Morris Minor engine swap - a success or total fail?!

[@eddiejones.redvees]

If only modern cars were so easy to replace the engine

[@NYCS19339]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@davidhinkson8856]

True

[@MarkMcCluney]

If only anything was easy to replace in a modern car.

[@pagegreer5081]

Love how there are still parts around to keep this 60 yearold gem on the road.

[@exasperated]

Bizarrely there's more stuff available off the shelf for a 60 year old Minor than a 30 year old Rover. Ask me how I know ..

[@ianlaws3857]

Your advice about stopping what your doing if you become tired and hungry is spot on . Nobody likes to rush a good job

[@petermckee1061]

When I was 14 or 15 y/o (60 years ago) my university student neighbour had a Morris Minor 1000. He'd pull the thing apart in his front driveway and I'd help him with small tasks, all the time learning. By my late teens and early twenties, I was capable of maintaining and repairing my motorcycles and MGA 1600. The Minor's A-series engine had me well prepared for the MG's B-series. That little Morry was the start of my love of motor vehicle maintenance all those years ago. I still have all the tools I started buying back then including all the BSW spanners and sockets..

[@daviemaclean61]

Glad to hear the proper technical terms in use! Hoick!!! ;-)

[@Firebrand55]

Routine for DIY aces in the 1950's...folks; Steph is absolutely right....this task is straightforward, and also other contemporary cars like the Ford Anglia 105E, the Austin Devon, and the Volvo 122S, which I did. The golden rule is: know what you're doing, have the right tools, work methodically and never ever rush. Modern cars?.....forget it. Great How To's Steph and very well explained.

[@chrisharvey5113]

What a really enjoyable video.I wouldn't normally find changing an engine that interesting but it was great. Ps, you don't just drive classics, you know quite alot of technical stuff too. 😊

[@ThatMicro43Guy]

Putting the bungs straight into the old engine also acts as a great check to ensure you have removed all the ones on the new engine and not overlooked any. If you are a bung short on the old engine means you may have accidentally left one in the new one.

[@kanton2485]

Nice you have friends and a workshop at hand. I still remember around 1969 Christmas changing the gearbox of my Renault 4 on the street while it started to snow. Then, I repaired the gearbox on the kitchen table in our flat on the 4th floor. :) My nails were always in those times because there was always something to repair on that car.

[@AnthonySzolna]

Aussie here, manyyrz ago,late1970s a friend and i pulled the motor on a Morris Minor.We dropped a motor and 5 speed gearbox out of a 1970s Toyota Corolla. It went straight in, the motor was a KE70,the Lil slant motor, it went like a dream I used it as work drive for many years.Good Luck with yours I hope it works out for you😊😊

[@frenchfriar]

That's a beautiful new engine. Ed's certainly a handsome fella. And I absolutely adored your last outfit, with the bright dress & black leggings, it is so cute. Thanks, Steph, and goid luck with the brakes & stuff!

[@OldcarsNmusic]

Well done all. I love the Elf in the background! I've seen just one in my lifetime, here in the U.S.

[@Vince_uk]

I have said it in the past and I wil say it again Steph, you know some wonderful people. A job well done.

[@neilbedford5082]

Excellent film again Steph. This is what environmentally friendly motoring should really be about - the old Minor has already been produced, so zero impact there, the engine is reconditioned and will run sweetly and economically, with passers-by smiling when they see your classic. You've also boosted your skillset and doubtless quite enjoyed the process with your pals - fantastic.

[@philipwardle6820]

Always great fun to work with your friends when tackling the bigger jobs, you learn from each other and get motivation to carry on when the going gets tougher 🙂

[@tombache3426]

In our Land Rover club, if you had a project to do, club members showed up, helped with the job-you just had to provide lunch.

