Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all, newbie here and to the world of morris minors. I’ve just bought my 1st one a 1956 series 11. It’s been left standing for the last 6 years so want to give it a good service and carb clean etc etc.
Looking at the engine it doesn’t appear to be the 803 from the research I’ve done. I’d really appreciate if anyone can identify it as best as possible so I can start purchasing service items etc. One issue already noticed is the ignition light stays on so a charging issue but might go down the alternator route.
Can’t wait to get stuck in and use it.
Henry

Congratulations on entering the world of Morris Minors and welcome to the forum.

If you can read any of the engine number plate that would help. If it starts 10 it's 1098 and if 9 it's 948cc. The 1098cc has an aluminium plate that says 1100 riveted on the right hand side of the engine near the front (as seen standing in front of the car looking towards the engine). The 948cc has 950 cast into the block.

Charging light staying on is quite likely to be dirty control box (RB106) points on a car that has stood a long time but the light will stay on if the idle revs are low and only go out as the revs are increased. Also check connections to dynamo and from dynamo to RB106. If dirty, corroded or loose, the car won't charge. One thing I notice is the battery is the wrong type and has the terminals at the front (they should be at the back). The terminal clamps appear dangerously close to the battery restraining bar.

Stephen

Thank you for the speedy reply, the original engine number on the plate is completely deteriorated sadly. From looking on google where the 950 is usually stamped it looks like mine is a blank plate. So I’m not 100% sure where to go in regards to confirm. Thank you for the advice on the battery that’s a massive help and it’s a big learning experience for me with the morris. I like to spanner and get stuck in so just need to confirm the engine and can start. Thanks again for the reply, pictures added.

Stephen's info is sound as far as original engines go.
BMC Refurbished were all given the same prefix.

I suspect you've got a 1098cc there.
See the saga of my car's engine ID some years back.
viewtopic.php?p=642668#p642668

There is also the gearbox to consider....

On the basis that the carb etc. arrangements came with the engine, then I too suspect it is a 1098cc - the air cleaner is the 1098 type.
A photo of the inside of the car showing the gear lever and gearbox tunnel may provide further clues as to what has been done with the engine swap.
Whether it is a 1098 or 948cc will not affect the type of service items - plugs, points, condensor, oil and air filters.

Here is my 1098 after rebuild (hanging from a crane).

You can see the 1100 plate partly in shadow. This is aluminium and riveted on. It may have fallen apart like your engine number plate. You can also see the area on the block you mention to the right of the 1100 plate. This is where a mechanical fuel pump was fitted for cars that had those (the Minor never did). The stud there is for an engine breather pipe for earlier engines that used that pipe. My engine is later and uses a tappet chest oil separator with breather pipe.

Your metal heater return pipe is 1098cc type (the 948cc type runs on the other side of the rocker) but that is not a reliable way of identifying the engine as the pipe is easily changed.


Stephen

The proper identifier of factory engine size is the block casting number which is located under the rear tappet cover.
Therefore what is the block casting number of your engine?

Thank you all very much for the information, it’s appreciated. I’ll take some photos tomorrow inside and show the gear stick and tunnel etc, can I check any information from looking at the the gearbox casing also? Ill start ordering some bits now i know its either the 948 or 1098.

Is there anything else I should be inspecting after being sat for so long?

Henry.

philthehill wrote: ↑Fri Oct 02, 2026 6:05 pm The proper identifier of factory engine size is the block casting number which is located under the rear tappet cover.
Therefore what is the block casting number of your engine?

As you can see in my picture above my block casting number is 12A497 which is a 998/1098 block, in this case 1098cc.

Stephen

Just been outside to check and I’ve found same code as yourself so 1100 and I took a picture of the gearbox if that can tell me anything also? Thanks again for any information.
Henry.

It's a 1098cc from the casting number 12A497

Stephen

If your top latest pic is the gearbox, then that looks like a rib cage and is correct for the 1098cc engine.

Henry, as you are new to Minors I'd suggest you join the MMOC and a local branch. Then you'll get face-to-face access to many years of technical knowledge and make new friends of course!

Stephen