Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) +4 from the 80s - Rover or Fiat? - advice please

When I was looking a buying a Caterham, the head gasket issue was noted.
The research I did at the time suggested that by allowing the engine to warm up before giving it a blast improved the head gasket life.
I could have lived with that. I have taken that practice when I drive the Morgan.

Stay away from Rover( big problems with head gaskets. Personal experience here x3 ). I'd go for Ford CVH, well I did and no problems. Cam belt changes to adhere to and that's it. I personally don't like Fiat as spares are now more difficult in the uk. But to each his own

The FIAT engine as used by Morgan was not fitted to any mainstream FIAT car sold in the UK. Plenty in USA I understand and spares allegedly easy over there.
The M16 Rover suffered head gasket failure on a regular (30k+ miles if that is regular) basis. The T16 seems to have that sorted, but a check of the Rover forums is advisable. Note, the major problems with K series engines is a different matter...

I must add an alternative view regarding the M16 engine. It is true that head gaskets could fail and indeed my only failure was at 29000 miles but I and others think this engine has been underrated and misunderstood. It is a very strong unit and can be tuned, it's just that no one really tried but those that did had great success. Of course it is an old tech example now but was spot on in the eighties and if well maintained is capable of outstripping a lot of modern stuff.

The issue of lead free petrol is just a matter of fitting the correct type of valve seats and valves. My '67 Maserati was converted by a workshop in Sydney.

The fiat +4 is a beautiful thing. I drive one almost every day in Qld. I've been able to get parts imported through local fiat specialists if need be, hasn't been too much trouble so far. In fairness that specific 2 litre twin cam was not part of the 131 imports to Australia though...all the same a lot of parts are not that specific.

Neither were they to UK...

I had a T16 rover engined +4 10 years ago. I thought it was ok. A librands exhaust would liven it up, but if just cruising it would be ideal.

Both Ian Simoson and I had the 1985 fiat plus 4 four seater, I bought it from him and it was my first mog, beautiful engine and gearbox, never had a problem with it. But I sold it late 90's and it was converted to left and drive and shipped to Holland. Lovely car.
I thought the engine was in the uk as I thought it was fitted to the Fiat 131 mirafiori, didn't realise Morgan imported it.

I had for 8 years a T16 +4.
A Librands manifold & exhaust make a big difference to torque delivery.
I never had a gasket issue but the ECU had to be replaced. As they get older I suspect that means buying an OMEX unit as the OEM ones will not be available.