Morris Minor Owners Club

All,
I imagine I already know the answer to this question, but I wanted to be certain before painting.

Is this bend supposed to be there, or should the frontplate be perfectly flat (except the upturned ends, of course)? This is off a 1972 Midget-spec 1275cc, if it matters.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

It doesn't look right to me and my 1098 plate is flat.

The 'A' Series front engine plate should be absolutely flat except for the turned up ends.
Later Midgets had a reinforcing plate attached on the O/S of the plate and which had the dynamo/alternator adjuster stub fixed through it.
The several I have on the shelf are all perfectly flat.
Below is a 1275cc Midget front engine plate with the reinforcing plate which has been shortened to accommodate the late timing cover (CAM4904) with tensioner bulge.[frame][/frame]

Here is a 1275cc Midget front engine plate on your side of the pond and located not too far from you:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-Midget-Aus ... SwPYZU64Wu

As I suspected! Hmm. Looking back through old photos, I don't see that the engine came to me with that bracket/reinforcing plate/stiffener thing, but who knows if it had it to begin with.

It looks as if I have two options: unbend this plate (and use some method of reinforcing it so it doesn't bend again - weld on some angle, maybe?), or replace the plate. Phil, thanks for pointing me to the one on eBay.

Here's a photo of the reinforcing plate and also the new timing marks.
Regards
Declan[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

You won't need the reinforcing unless expecting severe use of the engine/car? Just hammer it flat. It may have been bent on purpose to pull the engine slightly forward to help clear the steering rack and battery box.

If you hammer it flat you will most likely put a distortion elsewhere in the plate which in all probability will lead to an oil leak between front plate and block.
My advise for what it is worth is replace the front engine plate.
If it has been bent on purpose to clear say the rack you have additional problems to worry about.
There is absolutely no need to bend anything when correctly fitting a 1275cc Midget engine to a Minor.
Phil

I reckon someone dropped the engine at some point, and bent the plate, it doesn't look like an intentional bend. Not easy to flatten, the cover is often distorted without adding another area of ripples!

The bend looks to be well away from the cover sealing line. Frankly I would just use it as is. The car may have been in a hard frontal - causing the engine to move forward, but I would have expected the rubber mounts to give way before that plate would bend!

I would find a nice friendly engineering shop that will let you borrow thier fly press for half hour, sure you could tweak that out on a sturdy press.

A wee heavy hammer and a block of hardwood will fix it if you feel you really MUST.

I feel like I may as well try to fix it before I spend money on a replacement - I always prefer to use original parts where I can, after all. An engineer friend suggested putting it in a vice and wiggling it straight with a large adjustable wrench. I may instead be able to have my place of work (a factory) use their press to flatten it.

After that, I'll probably weld a small bit of angle onto the back, to prevent a repeat - and then it can get paint.