803cc Engine - First Restoration
Forum rules
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
803cc Engine - First Restoration
Hi all,
Those who have seen me about on here know I'm very much a novice. My experience lies in VeloSolex mopeds and even then, only a few years of experience. As bodywork isn't my forte and my welding skills leave much to be desired, I've decided to focus on the stuff I'm somewhat familiar with and have bought a very sorry 803cc engine. 2A prefix suggests from an Austin A30.
Today, I dragged it in after forgetting just how heavy they are and how thin my arms are, and took a closer look. Obvious signs of age and hopefully nothing major that can't be sorted by my local engine specialists (i.e., the rusty internals on the block).
I'll be documenting the process here, with a nice amount of "Where does this go?" and "What's next?".
I already have a smooth gearbox and the distributor, as well as a 4.55 diff, so who knows what I'll be doing with these, but ideally once rebuilt, it'll all going to Eugene so I can offer the same treatment to his current engine.
Those who have seen me about on here know I'm very much a novice. My experience lies in VeloSolex mopeds and even then, only a few years of experience. As bodywork isn't my forte and my welding skills leave much to be desired, I've decided to focus on the stuff I'm somewhat familiar with and have bought a very sorry 803cc engine. 2A prefix suggests from an Austin A30.
Today, I dragged it in after forgetting just how heavy they are and how thin my arms are, and took a closer look. Obvious signs of age and hopefully nothing major that can't be sorted by my local engine specialists (i.e., the rusty internals on the block).
I'll be documenting the process here, with a nice amount of "Where does this go?" and "What's next?".
I already have a smooth gearbox and the distributor, as well as a 4.55 diff, so who knows what I'll be doing with these, but ideally once rebuilt, it'll all going to Eugene so I can offer the same treatment to his current engine.
- Attachments
-
- IMG_20200806_135325_064.jpg (97.58 KiB) Viewed 3535 times
-
- IMG_20200806_135325_055.jpg (224.49 KiB) Viewed 3535 times
-
- 20200806_123330.jpg (2.55 MiB) Viewed 3535 times
-
- IMG_20200806_135325_054.jpg (166.04 KiB) Viewed 3535 times
-
- IMG_20200806_135325_053.jpg (156.11 KiB) Viewed 3535 times
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Maniac
- Posts: 10867
- Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:05 pm
- Location: Hampshire
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
The first thing you need to do is refit the water pump and fill the block and head with citric acid at 6 table spoons per ltr of hot water and leave to soak. All that crud will disappear and the water jacket/head water gallery will come up like new when flushed.
I have got a 948cc block water jacket soaking in citric at the moment, already looking good after a few days.
I have got a 948cc block water jacket soaking in citric at the moment, already looking good after a few days.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
That's a great suggestion! Thanks a bunch for that. Is that all there is to it? What holes will need to plugging to allow it to soak?philthehill wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 4:42 pm The first thing you need to do is refit the water pump and fill the block and head with citric acid at 6 table spoons per ltr of hot water and leave to soak. All that crud will disappear and the water jacket/head water gallery will come up like new when flushed.
I have got a 948cc block water jacket soaking in citric at the moment, already looking good after a few days.
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Maniac
- Posts: 10867
- Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:05 pm
- Location: Hampshire
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
Just fit the water pump and bottom hose turning the bottom hose upwards, fill the block/head and leave for as long as you like.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
Spot on, thanks a bunch. Better get myself a pump to fitphilthehill wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:01 pm Just fit the water pump and bottom hose turning the bottom hose upwards, fill the block/head and leave for as long as you like.
Water jacket 4 (2).JPG
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Maniac
- Posts: 10867
- Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:05 pm
- Location: Hampshire
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
If you do not have a water pump block the pump hole with a piece of alloy using the pump gasket as a pattern.
Ser 2 water pumps are expensive so you do not want to have any problems re interaction between pump and citric acid. 948cc pumps are cheap compared and can be considered a disposable item but not so a 803cc pump.
Alternatively you can block the heater take off pipe at the rear of the head and stand the engine pump hole upwards and fill the block that way and then leave.
Ser 2 water pumps are expensive so you do not want to have any problems re interaction between pump and citric acid. 948cc pumps are cheap compared and can be considered a disposable item but not so a 803cc pump.
Alternatively you can block the heater take off pipe at the rear of the head and stand the engine pump hole upwards and fill the block that way and then leave.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
Are the pumps interchangeable?philthehill wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:17 pm If you do not have a water pump block the pump hole with a piece of alloy using the pump gasket as a pattern.
