Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all , firstly the car been started 4 times since being laid up at the end of the summer . When I start it from cold I'm hearing a light rattle , bit like the pinking noise Roy describes , only on the overun , not on acceleration . Once the engine gets to running temp the noise is nothing like when cold , hardly noticeable . Not looking forward to this diagnosis

BMC and co will no doubt offer the options.
Being an optimistic soul I would hope (if it were my car) for a tappet/valve clearance/wear issue.
In which case it aint too bad

Sounds like loose con-rod bearings, and/or weak oil pump.
When cold, remove the spark plugs, crank it over until oil pressure comes up, re-install spark plugs and start it up. Does it still rattle?

It won't be pinking -only happens under load... Just lack of oil to the rockers I suspect.. Don't worry too much at this stage. DO fit an oil pressure gauge !!

I was hoping that would be the answer Roy ,I was using the word pinking to give an indication of the noise only , hopefully because of the length of time laying the top end would be dry , going to do an oil and filter change and will fit a pressure gauge . The engine was quite before being laid up . Do you think I should flush the engine first although the oil in it is pretty fresh

No! But do have the oil good and hot before draining. Wilko 20W50 is fine.

It may be the timing chain and possibly an exhaust leak around the manifold area.