Photos of unrestored engine bays

[apblake]

Hi Folks,
I was wondering if anyone would have an interest in creating a thread here where we post photos of unrestored engine bays (or links to photos). I have found myself spending hours searching this forum when I have a specific question and sometimes there isn't a firm conclusion. For example, I've been researching the correct spark plug caps for later mk1 cars (My car was built in '66). I honestly can't say I have found a definitive answer for later cars (It's pretty clear that prior to '64 they were the WC548 plug caps). Parnell says multiple types were used but doesn't actually say that the WC548's were discontinued. The official parts list seems to only show that a single cap was ever used for mk1s (which was clearly the WC548), so then I find myself trying to find photos of engines that appear to be mostly unmolested to find an answer.

There is this thread that has a super interesting photo from the 60's that at least one other forum member thought was a '66 car (with WC548s): viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17841&hilit=997

Then there is this car with WC548's (although it is a '64): https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964- ... ooper-s-2/

And then there is this car with WC548's (a '65): https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1965- ... ooper-s-5/

Anyway, none of these photos are conclusive, but if we have enough of them it can help to answer questions about little things like clips and spark plug caps, etc.

I don't know if anyone actually has more photos they can share or if they are interested, but if so, I think it could be a useful resource that I haven't really found easily accessible elsewhere on this forum.

[mk1]

There are a few engine shots here;

https://mk1-performance-conversions.co. ... hotos.html

But most are pre publicity shots & are by no means definitive.

The sad fact is that there are very, very few unmolested cars & very few photos of same available anywhere. I too think it would be good to have a thread on this subject, but do wonder where the images will come from.

M

[apblake]

Yeah, maybe there just aren't many photos available. Thanks for posting the link Mark - every time I think I have gotten to know the content of your main site I see that there is something else I have missed.

On a side note - I love how I don't think any of those photos on that page showed a WC548 spark plug cap (despite being the only one referenced in the parts manual). On that particular issue, maybe there was just a variety of caps used.

[mk1]

You generally find that small parts like spark plug caps, in fact most parts on the car had at least 2 suppliers at any one time. This was to ensure continuity of supply in the event of strikes or shortages.

For example, Washer bottles were Tudor or Trafalgar. This was reflected in many other parts.

As is usually the case with BMC, nothing is ever as straight forward as it first appears.

[surfblue63]

I would have said the best place for unmolested shots would be contemporary road test features in the various car magazines (Motor, Autocar, Motor Sport) issued when the cars were new, or in the likes of Practical Motorist or CCC.

You might find some in the Light Read section on the main Mk1 site

https://mk1-performance-conversions.co. ... _read.html

[Toby]

I went about buying Champion Spark Plug catalogues to try and answer this question. The only thing is that they cover a year, so there is not an exact change point. The 65 catalogue lists the WC548 and the 66 catalogue lists the WCX600

[TECH396]

apblake
Like it or not you just started the thread. :)as Mark said some things just aren't written in stone. Here's a photo from a lesser known magazine called Sports Car. This picture was in an issue dated Sept 1965 and shows the WC187 wire ends on a "C Reg" car. My 12000 mile 68 came with the same ends. And some were clamped while others were held to the HT lead with a sleeve similar to shrink tubing, like these ones.

[Exminiman]

You may well be looking for definitive answers where there are not any.

This was a cheap car made in two UK factories, within certain parameters, they would of just used what was available to keep the line going.

They would not of stopped the line because they couldn’t get a specific model of plug cap, or in fact pretty much any component or material.

[apblake]

Even if the answer is that there was no definitive answer - that is good enough for me. Just knowing that you have something that could have been installed (versus having something that was definitely wrong) is good to know. But, yes, as usual, I concede that I'm probably going down a rabbit hole without good answers.

Here are two shots from a "CCC" article in August 1967 on the main mk1 site:
One of the Cooper engine bay (that has WC548 plug caps I think), but it also has an earlier heater valve and the heater blower in the engine bay so either the test car was much older than 1967 or they used a publicity shot.

Screen Shot 2022-10-14 at 3.33.57 PM.png

Here is a shot of the Cooper S engine bay from the same article (also I believe with the WC548 plug caps), but also with the older style heater valve (I don't remember when that changed over).

Screen Shot 2022-10-14 at 3.34.40 PM (1).png

[Polarsilver]

Just to mention the different Heater Taps & i always thought the Hedgehog type Heater Tap came along first.. but not so going by the year dates shown of the above photos.

[kit of bits]

Any pictures of Dec 64 1275S please
D

[Toby]

Even if the answer is that there was no definitive answer - that is good enough for me. Just knowing that you have something that could have been installed (versus having something that was definitely wrong) is good to know. But, yes, as usual, I concede that I'm probably going down a rabbit hole without good answers.

Here are two shots from a "CCC" article in August 1967 on the main mk1 site:
One of the Cooper engine bay (that has WC548 plug caps I think), but it also has an earlier heater valve and the heater blower in the engine bay so either the test car was much older than 1967 or they used a publicity shot.
Screen Shot 2022-10-14 at 3.33.57 PM.png

Here is a shot of the Cooper S engine bay from the same article (also I believe with the WC548 plug caps), but also with the older style heater valve (I don't remember when that changed over).
Screen Shot 2022-10-14 at 3.34.40 PM (1).png

Both those cars have the right heater tap fitted as they pre date 64. It looks like older images were used for the publication. The 997 Cooper depicted still sports the metal caps on the master cylinders even and the S is a 1071 with the early type of air filter box.

[coopertim]

Not unrestored but my May 63 1071 with original heater control.

Tim

[Simon776]

And remember that overseas market cars may have had some different components to UK cars to satisfy local regulations.

[Cammsjb]

Any original MK2 engine bay photos out there?

[mab01uk]

From the 1967 Mk2 Morris Mini Traveller brochure.
http://www.minipassionmini.50megs.com/p ... chures.htm

[apblake]

1071 S engine bay from July 1963 issue of Sports Car Graphic magazine

IMG_5196_32.jpeg

[apblake]

1275 S engine bay, left hand drive from the November 1965 issue of Road and Track magazine

IMG_5194_32.jpeg

[Toby]

That’s a press release photo from BMC that they borrowed for the article

[apblake]

1275 S engine bay, left hand drive from a road test article in the French magazine Sport Auto Salon from October 1965. Interested that they referred to the car as a "BMC 1300 S". Lots of great detail in the image. Weird spark plugs that I don't recognize - must've been a French thing.

IMG_5197_32.jpeg