Morris Minor Owners Club

Am I right in thinking there are only 5 core plugs and 4 oil gallery plugs on the 1275 engine block?
My block is the thick flange pre A+ block.
I'm taking the block to be ultrasonically cleaned and will be removing all the plugs before I start.

Thanks

Dermot

Dermot
You are correct in that there are 5 core plugs or welch plugs in a 1275cc pre 'A' plus block.

There are a couple of other oil gallery plugs in the 'A' Series block that should be drilled out, tapped and plugs fitted. They are just as important as the fore and aft galleries

I did a thread on this subject with pictures which has now been removed.
I am not sure if you are going to fit knock in plugs or threaded plugs. I fit screw in plugs every time.

No matter here are some pictures of the other oil gallery plugs. Below is a picture of the two oil gallery plugs for the oil pressure relief valve. The rear oil gallery plugs must be flush (or just below) with the rear face of the block. When you fit the front O/S oil gallery plug you must ensure that the plug does not block the oil gallery to the front main. The O/S rear plug should be checked as well. Phil

Ah those pictures explain a lot thank you.

I had located the brass oil gallery plugs but hadn't given the oil pressure relief valve a thought.
Can you recall the length of the plugs you used in the main oil galleries?
Its not a problem if you cant I can measure once I have drilled out the brass plugs.

The cheap 1275 engine I bought was properly seized and I had to hammer the pistons out of the bores, I plan on cleaning the head before taking it to be assessed by the engine rebore people hence the removal of the core plug and oil gallery plugs

Regards

Dermot.

Phil

I found your original post with the photographs when searching on google so I have the dimensions of the plugs you mentioned.

Thanks

Dermot.

Dermot
A tip for cleaning the inside of the block and it works well.
Use citric acid mixed at a ratio of 6 table spoons to 1 litre of warm water. Fill the block and leave for some time - the last block I did I left for 4 weeks and the inside of the block came up like new.

Here is the link to fitting the oil gallery plugs for those that are interested
viewtopic.php?t=61661

Phil

philthehill wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:21 am Dermot
A tip for cleaning the inside of the block and it works well.
Use citric acid mixed at a ratio of 6 table spoons to 1 litre of warm water. Fill the block and leave for some time - the last block I did I left for 4 weeks and the inside of the block came up like new.

Here is the link to fitting the oil gallery plugs for those that are interested
viewtopic.php?t=61661

Phil

I have searched where to purchase Citric Acid, apparently its used in the preparation of explosive devices and drug users use it for drug taking, I hope my asking for it doesn't lead to a dawn raid on my garage, and worse still the seizure of my engine block!!

Phil,
While on the topic of cleaning the block, I would like some advice. I blew the head gasket between cylinders 3&4 on my car about three weeks ago. It is a 1098 block with a 940 head. It had been on there for nearly 10 years. I have no drain tap on the block so I decided it was time to fit one which I had had lying around. I unscrewed the drain plug on the block and only a few drops came out-so there is a blockage in there somewhere. Poking in screwdrivers did nothing. Could that have been the cause of the head gasket blowing? Is there any easy way of of unblocking it?. It is all back together and running well but the question is for how long….? My mate had a similar issue and he blew head gaskets like they were going out of fashion.
If it means engine out then I will go ahead and fit the 1275 still lying on my bench.
Any advice welcome.

Regards
Declan

Declan
You might like to see these old topics about Drain tap gunk:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=66854&hilit=drain+tap#p606323
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=69914&hilit=drain+tap#p635990

My drain tap was completely gunked up a few years ago when I got Basil.

Geoberni,
Many thanks! I have read through it-seems to be a common issue.
Regards
Declan

Dermot

Here you go.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITRIC-ACID- ... e1dc1f4547

Declan
The water galleries of the 'A' Series are not the best for gaining access too even with the core plugs out.
Lack of water circulation because of the crud in both head and block could be a cause of head gasket failure.
I would isolate the head and block and fill the coolant void with citric acid and leave it for a while.
I would check the reaction between a head gasket and citric acid before you fill the engine though. The water pump should be ok as I use a water pump to close off the water pump aperture with the bottom hose turned upside down and the heater return pipe blocked with a bolt. I then fill the engine with citric acid as required.
Phil

this is great! with my 1275 block at the machine block, I shall be collecting it soon. They said they would give it a bath, but after seeing the link to the acid, if just bought a bag!

Thanks Phil,
I will have to order another head gasket to do it.
Regards
Declan

I have today dropped my block, crankshaft and caps off at Road and Competition Engineering run by a gentleman called Jim Brindle.
Apparently Jim is well known in mini circles and looking at his workshop and the quality of his workmanship my head in good hands he has experience in rallying and Racing and from recommendations he knows his onions when it comes to A-series engines.

Its going to be re-bored to +0.60 its +0.40 at the moment and the crank will be checked for ovalness (Is that the correct word?) and if all is well it will be reground to clean it up due to marks where it has been standing.

Jim is also going to drill and tap the oil galleries and put the block in his magic cleaner which he assures me gets the block very clean.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Dermot.

For those that are interested:-

https://www.raceltd.com/

philthehill wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 2:55 pm For those that are interested:-

https://www.raceltd.com/

Phil

The above is a different company, the chap I used is Road and Competition Engineering in Chorley.
He doesn't appear to have a website but has a minor presence on Facebook:

https://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/catego ... 441895409/

Chorley - as in cakes? One of my favorite cakes.

Thank you for clearing that up and the Facebook link.

philthehill wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 5:20 pm Chorley - as in cakes? One of my favorite cakes.

Thank you for clearing that up and the Facebook link.

Yes indeed the same Chorley, I was offered a cup of tea but sadly no Chorley cake.

For the uninitiated into the delights of Chorley cake.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorley_cake

My mouth is watering as I write.

Who said this site was boring

philthehill wrote: ↑Wed Jun 03, 2020 5:39 pm For the uninitiated into the delights of Chorley cake.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chorley_cake

My mouth is watering as I write.

Who said this site was boring

To add insult to injury I work in Eccles.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eccles_cake