Morris Minor Owners Club

Having just acquired a 1952 convertible with a sidevalve engine last week and getting used to its idiosynchracies, I had a look under the bonnet and discovered the loud noise it made going up hills on the way home was due to the exhaust manifold to exhaust pipe gasket blowing. It was blowing directly onto the fuel pipe which was not held in its usual clip, probably done when a new fuel pump was fitted.

I have a new gasket on its way from ESM, but wondered two things:
1. What size are the two bolts? Hopefully I can reuse them if plenty of WD40 or equivalent allows them to be undone, but they may well shear off. I have looked at the parts manual but no details, only a part number.
2. I have read elsewhere on this forum that some kind of heat shield is advised due to the proximity of the fuel pipe to the exhaust. Where can I get one? Does anyone have a photo and can they be made up easily if not available?

Photo of the problem attached.

The heat shield is down where the shock damper is bolted to the firewall. Can take pic if required. I used stainless steel bolts and nuts bought at a hardware store.

This is the heat shield that is used to protect the upriser fuel pipe.
https://www.morrisminorspares.com/fuel- ... ly-p830677
The smaller part is used to protect the HS2 carb float chamber and is not suitable for the carb (if standard) fitted to your engine.
The upriser fuel pipe in your photo should be retained by the L/H clip. A piece of split piping should be between the pipe and clip. If retained by the L/H clip the upriser fuel pipe is kept further away from the exhaust so reducing the possibility of fuel vaporisation.

Thanks for the link to the ESM site for the heat shield Phil. Yes, the pipe needs to be put back in its proper clip and the advice about the insulating pipe is helpful. The car already has the heatshield for the shock absorber in place, which is further to the right.

Standard WD40 is of little use for that particular application of undoing the clamp bolts. You need a good penetrating oil such as 'Plus-Gas' though I've also had great success with a product called 'Ambersil Rust Flash' - a rust loosener with freeze shock. Plus-Gas can be found on Amazon, ebay and from Screwfix. Ambersil Rust Flash from 'BearingBoys' and 'RS Components' among many other outlets.

After much wd40 I removed a very tight screw with hair straighteners heat and driver head held in to it.