[@stephenricketts7764]

Way back in the day my Dad had a friend who worked for a Ford dealership. When it came time to change the engine in his Mk 1 Cortina he got him to do it. They had a sort of 'Barter system' going on between them so my Dad being a Carpenter would do whatever needed to be done for his friend. I remember my late Mother put a sign in the rear window of the car 'Running in please pass'. I think the following Weekend we had to go to Birmingham to visit relatives (from Southampton) and the car didn't miss a beat and was 'run in' by the time we returned home. I have done a few engines since in my time but watching this video was not in any way boring, a 'Step by Step' for any one who needs to do such a task. The new engine looks great Steph and will give you many years of good service I am sure. Thanks for the video and thanks also to Ed and Paul for their help. 👍👍👍

[@levelcrossing150]

If it was a 1200ohv engine then they only lasted 30,000 miles.

[@stephenricketts7764]

@@levelcrossing150 From memory it was a 1200ohv yes. When he bought it the car was only two years old but don't ask me the mileage at time of purchase.

[@geoffrichards2706]

Excellent, this is what owning a classic car is all about .

[@jagvette1]

When I was younger MANY MANY years ago I had a Anglia 105 E and I remember taking the engine out without any crane, and getting in the engine bay lifting it of the engine mounts and gearbox picking it up resting on the front radiator support stepping out of the bay picking it up and putting it on the floor. THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIENDS !!!

[@choryferguson2196]

Great to watch how collaborative this process was. I can see now why you're a bit precious about this car…such a project and so beautifully come-together.

[@Parknest]

Steph, there's been a few times I've kept going through tiredness when working on a car and I've started making mistakes. Your advice is spot on.

[@levelcrossing150]

Yes, it's a good idea. Back in the late 60's I was refitting my engine back into my Hillman Imp after fitting a new clutch. For an hour I was struggling to fit the drive shaft rubber donut and I was getting nowhere, so I went off and made a cup of tea. After 20 mins I came back and the thing fitted straight away.

[@bobmctague3713]

Your car sounds great. I love Morris Minors. They weren't too uncommon here in the US when i was young. I think they are the coolest British car. I love watching these videos, especially ones like these even though I will never have to replace an engine on a Morris Minor. I wish you many trouble free and fun miles with your new engine.

[@graemew7001]

When you jumped out of the car at the end I thought, Wow! all the pain of the op and the effort you put in has really paid off for you Steph, you look amazing 😊. The only A series I ever pulled out was from MG Midgets and removal of the bonnet made those easier.

[@busterboy7505]

Well done Steph, Edd, Paul, I had to change the engine on my Vauxhall cavalier many years ago and luckily I could use the engineering work shop with a crane, would not like to do it now, hope she runs well Steph on her first journey 👍❤️.

[@hectorshouse7348]

You’ve got some wonderful friends Steph😀👍

[@mikekellow6437]

You have a great wardrobe and a great taste in cars

[@pizzagogo6151]

Nice work...a few decades ago , in Australia when parts for British engines were getting harder to find and their Japanese alternatives were cheap & plentiful, quite a lot of these got swapped for Toyota corolla or Datsun L series 4 cylinders. I guess it would be considered very much heresy now 😅....but frankly ( especially with an 1800 motor!) made it a much better & more reliable Morris 😉

[@Scouser22]

Hi Steph, great job. That's a lovely clean engine. Brings back memories. My brother was an expert car mechanic. Back in the 1960's I helped him (I was the dogsbody) strip down and rebuild the family Ford car engine. He borrowed a block and tackle from work and lifted out the engine where he stripped it into bits in the garage. He had the cylinder head re-machined in a workshop and the valve seats ground back, then replaced the crank bearings, ground in new valves and replaced the piston rings,new plugs, new clutch plate. After everything was put back together the car went on for another 10 years. Yes dermatitis has always been a problem for car mechanics. We always had tubs of Swarfega and barrier cream in the house.