Ser 2 water pumps are expensive so you do not want to have any problems re interaction between pump and citric acid. 948cc pumps are cheap compared and can be considered a disposable item but not so a 803cc pump.
Alternatively you can block the heater take off pipe at the rear of the head and stand the engine pump hole upwards and fill the block that way and then leave.
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 2556
- Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:32 pm
- Location: Kernow
- MMOC Member: Yes
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
Hooray! Well, the resto is gonna take a while, so got all the time in the world to source one
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 2556
- Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:32 pm
- Location: Kernow
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
Don't forget, both the SII Minor and the Austin A30 used the same 803cc engine and water pumps - so that should help broaden your search.....
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
Thanks for the tip there. Funny enough, this IS an A30 803!myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:48 pm Don't forget, both the SII Minor and the Austin A30 used the same 803cc engine and water pumps - so that should help broaden your search.....
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
EDIT: DELETED
Last edited by Andymoor94 on Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
EDIT: DELETED
Last edited by Andymoor94 on Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
EDIT DELETED
Last edited by Andymoor94 on Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
Update today, I've started the teardown with my enthusiastic younger cousin. We were fascinated by seeing what was inside!
The car came without a rocker cover, so I've purchased one for a fiver. Water pump also missing, but Morris Minor 803cc pumps are extortionate... It's a good thing I found an A30 pump for really cheap, despite being the same thing! (Great tip there, Jalopy!).
The teardown when semi-smooth, with the only fights being the head studs and the crankshaft pulley, which we have yet to remove. Found an almost grease-like substance on the piston tops. All water passages are caked with crap, too! Thankfully, my order of citric acid has arrived, which will help bath the block and head. On the topic of the head, valves were left in until I can research how to safely remove them. Compressor may be a necessity!
Will post pictures, including some of the pistons and cylinder condition once I get another chance to go into the garage. Seems that the pictures I've taken already, despite dimensions and file size, don't want to attach!
The Patient
Using a large lever and vice grips to remove the stubborn studs. Heat and penetrant included!
Yum!
By the end of the day.
I'm gonna need tips and tricks to get this one off! Tried blocking the crankshaft and using a spanner, but the adjustable wrench I have won't do it. You can probably see the rounding.
The car came without a rocker cover, so I've purchased one for a fiver. Water pump also missing, but Morris Minor 803cc pumps are extortionate... It's a good thing I found an A30 pump for really cheap, despite being the same thing! (Great tip there, Jalopy!).
The teardown when semi-smooth, with the only fights being the head studs and the crankshaft pulley, which we have yet to remove. Found an almost grease-like substance on the piston tops. All water passages are caked with crap, too! Thankfully, my order of citric acid has arrived, which will help bath the block and head. On the topic of the head, valves were left in until I can research how to safely remove them. Compressor may be a necessity!
Will post pictures, including some of the pistons and cylinder condition once I get another chance to go into the garage. Seems that the pictures I've taken already, despite dimensions and file size, don't want to attach!
The Patient
Using a large lever and vice grips to remove the stubborn studs. Heat and penetrant included!
Yum!
By the end of the day.
I'm gonna need tips and tricks to get this one off! Tried blocking the crankshaft and using a spanner, but the adjustable wrench I have won't do it. You can probably see the rounding.
Last edited by Andymoor94 on Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
EDIT: DELETED
Last edited by Andymoor94 on Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:01 pm
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
Whoops! That's what was happening with the errors...
Could an admin please clean those post replies up?
Could an admin please clean those post replies up?
Eugene - My daily driver
1954 4 Door Saloon with original 803cc Engine.
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 3635
- Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:28 pm
- Location: Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
Hi Andy,
Some tools you might find useful:
https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead ... 1Ag&adurl=
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/flywheel-loc ... Sw9KhaKqf8
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-PRO-Extra ... SwfyVc0wEX
I wouldn't want to be without any of them.
You can never have enough tools!
Best wishes,
Mike.
Some tools you might find useful:
https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead ... 1Ag&adurl=
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/flywheel-loc ... Sw9KhaKqf8
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/US-PRO-Extra ... SwfyVc0wEX
I wouldn't want to be without any of them.
You can never have enough tools!
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 3773
- Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:53 am
- Location: South Manchester
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: 803cc Engine - First Restoration
It would be nice to see the engine when its finished