Morris Minor Owners Club

I have it booked for the MOT on monday and Ive bust the screw thread for the bottom retaining bolt of the timing cover.. so theres a big gap and it drips oil. What will the MOT people say?? quick fix ideas anyone??

If it is the bolt's thread that has stripped then remove a bolt from the top of the cover and use it at the bottom. It might just work!

You could also try some silicon mastic as a temporary fix.

There are small bolts and bigger ones - if you've stripped the thread in the engine, all is not neccessarily lost.
If you've stripped the thread for one of the smaller bolts you can fit a longer bolt and use a nut behind the engine front plate (only on some as there isn't a lot of clearance)
If you've stripped the thread for one of the bigger bolts, this is threaded in a blind hole in the block (IIRC) and then you're a bit more stuck as regards quick fixes.

But as Kevin mentioned - just hope it is the bolt thread that is gone, in which case clean the debris out of the female thread and put in another bolt.

Ok thanks for all the replies I'll try swapping it with some of the other bolts. Its one of the smaller thread ones.

Can't see that one screw loose causes it to leak oil. It's something else that's leaking. But oil leak has absolutely nothing to do with the MOT anyway. They may 'comment' on it - but not fail you.

well by the missing bolt there is a big gap and oil drips out.. I think the timing cover has warped slightly.