Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello everyone.

I've been a Morris Minor owner for about 4 weeks now. I'm loving every second of it!
I was fortunate to have lots of paperwork with my car, and I'm working my way through previous
owners and other bits and pieces.

The car I have is a 1967 Morris Minor 1000 2 door saloon.
His name is Stanley and he is in wonderful condition and drives flawlessly.

I noticed that he had an engine change in 1984/85. Engine number is: 10MAUH273507
Having had a google I've come up with a few ideas about what this engine is, but I'm still a bit confused.

I used this site: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/engine/be100.htm

I was told this is a 1098cc engine and the engine number (if I'm correct) bears this out.

Can somebody confirm that my engine is a 1098 using the number above please?

And also, I've noticed on the logbook, it's classed as a 1000c, but I think this is a mistake as a couple of owners previously
the engine was shown as a 1098cc. The person I bought it from had it for over 30 years and the V5 shows it as 1000.

If it is a 1098 which I'm sure it is, I would like to change it on the V5.

Thank you in advance.

Craig.

This, I notice does not give any info on the meaning of engine nos but perhaps a lot of other data to help you

http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Identify.htm

The workshop manual which can be downloaded on th einternet, under general information page 7 gives

10 this is not shown on my example but number 9 is for a 950cc engine and 12 for a 1200cc - thus I assume 10 = 1000
M = Morris
A = "used for variationsof engine type"
U = centre gear change gearbox
H = High compression

Wow, that's a brilliant site! Hadn't come across that one.

Thank you for the link.

The engine number confirms that it is indeed a 1098cc engine.
On the N/S front of the engine under the manifold there should be a alloy plate stamped 1100.

The 1098cc engine was fitted from October 1962 and as your car is stated to be a 1967 Minor 1000 the 1098cc engine would have been fitted from new.
I hope the above is of help.

Quite often DVLA hold the wrong information and it is perpetuated upon a change of owner - for example my 185cc motorcycle was listed as a 125cc even though the engine and frame numbers clearly state otherwise and they were entered correctly on the registration document..

Phil

Engine number quoted dates it to between 1963 and March 1969 approx. 10MA indicates 1098cc Minor engine. U indicates centre floor gearchange. H indicates high compression engine so probably a pretty standard Minor engine from the period.

Great stuff. Thanks for the help everyone.

I'll get it changed on the V5 now I know for sure.

Cheers.

Craig.

I guess that because it says' Minor 1000' on it people have just assumed it was a 1000cc engine and registered it accordingly.

Could be. Understandable I suppose.

There are many errors on the DVLA system regarding engine sizes. Mine has a 948cc engine. My logbook (V5) states it as 998cc.

I'll get it changed. I'd like it to be correct. After 30 odd years of it being wrongly listed, there's not a huge rush I suppose.

The Minor became known as the Minor 1000 when the 948cc engine was first used. When the 1098cc engine was introduced the name was not changed, presumably to avoid confusion with the Morris 1100.

The DVLA record is shot through with inaccuracies, particularly for older vehicles. Trying to remedy errors can be fraught with problems and it may be better to let sleeping dogs lie.

Duly noted. Thank you for the warning.

I agree with ianmack, there is a risk.

As the DVLA representative for the Austin seven owners club I can concur with the previous messages, it may be better to keep things as they are, I know from previous experience you may be opening a can of worms.

Does anyone know if there is a list of A series engine numbers and approximately when they were built? My Midget has a 12H engine number, which means it is probably out of a Mini, i'd be curious to know when it was built, but I've never been able to find a list of numbers?

The engine from a Mini whilst possible to fit to a MG midget it is not economic to do so.
Firstly the rear main cap is different so a new rear main bearing cap and top half of the oil catcher is required which also involves line boring the bearing housings.
Secondly the oil pickup from the sump is different but can be overcome by adapting and modifying both the Midget and Mini oil pick up pipe and entry into the bottom of the block..

The 12H engine you have fitted could be derived from the Maestro which has the rear lip seal around the crank instead of the return scroll and oil thrower.
Fitting the Maestro engine was a common engine conversion.
The Maestro oil filter is placed as per the Marina/Ital above and to the rear of the distributer.
A photo of the engine fitted to you Midget would be helpful.
Phil

I have decided to leave the V5 details are they are. Not a big deal in the great scheme of things and as many of you have warned, I could be creating problems for myself. Possibly why the previous owner didn't bother either.

Thank you all for the advice. Now I'm off out for a drive in my wonderful Minor.
Don't have anywhere to go, but I've realised in these cars, that's not really an issue!

Cheers all.

Phil, here you go. I must admit I haven't noticed any differences from a standard 1275 Midget engine, but I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you for posting the pictures.
The engine certainly looks to be from a 1275cc Midget and that is a late Midget cross flow radiator thermostat housing.
As the engine number plate has been removed, possibly to re-bore the engine and a non standard stamped number put in its place I would not take the current engine number or the possibility that it originated from a 1275cc Mini as read.
I would suggest that the number (which may or may not incorporate some of the original engine number) is the production number from a/the engine reconditioning company.
The 1275cc Midget engine has a reinforcing channel on the O/S of the front engine plate when fitted with an alternator.
Are you able to discern the block casting number which is located on the lower rear of the N/S of the block underneath the camshaft housing.
The block casting number will confirm the blocks originality.
The flange that the sump bolts to - is it thick (14mm to 15mm) or does it have the thin flange?
The thickness of the flange will help identify the engine prefix i.e. 12V.
Phil

Hi Phil, below are the two numbers on the casting, the second one is I think the one you are referring to. You can also see the block flange is around 15mm thick. So it would appear it is a Midget 1275, despite the misleading number stamped on the block?