Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) CVH engine noise

I own a 2 seater 1985, CVH, 1.6 with 51,000Km. The engine became noisy in the last months at around 2,000 - 2,300RPM.
What I found when we changed the cam belt: 1 - The engine timing was off; 2 - The cam belt was not tensioned as it should be: it was looses, 3 - The cam belt number did not correspond to the correct cam belt. 4 - The tensioner spring was missing.
After changing the camshaft belt and the water pump, and timing the engine, the noises disappear.
As an information I have installed a Gates Powergrip kit (cam belt + tensioner} number K015225XS, that I source from Trodo.com, https://www.trodo.com/timing-belt-kit-gates-k015225xs
I had to buy the tensioner spring separately from Burton power.
I would suggest, even if the previous owner has changed the cam belt, that you double check the work that has been done. Is the cam belt properly tensioned? Was it the timing degree? Verify the number of the timing belt: it should be a 97 T belt (Number of Teeth).

On a CVH it's well worth replacing the camshaft if the engine has an unknown history. The valve springs on these engines have a pretty high rate, and the camshaft is under a lot of load. If oil changes haven't been strictly observed they can wear a lot. It's also worth fitting a vernier cam wheel so the valve timing can be dialled in accurately.

I had an 84 1.6cvh for the last 13 years, 72k on the clock when I sold it, never sounded like you describe and if anything it pretty much purred.

The only time it did have an odd noise, which kind of sounded like you describe, it was erratic for a few years then got worse, ended up being down the the bearings in the alternator which once refurbished was back to normal.