Conversion of a 1959 2 door into a convertable

[ASL642]

Here's the photos as requested. They are £20 each, not cheap, but save cutting the B post about.

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[benb]

Thanks ASL642 for posting those pic's will proberly make something like that for my car. The car is moving along have repaired both doors,rear guards (cut off and remade the bottom's) and halfway through repairs to front guards.

[ASL642]

I notice you've welding up the holes for the rear lights. What are your plans for lights?

[benb]

Yes i like to use VW tailights, here is a picture of our lowlight.

[ASL642]

I like the look of those. They're smaller than the large later Morris unit, but add the indicator. I am in the process of finding some more rear lights for one of my cars. No one takes any notice of a flashing red lights round here - they just think you've got dodgey wiring! I don't like adding a behive orange as well. It messes up the wing line.

[dunketh]

WOW!
Looks really good. Wish I could get mine sandblasted - then again, the resultant 'sins' uncovered may make me regret it.
Ignorance is bliss and all.

originaly Murlong grey now hideous Orange

Must confess, I LOVE the orange. Can just see it with a white roof and orange and white striped deckchair style interior.
Its going to be a convertible after all, its allowed to be a bit gaudy, in that cool 'surfer' kind of way.

Congratulations though, not sure I'd ever have the guts to chop the roof off one.

[benb]

since the last post iv'e managed to get quite a lot done. Ive made and fitted the strengthener brackets to the A and B
posts, remade and fitted the new battery box and finished repairs to the engine bay.
Its now off the rotisserie and the roof has came off.while all the body work is being done the engine,gearbox and diff
are away being reconditioned and all new brake parts have been ordered.

[benb]

Hi,
well the car is coming along nicely, i have now stoneguarded the wheel arches, floorpan and inside the boot and sprayed
in Pepper white. The engine bay is also finished and been painted (might redo not happy with it).
Also picked up the reconditioned corolla diff and started a trial fit, will then paint and refit.

[benb]

Well i have reprayed the engine bay (didn't like it) and stripped and painted the suspension and then refitted to the car, now
the car is on four wheels.
I have fitted the reconditioned toyota corolla diff and new corolla disc brakes

[MarkyB]

Look really tidy, I would suggest you use Roys idea and smear some grease on all those lovely new threads.
They look lovely now but it wont last .

[benb]

Been quite busy at work so just a quick update.

Since last post i've repaired all the body panels and prepared them for painting,mounted a collapsable steering
column and made front seat mounts to fit high back seats.
Today we had some nice weather so i managed to rub down and paint inside the car dash,floor and boot. If all
goes well i hope to have the body painted in a couple of weeks.

[benb]

The new reconditioned engine and gearbox arrived and has been painted in close to the original
green and then fitted.I then stonguarded and painted inside the guards i will then fit the panels and
prepare for painting, my custom wiring loom should arrive soon.

[MarkyB]

Love the engine colour, I did a big double take when I saw that picture .

[benb]

Gave the car a quick coat of colour to check how straight it is and if i need fix anything else. I'm fairly happy with the car
just a few ripples on the bonnett to go over, i will then rub it back and trailer it over to spray booth for the final coat.

Also made up some heater pipes out of copper pipe What do you think does it look ok?

[plumby74]

Sensational, Ben, she looks altogether great and I am sure that with your skills there will be few more blemishes to find once that guide coat is examined.
Not sure about the modern steering column though: a bit of a shame to find that in a Morris Minor I think, even though improved/highback seats are mostly to be expected. Great work and speed overall. Phil

[Fingolfin]

That looks really excellent, Ben. The whole thing is beautiful, and the copper pipes really set off the engine green nicely. I agree with Phil about the steering column, although it does seem a sound idea to have a collapsible column.

[benb]

Thanks! Need to have a collapsable steering column to get an engineers report for the engine change.Will be getting rid of
that ugly steering wheel though.

[chrisd87]

That engine looks great in BMC green - what's it from? Doesn't look like any of the common conversions in the UK.

[TvdWerf]

It looks like an engine from a (2A?) Toyota corolla from the '80 years....
In 85 they started with front wheel driven cars, but the early ones could be usable.
a 1300 cc engine? Very standard for this time.
A nice thing is, that the newer 4A-GE twin cam will fit on some gearboxes.
This 4A-GE has 1600 cc, and about 125 HP ;)

[benb]

The engine and gearbox are toyota 4k which is from a corolla KE70 so it is 1300cc, we use everything disc brakes,diff
so it all matches and the engineer prefers it and very easy to get parts.It is a very common conversion is Australia.