Morris Minor Owners Club

Have a 1956 Series II Convertible from NZ.

At present fitted with 948 engine.

Putting back to original spec, my question is should it have 803 engine or 948?

Chassis No. 55416049

Thank you in anticipation

G'day 803 is the correct engine. Just be careful too as the 803 gearbox is different to the 948 box although they can be mated together. If you have the original gearlever (the magic wand - long style) then you probably have an 803 box or a 948 box with the remote gearlever extension swapped for the 803 end. If you can post a pic that would help.

Thank you has later gearbox but have 803 box . So can now proceed with change over thank you very much

You will seriously regret the drop in performance......Especially if you fit the correct H1 SU carb - with only 1 1/8" choke diameter.

The 948 unit is undoubtedly more powerful and more user friendly than the original 803 which, by any standards, is pretty weak. Some say the 948 unit is the 'sweetest' engine used by the Minor. Using the S2 air filter assembly and separating the dynamo and coil as per S2 spec etc. on the 948 will make it look like the 803. The only obvious external difference between the two is the spin on oil filter - which itself is barely up to the job. The later paper element filter is far better. Unless you are going for concours, I think I would be tempted to leave the 948 engine and box in place. You will probably find the car more enjoyable and practical to use. If it's concours and originality competitions you are up for then, yep, the 803 will probably have to go back in

Problem with the 803 'screw on' filter is that new filters available today have TOO LARGE a hole in them - and since they are 'by-pass' filters this drops the oil pressure too much..and the crank bearings (hard to get and expensive) quickly give up. So if doing this - unless you have a stock of new-old filters - you need to fit an adapter plug before fitting a 'new' filter. I think Declan may have some for sale...... And fit a new Concentric oil pump, to replace the miserable old sliding vane pump.....

Thank you everyone

I have a 803 floor panel and 803 gearbox so can I just replace the 948 box with 803 box onto the 948 engine?

You can but the box probably would not last long and the ratios would not be suited to a 948. Best solution is to swap the tail sections over so that you keep the long gear lever on the 948 box

See this thread - it's all here

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... 2&start=30

As above - keep the 948 box, just fit the 803 gear lever parts to it if you want the 'original' look.

bmcecosse wrote:Problem with the 803 'screw on' filter is that new filters available today have TOO LARGE a hole in them - and since they are 'by-pass' filters this drops the oil pressure too much..and the crank bearings (hard to get and expensive) quickly give up. So if doing this - unless you have a stock of new-old filters - you need to fit an adapter plug before fitting a 'new' filter. I think Declan may have some for sale...... And fit a new Concentric oil pump, to replace the miserable old sliding vane pump.....

The club has a large stock of original S11 canister filters so no member need worry for the time being.