Morris Minor Owners Club

Good morning everyone,

I have just started to strip the original 1961 948 engine from my Mums Morris (she is 92 in May and still drives her car daily - it currently has a replacement 1098 in it but I'd like to keep it as original as possible).

Although I will probably have a lot of questions over the course of the rebuild, the first two are:-

Can anyone recommend a good machine shop in/around Widnes, Warrington, Wigan area? I think it will need a rebore (currently +30);

and,

I have seen some +60 pistons available for the 948 (for the future) is it safe to go that big, will it make the sleeves too thin?

Thanks in advance,

I imagine that I will be more of a 'taker' than a 'giver' here for quite a while since this is my first foray into Mums Minor, apart from regular servicing and small repairs here and there.

A warm welcome to the Forum

Can't help with the first part of your post - being in sunny, but very cold and residually snowy Lincolnshire - but I'm sure some of the local forum members will be able to help you with a reputable engineering shop nearby.

Would suggest that before you worry about which size pistons to buy, you have a good look at the condition of the bores once you have stripped the engine down. At least then you, together with your chosen engineering company can agree what's best to be done. Was there anything wrong with the original engine prior to it being removed from the car?

There's no worry about 'taking' more than you 'give' on this forum. Folks are only too pleased to help whenever they can

Why not post a pic of you and your mum behind the wheel in the thread called 'Pictures of you and your car....rather than just the car!' http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12322

Your mum could well be the oldest person to post if you do

Good luck!

Thank you Brucek, Mum was a member here many, many years ago and has driven UAP 164 for 50 years now, but I fear that her spanner wielding days are now over! She has also lived in the same house for over 60 years - she doesn't like change much.

Yes, I will post a picture of he at the wheel when I next go down to Sussex, what a good idea!

The engine has suffered; no bottom plate in the oil filter, head gasket between 1 & 2 blown, #4 piston crown embedded with ring debris and skirt eroded at top, #1 not much better. Bores look remarkably good considering the piston damage but would not consider reusing without boring out to +40. Big ends minimal scoring - haven't looked at mains yet.

Lovely to hear that she's still driving the car after all these years! Hopefully I'll still have Sarah when I'm 67

Both Bull Motif and ESM do +40 piston sets for the 948 engine, so if you can get away with that amount of reboring, then the pistons are available.

If it's at +30 now -then going to +40 is only 5 thou each side - that's not a lot...... so the bores would need to be pretty much undamaged for +40 to work. Note that if you go to +65 thou - then standard 998 Mini pistons fit perfectly (but you will need the con rods from a 998 Mini to go with them...) - it will then BE a 998 engine ! The block should not have sleeves fitted - unless there have been problems in the past. If it's the original engine - how did it get to +30 ? Has it been 'refurbished' in the past?? You have put your finger on the major problem of course - the missing plate in the filter housing. It's highly likely the crankshaft will be needing reground with new shells - and be sure to fit a new oil pump... Better inspect the camshaft lobes and the cam followers too -if they have been running on unfiltered oil for a long time. The costs soon add up....with new gaskets and timing chain and sprockets. Are you too far away from Bull Motif ? http://www.morrisminorspares.net/
Why not just stay with the far superior 1098 engine ?

Thanks for that bmc; yes, I was rather disappointed to discover the missing bottom plate - effectively no filtering - the vehicle has been 'serviced' and repaired by the same reputable Morris garage for years.

Yes, it has been reconditioned in the past. The current 1098 is working well (and the oil filter assembly is complete) but I want to maintain the originality (as much as possible) - not the most cost-effective solution I agree, but makes me feel better! I recondition vintage telephones (candlesticks, 200/300 series) and it makes me happy to see an instrument with all component dates matching - my day-to-day telephone is a 1947 300.

" reputable Morris garage " - errr -obviously NOT! Completely irresponsible/negligent Morris garage........... Leaving out that plate wrecks engines faster than just about anything - and if they didn't know that - then they shouldn't be in business. It's the most basic mistake that anyone can make on an A series......

How long has the 1098 been in the car? If it's only recently, and as a result of the failing 948 engine, I think I would be going back to the 'reputable garage owner' and asking why they never picked up that the plate was missing in all the years they were servicing it!

From what you say it looks like a complete rebuild is in order. If you are doing the belt and braces job, then follow BMC's advice. I think I'd be tempted to put all new stuff in anyway and take advice on the regrinding/replacement of the crank, piston size etc.

Thanks for responses guys, I guess there is no-one around from the North-West then.

As for the 'respected' garage; since 1988 they have had over £18,000 from Mum according to the bills - I'm not going to bother with them - just happy that they will not get another penny from her.

Bxxxxx Hxxx that's £750 a year to service a Morris Minor, I bet it didn't do more than 3000 miles a year

Eeeegads! Does Mums tour the continent annually???? Even considering a clutch now and then -- maybe a few brake renewals -- what on earth were they charging her for? You might want to look at the details regarding any recent work and see if they really did it. Shops taking advantage of mums everywhere is unfortunately common and despicable.

nr16020 wrote:Thanks for responses guys, I guess there is no-one around from the North-West then.

As for the 'respected' garage; since 1988 they have had over £18,000 from Mum according to the bills - I'm not going to bother with them - just happy that they will not get another penny from her.

Seriously That is a huge amount of money that your mum has had to spend on what sounds like an annual service only. If they have missed something simple as a major component of the oil filter - and clearly, not just once but every time they have supposedly changed the oil - then what have they been charging her for? For that sort of money you could have restored three or four cars!

I know the temptation is to draw a line under it and move on but essentially they appear to have taken advantage of your mum and, if it was my mum they'd done that to, I'd be round there pronto asking a few tough questions! I'd be wanting some of my mum's money back!