How To: Restore a Morris or keep fit

[Ian Mastin]

Hi Mike,

Can you tell us the name of the engine machining shop that you used please? Reason I will be looking for someone to machine my Ford Flathead V8 out of my Fordson WOT in time and also Mike could you Pm me what it cost you please just to give me an idea on cost.

Regards
Ian

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Ian Mastin

Hi Mike,

Can you tell us the name of the engine machining shop that you used please? Reason I will be looking for someone to machine my Ford Flathead V8 out of my Fordson WOT in time and also Mike could you Pm me what it cost you please just to give me an idea on cost.

Regards
Ian

Hi Ian

I won't name the engine rebuilders but I've sent u a PM . I've discovered the block hasn't been dipped as he said he would, its in exactly the same uncleaned as when I dropped it off to him.

It cost $1650 for a bore and hone and the deck re-surfaced and the head re-surfaced.

Also found 2 small cracks in the block next to a stud .

[Dave Mills]

I suppose it all depends on your instructions to the reconditioner Mike. He may have just taken you literally? However, I would take the block back to your reconditioner and shove it up his "A..e". To have been told it was dipped and to have a block reconditioned with cracks without even communication with you is poor form indeed.

The local Engine Reconditioner here in town has just finished my B60 and I have done just on 3000K's on the reco motor.

I had the B60 engine dismantled, over hauled, including the block being pressure cleaned (could not put the block in the dipping tanks due to the amount of Alloy components in the block which will just disappear in the solution).

Upon inspection it required three cylinders to be machined and sleeves fitted (B60 never had sleeves) 6 x .020" oversizes pistons fitted, cylinder head machined down .090" and recondition with four inlet valves being replaced. Even took the time to recalculate the compression ratios to ensure I could run on the higher octane unleaded fuels.

Engine reassembled, painted, and, loaded into my trailer. Took the local bloke 6 weeks and it started first piston up. A great job seeing the complexity of a Rolls Royce engine compared to the stock standard engine. I supplied the VRS gasket overhaul kit, NOS valves, NOS piston and ring sets and the paint, all up it cost me just on $7200

If you want PM me and I will pass on the name of my local bloke in Seymour. He has so much work that at a minimum you will be waiting 6 to 8 weeks.

Hang in there Mike, it is disappointing when this occurs and can make some just walk away from their restoration.

Cheers,

Dave.

[Mike K]

Hi Dave

Thanks for the encouraging words . So far I have been fortunate because: with all of the old vehicles I have played with over the years, I have got away with just fitting new rings and honing, doing this myself at minimal cost. This is my first experience at dealing with a professional engine re-builder and unfortunately , it's turned a little sour !

I am hoping that the cracks are minor and they will not effect the performance of the engine ! I will try some loctite on the stud and hopefully it will seal it . I will make new studs on my lathe.

re: head gaskets, I found this interesting business based in Thailand , you email them a scan of your gasket and they will make the gasket . The feedback seems positive.

http://www.gasketstogo.com/

[Mike K]

The ongoing saga of the engine rebuild: I've discovered another engine machinist down here in Morwell, they are one of the last few engine rebuilders still going down this way.

Ive decided to go back to the original engine that was factory fitted in the CS8 and rebuild it. I recently bought set of .040 oversize pistons ( these are rare as rocking horse poo ) from a UK seller . These are aftermarket pistons probably made in the 1950's . Problem is the rings are corroded slightly , they are 1/8" compression rings and a 3/16" scraper.

The Morris standard bore is 82mm , I worked out 3.25" + 20 thou is equal to 82mm + 40 thou , close enough. I can buy a Hastings ring set for a Hercules engine with the same ring dimensions as the Morris BUT the Hercules rings are too wide , the Morris ring grooves are very shallow ie the depth , I would have to machine the Hercules rings thinner . Or deepen the piston grooves which is risky , these are heavy cast alloy pistons and the piston tops might break off under the immense stresses

[Jonathan Moore]

Nice pistons Mike, where did you get them from as I will be requiring some spares for my engine. Its going to need to be relined, new pistons but the bottom end, cam shaft etc are in incredibly good condition with very little wear, so in that respect I am lucky.

Jon

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Moore

Nice pistons Mike, where did you get them from as I will be requiring some spares for my engine. Its going to need to be relined, new pistons but the bottom end, cam shaft etc are in incredibly good condition with very little wear, so in that respect I am lucky.

Jon

Hi Jon

I think you need the 4 cyl. EH pistons, these are a larger bore than my 6 cyl OH engine. Apparently the 4 cyl. pistons are more easily found , you should have little problem sourcing the 4 cyl. pistons

[David Herbert]

Mike,
If the rust on the 'new' rings will clean off with minimal pitting I would use them. individual pitts will make no difference but obviously any significant loss of metal is a no-no. A very fiddly job though as each will have to be done by hand a cm at a time.

David