New Guy!

Post by **bloodyank** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:09 pm

Just a note to introduce myself.
I'm Dave Winters, across the pond in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Have just purchased a 1965 Traveller, which I plan to restore as time and funds allow. So I'll be ducking my head in here from time to time for advise and counsel.

Stateside, I'm aware of Tony Burgess of North American Registry, and Mini City Ltd.... Any other enthusiasts, groups, or vendors I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance!
-Dave

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:24 pm

Hello Dave, welcome to the forum.

What work needs doing to the trav?

Post by **Orkney** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:28 pm

Welcome ! You wont find a better place for advice than here

Do travs fetch good money over there?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 7:13 pm

Welcome to the forum! Quite a few Travellers in USA - post up some pictures - and ask away. There's almost always someone 'on duty' !

Post by **bloodyank** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:29 pm

Wow, thanks all.
To tell the truth, I haven't taken possesion of the car yet, though it's bought and paid for, and shipping arranged from New Hampshire.

It was restored 9 years ago by the Morris Minor Centre in Bath, and only 516 miles in last 8 yrs, with a 1300 new engine, suspension upgrade, front disc brakes w/servo, 13" wheels, front seats from some other vehicle, 90% woodwork renewed, sun roof, and tranny upgrade as well. So it seems fairly well sorted out.

I gave $11,700 USD.

Not sure about the 1300. Not a Morris Minor, right? Would that be what's called an A-series engine?
Out of what vehicle do you suppose?

I'm a woodworker (chippy??) by trade, so I'll be doing some mods both interior and exterior.
Check out my website at:
[url]http:/www.davidwinterswoodworker.com[url]

I like a clean looking engine bay so I'll work on that.
Color is the Snowberry White which doesn't do much for me so I'll eventually change that I think.
I have always liked the look of the Minilite type wheels so I think I'll go that route at some point.

Style-wise, and I hope I don't step on toes here, but keeping a concours-strict stock look is not at all important to me.

I'll try to post some pics:

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:44 pm

Looks very nice, and the colour goes well with the scenery. ;)

Several vehicles had 1275cc A-series engines but the most common donor car was the Morris Marina.

Post by **Orkney** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:48 pm

Hey youve got a sunroof ! was wondering if one would fit the trav the other day.
Hope your not tempted to turn the woodwork into a mirror frame !
Some really beutiful work there on your website - green with envy looking at your workshop - looks like that Norms on the discovery channel !

Sounds like a resonable price you paid for the car - no doubt the MMC in bath would have charged much more than that to restore it so a good buy

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:48 pm

Looks great. A 1965 car. These wheels are ex Morris Marina. Bull Motif in UK are doing a great deal on Minilite type wheels with new tyres(tires!) at the moment - but they are for the original 4" pcd hubs and I assume yours have been converted to 3.75" pcd to suit the Marina discs and wheels. The 1275 is simply a later/bigger capacity (and much better) version of the original 1098 cc 'A series' engine your car would have had. In fact it may be what is known as an 'A+' engine (it's certainly from a Morris Marina with that high mounted oil filter) - which is just a slightly developed version of the original.

Post by **bigginger** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:06 pm

I don't think the Marina ever had the A+ - if it's one of those, most likely from an Ital - which *I'd* guess (sorry Alex) were the "most common donor car"

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:59 pm

It's hard to know if the high mounted oil filter engine should be clased as A+, or not. Doesn't really matter - makes no difference to the power.

Post by **bloodyank** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:02 pm

Thanks, all.
Dumb questions:
What the heck is a Marina? And so the disc brakes were taken from a Marina and therefore my wheels have 3.75 vs. 4.00 pcd?
What's pcd, and how is it measured?
Does Minilite make a 3.75 wheel?
What's an Ital?
If this engine is called a 1300, would that mean that it's a 1275 that's been rebuilt?
Thanks again?

Post by **ASL642** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:03 pm

Ive just put 14" minator wheels and tyres (tires) from Bull Motif on my traveller - and I'm very pleased with the result!

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/Images/asl642big.jpg

Post by **Matt** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:19 pm

What the heck is a Marina? And so the disc brakes were taken from a Marina and therefore my wheels have 3.75 vs. 4.00 pcd?

The Marina is the successor to the minor, it had a 1300 (1275) A Series Engine and other types too.

What's pcd, and how is it measured?

PCD = Pitch Circle Diameter. Basically measure the distance between the diagonally opposite wheel studs. I would be very suprised if you had anything other than 3.75" using those wheels

Does Minilite make a 3.75 wheel?

As far as im aware minilite dont exist anymore. There are lots of other companies that make extremely similar looking wheels. Do you have MGFs or MG TFs there (the Mid '90 to mid '00 MG sports car)? www.hurstpark.co.uk/images/Mgf.jpg Because the wheels off them had the right PCD and could be used, and they have a minilite style wheel, however different wheel nuts would be needed, possibly custom made and spacers are needed on the front, and they are 15" dia rather than the 14" on the minor as standard

What's an Ital?

The Ital is a facelifted marina

If this engine is called a 1300, would that mean that it's a 1275 that's been rebuilt?

Could be... the 1275s are generically referred to as 1300's

Hope that helps!

Post by **bigginger** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:22 pm

bmcecosse wrote:It's hard to know if the high mounted oil filter engine should be clased as A+, or not. Doesn't really matter - makes no difference to the power.

Just the ribs on the block - and it had a whole extra 1 BHP

The Marina was the Minor's successor, and the Ital was the Marina's. PCD - "PCD defines the diameter of the circle, whose circumference passes through the centre of each of the wheel stud holes", but I'm afraid I don't know a way to measure it
precisely - somebody else will. The 1275 was referred to as a 1300 from new - just one of those car marketing things. I can't remember the Marina PCD, I'm afraid, but it's on here somewhere, and I'm sure (again) somebody will say in a second

Oops - cross posting

Post by **bloodyank** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:16 pm

HUGE help! Thanks....

Post by **motherofgod** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:27 pm

Hi Byank,

Nice ride, trusty 1300 marina engine, I siezed one years ago doing 110mph with not enough oil! keep us updated

James

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:01 am

Hi Dave and welcome aboard.

What the heck is a Marina?

this should help
http://www.fastmarinamagazine.com/

"PCD defines the diameter of the circle, whose circumference passes through the centre of each of the wheel stud holes", but I'm afraid I don't know a way to measure it

If you have a vernier caliper measure the distance ouside of 2 opposing studs the take off the diameter of one of the studs or if you caliper has a depth guage measure from the outside of one stud to the inside of the opposing stud you can of course also you an enginners steel rule.
If you have a Marina engine the Distributor clamp will be a circular type clamp if its the later Ital A+ engine the Distributor will have a fork type of clamp.
And yes its an A series engine just like the standard ones fitted to the Morris Minors.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:38 pm

Yes - Minilite still exist - and they will make you anything you want. 3.75" pcd will be no problem to me. http://www.minilitewheels.com/

Post by **DanRodd** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:23 pm

"what the heck is a Marina" that one made me chuckle!

welcome to the board,i think that if you work a list up people like bull motif could probably send all you need quite cheaply?

Post by **bloodyank** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:16 pm

Thanks again, all.
Yeah, I consider myself a "car guy", but had never heard of, nor seen a Marina or Ital over here.. as rare as rocking horse poop in USA.
But, that's why I'm on here, to learn. So thanks.
And yeah, it has been my experience that things can ship from the U.K. surprisingly quickly....