Morris Minor Owners Club

I have just replaced the 803 engine in my series 2 with a 948 while I rebuild it. The new engine is great and a bargain at £150 (at least in comparison with the 803 - quite pokey and very quiet). However there are a couple of small leaks. First, water pump. Is there a bleed hole directly at the bottom of the pump housing? The leak is coming from there as witnessed from when I got underneath to have a look. I've checked all other joints and no leaks elsewhere. Other than a new wp gasket what other seals would I need to make the pump water tight?
Secondly, I've managed to stem the tide of petrol leaking from the float chamber on the replacement carb to a 'weep' that keeps the gasket damp and petrol sits just below the rim. I have replaced the float valve and seat and adjusted the float arm to 5/16" but it is still the same. I have checked the float (brass) and that seems ok. Is this normal on the hs2 carbs (though can't imagine it is) or is my next move a new float?

Many thanks, Paul

hi,
Best remove the water pump for closer examination, there may be a small crack causing the leak, not to sure if
a core plug may have a little problem in that area.
Firstly you could check if the head by pass hose and its clips may be the cause.

Good luck.

Roy.

The hole in the bottom of the water pump dribbling indicates the water is getting past the pumps seals, best to either rebuild with new seals / bearings etc or buy a new one, if you listen to the pump with a wooden handled screwdriver to your ear, you will find it rattles like Marleys chains suggesting age related wear and tear.
There is available a long and a short impeller type, check with the supplier which fits your new engine, if its the short type then the long type will foul against the engine and can only be fitted by the addition of .6mm additional gaskets,better to get the right beastie if possible I think.
As for the brass fuel float, a friend of mine soldered/braised a leak in the float once he had drilled a small hole in the top to empty all the fuel out, (safety first) then soldered the hole up,he tells me it worked a treat.
Is the fuel staying in the chamber and not leaking any more? if so it sounds like you have sorted it.

Thanks folks

I'll obviously need to get it off for a closer look. I don't know how long the new engine has been laid up (though it runs a treat) so my first thought is that the seals have maybe dried up and crumbled. I'll have a listen through the screwdriver - got a lovely big one that I use for just that purpose - though the engine is very quiet. Didn't realise that the pumps came with different length impellers, that's a great tip, thanks.

The float bowl weep is frustrating. How can something so simple be such a pain to fix!

All the best, Paul

If it is just a weep I would leave it seeing as you will be fitting a rebuilt 803 - no point spending good money on a temporary engine.

The engine rebuild (and rolling renovation of the car) is a long term project, so don't mind spending a few pounds to get this engine working well over the next year. I've just checked out the cost of replacement water pumps for the 948 and very surprised. How do I tell whether I have an early 948 engine or a later one re the impeller length? Is there an engine number situated somewhere?

Paul

I think there is only one water pump used on both 948 and 1098, it is the 1275 engine that has a different water pump.

Yep, the short impeller variety fits the 948.ESM list the long impeller for the 1275 and 1098, but my 1098 could have done with the short version really, as the long impeller fouled.

Hmnnn...

The Bull Motif site advertises the early 948 engines as short impellor types. I presume the later 948, 1098 and 1275 engines are long impellor types?. Hope its a later type fits mine as this could save me 4 quid. £15 sounds a lot better than £19, especially when vat and postage are added on...

sudburypaul wrote:Hmnnn...

The Bull Motif site advertises the early 948 engines as short impellor types. I presume the later 948, 1098 and 1275 engines are long impellor types?. Hope its a later type fits mine as this could save me 4 quid. £15 sounds a lot better than £19, especially when vat and postage are added on...

esm £13.95
Part number 10M294A...................short impeller.

Have now checked the ESM site. As its a pound cheaper with gasket than my previous shopping trip I'm going to order the 948 'one size fits all' short impellor pump and hope for the best.

Thanks for all the help with this chaps

Paul

Interesting, the BMC Parts Manual only lists one part number for all 948 and 1098 Minor engines - 12A 1332, which superseded the earlier 948 versions.

your fuel problem is highly likely to be the needle valve,not the float,you can actualy lap the needle into the seat using valve grinding paste,but not worth the bother when you can buy a new valve and needle for next to nothing,and very easy to replace.

The 948 and 1098 are the same block - so they share the same short pump. The 1275 is designed to take the slightly larger impeller pump.

948 and 1098 DO NOT share the same pump- it's the short impellor (sp?!) for 948, and the long one for 1098 (I've been there with both engine types and both pump types!). I believe BMC used to list the 2 types for the different engine types. Get the short impellor type, or chances are, you'll find the long one doesn't fit.

You may be LUCKY and get the long pump in to the 1098 - but originally it was fitted only with the short pump. Long pump only came in with the 1275.

liammonty wrote:948 and 1098 DO NOT share the same pump- it's the short impellor (sp?!) for 948, and the long one for 1098 (I've been there with both engine types and both pump types!). I believe BMC used to list the 2 types for the different engine types. Get the short impellor type, or chances are, you'll find the long one doesn't fit.

I fitted the long impeller pump to my 1098, but only after spacing the pump away from the block by the use of additional gasket paper, exactly .6 of 1mm.
This of course moves the pully wheel out by the same amount though, the short impeller pump would be better for the 1098 as well as the 948 I think.

It's a 'standard' mod on v high power 998 Minis - fitting the larger pump to maximise the cooling (and no thermostat/no by-pass hose/blanking sleeve fitted) - often involves taking a small amount off the blades to get it in.

I believe BMC used to list the 2 types for the different engine types

In the 'official' BMC Morris Minor Parts Manual there is only one pump listed for both 948 and 1098, but as it seems possible to fit the longer impellor type into the 1098 (sometimes?), is that why some of the MM suppliers suggest using it? It is a higher capacity pump, so would be an advantage to fit it to give a bit more headroom when the cooling requirements are really needed - those blisteringly hot UK summer days we all seem to remember from our childhood!!

It seems I stand corrected! With the recent heatwave, I'm glad I managed to shoehorn the larger pump into my standard 1098! It will stand me in good stead for global warming!