moggie improvements/upgrades

Post by **docgibbons** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:37 am

my brother, who lives abroad, has a traveller he wants to convert from a casual summertime daytripper into an all year round working machine, and is planning various upgrades. such as a replacement (mini) heater, disc brake conversion with servo, halogen lamp conversion, rear fog lights and various other bits and bobs. He wants to know whether a front suspension conversion would be worth the outlay for better handling and roadholding, so can anyone offer an opinion on that? Plus any other ideas for add-ons that might be good for all weather regular driving on main roads.

Post by **d_harris** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:28 pm

The man to speak to will be Jonathon for the suspension thing.

IMHO the standard minor suspension is more than adequate for a car with a standard power plant - in facrt, I reckon the trav handles better than my old fiesta!

The other mods can be done fairly cheaply so worth considering - note though that disc brake setups can be flippin expensive unless you are lucky. Halogen conversion is well worth doing for what it costs and the problem with the mini heater is finding one!

Post by **billlobban** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:43 pm

An anti-roll bar and poly bushes really make a big difference. You might also want to think about telescopic dampers. I've tried a Traveller with uprated torsion bars and it was a real dog. Rear suspension mods can also make a difference. Again polybushes and telescopics. Anti-tramp bars probalby wont help much if you're using the standard motor.
There are lots of mod kits around some are better than others (discs in particular) so shop around you tend to get what you pay for.
If he is going to use it all year round (halogen lights, heater etc) fit an alternator.

Post by **Jefftav** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:41 pm

Depending on how deep your pockets you can pretty much upgrade most things. I would agree that Halogen lights, Electronic ignition, alternator conversion are a really good upgrade and a good heater is a bonus.

The minor has been used in all weathers (what type of weather is your brother expecting?) in standard form for years so a thorough service would be a good starting point, check everything operates as it should are the tyres OK? Probably a good clean underneath and some type of rust inhibitor would also be sensible if the Morris will be used in wet weather.

Keep your eye on here and ebay as sometimes folk will be selling off unused parts which might save a few £££'s.

Post by **eastona** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:44 pm

Like many others, I use mine as every day transport, 50 miles a day and two or three times a month I do a 200 miler on the M-Way.

When I got it, it was pretty standard apart from halogen headlights, but in the past 4 years I've added (in order) an alternator, radio, lumenition. So pretty much as Jefftav suggests.

I like the handling and roadholding. I'd consider an electric fan as people reckon it's quieter, a higher ratio diff would better for M-Way, but really, it does very well and is pretty comfy, although a better seat is the current priority for longer journeys and I'm saving for a Newton Commercial one.

Mine has been through the floods of 2007 in gloucestershire (it kept going until the water swept over the bonnet, was easy to push out, and with a dried out dizzy started and got me home!) and through lots of snow last year down in somerset (really good for snow with logs and coal in the boot!). It also did LEO in 2008.

I got the lumenition system because I've had it before and I'm lazy and rubbish at setting points

I got the alternator because of an incident in a winter traffic jam that left me jumping out with the starting handle

I also have a radiator muff for winter, especially useful on long motorway joruneys when it's been really cold. It's also waxoyled at least once a year.

That's a long way of saying that a relatively standard car can get you a long way, and is perfectly useable. Personally I'd spend cash on creature comforts like seats, heater (although mine is standard except for a disconnected air inlet pipe) and stereo, before a suspension or brakes upgrade.

Andrew

Post by **Jefftav** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:52 pm

Andrew a pair of NC seats went on Ebay for nearly £500 keep an eye open for good metro or saab seats as they are also very comfy but much cheaper.

Also my better half wants to know why you call your car Maggie? Sorry she is looking over my shoulder as I type.

Post by **Stig** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:28 am

Like Andrew I'm another year-round Minor driver, doing about 40 miles a day in a Traveller. Alternator, halogen headlights, Mini heater (and 88C thermostat) make winter driving easier but I'd also recommend poly bushes and a Magnetronic ignition module to cut down on maintenance.

You didn't say where your brother lives, but if it's a similar climate to the UK then the car will need the underside rustproofed as well as the timber rubbed down and re-varnished every year or two.

Post by **eastona** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:25 pm

Forgot about the polybushes, as i've done suspension work I've inlcuded those. good call on the 88 deg thermostat, i keep mine in for the "summer".

