Morris C8

[Mike K]

Would a compression test tell you how much the head has been shaved ?

I have a Indian made copy of the 1930 Lister CS single cyl. diesel , they recommend using a little piece of lead to check the piston to head clearance. The piston squashes the lead , you then measure the thickness of the lead . Don't know if that helps ?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Would a compression test tell you how much the head has been shaved ?

I have a Indian made copy of the 1930 Lister CS single cyl. diesel , they recommend using a little piece of lead to check the piston to head clearance. The piston squashes the lead , you then measure the thickness of the lead . Don't know if that helps ?

Hi Mike
I remember working on Lister engines from many years ago and think this procedure with the piece of lead was to get the shimming correct under the cylinder barrel, due to slight variations on piston height, barrel, etc.

To ascertain compression ratio on the Morris you would fill the combustion chamber with a measured amount of liquid and work the formula out with cylinder capacity. This done with head off and upside down.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Hi Mike
I remember working on Lister engines from many years ago and think this procedure with the piece of lead was to get the shimming correct under the cylinder barrel, due to slight variations on piston height, barrel, etc.

.

Yes , they recommend 1/16" is the correct piston/head gap. The shims under the cylinder , I sort of guessed that . The Indian built Listers are nowhere as good as the originals. It is necessary to strip the Indian engine down, and check for casting sand in the crankcase , plus many other atrocious faults. Mine had terrible camshaft bearing clearances . The timing gears are prone to breaking , mine has a bronze timing gear . I had to machine a eccentric bolt to adjust the timing gear backlash which was terrible. I had a lot of trouble starting it, the compression is huge , after spinning it over, I flick the valve lifter off and the piston just bounces back , it wont go over TDC ! The good thing is, fantastic spares backup !

[pauldavies]

I have measured the recess for the pistons and there is more than 1/16,"the pistons are .010" below the top of the case and there is .130" at the lowest on the head as it domes up over the pistons(which are flat) this is before I add the gasket which I didn't measure as it will be flattened by tightening down the head. Will do a pressure test once I get it all back together.

[pauldavies]

I had the head off again today, doubts in mind mean going backwards. I was going to elongate the water pump holes but the wall thickness doesn't allow so I filled the original holes in the cylinder head and drilled & tapped new ones where they will fit, all good and removed a broken bolt that was causing some problems. The head was measured again for clearance and as I previously measured the pistons have .100" clearance as the pistons are .020" under the case and the gasket is a squashed .080" so all good. Should get good pressure which I will check in a few days, I added a picture of the head just to remind myself what lurks below. Thanks every one.
Paul

[Mike K]

I hope it all works out OK . I have the six cyl. engines, they do have their quirks e.g. the oil feed to the engine crankshaft bearings via a external pipe. Where Did you find a new head gasket ?

[pauldavies]

Thanks Mike, I bought a load of parts from the original restorer (not the guy I bought the truck off) John Scowen. They included the copper head gasket, leather head gasket? also some exhaust gaskets, new pistons, rings, sleeves plus a collection of electrical bits and pieces. I am searching for a distributor top at the moment as I broke it when taking the head off, it wouldn't budge prior to removing the head but it's out now but broken.
Old bakerlite is as fragile as glass.
Paul