Morris Minor Owners Club

Head came of LMM today, wonder how long its been on it? Possibly over half a century considering it's been off the road for 48 years. Got to free it up now [frame][/frame]

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Nice one Rich!

Are you getting it ready for the National then???!!!

Well done that man!

We had several attempts over the 20+ years that it was "resting" with us but never got far and just gave it another soaking and put it back in the shed!!

At least with the head off now you can strip it from the bottom up and knock the pistons out one at a time if need be. Suspect they are well grown into the block though!

Thanks guys, credit should go to dad really, he came up with a pretty effective way of getting it off. We used four old spark plugs (not L10s!) knocked the porcelain off then welded tubes to each four plug. Another smaller sideways tube was then welded to the top so a bar could slide through. This could then be lifted by the engine crane effectively pulling the head off the block using the cars weight. Left it 'dangling' for about a week spraying mech oil on the studs each day and tapping with a brass hammer. Heated the studs up twice aswell with a blowtorch. Eventually it came off.

On inspection the water ways are very warty, dads got a few ideas for the pistons but as you say Carlo we can go in from the bottom if need be.

I'm going to try and get to the national in my daily driver David, it's the one that's been looked over the most and has had the most work. LMM still needs quite a few bits but we will keep tinkering with it overtime, been caught up recently with school and one of the Land Rovers that's having some body work...

Needlessly to say though, we're both chuffed!

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That device should be patented!!

I recently bought an Austin 10 and the head gasket went on my first proper drive, I was anticipating a disaster to remove it having heard of people having to let engines hang, one guy was telling me that he pulled the engine mountings apart on his Austin 8 doing this and had to make a set of replacements. Anyway the head on my Austin shifted so easily it must never have been torqued down.