Vintage Minor Register

If the ring gear is only worn in one place, the usual thing is to touch up the teeth with weld and then file them to shape. This will generally last for years. The original ring gear is actually part of the flywheel, not a shrunk-on ring, so it isn't particularly hard steel. The weld metal is simila...

Actually, it's only with the J type followers that the position is critical. With Minor and M the follower is fully enclosed so the oil will always find its way round. The J has a gap where the pinch bolt is. I think the MG cover can be bought new but I don't know how much they are. S + V probably d...

How about fitting a really thick cam cover gasket to lift it up a bit? (You could experiment with some card first)

Is it possibly a Hornet?

It might be worth checking the parts lists re chrome as it was my understanding that the column and various rods were nickel plated.

If the MOT is dumped, it won't mean the end of expense and inspections. The insurance companies will surely demand an Engineers Report before insuring the car. This will almost certainly cost a good deal more the the current MOT - and who will supply these reports? Most likely, since they will have ...

As Ian says, it's to do with the pedal not being central to the shaft. On M Types the cross-shaft is a 'loose' fitting arrangement which isn't affected by chassis twist like Minors. So when you press the pedal it's pulling the cross-shaft at a slight angle which you can adjust out when altering the ...

I would start by jacking up the whole car using axle stands, then using a length of wood between the pedal and somewhere solid ( don't ever use the handbrake for adjusting ) press down the pedal. Then go round checking each wheel, adjusting them till they lock. The levers shouldn't go over centre. I...

Ian, The first thing I would do is get hold of a burette and measure the chambers. You will be able to work out the compression ratio but more importantly find out how equal they are. If they are a lot different ( and probably are ) you might as well do another. If they are pretty equal then you mig...

I believe there is also a difference in the front of the block, with blocks for the smaller dynamo being flat at the front, and blocks for larger dynamos having a 'scoop' out of the front. If you have the early block a large dynamo may not fit even with the later front housing fitted - it will ( I t...

Ian, The type of seal I use, which is still not 100% effective, is the flexible Morris Eight type ( there is also a rigid type). I had to use the soft kind because it has to squeeze into a holder on the back of the hub. The holder is made from a tin lid the same size as the seal with a hole through ...

Oil leaking out onto the brakes is a nightmare! I use fully sealed bearings, a scroll inside the tube (S+V), and 'proper' oil seal behind the hub. I didn't use to have all that, but I found I was throwing out too many oil-soaked linings and, apart from the mess, it was getting expensive... mostly fr...

It looks like a mangled Hornet shell has been put on top of a 32 Minor one. Maybe the shell came with the body? And am I right in thinking that the Hornet rad has its cap under the bonnet?

Ian

I have read somewhere that hotted-up Sevens have their heads planed at an angle. This is to get a 'squish' effect. So the compression can be raised but there is still space for the valves. It appears that this is essentially the same as with a BMC A series head since the valves are all in a line. It...

My quest for early hub 18" wheels has drawn a blank. Does anyone have 18" Magna wheels? Four wanted. ( Or.. 17" Morris 8 wheels?)

Ian