Morris Major Series I
 | |
Production period: | 1957 to 1959 |
Type: | Motor Car |
Body versions : | Saloon |
Engines: | Gasoline : 1.5 liters (37 kW) |
Length: | 3860 mm |
Width: | 1537 mm |
Wheelbase : | 2184 mm |
Curb weight : | 901 kg |
The Morris Major first series was passenger car models manufactured by British Motor Corporation in Australia from 1957 to 1959.
History
The new Morris Major and the Austin Lancer were passenger car models manufactured by British Motor Corporation in Australia from 1958 to 1964 the Big Brother of the Minor. Note there was also previously a Morris Major from Morris Motors but in the United Kingdom that was from late 1930 until 1933.
Major and Lancer were available in three different series: I, II, and Elite. The Series I was similar to the Wolseley 1500, or Riley 1.5 in the UK, but with less features. In April 1962, the Austin Lancer was phased out of production. Both versions were produced solely at the BMC plant in Zetland, New South Wales, near Sydney, and were not exported to Europe, Asia, or the United States. 98 percent of the components were made in Australia. A large number of these cars were also sent to New Zealand.
Morris Major, Austin Lancer , Wolseley 1500 and Riley 1.5 were all based on the same design and were originally designed to replace the popular Morris Minor from the Longbridge BMC plant in England. However, this plan was abandoned because of the minority's popularity, and in 1957 the Wolseley version appeared, followed by the Riley-Version.
They were light sedans that took on the torsion bar suspension on the front axle and the leaf-sprung rear axle, the floor panels and the proven rack and pinion steering of the Minor. The automotive "quads" were powered by the well-known BMC-B engine, a four-cylinder in-line with 1,489 cc displacement.
From 1962, the developed in Australia 1,622 cc version of this machine was installed in the Major Elite. All had heavy drum brakes all around, Lockheed on the Morris, Austin and Wolseley and Girling on the Riley. These design principles resulted in popular, sparkling, lower middle-class family sedans, which were built robust and their driving characteristics were leading at that time. Major and Lancer, which differed from the sportier and more luxuriously equipped Wolseley and Riley sedans, had the same design, features and motorization as the contemporary British models of Morris and Austin.
Although Major and Lancer were rather modest vehicles, they offered a high standard of comfort and quality: they were modern cars with good value for money. The sporting potential of the two vehicles was immediately recognized and rebuilt by specialist specimens in 1960 successfully participated in races of the Australian Touring Car Championship.
Description
Technical
-
Morris Major Series I Technical details and specifications (1958-1959)
ENGINE
Engine type - BP15L.MA or 15MA/U/LA
No. of cylinders - 4
Bore X stroke, mm. - 69 x 87
Capacity, c.c. - 1,489
Max. b.h.p. - 50 at 4,200 r.p.m.
Max. torque lb-ft - 74 at 3,000r.p.m.
CARBURETTER- Make S.U. Type - semi-down draughtCLUTCH
Type - Borg & Beck clutch A6G
Diameter - 8 in.GEARBOX
Four-speed gearbox
synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and top gear.
Ratios Top 1.3736 ,2nd 2.2143 ,1st 3.6363 ,Reverse 4.7552
Overall Ratios Top 3.73,3rd 5.12,2nd 8.25,1st 13.56 ,Reverse 17.73SUSPENSION
Front and rear shock absorbers -Armstrong hydraulic double-acting type.
REAR -Semi-elliptic rear springs, mounted longitudinally.
Front ends anchored in flexing rubber bushes
rear ends in similar bushes in swinging shackles.STEERING:
Rack-and-pinion
Tie-rods operating steering armsBRAKES:
Front - Lockheed hydraulic Drum dia 9 in
Rear - Lockheed hydraulic Drum dia 8 in
Type - Mintex M.11
WHEELS AND TYRES
Wheel type - Ventilated disc
Wheel-rim size - 3.00 x 14© Motor car History
-
Morris Major Series I Service Guide (1958-1959)
Oil pressure (hot) - 50 lb/sq. in.
Valve springs, Valve seat angle - In.45°//Exh. 45°
Firing order - 1-3-4-2
Coil Make -Lucas Type LA12
Ignition timing - 6° b.t.d.c.
Contact breaker gap, 0.013-0.016in.
Sparking plugs Type - Make Champion N8B
Sparking plugs Gap - 0.024-0.026in.
