Morris Minor Owners Club

I have only ever fitted the core plugs which have lips on them before now, so I was unsure whether I have
fitted these convex/dished type correctly or not.
Do you have to hammer them in the middle to try and flatten them and therefore expand them into the hole please?
I did use a Loctite sealer to bed them in as well but one of them is still weeping a bit.
Maybe I haven't hit it hard enough yet, but I was concerned about damaging the block.

Any help gratefully received thank you

Graham.

Yes hit in the centre (concave out) with blunt punch around 1/3 diameter of the plug. Used to use welseal

Or the ball of a ball pein hammer.....

Stephen

Many thanks to both of you.
I did manage to hit the 1st one with a decent ball pein hammer and that one is fine so far but the middle one
had the oil pipe to filter in the way and so I had to use a large ended punch but I don't think I hit it hard enough
so I'll take it out and use another one with more Hermatite.

Thanks again

Graham.

After removing the old core plug use a wire brush in a electric drill to clean up the recess.
I use Loctite Loc & Seal to make sure that the core plug does not weep.
Use the ball of a ball pein hammer to knock the centre of the core plug. Hitting the centre expands the core plug making it grip the sides of the recess in the block very tightly.

Thank you very much Phil.
I do have some Hylotyte Red so might just use that this time.

Thanks again

Graham.

I did 2 of them while I was there and so far so good.

It was a bit difficult to hit the middle one with the ball end of the hammer without
removing the oil pipe but I managed with a brass drift.

Many thanks

Graham.

Do the job properly. Remove items in the way.

Not only would I have removed the oil feed pipe but I would have removed the distributer assy.
Two easy jobs that would make doing the main job so much easier and ensure that the core plug seals without problem.
If you are doing the third (front) core plug I would remove the alternator.
Phil

years back when doing one on a mini

I was told "hit it harder"

a short bit of hex bar was used I recall,

oliver90owner wrote: ↑Tue Oct 28, 2025 6:19 am Do the job properly. Remove items in the way.

At least he removed the spark plug leads!

oliver90owner wrote: ↑Tue Oct 28, 2025 6:19 am Do the job properly. Remove items in the way.

Yes, then sure of a good seal !

cswagon1 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 27, 2025 2:56 pm I did 2 of them while I was there and so far so good.

It was a bit difficult to hit the middle one with the ball end of the hammer without
removing the oil pipe but I managed with a brass drift.

Many thanks

Graham.

156.JPG

Looking at that it's dented in one place, not 'fitted' i.e flattened out enough.
I took the oil pipe off when I did mine.