Search found 158 matches

by Edward1949
Sun Dec 17, 2023 2:20 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: mini heater and heated rear window
Replies: 8
Views: 23053

Re: mini heater and heated rear window

As above, I would definitely try flushing out the waterworks on the existing heater before embarking on a major overhaul. Changing to an 88 degree thermostat can also give great results. The standard heater in your Minor's year is pretty effective.
by Edward1949
Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:22 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Can’t get my daughters car to start
Replies: 163
Views: 12124492

Re: Can’t get my daughters car to start

Years ago it was the norm to depress the clutch when starting. Yes. And my modern car won't start unless clutch is depressed. Older readers may remember when depressing the clutch on a really badly worn engine could provoke a stall and hinder starting. The reason was crankshaft thrust bearings bein...
by Edward1949
Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:15 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Self Service Garage (BBC Archive video).
Replies: 10
Views: 10696

Re: Self Service Garage (BBC Archive video).

Thanks for this interesting post
by Edward1949
Thu Oct 19, 2023 1:38 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Relocating Battery
Replies: 14
Views: 5504

Re: Relocating Battery

You'll be moving the centre of gravity rearwards by a small but not insignificant amount. This will have a slight adverse effect on the car's directional stability.
by Edward1949
Sat Sep 16, 2023 11:30 am
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: A most peculiar noise
Replies: 14
Views: 5668

Re: A most peculiar noise

UPdate. The rotational noise. It disappears when the clutch pedal is pressed. Thus my conclusion is, it emanates from the thrust bearing. Remember that the Minor clutch is released by mechanical means. This means that the whole engine/transmission is displaced slightly when the pedal is depressed. ...
by Edward1949
Sun Jul 09, 2023 10:51 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Cruising Speeds 1098cc Motorways etc
Replies: 29
Views: 26484

Re: Cruising Speeds 1098cc Motorways etc

A few observations from personal experience over many years (55 actually) of on/ off Minor ownership.... There's something about the 1098 engine in the Minor - it's the least smooth compared with the 803 and 948. Smoothest was the 918 sidevalve. I've owned other cars with the same 1098 (MG Midget an...
by Edward1949
Sat Jul 08, 2023 8:08 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Diff question
Replies: 20
Views: 8414

Re: Diff question

difference between 4.2 and 3.7. Without taking anything apart or fitting a tachometer any thoughts how I could check. ( jack the rear and spin the wheels? Both I presume) Ta Jack up one side only. If your diff is a 4.22, then 2.11 propshaft rotations will give one wheel rotation. If it's a 3.73 you...
by Edward1949
Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:33 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Morris fastback
Replies: 23
Views: 10037

Re: Morris fastback

moggiethouable wrote: Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:57 am
But its a "nearly not quite there design" to my eyes.
Agreed. The boot lid area is too angular. Minors should be rounded. Interesting idea, though.
by Edward1949
Sat Nov 19, 2022 1:46 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: heater hose
Replies: 9
Views: 2988

Re: heater hose

I don't know exactly when the design was changed The original pipework meant that a cold engine (ie thermostat shut) with the heater water valve open replaced all water pushed through the heater with cold water from the bottom of the radiator, thus partially negating the function of the thermostat ...
by Edward1949
Wed Jun 15, 2022 5:06 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Recon 1098 rumble.
Replies: 37
Views: 7426

Re: Recon 1098 rumble.

But stationairy there is no rumble at any revs. This could be significant. Can you get it to rumble under load in third gear (ie climbing a hill), and if so does it happen at the same approx revs as in top gear? If "yes" this helps to narrow it down to engine. If "no" , then the...
by Edward1949
Tue May 17, 2022 6:02 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Overdrive -- is it possible?
Replies: 8
Views: 3097

Re: Overdrive -- is it possible?

Interesting bit of 1950s motoring history:
By 1957 the Minor's direct competitors, the Standard 8 and the Standard 10 were listed with optional Laycock overdrive.
by Edward1949
Mon Mar 28, 2022 3:15 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Float level and sooty plugs ?
Replies: 3
Views: 1946

Re: Float level and sooty plugs ?

With ignition on, it should be evident if float valve is still faulty (fuel pump still clicking, smell of petrol etc). Or could be unrelated reason like choke not fully returning to off position.
by Edward1949
Sat Jan 22, 2022 10:46 am
Forum: Electrical
Topic: Dynamo v Alternator
Replies: 30
Views: 14511

Re: Dynamo v Alternator

Yes. As can most motorbikes. Also many vintage cars with magneto ignition do not require a battery.
by Edward1949
Fri Jan 21, 2022 3:08 pm
Forum: Electrical
Topic: Dynamo v Alternator
Replies: 30
Views: 14511

Re: Dynamo v Alternator

Thanks for confirming. I can remember an incident decades ago when a friend's car with no battery was started in this way, he then drove many miles home by keeping the engine running at well above charging revs.
by Edward1949
Fri Jan 21, 2022 12:40 pm
Forum: Electrical
Topic: Dynamo v Alternator
Replies: 30
Views: 14511

Re: Dynamo v Alternator

I remember hearing that an advantage of the dynamo is that if you're stranded with a totally flat battery you can tow or roll downhill at sufficient speed for charging and the system will revive. An alternator requires a battery with some life in it in order to start charging. Can anyone confirm tha...
by Edward1949
Mon Dec 13, 2021 3:30 pm
Forum: Series MM Register
Topic: Thermostat rating.
Replies: 7
Views: 5079

Re: Thermostat rating.

Never really understood why there are "winter" and "summer" thermostats. Even a typical winter 88C thermostat, is going to be wide open way before there's any danger of boiling over in a summer heatwave. I've always left the 88C in all year (and enjoy a hot heater).
by Edward1949
Sun Sep 26, 2021 4:02 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: oil leak
Replies: 9
Views: 3254

Re: oil leak

hi ran the car today with the choke on for 10 minutes Don't know about the oil leak, but it's bad practice to run a car for this length of time on choke (unless you mean you had the choke control pulled out just enough to increase tickover speed but not far enough to enrich the mixture - which is a...
by Edward1949
Thu Sep 23, 2021 1:58 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Head gasket failure-3rd in 2½ years
Replies: 73
Views: 13826

Re: Head gasket failure-3rd in 2½ years

Ref the worry about running cool, is the temp gauge pick-up in the radiator or in the block? If in radiator, cool running is not unexpected. If in block, the temperature (once fully warmed up), should remain fairly close to the thermostat's specified temperature. If it's a lot cooler than that, then...