Distributor make - Lucas Type DM2P4ENGINE
Engine type - BP15L.MA or 15MA/U/LA
No. of cylinders - 4
Bore X stroke, mm. - 69 x 87
Capacity, c.c. - 1,489
Max. b.h.p. - 50 at 4,200 r.p.m.
Max. torque lb-ft - 74 at 3,000r.p.m.
Oil pressure (hot) - 50 lb/sq. in.Big-end bearings dia. clearance - 0.001-0.0025 in.
Big-end bearingsside clearance - 0.008-0.012 in.
Main bearing end clearance - 0.002-0.003 in.
Main bearings running clearance - 0.005-0.002 in.
Camshaft bearings dia. clearance - 0.001-0.002 in.
Camshaft end-float - 0.003-0.007 in.
Piston clearances,Bottom of skirt -0.007-0.0013 in.
Piston clearances,Top of skirt - 0.0027-0.0033 in.TORQUE-WRENCH SETTINGS (LB-FT)
Cylinder head - 40
Crankshaft main bearing - 70
Connecting-rod big-end - 35
Gudgeon-pin clamp - 25
Flywheel bolts - 35-40
Rocker shaft - 16VALVE DATA
Working clearance, (hot)- Inlet 0.015in. Exh. 0.015in.
Inlet opens - 5° B-T-D-C
Timing clearance - 0.021 in.Valve springs,
Valve seat angle - In.45°//Exh. 45°
Valve stem to guide clearance,- Inlet 0.0015-0.0025 in.Exhaust 0.002-0.003 in.
Valve springs Free length - 2 1/64 in.
Valve springs Fitted length - 1 17/32 at 77 1/2 lbFUEL-SUPPLY SYSTEM
CARBURETTER- Make S.U.
Type - semi-down draught
Diameter 1 1/4in.
Jet, in. - 0.090
Needle Standard - EB
Needle Rich - HA
Needle Weak - CG
Piston spring colour -Green ; Red (from chassis No. MA46/3250BRAKES:
Front - Lockheed hydraulic Drum dia 9 in
Rear - Lockheed hydraulic Drum dia 8 in
Type - Mintex M.11
Length x width,Front - 8.98 x 1.5
Length x width,Rear - 6.98 x 1.5
Area, sq. in. Front -51.6
Area, sq. in. Rear -41.88
CLUTCHType - Borg & Beck clutch A6G
Diameter - 8 in.
No. and colour of pressure springs - 6 black and yellow
No. and colour of damper springs - 6 black and light green
GEARBOX
Four-speed gearbox
synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and top gear.
Ratios Top 1.3736 ,2nd 2.2143 ,1st 3.6363 ,Reverse 4.7552
Overall Ratios Top 3.73,3rd 5.12,2nd 8.25,1st 13.56 ,Reverse 17.73IGNITION
Firing order - 1342
Coil Make -Lucas Type LA12
Ignition timing - 6° b.t.d.c.
Contact breaker gap, 0.013-0.016in.
Sparking plugs Type - Make Champion N8B
Sparking plugs Gap - 0.024-0.026in.Distributor make - Lucas Type DM2P4
Centrifugal advance (crankshaft) 16°-18°
Advance starts (crankshaft) - 600-1,250 r.p.m.
Max. advance (crankshaft) - 2,800 r.p.m.
Vacuum advance (crankshaft) 8°Universal joints - Hardy-Spicer
Rear axle - Three-quarter floating
hypoid final-reduction gears.
Propeller shaft - 38 7/8 in.; diameter 2 in
Axle ratio - 11/41
No. of spring leaves - 7
Width of spring leaves - 1 1/2 in.
Gauge - 7/32 in.
Working load - 500 1b
Free camber, 4 3/8 in.Toe-in. - Parallel
Camber angle - 3°—4°
Castor angle - 3°
Kingpin angle- 9°
SUSPENSION
Front and rear shock absorbers -Armstrong hydraulic double-acting type.
REAR -Semi-elliptic rear springs, mounted longitudinally.
Front ends anchored in flexing rubber bushes
rear ends in similar bushes in swinging shackles.STEERING:
Rack-and-pinion
Tie-rods operating steering armsWHEELS AND TYRES
Wheel type - Ventilated disc
Wheel-rim size - 3.00 x 14
Tyre size 5.00 x 14
Tyre pressure lb/sq. in., front/rear Normal 22/22 Full load 24/26-Note: Morris Major Series I Advanced Maintenance is available for registered users-
© Motor car History
