mk1-forum.net

Hi Mini folks,

I just need a bit of detail for refinishing my Mini engine/gearbox. My car is a 1960 Morris Mini-Minor. When I got it, via Ebay, the seller said it had the original engine. When I went to pick it up, I found that it did not have the original engine, but it did have the original engine ID plate on it. It's actually a 1275cc engine out of....something. Recently, I bought an engine that is the correct engine for the car, amazingly built just 3-4 from when my car was made. My car is MA2S4/17884, original engine 8AM-Fau-H38084, just acquired engine 8MB-U-H13749. My car was a CKD car that went to New Zealand, which may account for the distance between the chassis number and the original engine number.
I've started taking the new engine apart and have found it to be very original overall, with the original clutch, starter, generator, water pump, and even the fan belt. I think even the oil filter element may be original! I've disassembled the starter and generator so far and found them to have no discernible wear, which is like crazy! Any way, as I re-assemble, a few questions:

1. Generator - is it painted all over, or are the aluminum end plates left unpainted?
2. Oil filler cap - painted or unpainted?
3. Valve cover securing hardware - painted or unpainted?
4. Bypass hose and metal hose clamps - painted or unpainted?
5. Cooling fan and pulley - paint code for the yellow? And are the fan securing bolts painted yellow, or left unpainted?

What ever you know, please chime in.
Thank you!
Paul B.
Pennsylvania, USA (Yes, our President is insane, we know....)

Hi Paul

Have a look at this thread:

http://www.mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php? ... eo&start=0

Ah, ok, a good thread that, lots of detail. So the inlet/exhaust manifold was also painted green? Obviously, engines get hot, but the exhaust manifold gets RAEALY hot. Doesn't that paint just burn off fairly quickly?
Also, are the bolts that secure the fan and pulley to the water pump flange painted yellow too?

- Paul

...and as Mark posted previously regarding the early cars - 1.48 shows them all green except for coils and locker cover oil caps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkTDCOQB-rg

...and assembly into to cars here at 2:38:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3jcIBPmYpY

1960 Morris Mini 850 the fan blades should be red in colour

captain wrote:1960 Morris Mini 850 the fan blades should be red in colour

and the pulley too

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30268259@N03/7562840256

Hmm, I'm not sure what to make of the red fan/pulley vs. yellow fan/pulley thing. This engine, which I'm slowly taking apart to check over it's overall condition after sitting somewhere for decades, so far, it crazy original. For example, the starter and generator internals have no detectable wear. Like, No wear on the commutator, full length brushes, etc. The fan belt is the original belt is original, not even the later superseded one, but the first one. All British bolts, no American substitutions. I gave the fan and pulley a good look and they have not been repainted, and the bolts are yellow also. I know the red and yellow fans are different, but this fan and pulley seem original to the engine, otherwise the bolts would have been painted again, but they have not been. Maybe America got the yellow fan earlier than other markets?

Quoting the 1959 Mini register

A four blade fan was fitted to all home market cars, yellow on Austin and red on early Morris cars only, all yellow from mid-way through 59 production. Export cars to hotter climates had a six blade export fan. The sixteen blade fan was introduced in Aug 61.

So its likely that a later car, especially one destined for an export market, would have had a yellow fan.

The 8MB engine you've got must be somewhat earlier than the 8AM engine that it originally had, but I would guess that it is still later than mid-'59.

Tim