Morris Minor Owners Club

PoolGuy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 21, 2019 3:38 pm Sorry, this has dragged on so long that I’d forgotten that it was a 1300 build.

It's actually taken nearly a year. The original head gasket failure happened on 9/9/2018!
It took me until Feb to get the engine out.

I'm not a massive IPA fan, but Derail was nice. I've had Proper Job, but I prefer dark, sweet beers really.

I had a composite head gasket originally, that's what failed and caused me to have the head off in the first place. I then discovered scores in the bores, so had the block re-bored.
I thought that copper gaskets were supposed to be better than composite anyway?

Current state of play. It's a small dribble. I'll live with it until the engine is run in, then re-torque. If the problem doesn't go away, I'll consider getting the head machined.
Cheers N

Tonight's brew, from Box Steam Brewery, in Trowbridge. They do about 6 ales, all with a railway theme. Derail Ale is next in line.

Old Speckled Hen also do a decent gluten-free beer, which is a rare thing indeed! Just been told I have Coeliacs - so cruel for a real ale fan, especially one with a taste for stouts and porters. Home brew may be a good solution. For now I'll just risk the odd cheeky normal beer. Why would home bre...

philthehill wrote: ↑Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:38 pm Oh yes - Old works MG works runabout, black and covered in gold speckles so aptly named 'Speckled Hen'.

https://www.mgcc.co.uk/articles/the-sto ... -the-brew/

The octagon bottle label is a good clue

Really? Well I never knew that!

Yes, correct, they are the plain, non-flanged nuts. Ok thanks, that's what I'll do. If that doesn't cure the oil weep, is it head off and skim time?

Cheers N

Ok, thanks Phil.

What I'll do is I'll run it in over 500 miles or so, then re-torque again, and see if it improves.

When you re-torque, how do you do it? Just take each nut up to 40lb-ft, or just past?

Cheers N

I will check that, but it's the same block/water pump/head combination that I've been using for 3 yrs without issue, so I'll be surprised if that's the cause. But thanks for the suggestion, I hadn't thought of that!

So after a bit of mileage this weekend, it appears that the oil leak from the head is not cured. There is a definite weep from the same area of the head, just under the forward most port of the exhaust manifold. It's not exactly gushing out, it's a drop or two forming after about 20 miles of running...

Well I certainly have spotted and sorted a potential issue there, so there's a silver lining l suppose. Whether the oil weep is sorted or not I don't know, time will tell. If it is the timing cover/front plate, and it's still happening, I might just live with it until it's run in.

A couple of hours on charge this morning whilst at parkrun seems to have sorted it, so thanks for that suggestion. There's no hint of a shriek as the revs rise now. I've had a run in it and got it nice and hot, then re-torqued the head. However, there's still a small weep of oil down the side of the...

Ok thanks gents. The belt is about 18 months old, and it's not the standard belt, it's slightly longer to take account of the taller 1275 block- I couldn't get the standard belt on. It's a Gates v6271, from memory. It's not worn, and as far as I can tell, not bottoming in the grooves. There is about...

Good point, I must have tried it about 20 times. I'll give it a run tomorrow.

After the usual two steps forward, one step back, I finally got it running tonight. Of course when I tried starting it, it wasn't having any of it. Dead as a doornail. So I checked everything, ignition, fuel pump, leads on the correct way, rotor arm present (been there before!).....it wasn't playing...

Ok thanks, that's what I'll do.

Head surface and block surface are now clean to my satisfaction. The tappet adjusters are now in, so all is ready to go back together.

Head gasket (new one) is ready to go back on now. Do I lightly grease both sides of the gasket?

Cheers N

I've got new rockers and a new rocker shaft, so shall I leave the rocker/valve spacings alone? The pedestals have some wear, but nothing to sweat about.
Cheers N

Won't that screw up the alignment with the push rods?

Freshly painted head, with rebuilt rocker shaft assembly.
No, I know I haven't fitted the tappet adjusters yet!