Body Parts That Can Be Modified?

Post by **ADO16** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:35 am

Hello all.

I'm now most certainly aware how rare it is to own a MM by the lack of original body components that are available along with trim pieces etc. My question is, what of the later body parts can be modified to fit a 1951 high-lite 4door? I heard you can modify the later front wings to fit but how? What else has to be modified to fit?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Post by **alanworland** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:27 am

Hi, yes your right they look similar but are not the same! I modified later front wings to fit as you are aware they are differenr around the sidelight (none) and the shape where it meets the grille panel - nothing major but different. Large radius rear wings are availble (ESM) but are not cheap and will still require modifying for the rear lights

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:23 am

The doors, boot and rear valance are the same as later 1000 items. Most of the underneath is also the same, sills and chasis legs etc. The grill and front valance are only available in fibre glass at the minute.

Most of the chrome is ok, if your fitting front overriders you need to drill new holes, Hinges and handles are the same as 1000. Back lights cant be bought new but as long as the bases are ok you can get new bulb holders and gaskets.

Post by **mike.perry** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:44 pm

The body panels that are unique to the 1951 4 door are the bonnet (hood) and body panels around it as well as the bonnet hinges, although the M1000 bonnet hinges will fit. The engine bulkhead crossmember is different to the 52 onwards curved crossmember although that is usually the strongest part of the body. Also the '51 car retains the curved inner wings of the lowlight cars where the headlights fitted. The front wings just need a little fettling to fit them behind the wider grill panel which was used from '51 to '54 although yours might have a separate grill and surround.
The hockey sticks are also longer than the M1000 items and the front bumper valance was used until late '54. If you wish to fit overiders as has been mentioned you will have to drill a pair of holes in a M1000 chrome bumper bar to match the holes in the valance. If you use the existing holes the overiders will obscure the side lights. Hub caps are smaller.
At the back of the car the boot (trunk) lid of a M1000 will fit, you just need to fill and redrill the badge holes to suit and change the boot lid prop. The boot lid hinges on the '51 car are slightly different, being more pointed at the tips but most people make do with the later hinges.
The rear wings as has been said will need reprofiling.
Front and rear windscreens are of course different as are the rubbers. The stainless steel front windscreen trim c/w the two clips is getting difficult to find so if you have a set look after it. The centre pillar should be available.
All the badges are different, being MORRIS MINOR on the sides of the bonnet and different badges on the front of the bonnet which were used on all the commercial Minors so are still available. The boot lid badge was used until '56.
The interior of the car is all different, with changes to the trim just about every year.
Your next questions are going to be "Where do I get all the correct parts?"
We will try to help as and when you need them.
Have you got a copy of "Original Morris Minor" which has a lot of photos of the correct parts for particular cars?

Post by **ADO16** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:09 pm

Thanks for the info because this will help with some evaluations of parts that are need in the future.
I will keep you posted as time passes.

Steve

Post by **Keith** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:07 pm

The boot (trunk) latch and striker could also be different....depends...

The early ones up until 51 ish...were the slam type, looks like a small interior door catch..after that the lock had a hook machanism...sometime later it had a locating pin added...you can fit the later latch to the early cars just need to change both the latch and the striker..

Post by **ADO16** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:31 pm

Thanks for that Keith.
It seems that those parts are non-existent at the moment and for future I will probably have to scrounge for them, so thanks for that info.

Post by **ADO16** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:14 pm

One thing that has been on my mind while in the scrounge mode is bumpers...what can be used for a "51" if I don't have any.
Thanks!

Post by **mike.perry** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:41 pm

The rear bumpers were the same as the Morris 1000, the earlier split bumpers finished in 1950. The front bumper valance was only used from late 1950, after the split bumper, to 1955 when the Series II was restyled. This item is difficult to find. The chrome bumper blade had two holes in a different position but the M1000 blade will fit.