 'Trade Mark' - Goldseal BMC Factory Reconditioned parts - supposed 'Good as new' - and indeed pretty much they were!