Moss Motors, Ltd

I just tried to start my 1965 Morgan (TR4 engine) and the car moved forward and then stopped with an ominous clunk.  On restarting the starter motor turned the engine over but it wouldn't fire.  I embarked on a search through the electricals and then found that the (43 year old) distributor wasn't turning.  All this was taking place in 100 deg heat in a shopping center parking lot surrounded by interested onlookers making helpful comments like "nice car" and "what's the problem?"   Anyway AAA came to the rescue and I'm now back home again with an immobile car. 

I'm assuming that something has broken (!) maybe the distributor drive.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to proceed before I do something I might regret?

Thanks...John

John,

Do you have a manual for this engine? I certainly know there is no factory manual for the car!

Your diagnosis that "something has broken" is right on the spot. There are a number of things in the gear train between oil pump, camshaft, and distributor drive that could be amiss. I can think of two pins that fasten components to shafts offhand. I'm at home right now without a manual, but the information is in there. The exploded views in parts catalogs can sometimes be quite helpful here as well. Let me know what you find. This shouldn't be too difficult. Notice I said "shouldn't"...

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

Motorbill,

Thanks for your detailed reply.  I pulled the distributor and everything seemed intact.  I then pulled the valve cover off and turned the engine and there was no movement from the valve train.  I'm now at the limit of my competence but it would seem to be a timing chain/camshaft drive issue.  Am I missing something?

What do you think?

 

John

John,

I must admit that I avoided this possibility out of optimism, but should have has you crank the engine to see if the distributor rotor turned, (it wouldn't have) You may have experienced a broken timing chain. This would be the best news for which you can now hope. In any event, the next step is to remove the front cover, or timing cover from the engine. In this process you'll discover what has happened. This could include a sheared connection between the cam sprocket and camshaft, all the way to a broken crankshaft nose.

I don't know your level of expertise, but things could, and I emphasise could, get sticky. Please get back to me, and don't panic.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

Motorbill,

My level of expertise is low....if I'm not panicking it is out of ignorance (!).  I think the best thing now is to enlist the help of people locally who may be able to help.  There are a two or three here who profess to be British car repairers.  Failing that I may rent a trailer and show up at your door .

Thanks again for your fast response and I'll keep you updated for sure.

 

John

One of the bolts holding the timing chain sprocket to the camshaft sheared, the chain broke and chewed up the sprocket also.  Upon inspection the bolt appeared to be a regular bolt not grade 5 or 8 or better.  The engine was last rebuilt by a well known British engine builder in California some 17 years ago and it's inconceivable that they would not have used a better bolt.  The bolt could well have been 43 years old...we just don't know.

Hopefully we'll have the car back on the road in a few days.