Restoration-where to start??

[Mandymoo]

hi everyone,

just probing for ideas..Iv a 1960 morris minor 4 door and naturally want her to look and feel her best, she's road worthy (well apparently... she is registered)..and Im just wondering where to throw my cash first..I want slightly wider wheels but want to retain her original hubcaps..Id like to put disk brakes on the back..and new shocks...and..and..and...I do want to sup up the motor a bit..but like the reliability of her orignal..and the fact she runs on the smell of an oily rag..I have seen an original motor with twin carbies..hmmm..contemplation..anyhoo...any ideas anyone can throw at me will be greatly appreciated.

[LouiseM]

Hi, sounds like you want to upgrade rather than restore the car. Have you recently bought it? If so, first things to check are that it's roadworthy (an MOT doesn't necessarily mean that it is!) and that it is structurally sound underneath. Also make sure that the bodywork is OK and it is mechanically sound eg everything is working as it should. Best to check all the basics first before 'throwing your cash' at bigger wheels, disc brakes, shocks etc.

What sort of driving are planning on doing eg long motorway journeys or shorter trips? A standard Minor with a 948 or 1098cc engine is perfectly capable of keeping up with modern traffic and the standard brakes are fine if they are well maintained. Are you planning on fitting a bigger engine? If so, disc brakes are a sensible upgrade although usually it's the front brakes that are upgraded, not the rear.

Quite a few suggestions for wheels have already been posted in your other thread:
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=37071

If you've only recently got the car it might be best to use it as 'standard' for a while before rushing into upgrading everything but if you really aren't happy with the standard performance there are plenty on here who have upgraded engines, brakes etc and will be able to provide suggestions. There are all sorts of upgrades available - it just depends on how much cash you have to throw!

[chickenjohn]

A standard Minor is fine. I would sort the bodywork out first before considering any modifications, and to do that the very best thing you can do is go on a restoration course and learn how to weld, make repair sections and carry out paintwork.

Does your car has an MOT??? you say it "is registered".

[Mandymoo]

thanks everyone, yes I recently brought it..well six months ago anyway and Im using it as my regular vehicle just to get around town and cruise past the beach and such, however I would like to take her on long trips in future but havnt attempted to get her up the long sloop up the mountain as yet. I was thinking about wider wheels and suspension as she is a bit bumpy and skips around corners a wee bit. The disk brakes are something my dad keeps telling me to get. Id like to put taillights with indicators in the one unit on the rear as now it has separate ones which people sometimes fail to see (or so I think when they are about to run up my rear end) however I dont like the ones that look like vw taillights..any suggestions
thanks again
Mandy

[rayofleamington]

I can only guess that your car is pre 1962 from the comment on the rear lights - if you tell us what the car actually is, that would help a bit.

Also - don't forget to fill in the location in your profile.

[LouiseM]

Based on an earlier post this week it's a 1960 camden cream coloured Australian Minor

Mandymoo - post a photo up so we can have a look at it