[@johnpritchard2772]

Hello Steph, and your "helpers" / professional engineers - what a great video, so enjoyable!! Reminded me many years ago as a 9 year old lad "assisting" an engineer change his engine on a Rootes Hillman minx saloon, I was hooked and found myself as a mechanic - now retired I am just as fussy with my present car, (which I wish was so much simpler to work upon!) and carry out very simple servicing in changing the oil, fuel, air filter and oil change. Good advice, if you are getting tired / hungry - STOP and leave it all for another day! So, now you can travel around the world and enjoy you classic car - well done and best wishes from Lincolnshire.

[@johndavey72]

Well done Steph . But it does help when you have the boys giving you their expert advice . 😅

[@highdownmartin]

Everyone needs advice.

[@michaelhalsall5684]

Great to see an actual engine. So many workshop manuals will tell you to "remove the engine" without explaining the easiest way to do it. Great video!😊

[@SuperRetroville]

Thats so helpful, you really took the fear out of it. Yes an angine crane really helps if you can rent or borrow one. A new engine... absoloute heaven. Looking forward to your running in tips. Ill be doing the same very soon.

[@alancartwright2244]

I once did this without an engine Crane - definitely a hernia job!

[@jeremylittle1581]

Always love the workshop videos when you do them!

[@gbentley8176]

New lease of life and well worth the effort from you and the Boys. Great post thank you.

[@ricolasroc5890]

Another great video. The open honesty, step by step guide. Speaking around issues. I love these videos when you work on things Steph. And yeah - do plug your place of work. They're clearly doing a great job!

[@lucythemoggy1970]

steph, that is how i did my engine, front panel off, removed it on my own with an engine crane, never done it before, was really chuffed. and the fan i used hammerite yellow and it is perfect shade

[@adeh503]

Nice one Steph and the boys great job. Love these old school restoration garages, but I must say that floor surface looks like a nightmare to roll an engine hoist around on.

[@highdownmartin]

Was hard work on my hand done block pave drive. Two hundred tdi swinging around, I was a bit worried that my Chinese crane was going to give way!

[@MrPetercmorris]

A great video. Thank you. I have to admit that I would have liked to see more of what the lads were doing.

[@carguygibby]

Great job, Steph. Little moggy is good to go for many more years. How I miss working on older cars, even just changing spark plugs is a major job on lots of modern cars.😢

[@davidcole5803]

Oh so easy to work on, if only cars were made like this today. I had 2 of them and regret selling on.

[@davidjones6209]

Hi Steph great to see you upgrading your old Moggie with a Beautiful new unit. Also because your old unit was only tired and had no major calamity, there is an excellent chance it will live again once Ivor Searl has breathed on it & keep another motor on the road where it belongs. GOOD WORK all round, respect to the boys for helping you out

[@radfordman1]

Great video Steph. You made the lining up of the new clutch with the old gearbox look very easy ! It can sometimes be a challenge. Anyway, looking forward to popping in at ADO in the very near future.

[@Lucan44.40]

My first car, a moggy in 1964, was 6 years old and needed a new mill . So my pal and I put a new recon one in. On the road outside my parents.. Always having to replace parts throughout 2 years of ownership 😂 I wouldn't know where to start these days. Under the bonnet looks like the back of my tele😮

[@dennismccarthy7032]

Brilliant show Steph 👏 ❤

[@johnbeckett2624]

Hi Steph, Good to see you are using an Ivor Searle engine, I use to work there about 25 years ago in the engine assembly room and built many A series engines along with many other types including Ford, Vauxhall, Rover and Triumph engines, they were and still are good engines, great to hear you have had it a while now and it's running well.

[@colinevans39]

Its so good that you have managed to find all those genuine people to help you out we all need a little help some more than others love your channel but you haven't answered re the price of the engine ❤😊 thanks

[@RonaldThomas-j9g]

well done Steph and the team from ADO and all that need's to be done is the one break and then you should be good to go yay and enjoy your new engine it should be a good one .

