How To: Restore a Morris or keep fit

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Too late now for you Mike, but I understand that flathead v8s that sit for long periods tend to stick valves. One answer (as I understand) is bronze liners.
If the morris is also prone, then maybe starting with bronze instead of cast iron is a good move for anyone tackling this in the future?

hi Lynn

Yes I did look into bronze but don't know where to get it, its a special manganese bronze they use. I got the cast iron bar from Flocast , at North Coburg . The iron they make is a machining grade , it does not have the superhard skin that will blunt your tools !

[Mike K]

I received an update from my engine man today, my CS8 engine block needs to be bored to +40 thou and I've only got the new +20 thou pistons . We discussed the options and I said I would have a look at another engine I have here , I removed it from a PU Morris , I will measure the bores for wear - hopefully it will be useable.

After all the effort of removing the studs and the work stripping it down, it was a wasted effort

At 300 bucks each I'm not buying new made in South Aust. JP brand pistons . My Morris friend in the UK has informed me the JP pistons are not up to standard anyway, he fitted them and after experiencing oil burning problems, he discovered the ring grooves have caused issues . JP overdid the ring groove taper , it should be .001" but on measuring, they are something like .010" .

The theory is: as the piston heats up the ring grooves change shape , ever so slightly . A tiny taper is made in the grooves to allow for the change.

[Dave Mills]

Hello Mike, have you considered having the engine sleeved and bored to accept the .020" OS pistons, may be a cheaper option. Just be sure to shave a little off your head to keep the compression ratio up.

It seems a shame not to use NOS if you have it.

Dave.

[hrpearce]

Hi Mike, are sleeves an option?

[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