How To: Restore a Morris or keep fit

[Ganmain Tony]

Mike,

This might be bad advice but I'll throw it out there...

There are pistons perhaps that arent Morris but may still be what you need.

A chap from Wagga recently restored a 1912 Daimler Bus and discovered a Fiat
tractor piston was exactly the same and used them in his engine rebuild.

Another local resto on a Matchless motorcycle used Bedford pistons.

Thinking outside the box? May save some bucks

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Ganmain Tony

Mike,

This might be bad advice but I'll throw it out there...

There are pistons perhaps that arent Morris but may still be what you need.

A chap from Wagga recently restored a 1912 Daimler Bus and discovered a Fiat
tractor piston was exactly the same and used them in his engine rebuild.

Another local resto on a Matchless motorcycle used Bedford pistons.

Thinking outside the box? May save some bucks

Yes that's true and its been done more than once. I did a basic search some time ago and I think it was Norton or a similar motorbike pistons that are the same bore size . Also some Mercedes cars of the 1960's.

The sleeving is a possible option but I am a cheapskate ! I have a few of these engines , all except one are still fitted in wrecks . It's a hell of a job removing these engines at the best of times , and doing stuff like that in Winter - forget it I'd end up in hospital with pneumonia for sure...been there and done that already, don't want to go back there.

[Mike K]

The sun was out today, I had a spurt of energy and dragged out the spare engine.

This is a pre-war civilian engine from a 1937-39 Morris truck . The pistons are dome shaped and the head is a different shape , plus the water jacket side is completely open . Other than that its identical to the CS8 engine. On the good side, its in very good shape, nil wear in the bores. This block is a good candidate for a bore out to +20.

After Morris aquired Wolesely ,the acronym MOWOG appeared , cast on many parts. It means "Morris Wolesley group" Ive been informed. This was before political correctness was heard of !

I took a pic of the oil pump dissy drive at No. 1 TDC

[Mike K]

The green civilian engine has been pulled down. The crank and its bearings are in excellent condition and can be reused after a clean up.

I have the block soaking in a drum of molasses. The block will be taken to Bunyip to be bored and decked . The head studs came out easily thank god . Valve guides were drilled , then a drift made and a few mild blows and they came out .

interesting pic of a Morris https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C356131?search

[Mike K]

Seems like Morris 6 engines were being salvaged .

This scene was at TOLGA ? Is that in QLD ? A PU8 Morris wreck, with four chaps doing something, I don't know what .

[Mike K]

I have new Morris 6 valves , got them from Cox & Turner years ago .

As an experiment, I had a go at refacing the worn and pitted exhaust valves that were taken out of the original CS8 motor. I used a 4 jaw chuck and a HSS tool in a lathe. A few very light cuts and a polish with emery cloth . These are not hard stellite valves that would normally need a grinder.

The refaced valves are good enough to use again but I will be using the new valves because they have more " meat" on them.

[Mike K]

The Morris engine block is back from the engine machinist . The cost of the boring job really surprised me, these engine places charge like a wounded bull. I had the block and head re-surfaced and the block dipped in a bath to clean it out. I should have got a quote but would that have made any difference ? It seemed like a rippoff to me and I'd like to know what others have been charged .

Does anybody know what the average cost of a rebore and hone is these days ? per cylinder ?