Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello, my friend and I acquired a lovely 1953 series 2 Morris Minor which has had an engine upgrade to a 948cc. We are currently trying to get the car running and roadworthy, and one of the last issues we have is a pretty big exhaust leak. Both tape and paste have been unsuccessful at fixing the issue and so instead We are looking to buy a new exhaust system that is reasonably priced and fits the car. Being in our 20s, we are highly inexperienced with classic cars, especially of this age, and we are unsure if the different engine will cause any complications with fitting it. Any help and/or links to suitable exhausts are highly appreciated .

Thank you and kind regards.

Welcome. What a lovely looking car!

The exhaust system is very simple. The sidevalve exhaust system (918cc) is different but the OHV (overhead valve) systems for 948cc and 1098cc are the same. The 2-door, 4-door and Traveller use the same exhaust, the commercials (van and pickup) use a different exhaust.

Before you buy a new exhaust, where is it leaking?

If you have to buy a new exhaust and money is tight, you might find a second-hand stainless steel exhaust for sale at a bargain price. Stainless steel doesn't rust so provided it hasn't been dented or otherwise molested a second-hand system should be OK. These are often sold when owner's upgrade to larger bore exhausts for 1275 or tuned engines.

The easiest systems to fit come in 3 pieces which fit into each other and are joined with clamps.

When fitting a new exhaust you will almost certainly need new exhaust hangers (you can buy an exhaust fitting kit from ESM) and if you have the pressed steel manifold clamp it would be wise to upgrade to the cast manifold clamp which is much better. The join between manifold and exhaust is a common place for leaks.

Mild steel exhaust systems often develop a hole near where the exhaust goes over the back axle. This is because water collects there.

When I was a student I fixed the exhaust with a kind of bandage secured with wire. It did work but the corrosion continued and the exhaust fell apart soon after.

PS: If you join the MMOC there is a special group for young members under 35.

Stephen

Hi Stephen,
Thank you for the information. It was initially leaking at the manifold exhaust joint, however we found another leak further down the system. We will have a look at some second hand ones first and see how we get on.

Thank you for your help, Ollie

Lovely looking car. Which part of the country are you in? I might know where there is an exhaust pipe going cheap.

Looking at the bonnet strip, unless that has been changed, it is probably one of the last Series MMs which originally had the sidevalve engine. The MM's finished in February 1953, replaced by the Series 2 which had the 803cc A series engine. It also had the later 'M' bonnet 'handle' at the front, rather than the chrome strip.

When you are fitting the exhaust put a jack under front pipe to hold aligned to manifold before fitting the cast type clamp that Stephen recommended.
Good luck with your Minor ownership

rocco wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 8:28 am Lovely looking car. Which part of the country are you in? I might know where there is an exhaust pipe going cheap.

If you click on a posters name you are taken to their profile, it seems the man is in Warwickshire.

Also worth a plug for the MMOC insurance scheme via Peter James Insurance as I see the OP is a member. Very good policy!

Stephen

As is often the case when buying a Minor, there can be 'minor' personality niggles; as observed here, although the registration date would be a SII by several months, the Bonnet configuration is screaming late MM.

Only the Chassis Number is going to tell you.

Are the last digits of the Chassis Number, as stamped onto the ID Plate, higher than 179839?
If so it's a SII and the bonnet has been replaced, or at least re-dressed with MM items.

The same digits are also stamped into the engine bulkhead about 10-12" below where the ID plate is, just here.
Sometimes difficult to see and may require a bright torch and viewing at an angle, especially if the bulkhead has been repainted in the past 70+ years.