Morris Minor Owners Club

Why do things feel like they're conspiring against me?

I've had my engine out for an overhaul and have had to replace a few bits. Now when I come to put it back in, I notice a hairline crack in the backplate. Having thought, hmm maybe it isn't that bad - crack, it gives way all together.

One backplate, two halves!

A speedy trip to ESM tomorrow morning to pick up a new one has been organised. Oh well, things can't always be easy

where r u in kent mate?

I notice a hairline crack in the backplate

make sure your propshaft balance weights are still there and that the rear bish in the gearbox is not sloppy (wiggle the front end of the prop. Also check the propshaft UJ's are ok.
If you have any of these faults you may end up needing more than one new backplate.
If you drive with a broken backplate and these vibration sources it is vey soon followed by the top of the bellhousing breaking off )

I had a load of bad luck on one car (including 3 broken backplates) so I learned the hard way. I also also worked out how to weld the backplate back together as I ran out of spares - Where it is in free space, you can add some strengthening strips so that it didn't just rely on the weld.

SR wrote:where r u in kent mate?

I'm in Maidstone.

Thanks for the advice Ray. These things do tend to happen for a reason.

Never heard of this before - is it a common thing ?

It's not a very common thing unless you have run-out in the propshaft.
If the prop is running out, it acts like a wild caravan on the back of a small saloon car (probably only a good analagy if you've seen that) and yanks the gearbox, about causing big stresses and the backplate bends through its weakest point (aided by some bolt holes) until it starts to crack.

the rear bish in the gearbox

No bishops at the back of the gearbox! It's a bush (and it's name's not George!)

Jings ! The vibration must be quite alarming to cause this - surely any sane person would sort it out before it could cause this damage ?