[@davebaker9128]

Around 35 years a, I put a hot rodded 1275 MG engine and ribbed case transmission from a Midget into a Morris Minor, it had a cam, twin S.U. carburetors that were 1.5 inches as I recall and a tube exhaust header with larger diameter exhaust pipe with a Super Trapp muffler. It was significantly quicker and faster than before and sounded very sporty.

[@FMFGUF]

I have a similar installation in my 1970 Traveller (my first ever engine rebuild), albeit with a single HIF 44 carb - goes pretty well, though I rebuilt the original tired 1098cc engine in case it ever needs to go back in again at some point...

[@philtucker1224]

Good fun and a great memory to have. I did the similar with my 850 mini in 1972 fitted a complete MG 1100 engine and transmission and it made it into a much nicer car to drive. Happy memories!

[@fabshop6359]

Top job, Steph! Mistakes when tired & hungry? Oh yes, very familiar, as are bolts & nuts that are difficult to either undo or tighten, many scraped and grazed knuckles and backs of hands. Can laugh at all that now, and all the swearing…😂😂👍. Great channel, love it.

[@markf3619]

congratulations Steph on your new engine , well done .great commentary. you look great too!! 🌺

[@steveball2307]

My first engine out was on a Marina 1300 with a block and tackle borrowed from work attached to the stout branch of a tree outside the flat I was living in at the time - there's always a way 😅. Think the replacement engine was about forty quid from a local breakers, bit of fettling and it did another 30k miles.

[@mikeparkercreative5136]

Well done. I recently replaced the engine in my Ford Model A on the drive...a satisfying job 😊

[@robertlambert8719]

Great job, Steph! Changed many a Minor engine in the early days of my career in the motor trade. We always removed the front panel, and one of the engine mounting towers. Made life so much easier! As an aside, I can highly recommend Ivor Searle engines. I've been in the trade for over 45 years and have fitted many engines from them. Never had a problem at all! Hope you have many miles of motoring! Drive safely.

[@levelcrossing150]

We used to fit GoldSeal engines made by BMC I believe. They were always painted in that gaudy gold paint which shouted reconditioned at you, which was good really.

[@pamholton7166]

Absolutely Fabulous Video Steph .Reminds me when I did mine six years ago exactly like you.Definitely Grill out and front removal 👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️

[@melvynjollysmith4997]

I am 76yrs and I always used to take the engines out through the front. Good engines, can take a bit of tuning.

[@MrGman2804]

Crickey. I remember the first 'engine out' I did was a BMC 1275cc 'A series' engine from my 1972 MG Midget. Being a 6ft2 bloke, i could (just about) lift the engine off the garage floor on my own.... but not for long. I am guessing they weigh about 85kg+++???? but you 100% need a hoist to get one out. I bought an untested 1275cc engine from a breakers called 'Richardsons' near Staines for roughly £80???? It was >45 years ago. I struck gold. No idea what the mileage was on that 2nd hand engine, but it ran beautifully for the rest of the time I had the car which was at least 5 years after the 'swap'. I then sold my original old engine for about £50. Those were the days. I loved that MG Midget, but I eventually had a couple of fairly 'ordinary' cars ( a VW jetta then a Volvo) before getting very bold and buying my first used UR audi quattro. Those were indeed the days. Now I am now retired, so I am looking out for an old 'weekend car' classic... and no idea what to get.. but as with many people, apart from cost, the issue is space. Where to keep it..... aha....If I only had the space I could see me gathering a few... but in reality.. I can't. Nowhere to put them. Great channel this. I am impressed to see Steph not just in vintage fashion, but also in a boiler suit and getting stuck into it.

[@paulhutchins6019]

Rozalex barrier cream is your friend. I never liked or wore gloves, they made my hands sweat so bad.

[@JrSamples-g4v]

They do mine as well but I prefer that over the ground in grease and dirt and the smells is gas and 90w.

