Morris Minor Owners Club

Good afternoon, I have just joined the club, having now bought a 1956 series 2. This particular car has a 1098 engine upgrade and I am trying to find out which engine it actually is. I have tried some of the serial number charts but cannot get anything that seems right. The ID plate shows:
10v/189E/L908? last could be5,6 or S
If anyone can give me a definitive answer I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

That’s a low compression engine from a late Van or Pickup, I can't give an exact date, perhaps 1970.

Regards John.

StillGotMy1stCar wrote: ↑Wed Apr 02, 2025 10:26 pm That’s a low compression engine from a late Van or Pickup, I can't give an exact date, perhaps 1970.

Regards John.

Yes, the 10V (10 meaning a 1098 and the V meaning 'vertical' for RWD rather than H for 'horizontal' for FWD), was the ID system introduced in March 69.

189E was the specific code to ID an engine destined for a Minor with dynamo fitted. Alternator engines were 190E.

And as you say the L is for Low Compression.
However, I wouldn't be 100% about it being a commercial vehicle engine just because it's a Low Compression.They were fitted to some cars if requested by the customer.

Many thanks, that’s just what I was after.

Phidi wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 11:46 am Many thanks, that’s just what I was after.

Your Engine ID easily solved as it's an original number.
My 1955 SII has a engine number starting 8G 162..... 8G was used to ID any Gold Seal Reconditioned engine, whatever the cc.
The Log Book said it was a 948cc and I had a letter from a garage saying they has checked it and that it was a 948cc.

As I got to know the car in the first few months I eventually checked a few part numbers and discovered the garage letter was wrong, they definitely should've gone to Specsavers, because it was a 1098; easily ID's by the numbers on the side of the block.

Thanks again for the information. I’ve now checked the compression and get 95, 90, 94.5, 95. psi. Which seems well Ok for balance but I assume this confirms the low compression version. When I get some spare time I’ll see which pistons are fitted and perhaps I can uprate the compression.

Raising the compression will doubtless give a bit more power (I think it was around an additional 3 bhp when new?), but having had 1098s with high and low compression engines, I can honestly say I didn't really notice the difference

Thanks for that, I think I’ll probably see how I get on with the low pressure setup.