Morris Minor Owners Club

First of all hello to everyone. Just got myself a 1959 Morris Minor and am wondering if there is as yet any answer to the overly hard engine mounting issue as I see a few owners are regretting replacing the old ones. The reason I asked as you'll gather is the previous owner has obviously changed these on 'Boris' and i'd like to get hold of the softer type if available.
Any info?
Cheers.

Some have had success by drilling holes through the rubber to soften the mounts.

Yes I've seen that elsewhere on the board here. Any feedback as to how many holes / what size?
I recon I'll get another pair of new mounts when I drill these just in case. After all if drilled too much they'll be weak.

I might be barking up the wrong tree here with the engine mounts. Previous owner has put in a 1275 marina engine coupled to a sierra 5 speed box. On a close look over (only had car a week) it looks like the bell housing is touching the steering rack as they've put a thin piece of rubber between the two. So it looks like my options are to move the engine n box forward a touch or lower the engine and or box to gain a bit of clearance. Easiest to try is to lower the box pivoting the engine on the front mounts.
Your thoughts / suggestions greatly appreciated.

Is there an additional backing plate between the engine block and the gearbox bell housing? If there is it may indicate that it is a Maestro engine which has been fitted and is similar to the Marina but has a lip seal on the rear of the crankshaft. If there is a alloy backing plate/spacer (which holds the lip seal) it would push the bell housing back about 24mm. The 1275cc Maestro engine to Minor is a well trodden conversion.
The normal 1275cc Midget/1275cc Marina conversion plus type five gearbox has adequate clearance and does not foul the steering rack.
The usual trick of overcoming the problem is to swap the engine mounting towers from left to right and vies versa which will bring the engine forward about 24mm.
If you do change the engine mounts over make sure that there is adequate clearance between the 1275cc water pump and the radiator especially under braking.
A photo of the rear of the engine where the block to bell housing mates would be of benefit in giving an qualified opinion.
As regards engine mounts I recently purchased a pair of NOS from sparesman. He may have some left.

I believe some people chop down the front mount towers to lower the gearbox away from the rack.

Interesting info on reversing the engine tower mounts. I recon I'll try first to see how much the gearbox mount needs to be lowered to give a bit of clearance from the rack, if a max of 4mm drop or so on the gearbox crossmember sorts it i'll make up spacer plates, obviously i'll need to keep an eye on the box to prop angle and also the prop through the crossmember. Failing that it'll be reversing the engine mount towers room permitting. I'll get some pictures up soon as I can't see a spacer plate between the engine and box. As I said I was told it was a Marina 1275 engine coupled to a sierra 5 speed box. Obviously the bellhousing being pressed against the steering rack will certainly increase engine noise and vibration in the car (Didn't notice it much on the test drive as the exhaust was blowing.
But all said n done problems as well what a great car the good old Mog is.

You may find that packing the gearbox cross member gives you the adequate clearance required and without effecting the prop-shaft angles.
This is the packing I fitted between cross member and chassis leg when fitting the Ford derived Quaife 4 speed box and 1275cc Marina 'A' Plus engine though there was adequate clearance between gearbox bell housing and rack without.
The front engine mounts are pure standard Minor.[frame][/frame]

Those spacers and general underside of your mog certainly looks clean. I've checked the engine number and as far as I can find (as it starts with 12V) is that it is a 1275 Marina (then on saying that it does appear to have a spacer plate between the block and bellhousing!!) . I had a bit of time today and backed off the steady bar at the rear of the block yet there was still no movement at all when trying to rock the engine. I then loosened off the engine mounts and put a jack n block of wood under the sump and couldn't get any lift off of the mountings at all, even with the engine mounts undone there's no engine movement !! . I hope whoever fitted it didn't plonk it on the front mounts then just jack the back end up so it's jammed in. Oh and I tried to lower the gearbox crossmember and it looks like they used back nuts in the chassis rail as they came loose but won't come out !! So next will be tunnel out to get to the back nuts. !!!! Fun fun fun !!

Yes - there are caged nuts in there. And yes it does appear that the gearbox has simply been jacked up into position. Is the 'spacer plate' not simply the normal adapter plate that joins engine to gearbox - and carries the starter motor. Approx 5/16" thick.....

Yes on thinking about the plate yes it more than likely is.

I then loosened off the engine mounts and put a jack n block of wood under the sump and couldn't get any lift off of the mountings at all, even with the engine mounts undone there's no engine movement !!

On Mar 30 you said:

it looks like the bell housing is touching the steering rack as they've put a thin piece of rubber between the two

You won't get any lift off of the engine mounts as long as the bell housing is against the steering rack.

Yes I know, I was just trying to confirm that the bellhousing was indeed jammed up against the rack. Which it is now looking to be the case.