Morris Minor Owners Club

Have what I believe to be a Series II (split screen 57), gold coloured 848cc (recon?), and want to set ignition timing statically. There are 3 marks on the timing chain cover small, small, big (left to right looking at front of car). Which mark should I use for reference and any useful tips/gotchas to look out for?

Right well, a series II was from 1952 to 1956 and was a split-screen. The 1000 then took over in 1956 with a single piece screen.

The series II had an 803cc engine and the later 1000 has a 948cc engine. The 848 was never fitted to a Minor and is a transverse Mini engine.

If the engine has 3 timing marks on the front then the large one will be TDC (top dead centre) and the other ones should be 5 degrees BTDC and 10 degrees BTDC. Set the timing to the first small notch from the large one (i.e. the middle one which is 5 degrees) this should be good enough. If you want to tune it further then road test and adjust.

Should we use the same timing mark on the 1098?

Yep.

Was there not a later 848cc inline engine? Fitted for economy on some of the A35/Minor van range?

Well, the 848 was originally a Mini transverse engine (1959), but I believe that some A35 vans were fitted with an in-line version of the 848 in 1964. I THINK the A30/A35 had four engines then:

803cc, 948cc, 1098cc and 848cc.

Compared to the Minor's 918cc (sidevalve), 803cc, 948cc and 1098cc.

I would imagine an in-line A35 848 van engine would be pretty hard to get hold of. Not impossible of course, but more likely a documentation error. I have seen lots of these for Minors stating Mini engine sizes (848, 998 etc) when they have been 948 or 1098.

Thanks Cam for the advice on the timing.

I tried to set it statically again using the middle mark as a reference with a 12v bulb between LT nut on side of dizzy and earth as per the manual I've got. Last time I did this it worked. This time, the bulb wouldn't light but one of the terminals on the coil sounded like it was sparking!! Set it by eye and seems to run better.

I have no idea what the engine is apart from 4 cylinder, overhead, A series. What identifying features could I use to narrow it down? Sorry for being so vague but a complete beginner.

Best idea is to advance the timing until the engine 'pinks' going up a hill - then retard it slightly. That's the best setting without getting into fancy advance curve modifications and so on.

Any advice for someone who lives out in the fens (nearest hill 40km)?

Fit a smaller engine, or pedals.

bmcecosse wrote:Best idea is to advance the timing until the engine 'pinks' going up a hill - then retard it slightly. That's the best setting without getting into fancy advance curve modifications and so on.

This is (of course) quite correct for getting the 'optimal' timing, but I have seen lots of cases where people completely mess their timing up if they are not too sure about the pinking and generally setting the timing.

Setting it statically to what you have done will be perfectly fine for the car and my advice to you is to keep it like that. If you wish to play with it and get it a little more optimum then by all means follow the advice above.

With regards to the engine identification, can you read the engine number? It's located just below spark plug number 1 (nearest the radiator).