Morris Minor Owners Club

I have 3 engines and 5 gearboxes and have no idea if they are any good.

I am putting together a simple stand.

I can see that it should be pretty easy to test if the engine fires up and runs but am not sure if there is anything that can safely be seen from the gearbox as using the clutch and adding any load will be dangerous I suspect.

Any tips will be much appreciated.

I just did not want to fix up the traveller and find that the engine is shot.



Thanks

Running an engine like that will tell you nothing ! You need to open it up and inspect it. Take sump off - inspect the centre main - if it's knackered go no further. If good - inspect big-end on 2 or 3 - if good, then take the head off and check the bores - if no obvious wear/scores then it's likely to be good !! Check the head later - any head can be used - it's the half engine that's important. For the gearbox - again it's a strip down, or take pot luck !

Agreed, but I have found that the best 'engine frame' is a car! Because then you don't have to worry about rigging up fuel, electrics, exhaust etc as it's all already there!

to make sure i had fitted the diff to my mini gearbox properly i just ran the engine with it sitting on my parents driveway. It makes lots of pretty sparks when you turn a starter over by connecting it with a jump lead to a battery. BTW has anybody found a use for a mk1 metro other than as a engine donor?

TerryG wrote:BTW has anybody found a use for a mk1 metro other than as a engine donor?

Yep! As a rival for the Mk1 Fiesta

I must say that I was expecting this answer. But at this stage I dont intend to strip the engines I will try to run them to make sure that they are not totally bu****ed.

Waste of time - you can have the sump off in less than 10 minutes to check the bearings. And yes - the Metro has good drive flanges that can be used with Fiesta Mk I calipers to make excellent brakes for a Mini !! The horn is also good !