1968 3 Door

[dunketh]

In storage before I bought it:

Got it for the bargain sum of £150 - which includes what looks like a complete new carpet set!

Bought fairly blind as I couldnt get underneath her.
One side has been 'done'. Sill and other bits are perfect. None of this cowboy 'weld big plates across the joins' lark here.
Flitch has been patched and it just has the wing off waiting to be fitted.
Passenger side has a hole at the front of one sill and the rear quarter panel floor area adjacent to the spring hanger is also rotten. Not too badly though to be fair. Flitch panel again, already done!
Passenger side rear wing is off and the joint has been welded from inside the boot - where they all go. This has been done badly. Solid but messy. Its even pulled the rear quarter in slightly too so it'll need some work with my 'bf' hammer and a skim of gob to bring the shape back.
Both front chassis legs are rotten at the point where the tie-bars fit. Another minor classic.

Panels are all straight and rot free. Boot, bonnet driver door all good. Passenger door has no bottom left. LOL.
I believe I got a bargain! Doors sit right so its not twisted.

Interior is all there. Engine is there minus dynamo and waterpump. Ignition wiring and all other looms (lights, internal, fusebox) are partially ripped out/cut or missing.
No lights anywhere.

Front inner wings are bashed at the top where the car was lowered to sit on them! The track rods and the lever arms have played merry hell with them.

So, onwards and upwards. More pics as I take them.
Its going onto its side this weekend so I can get a better look - and incriminating photos.

[ASL642]

Well that should keep you busy for a while then.

[MGs]

Best of luck. Should have cracked it in time for next summer, judging by how long mine took

[dunketh]

Given myself a year.
Working outside (hand tools only) and lack of funds are the only things to slow me down.
At the moment giddy enthusiasm has yet to giveway to morbid reality.

[ASL642]

More tea/coffee will soon get you back on track!

[MGs]

You are bound to have some times when things look pretty grim, I did. Occasionally the more I did, the worse things got or the more jobs I found. However, the sense of satisfaction about what you have done outweighs this. Luckily I had a double garage, but also lack of funds. I think all in I have spent £750 to turn a rusty leaking wreck into a fairly solid usable car. It can be done.
The more outside help you need the more the price rises. I worked out costing my time at labour rates it would have cost £2-3000. Stick in there. Everyone on here is very helpful if you get stuck.

[dunketh]

Took sill covers off and walloped 7 bells into it with a small pin hammer.
One sill is almost papal in its holiness, the other solid.
Spring hangers and rear rails are good but I fear I'll have to do the work myself now to keep costs down - be a good excuse to learn how to weld.
Bought a genny for £30 so, weather permitting, things will start happening sometime this year. (dogs gone lame so funds are now going to Lab Rebuild rather than Morris Rebuild)

[chickenjohn]

What happened to your previous saloon?? Is it still on the road?

[dunketh]

Sadly not.
Sold it to another chap I met through here. He gave it a good look over and basically found it was a bit of a basket case - far worse than my current three door.
It was broken and the parts used elsewhere - the Midget engine went into his midget, doors, panels..etc.. went onto his pickup. It was sold with a brand new leaf spring kit which also went on the pickup iirc.
At least it was put to good use.

Pics:
The only rot in the drivers side (everything else is passenger), last owner made a start on this:


Plenty of speedholes in the sill and floor edge:


The only 'good' bit?


Rear arch welded up and skimmed. Not sure what to do about the 'lip'. Its welded up with no rot but simply missing in places. Not sure I really care..

[dunketh]

Thanks to the weather the important jobs are being ignored, so I've been playing with the simple stuff.

Wings have been cleaned up and painted inside:


I use this to fill the gap where the inner curved piece meets the outer panel:

I've used it for years. It 'skins' but never sets.

Filled gap:

Its pushed right in, the idea being to prevent water getting into the crevice and rotting the wings where they all go at the door edge.

Couple of dents bashed out from behind and skimmed and sanded:


Also got the bootlid ready for primer.