My Saturday

Post by **pfgiz** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:50 pm

There has been a lot of discussion recently about how Minors fair with modern traffic and if they are capable of being used as a daily driver. I just wanted to share my experience from this Saturday just gone as a testimonial.

First some history: My Saloon is a 1958 2 door and has therefore had a 948cc engine up until the August bank holiday weekend when I swapped the engine with another. Initially I had intended to swap it for another 948 unit but I had some issues so had to use a 1098 unit I’d been given instead. I changed the rear plate, flywheel and clutch to match the smooth gearbox as this is just a temporary fix until I get around to re-building the 948 unit.

Now for Saturday: I got up at 04:00 as I was required in Haywards Heath at 10:00 to complete the sale of my MG YB. I filled up with fuel, checked water and oil and set off at 04:45. Paused at Warwick services to check the levels, all well, and continued to Haywards Heath reaching it at 09:30.
The transaction went well and I left there at 12:00, after filling up the fuel again, to drive to Sheffield to pick up some parts for my Spitfire by 17:00. I got to Sheffield at 16:30, picked up the spares and set off again at 17:30 for the final leg back home, with a top up to the fuel tank.
I finally got home at 21:30, after stopping off in Wrexham for something to eat.

All in all a long day, 95% of it spent on a motorway, 90% of it spent at 60mph and above. Some people hooted, some cheered and some waved but most smiled. I drove on the M54, M6, M42, M40, M25, M23, M1, M62, M60, M56 and the M53 and covered in excess of 600 miles in a little over 13 hours.

Her engine never missed a beat. I stopped on the hard shoulder two times, both where for a recurring fuel issue – I will get that small piece of crud in my tank one day – and all I needed to do was back blow the fuel line with my little portable compressor. I also paused once, on the run up to Sheffield, to sort out my GPS device that had become unpaired with my TOMTOM – inconvenient but not anything to do with the car – I was however tooted by a nice black spit-screen that passed me as I was trying to fix the GPS.

All in all a lovely day, we made all of the stops in time and made some people smile along the way. More importantly she took on a challenge many would have only given to their ‘modern’ and accomplished it with flying colours on an engine that, up until a week ago, was under an old plastic sheet in my shed.

I LOVE MY MINOR…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **Dean** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:01 pm

Made pleasant reading, thank you for taking the time to type it.

Post by **ndevans** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:52 pm

Good stuff. Proves that Minors are up to long runs if properly looked after. However, like anything, neglect it and it will punish you for it.

Must admit 600 miles is more than I've done in a day though. Recently I went to Yorkshire & back from Bristol, leaving at 11am on the Sat & getting back at 11pm on the Sun. That involved a round trip of 546 miles, going via the M5, M6, brief stop in Nantwich, then M6/M62/A64. The return was A64/A19/M18/M1/M42/M5, mostly at 60mph.

The car was fully laden with a load of scaffolding which I dropped off in Nantwich, and camping gear for the overnight in Yorkshire. The trip average was 44mpg, though one tankful came in at 47.97mpg-I suspect the meter on the pump may have been a bit out on that tankful.

Post by **webbnuts** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:25 pm

Fantastic! I have to admit, my old Morris (Horrace) I'd have jumped in and driven anywhere. The new one is a bit less reliable, but its only a simple issue i've now got to the bottom of! What would you guess your average mpg was for the day?!

Post by **pfgiz** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:29 pm

webbnuts wrote:Fantastic! I have to admit, my old Morris (Horrace) I'd have jumped in and driven anywhere. The new one is a bit less reliable, but its only a simple issue i've now got to the bottom of! What would you guess your average mpg was for the day?!

I would say mid to late 30's. I was pleased with what I got out of her.

Post by **webbnuts** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:52 am

As good as a modern car! I used to fly round in Horrace and I'm sure he was getting near on 40mpg. Makes me wonder what he would have done if I'd driven him sensibly!

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:10 am

That sounds a heck of a run in a day, I am not sure my back would cope with that mileage in a day, do you still have the standard seats or just a strong back.

Post by **ndevans** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:35 am

Kevin wrote:That sounds a heck of a run in a day, I am not sure my back would cope with that mileage in a day, do you still have the standard seats or just a strong back.

I have Newton Commercial recliners with headrests. We've done Land's End-Orkney in 2007 & 2008. I must admit I wouldn't fancy doing that sort of distance with standard seats. Having said that, I have in the past, before the recliners were fitted, done Bedfordshire-Yorkshire & back in a day (as opposed to over a weekend). That's a round trip of around 450 miles.

The furthest I've done in a day since the recliners were fitted, as far as I can make out, is Aberdeen-Kendal last year, 315 miles going via Balmoral/Braemar/Dundee/Forth Br/A7/A68/Calrisle/A6.

Post by **Judge** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:39 am

What about giving them another test on next year's LEO, or even MOT-UK Neil?

Post by **ndevans** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:40 am

Be careful what you wish for Bill-we might just be tempted with one or the other

Post by **Judge** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:10 pm

I hope you do Neil, it would be good to see you again.

Post by **pfgiz** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:10 pm

Kevin wrote:That sounds a heck of a run in a day, I am not sure my back would cope with that mileage in a day, do you still have the standard seats or just a strong back.

I guess it's a strong as they are standard 1958 seats. Although saying that I think the under staps cross over so the frame may be newer than '58.

Post by **ndevans** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:49 am

Judge wrote:I hope you do Neil, it would be good to see you again.

Thanks Bill, nice of you to say so.

Would you be tempted to take OJO on MOT-UK or LEO?

Post by **Judge** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:05 pm

MOT-UK possibly, but not LEO. I think a few others might get a bit frustrated with my speed

Post by **mrsnak** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:20 am

Living near L.A, it's all pretty much freeways for us to go anywhere.
The norm is 80mph+ if traffic is open. I've got a 1300 Datsun motor in mine, but these vehicles weren't designed for these speeds.

I happily do 65 in mine. Never more.

Damn the Soccer Moms in Escalades who ride your tail (as they talk on the phone). When you have a vintage car, you make your own rules and stick by them

Post by **ndevans** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:20 am

mrsnak wrote:Damn the Soccer Moms in Escalades who ride your tail (as they talk on the phone). When you have a vintage car, you make your own rules and stick by them

LOL!

It's the same the world over.......

Post by **twincamman** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:37 am

mrsnak wrote: Damn the Soccer Moms in Escalades who ride your tail (as they talk on the phone). When you have a vintage car, you make your own rules and stick by them

What you need to do is fit a high-level brake light connected to a switch inside the cab. Then you can switch the light on when they get too close, and observe the look of horror on their face in the rear-view mirror!

Post by **MColes** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:39 am

twincamman wrote:What you need to do is fit a high-level brake light connected to a switch inside the cab. Then you can switch the light on when they get too close, and observe the look of horror on their face in the rear-view mirror!

It's mean... but I like it

Post by **leyther8008** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:44 pm

Wish I had all those cheerleaders in the back of my wagon