[@LangleyBeck]

Beautiful job well worth doing brilliant cars reliable British engineering at it's very best

[@theobster]

Nice job Steph! With care and modern oils that engine will run for ever!! Just a note, a long run is not the best way to run in an old design engine, if you must use the moggy for this trip my advice is to stay off motorways and long dual carriageways. Take the back route so the engine is varying load and RPM, also stop and let it cool for half an hour every 50 odd miles. This will help the rings bed into the bored better, then drive in the manner I have laid out for about the next thousand miles. I’ve rebuilt two A series engines and both had rebores and new pistons and rings and I never had any trouble from them after running in in this way👍

[@charliegardner6804]

Good advice 👍.

[@roberthoey8944]

Job well done ...happy Motoring

[@brianwillis9673]

If I was after a classic as a daily driver it would have to be a toss up between an MGBGT or a Morris Minor - preferably a Traveller. It's purely because parts and panels are still readily available for both and if it's your daily driver that is a big plus. Great video - you had me worried when it didn't start first time, but glad it worked out in the end. Is the car in the background an Elf or a Hornet? My first car was a Hornet Mk III affectionately known as Walter. Great car, great fun, totally reliable and real freedom not being tied to bus and train timetables.

[@philtucker1224]

@@brianwillis9673 Travellers with fresh woodwork look wonderful don’t they ?

[@lepod]

I did not know you could take the engine out of the front, that's a good tip. Much easier.

[@biker_dan]

Great job done, must admit I do prefer a bit tinkering and mechanics to reviews, keeps me more interested.. great work.

[@HowardLeVert]

The letters on your registration plate match those of my first BMW 5er - F545 KNA. That was an interesting little video (I did wonder if the new engine was exchange or not) - but I'd be leaning towards an electric cooling fan though.

[@earlbigod]

She runs! Success!

[@MrDmjay]

Nice work luv.

[@charliegardner6804]

Great video thanks for sharing 👍.

[@adamanderson2178]

Great video 👍😎

[@arthurlincoln220]

As a boy racer in the 60's I ran a Ford Anglia with a 1500 cc engine twin carbs etc with no workshop luxuries just a beam and a pawl lift an engine change took 3 hours max. Very few cars of that era allowed the front grill etc to be removed we usually removed the bonnet,the Anglias bonnet opened forewards so it was possible to do it without that step.

[@allanmollison6971]

Excellent Steph 😊👍

[@spokesmann]

Beautiful job guys.

[@clairependrous4512]

Well done, another informative video. Thank you.

[@farnthboy]

Here in Aussie in the late 60's my brother had a canary yellow Morris Minor low light & he put a worked grey 138 ci holden six in it. Used to run 15 sec quarter mile which was fairly quick in those days & even got a write up in Australian Hot Rod Magazine at the time. Steel cars are real cars.

[@tedcorey3054]

Good work , and it sounds good .

[@rupert7874]

Excellent as usual,best wishes

[@delbertgenewoods6837]

I remember pulling my first 4 banger. Back in the day. There is no greater high. Than when you fire that bad boy up and go for the first drive I've been dangling motors in the air since I was a young boy. No regrets

[@jamesmiller6977]

Make sure you take it easy with the new engine for the first few hundred miles, then do an early oil and filter change to get the "running in" swarf out of the engine.

[@BerwhaleTheAvenger-b5s]

Minor engines are not quite as easy as you'd think. An Escort Mark 1 or 2 is as easy as it gets - an hour (90 minutes tops) and the engine and box is out as one. Ditto the Cortina etc.

[@chrisskelhorn5727]

Our lovely Steph + inappropriate jokes = mind blown! 😲 I'm glad all is going well though! 🙂

[@emiluppa4175]

My uncle had a minor that had been built as a show car in the 80s with purple paint and flake silver flashes and stars going from the front and fading away towards the back. It had a flip front and a 1700cc v4 from a saab 96. Really fun car.

[@philtucker1224]

Did he run it at Santa Pod?

