Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi folks,
Bought myself an engine last month, took a chance that it may have been a Midget one, ended up costing £5.50 and was only 40 odd miles away, so thought i'd go for it.

So, with it were these bits which i am going to sell as i do not need them. The crankshaft pulley (damped version), 295 head and engine plates will be of use though. I just want to know a bit of information about the bits.



The filter housing has the sender on it, was this only on the Midget? Also the bracket which i assume is just to aid clearance? I suppose the sender was there so that you could put an pressure gauge in the normal hole?



Next is the 23d4 dizzy with 15degree weight. I hear very popular with the Cooper S lot? Not really fussed on it myself and i have a 45d with lumenition ready to pop in, so will go with that. Much more i need to know about this?



Next is the cam, it's not fit for sale, but may fit if it is anything special and can be "brought up" to a good standard. I can't see any part numbers, not sure what i need to measure to see if it anything grand.

Unfortunately the crank is standard, not the 2 inch jobbie. This isn't a for sale advert or anything, really just an information thread, so please don't move to for sale, mods!

The filter take off is the 'blocked filter' warning - pretty useless really, and you do see the buckle in the filter casing....? That cam is way beyond redemption.......with the twin gear take-offs - it may well be a 648 'full race' cam (is it not typed 648 or 649 on the drive end?) - although it's possible some 544 '3/4 race' cams were also made with that extra take off which was to drive a dry sump pump. It's a great shame it is in such poor condition..... The dizzy I assume has no vacuum unit fitted? The 15 degree mech advance is good - but these days we know we NEED the vacuum advance.
Cally - do please tell - what pistons are fitted - can we see a pic?? Although this does seem to be a non-standard engine (the cam and crank damper confirm that) so the pistons may not be originals. What's the engine number?

Yes i saw the "ding" in the cartridge, but figured i can put mine on it when i fit the spin on.

Here's a few more pics.
It is indeed a 649 cam, shame!


These are a few bits in 1 pic. Shows the dizzy, yes indeed vacuumless. I agree that i want vacuum, hence not needing this one. Just soaking off at the mo in some oil! 2 of the pedestals for. The rockers appear to be alloy, any reason for this?!



This is the con-rod and also the piston. Pistons are +30's, so defo replacements. One piston is knackered though unfortunately



And finally the crank


So that's it, any other info you have folks, please do let me know!

Look like the horrible SINTERED iron rockers - a very unwise choice with a 649 cam - which is in any case a very unwise choice for a 1098 engine........ The Al alloy pillars are weak - get rid of them. This has been a real bodge up engine build - did it have duplex chain drive to the 649 ??? It was the piston crowns I was hoping to see - to see if they are 'raised D' type.

For some reason the picture cropped the top the piston, but itis just a normal dished piston, albeit +30.
Arethe rods just standard rods? Crank is just a normal one, so i assume so.
I had no plans to fitthe rockers, just seemed a bit hop-scotch to fit the alloy pedestals with 2 normal ones.
There was a duplex in there yes, don't forget inad the 286 kentwith my old imp piston'd 1098 Mini engine.

I must confess to be considering another 1215 though...

For the money, it was worth itjust for the crankshaft pulley though!!

Oh yes - well worth it for all the bits. Where has it been -lying in a river?? I would get a 948 crank - and Mini 998 pistons and rods. You really can't rely on a 1098 crank over 6000 rpm. Sell the 295 head for megabucks - and fit cheap 940 head. Another 544/286 cam and you have a potential 75/85 bhp depending how well you do the head.......

Yes, all pretty gnarly!
Well, my current engine (948) will be having some basic improvements, 202 head, 1098 cam, 1.5 su on alloy manifold, ital exhaust manifold and exhaust to suit (because i got it for free from pops). That should give me plenty.

But...

I will sell off a few bits that i have from this Midget engine, put that towards the 295 head work, then when the time comes, fit that.

Then...

When the finances are there, rebuild a 1098, either with some plus 20's my dad has, or the imp pistons. Couple that with a 940 head, 266 cam, it should be a nice warmed through engine
But for now i shall just enjoy having my car on the road!

I loved my Mini 1215 though, it was an absolute rocket!

1098 rods are 12G126 and 12G123, but neither are the number on yours by the look of it? The 1098 Sprite/Midget used the same rods, so I wonder what they are?

The whole engine is an interesting find, do you have any information about its history?

Very standard looking rods - not 'Cooper S' type as would be fitted to a high performance engine. With difficulty of course - since they won't pass down the bores..... Seriously - sell the 295.....

Well, another rod said 12G127 on it, much clearer...so looks like fairly standard rods no?

Oh, and the 295 isn't in grand condition, so needs a bit of work anyway.

Hi for info years ago I had the 1098 engine on my traveller tuned to Road Ecomoney spec with a fast road cam (a266), a higher compression head (9.5:1), balanced flywheel and a heavy duty Big End main and thrust bearings. Its been rebuilt since but is still pulling well. I also fitted a ford 5 speed box to drop the revs while on long trips.

I take it that you will be using a decent inlet and exhaust manifold, bigger bore exhaust andsomething like a KN filter with a stub stack fitted?

Hi Folks,
A little update.
Have been slowly selling the bits off in order to fund the engine build.
Sold the 295 for £75, which was helpful.

So my build will now be...
my current bottom end (948). Has been rebuilt at some point recently and has +30 pistons.
246 cam, bought pretty cheaply on ebay and looks to be in very good condition. Will require a slot drive oil pump though.
940 head, small valve version, bought for £30 posted on ebay, awaiting delivery.
Ital twin downpipe manifold onto 2 box "big bore" exhaust (the normal one purchased from the dealers).
Alloy inlet with Hs4 Carb and air filter housing with K&N inside.

All of that is purchased, so not a pipe dream build. I will be doing exhaust/manifolds/carb and head in the next month i think. Cam will wait until i fit the overdrive box that my dear pops has waiting for me, as i will need to remove engine to fit new pump, i would prefer to only need to do that once.

Should be a good fun engine!

Although a 246 (except that VVVVVV one !!! hahahaha) is nothing special - you should fit it NOW (why would you not??) , because the standard cam is pathetic.... But check the lift once fitted and make sure the 940 valves have enough clearance. Try to get hold of a crankshaft damper!

Got the damper with the midget engine, so fear not, that will be fitted.
Ok, well i'll have a think Mr Ecosse, good excuse to have a good gander...!

OK,
Plans are in the making.
I have the week booked off work at the end of the month, needless to say the weather will almost certainly change by then.
I have decided to go against my own judgement and remove the engine to do the mods, so i shall be changing the cam too.
Decided to change the back plate to the 1098 one (948 plate atm), as i'm a bit sceptical of the work the previous owner had commissioned in fitting the ribcase to the 950 engine. The clutch linkage is a massive lash up, so worth a gander.
A fair list of items to change and upgrade with around 4 days to do it in, but should be easy enough (ha, famous last words). Always dread changing an exhaust as they never fit easily! But with the mods planned i should be able to have fairly decent power at my disposal without the need to upgrade the brakes/axle, which is ideal for my needs these days, whilst retaining it's Morris identity.