Morris Minor Owners Club

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

philthehill 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

Spot on, thanks a bunch. Better get myself a pump to fit

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.

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.

Are the pumps interchangeable?

No.

myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2020 2:57 pmNo.

Hooray! Well, the resto is gonna take a while, so got all the time in the world to source one

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.....

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.....

Thanks for the tip there. Funny enough, this IS an A30 803!

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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.

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Whoops! That's what was happening with the errors...
Could an admin please clean those post replies up?

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.

It would be nice to see the engine when its finished