[@davidhall4499]

I enjoyed watching your video changing the engine of your Morris Minor. I worked in the automotive manufacturing industry for 50 odd years and enjoyed working on things like the Morris and Austin A series engines. Today it is a different matter my 2024 Mazda has a computer with a 2 litre petrol engine attached and I can do nothing unless I can access the programmes in the ECU. I would suggest you buy a Haynes (£18 ) service manual with all you need to know and some basic tools like a set of feeler gauges, a good set of combination spanners imperial and metric and a socket set. I know that I can solve most problems by looking on KZbin for a repair - Good luck

[@donaldasayers]

Having been left stranded on the M23/M1 junction in the middle of the road on the hatched area where the two motorways join, stranded by my Luminition electronic ignition, I would never fit one again. There are better self contained products out there. I fitted points back to get it running and they stayed on the car til I sold it.

[@paulmackay1890]

Great video Steph. Hope the run back was uneventful.

[@JrSamples-g4v]

This will make Nurse Gladys very happy Granville.

[@imSatnav]

Lovely job. And now doubt you can now use unleaded fuel without an additive.👍

[@bobfrankish8883]

Good video.

[@callyboy5228]

Undo the bonnet stay pull the bonnet all the way up then run a piece of string over the roof and secure to boot handle,much better to work in engine bay

[@mike-w8w6d]

Love it !!

[@alexandrecouture2462]

Great!

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Barrier cream for the hands ! Deb Protect before, Deb Restore after….

[@JrSamples-g4v]

Back in the 80s my mechanic friends used to laugh at me for buying gloves at the printer shop supply. It seemed like Napa was the only place that had Liquid Glove in the States and that wasn't close or convenient many times.

[@wibble417]

Go Steph & co get that moggy back on the road!!!

[@mike-s8n8y]

The last bit was a good while later by the look of things

[@tichwykes]

A little bit sweary working on cars surely not ha ha, my best mates brother bought a Morris minor van way back in the early eighties for £15 a couple of years later the engine went so he bought one for a tenner, the guy even had it running on a concrete floor so he could see it going, that engine was running for years afterwards until he eventually sold it ah those were the days, older cars sure are easier to work on though you say you got sweary working on the Minor try tackling some jobs on a modern vehicle you'll soon have a complete new vocabulary ha ha. Great job Steph great to see it running again.

[@Extreme_Rice]

I can confirm record collectors on KZbin very much do still do unboxing videos.

[@alistairriggs5911]

this is brilliant I love the log moggie but are torn between a moggy traveller or a moggy van as I am a bee keeper and I could put a hive in the van but may be not in the traveller

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

I notice your fan blade only has two "arms" or blades. I recall reading in a text manual for some British car (not necessarily Morris Minor) that the 2 bladed fans were specified for Britain while 4 bladed fans were specified for "export" models (ie those sent to Australia and NZ etc). Perhaps fitting an "export" fan should give better cooling, especially for those cars used only during Summer or in slow moving traffic jams.

[@philtucker1224]

I fully agree, once you’ve ascertained the engine actually needs more cooling while stationary. As it’s usually quite cool in the U.K. (even in the summer!) and it’s a little engine in a big space it may not suffer from overheating and the lower-drag two blade fan might be ok.

[@dshafterh3897]

Not to nitpick but you could hurt yourself wearing a ring like that while doing that kind of work, really easy to get your finger caught up in things.

[@davidhinkson8856]

I admire your approach to working on your cars. I agree with you, once the car is out of commission for one fault and you find others, it is best to attend to everything before you put it back on the road. You might save yourself a lot of grief later on. BTW, whatever became of your Triumph?

[@PlattLaneEnd]

I still think there is a lot to be said environmentally for keeping old cars and motorcycles going. In terms of whole of life inpact, re-use of second hand parts etc. Plus sourcing parts built from within a few hundred miles maximum - rather than coming from China has to be a winner.

[@mikekellow6437]

Now I want another morris minor...

[@simplyexcellent.9749]

I fitted a new engine but unfortunately now the gearbox needs repair. That’s motoring 😅😊