You're right about magnetronic. I think that's what mine is, (not lumenition as I earlier said, got that wrong

).

Why Maggie? Not sure really, my son named her "Maggie the Moggie". The traveller is Maurice, as in Maurice Trevalier. A bit tenuous, but should be great if he ever gets back on the road again. That is going to be quite modified.

SAAB seats would be good. My other car is a SAAB 9-5 (used by Mrs E) and the seats are really comfy, even after 213K miles, so they would be great, I just really want to keep the green vinyl seats (strange I know!).

Andrew

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:37 pm

Don't worry about front suspension mods -or even tele dampers. Just change the horrible old oil in the standard dampers for something more viscous - the difference is amazing.
Standard drum brakes (well - the later 8" ones) are perfectly adequate for any sane use - and a servo does nothing to help the braking. Best brake upgrade (in value for £ terms) is the Wolseley 9" front brake conversion (all the regulars have been waiting for this!) - fitted in an hour each side - and it WORKS. Only problem is finding a set..........

Post by **ssnjimb** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:52 pm

Fit a better heater. my mini heater arrived today. iam keeping the mini slider and switch it looks better. The fan is bigger and its semi recirculating

Post by **aupickup** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:53 pm

definately disc brakes

Post by **ssnjimb** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:54 pm

Ooooh oooh and also two speed wipers with electric screen wash

:)

Post by **billlobban** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:39 pm

aupickup wrote:definately disc brakes

Blaspheme do you hear, blaspheme I say (well I dont really cos I agree discs and a servo are great)

Post by **Jonah681** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:08 am

Anything to improve safety must be on the wish list, from heated windows to disc brakes & suspension upgrades. It will all come down to your budget!

Post by **morrisman1** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:16 am

My list of good upgrades:

~ disc brakes on the front, boosted of course.
~ good sound deadening product
~ stereo with aux input
~ DATSUN MOTOR!
~ and its attached 5 speed cog swapper
~ and a better rear axle, toyota corolla/starlet are pretty good conversions.

Post by **alanworland** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:18 am

I fitted a Kenlowe engine pre heater - mounted on the inner wing under the damper:-

Plug it in (to mains) for about 30 minutes before setting off, it warms the engine and circulates the water through the heater - so you set off with a warm engine!

Post by **Blaketon** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:19 pm

I'd put better brakes before more power. The Marina disc set up I have is very good (The car already had a servo).

The car has an anti roll bar and as has been said before, the Minor handles well. It is a tad top heavy but its predictable. I also like the anti tramp bars (Radius arms) to stop the rear axle jumping. Mine is still on standard dampers (I think the rears are a touch worn).

Some of the mods are pretty simple - halogen lights, electric screen wash, rear heated screen (At least its easy on a Traveller).

I have a 1275 engine and Ford 5 speed box, which is getting pretty major. Whether you need it depends on where you use the car. Higher axle ratios are all very well but you loose intermediate gears. If I had the time, I'd like to try a Spitfire overdrive box (The box is similar to the Marina box). I have one in my MG Midget 1500 (The box fitted to the old bell housing) and I think its a nice box - more positive than the Ford. The problem with the Minor is the steering rack, plus the Ford conversion was available, unlike my time!!

One thing, which I like, is a limited slip or a Quaife differential. The latter is a torque biasing diff (It aims to do roughly the same thing) and is a bit more user friendly (Does not need special oil and does not make a noise). Apart from giving better traction when exiting tight corners, it gives much better traction in bad weather!!!!!! They are also stronger than the standard diff.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:20 pm

General feeling (discussed many time before) is that anti-roll bar is not necessary - it simply adds even more understeer - which a Minor has in spades anyway. Best handling mod is a little bit of negative camber - which helps to cut the understeer - much better!
If you feel you MUST add an ARB - add one at the back too - so you keep the balance and cut the roll if you feel it's excessive.

Post by **MartinB** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:11 am

The Quaife diff needs both wheels in contact with the road to work otherwise it will just spin the wheel in the open air whereas the plate diff will still drive the wheel in contact with the road. Morris Minors are (at least mine was) very prone to lifting an inside rear wheel.

Post by **aupickup** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:23 am

how much negative camber is best, and whats the best way