Chassis Measurements

Post by **AndySSS** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:13 pm

I am restoring a 1956 4 door saloon that was a bit of a basket case.
The floor beneath the front leafspring mounts had been bodged on numerous occasions and I think they have crept back from their original positions when the patch ups were performed.
I have replaced the rear floor pans but I need a measurement from the lower edge of the centre crossmember to the centre of the hole in the front spring mounts. According to my calculations this should be 24 inches but I would be more confident if someone with a complete car and a tape measure could confirm this.
So if anyone out there knows the answer or feels like laying down in the rain and finding out I would realy appreciate it. cheers AndySSS

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:33 pm

Welcome to the Forum Andy - and yes - it's too wet for me tonight. But maybe some hardy soul will help you with this ??

Post by **aupickup** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:58 pm

mine has never been welded in these areas and my measurement is 25 inches from the centre of the cross member to the centre of the spring pin on the hanger

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:13 pm

Good to know Dennis, thanks for that - my Trav has been welded in this area (before my time) and I've wondered for a while if the springs are in exactly the right place.

Post by **stag36587** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:41 pm

measurements are interesting. I recently replaced the rear spring hanger plates and rear chassis members. Everything lines up fine, except that the rear of the chassis members have a sort of L-shaped profile at 90 degrees that don't appear to fit with corresponding shapes on the boot floor repair panel - something like a 5mm gap on both sides. Guess I'll need to think up a creative solution!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:18 pm

The rivet hole on the hanger was (originally) right in the middle of the lip flange connecting the floor pan to the seat cross member. [the rivet hole is on the very leading edge of the hanger flange, in front of the spring pin hole]

The rear 1/3 of the hanger overlaps the 'inner step' box section as it sweeps inwards round the rear wheel arch.

These connections made the loction very strong - usually when this area is badly repaired, these connections are lost, which will in turn allow some flexing and sometimes leads to cracking on the repair plates.

if you can plug weld through all the sections it'll improve the strength.

Post by **taupe** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:16 pm

Hi

I agree with the dimension of 25"

If you look at the body dimensions on page R16 of the manual. The wheelbase is 86" less 21 7/8" rear wheel centre to spring pin, less 39" front wheel centre to end of torsion bar flange = 25 1/8" less half of the centre crossmember = 25"

If you look at the diagram on page R36 it shows the two front rivet holes in each side of the floor pan.

Post by **alainmoran** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:31 pm

do these help at all?

http://www.zen30458.zen.co.uk/morris-structure1.jpg
http://www.zen30458.zen.co.uk/morris-structure2.jpg

Post by **taupe** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:48 pm

Thats the ones.

Alanmoran

Do you have picture details of the traveller step sill/reinforcer in the mono body manual?

Post by **AndySSS** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:59 pm

Thanks very much everyone for your time and technical info.
The diagrams will certainly do the job and I can get on with it the next time I am allowed out to play.
This is a problem that I am sure must affect many repaired minors when in the past they were patched up a bit rough for the MOT.
Thanks again everyone I realy appreciate it. Cheers AndySSS.

Post by **aupickup** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:01 pm

you are more than welcome thats the good thing about this forum
we are all here to help out

Post by **alainmoran** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:10 pm

Unfortunatley the book only covers the minor, mm and oxford ... has some lovely exploded diagrams though showing what sequence everything is/was put together for the minor though.

I keep meaning to scan it all in and make a pdf out of it, it's only 90 pages so it shouldnt take THAT long ... but you know how it is ;)

http://www.zen30458.zen.co.uk/build-up/build-up1.jpg
http://www.zen30458.zen.co.uk/build-up/build-up2.jpg
http://www.zen30458.zen.co.uk/build-up/build-up3.jpg
http://www.zen30458.zen.co.uk/build-up/build-up4.jpg

Post by **taupe** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:37 pm

Thanks for posting those - they are incredibly usefull especially when your looking at a body with half of the bottom rusted out and patched over!!

It helps to visualise how everything goes together.

Why not start a new thread and post a few each week! Im sure they would be lots of members interested.

For example one of the pages confirms that the spring hangers were riveted to the floor etc.

Regards

Taupe

Post by **alainmoran** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:08 pm

The book also has a set of plans for building a jig which you can attach to the front end of the car to check that it's all in alignment with itself ... I should imagine one of these would be VERY handy when replacing the front chassis legs.

I inquired of a fabrication shop as to how much it would cost to machine one up, but it was way beyond my budget ... maybe the MMOC could have one made and then rent it out to people?

Post by **stoney1313** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:29 pm

alainmoran many many thanks

Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:07 pm

this book sounds awesome!

What is it called?

Post by **alainmoran** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:39 pm

"Morris mono construction" - "A Manual compiled to assist those concerned with the Rectification of Accident Damage to Morris Cars" - issued by Morris Motors Ltd (Cowley) 1953

I got mine off eBay after I damaged my minor in an accident ... it came from leeds library by the looks of things.

I'll try and get it scanned to a PDF when I can.

WOW, it looks like I got a bit of a deal when I bought it, pretty sure I paid less than a tenner, and mine is the original hard-back

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Morris-Mono-Const ... 286.c0.m14

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MORRIS-MONO-CON ... 405&sr=8-1

Post by **old.bodger** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 5:01 pm

Any chance of scanning the jig details........just thinking.........

Post by **frosty** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:22 am

alainmoran wrote:"Morris mono construction" - "A Manual compiled to assist those concerned with the Rectification of Accident Damage to Morris Cars" - issued by Morris Motors Ltd (Cowley) 1953

I got mine off eBay after I damaged my minor in an accident ... it came from leeds library by the looks of things.

I'll try and get it scanned to a PDF when I can.

WOW, it looks like I got a bit of a deal when I bought it, pretty sure I paid less than a tenner, and mine is the original hard-back
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Morris-Mono-Const ... 286.c0.m14

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MORRIS-MONO-CON ... 405&sr=8-1

Alain ... did you ever get around to scanning it to PDF ??

cheers

Morris Minor Owners Club

Chassis Measurements

Chassis Measurements

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