Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Advice wanted please

I have recently acquired a rebuilt four seater 1985 Morgan +8 fuel injection. I drove the car back from the UK to France and the first day the car ran fine. Then on the second day it started to play up and I have the following symptoms:

- the car starts very well and ticks over normally until warm

- initially (first couple of hundred meters the car feels normal)

- the tickover when warm is a bit lumpy at around 650rpm

- on tickover at the MOT centre the emissions were normal

- as I drive the car it feels as if it’s something is holding it back and only gentle acceleration is possible

- the car will rev to 5000rpm but only on a light load.

- when i accelerate anything other than gently (in 3rd say from 2500rpm), then the car coughs/sneezes and it’s an admission/inlet noise from under the bonnet (not an exhaust bang or backfire)

So far I have replaced the fuel regulator, spark plugs and the air flow meter. I quite expected the air flow meter to be the problem but it wasn’t. I’ve also checked that the dizzy cap is not cracked and the correct rotor arm is installed.

I tend to think it’s more a fuelling than ignition issue. This partly due to the fact that the car starts very well when cold or hot.

Any thoughts/advice would be most appreciated.

Cheers, Philip

I `m guessing you re fueled at some stage, thus perhaps fuel quality..? Failing that, perhaps fuel pressure. Lorne on GoMoG has a lot of experience in fueling that engine, thus I suspect there will be plenty of info on his site.

As best I can remember Lorne upgraded the whole fuel system on his Morgan in time. I think he fitted an adjustable fuel regulator which operated on the return line to the tank. (?) Lorne also fitted a pressure gauge which I think he left permanently connected in circuit.

Hopefully others more knowledgeable on the flapper system will jump in to help out

4Seat +8, I think Peter had one specially built for Mrs Morgan as a one off..?

Good luck Philip..

Philip, have you tried replacing the ignition amplifier ? it is located on the side of the distributor, another thing to check is the throttle potentiometer.
Good Luck
David Byrne

Sounds like the potentiometer on the throttle.

Call Andreas https://www.garageandreas.com/ in Castelnau D'Auzan.. Worked on Morgans for over 40 years. Looked after my +8 for 20 years before moving to France

Have a word with meabh on here and ask him where he takes his car in France nowadays.

Bonjour Richard,
the OP has just had some good advice because I spoke with Andreas last year and he was very helpful. Sometimes one gets lucky and meets someone who is just so intelligent and curious that one can go to them with any problem that one can't solve oneself. I had that with a chap who was also the guru in the south of France for the Honda SS 800 but he retired early. I do what I can for myself and keep my fingers crossed.The nearest agent is in Toulouse. The only thing I miss about England is BHM. Thanks for including me.

Good Morning Ian,

Thanks for replying, I felt sure you would know the man to go to for such problems. Andreas is the man then.
Enjoy your journeys once the weather picks up.

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. Fuel pressure is something I've thought about that might be caused either by a faulty pump or a blocked fuel filter. I will have a look at the GoMpg site to see if there's useful info there. In the meantime I have someone who is hunting for a throttle potentionmeter, and when they've found one they'll send it to me along with an ignition amplifier module and new coil. The latter two items I'm less confident that they're the problem since the car starts well but I'm prepared to be surprised.

In reply to the comment about +8 four seaters, the only one made at the factory was for Allon White; I think a 1973 green car I nearly bought it a few years back but the price was too high for me. Mrs Morgan's car was an automatic DHC +8. A handful of +8s have been converted and I think it was Harpers who commissioned the body and frame, I presume on factory plans. If anyone knows more I'd be delighted to hear. My car was an abandoned rebuild from the early nineties that I came across in June 2019. I then had the car completed to my spec including LHD. The rebuild took a lot longer than expected due to COVID and I'm thrilled with the car but frustrated that she's not running properly.

Cheers

One of the Harper 4 seater DHC (LHD) Plus 8's is for sale in the Netherlands at present, a nice looking car to my eyes. Conversion to RHD included in the price I was told via email when I enquired around a year ago.
These cars were built between the factory and Bob Harper is what I read about them.

Good luck with the rough running.