1969 convertible

[Georgina]

Hey everyone im Georgie some of you probably remember me I was on the hunt for a convertible. After much nagging, persuasion and penny saving I finally got a Morris even if granddad thinks I should have got a Hillman Imp or a Mini eugh just NO!! ! I really don’t know anything about morris minors so any help or advice is great. I have been following everyone’s posts on here and have had lots of help and advice of the mmocym they are really friendly! . Meet tin can she is a 1969 original convertible who is rather rust, very rusty. Here are a couple of photos at her new home.
Pictures below:
1)

2)

[MarkyB]

Nice space you have there, I'm jealous!
You need to remove the door steps, those slanted bits at the bottom of the door opening, to see how the structure is.
Start soaking the bolts on the bottom edge ASAP in something oily!

Do you have any kind of history for it?

[Georgina]

Nice space you have there, I'm jealous!
You need to remove the door steps, those slanted bits at the bottom of the door opening, to see how the structure is.
Start soaking the bolts on the bottom edge ASAP in something oily!

Do you have any kind of history for it?

Hey i have removed the door steps and i will post some more photos I will put the bolts and nuts to soak tomorrow thanks .She came with lots of information she was last on the road in 2010 but then she failed her mot due to suspension being excessively corroded and headlamps not working .The lady decided to leave her on the drive in all the terrible weather and resulted in the car slowly getting rustier and rustier.

[Georgina]

I couldn’t wait to get started so as soon as she was in the shed I set to work on taking everything out. The fuel tank was out before I knew it and I had cleaned what was left of the seats they are in a sorry state. Well I don’t think I will need them for a bit any way!!





A few weeks of determined elbow grease I have successfully chiselled all the bitchumen of the floor to find some nice little holes. I think mum is rather enjoying the peace and quiet of me disappearing up the shed for a couple of hours. Below are some photos of the floor it doesn’t look that bad there are a few little holes, which I think could be patched, but we have decided that we are going to put a new floor in. You can also see the sills well what is left of them .The kick steps “ I think that’s what they are called in not sure” had been welded on I do believe they are meant to be easy to get of and are just attached with screws. They must have been welded on to hide the rust. Poor tin can.

[bmcecosse]

Well done so far - much much worse has been shown on here before ! You should get Russel at RTG to give it a look-over and be guided by him.

[chickenjohn]

That looks like a good basis for a project! Just normal Morris Minor rust spots.

Nothing to be alarmed about, provided you or your dad can weld!

Brace the door gaps with angle iron before cutting anything out!
Actually my convertible was worse than yours before I restored him.

[Georgina]

That looks like a good basis for a project! Just normal Morris Minor rust spots.

Nothing to be alarmed about, provided you or your dad can weld!

Brace the door gaps with angle iron before cutting anything out!
Actually my convertible was worse than yours before I restored him.

Yay relief you have restored my faith !! we have decided to get someone professional to do the welding for us to make sure the door lines up probably haha dad was worried about having a wonky car.

[chickenjohn]

Hi Georgina,
which part of the UK are you in so we can recommend a restorer for you!
At the very least it looks like sills will need doing. Could you post some more pictures?
cheers
John

[Georgina]

Hi Georgina,
which part of the UK are you in so we can recommend a restorer for you!
At the very least it looks like sills will need doing. Could you post some more pictures?
cheers
John

Hey im in south wales near llangorse lake .but have a very willing dad with a trailer to drive us around the country good old dad A man from Minor Miracles is coming this afternoon to have a look . I have got lots of pictures will post them up .thanks for the help

[Georgina]

I dragged dad from his other car fiddling and we got the engine and gearbox out. We took the side cover of the gearbox and apparently it looks okay I wasn’t really listing granddad was going on so I turned off he was talking about bearings and shafts? The engine doesn’t turn over by hand but I think that’s because the piston rings are stuck/seized .I plugged the battery in to see if it charged and it works and is now used on the electric fence!!








Well I have managed to remove the wiper motor with a lot of wd40 and shouting. It’s so awkward to get a ratchet on those little bolts. The control box is out too I think that’s what it is called. Sorry as you can see I don’t know the technical words!

[Georgina]

Slow progress. The gearbox cover was a pig to get out! I managed to get all the screws out and almost all the bolts even if finding a 11 mm spanner was hell Im sure there are gremlins in the shed .I have learned how to use a grinder it wasn’t as scary as I thought It would be haha

The Speedo and switches came out really easily, putting them back in could be interesting. The glove box carpet slot thingy again more technical words! Are really annoying to get out those little screws. The heater box is out and we are slowly making progress.


AHHH check out this hole

[bmcecosse]

You should note that there are NO Metric headed bolts/screws on a Minor. You need a good set of UNF and BSF/Whit headed ring spanners and sockets to work on these cars.

[Alex'n'Ane]

You should note that there are NO Metric headed bolts/screws on a Minor. You need a good set of UNF and BSF/Whit headed ring spanners and sockets to work on these cars.

True, except a few cars will have had old rusty nuts and bolts replaced with new metric ones instead... And you sometimes find metrics are very close to the original size, and or a better fit to a rusted nut.. So don't always just discount them..

[Georgina]

You should note that there are NO Metric headed bolts/screws on a Minor. You need a good set of UNF and BSF/Whit headed ring spanners and sockets to work on these cars.

I will add them to my birthday list haha thanks

[chickenjohn]

You can often get Imperial A/F and Whitworth size spanners and sockets at autojumbles ( classic car show trade stands) quite cheaply or ask around relatives and neighbours, someone will have sets of old spanner and sockets! or sometimes car boot sales.

Or a rail of Whitworth sockets can be bought from ESM for £20 or so....or Ebay.

Old tools are usually of better quality than new stuff! I have some 40 + year old spanners some probably as old as my cars.

[MarkyB]

If as you say it was last on the road in 2010, I'm surprised the engine is seized.
It may be that the starter has jammed though.

[Georgina]

You can often get Imperial A/F and Whitworth size spanners and sockets at autojumbles ( classic car show trade stands) quite cheaply or ask around relatives and neighbours, someone will have sets of old spanner and sockets! or sometimes car boot sales.

Or a rail of Whitworth sockets can be bought from ESM for £20 or so....or Ebay.

Old tools are usually of better quality than new stuff! I have some 40 + year old spanners some probably as old as my cars.

I will have a rummage in the shed and see what i can find .thank you

[Georgina]

If as you say it was last on the road in 2010, I'm surprised the engine is seized.
It may be that the starter has jammed though.

Im really surprised it was on the road in 2010 it doesnt seem possible i traced all the mot history on the dvla .

[Georgina]

Here are some more photos “photo spamming sorry” these photos show more of the nice rust patches !!

[Georgina]

whoop whoop ! car booked in and will be going into hospital 10th of september