My New Morrris and Old Landrover!

[Deaconbrody]

Hi Folks,

Well here we have it my new Morris 1000. Pick her up on the 16th. March.

I know you guys will be used to the following, but I would appreciate your comments on the specification in a matching perspective.

1) 1275cc Series 'A' Morris Marina Engine.
2) Front Marina Disc Brakes.
3) upgraded Suspension including front anti roll bar.
4) Ford Sierra 5 Speed gearbox.
5) Marina Rear Axle with a 4.1 Diff. 7.5 inch drum brakes.
6) Clutch is from a MG and Toyota. Not sure what parts are MG and what parts are Toyota. (i.e. bearing, friction plate and pressure plate). Will need to find that out.
7) MG Carb HIF44.
25D Carburettor.

There are quite a few upgrades and extras inside to make my driving more comfortable. But it is the mechanics I am interested in. I am trying to find out as much as possible about the maintenance and aquiring spare parts, etc. in the future.

Never owned a Morris Minor before. In the 70s I had a Viva, Hilman Imp, A60 Van, Mini Van, Cortina. Not all at once obviously!

Looking forward to getting involved in the Morris Minor scene.

My other car is a landrover defender 90 TDI, 1998.

Do not know how the smiley face got in there!

All the best,

Ian

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[chesney]

You may be better off with a 25D Distributor ;)

[Deaconbrody]

Ah yes, Chesney.

Just wanted to see if you guys were paying attention, (Oops)!

Ian

[IaininTenbury]

Sounds and looks a good well sorted modified Minor. Should be a nice drive...
(Nice Defender too! Funny how so many Minor folk have Land Rovers as well)

[brucek]

Doe it come with the marina chrome hubcaps??? wheels look a bit unfinished without them. Should look like the ones in this photo.
[frame][/frame]
or here if you need them http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Marina ... 19d941b559

[IaininTenbury]

Unless they're off a Mk3 Marina or Ital, then they don't have the lugs to fit the hubcaps as they had plastic wheel trims by then.
Its possible to weld some lugs on or put bolts through in the appropriate places to fit the hubcaps to though. You can even use Minor hubcaps then...

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Or better still use the proper Minor wheels... from an aesthetic point of view I'm not a fan of Marina wheels.

[samuria]

very nice moggy you have there....
shame about the landrover though....
it should be a series 2.....

[IaininTenbury]

I agree about the wheels, they look better on a Marina, but its a bit of engineering work to get the studs at the right spacing to use Minor ones and the Marina wheels do effectively lower the car a bit and use much cheaper 13" tyres so they have practical if not aesthetical benefits.

Series 2 Land Rover? Having just bypassed 40years of Land Rover developent by selling my LWB Series 1 and buying a mere 20yr old Defender, I can no longer comment on folk enjoying the luxury of coil springs and brakes that stop etc...[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Marina wheels are a dead give away - but the good news is - wheels from an MGF will fit, look good, and are not expensive - since they fit pretty much nothing else, and therefore no-one wants them!

[Deaconbrody]

The car will have wheel trims fitted. It is still having some work carried out to it.

I think the 13 inch wheels look quite good. I would like the Morris logo in the centre of the hub caps but will live with the Marina ones.

Not a great fan of alloy wheels on a Minor or Landrover.

On another matter, how good are the convertable hoods? Are they weather proof if fitted properly or do they tend to leak?

So many questions.

Ian




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[IaininTenbury]

Yes the hoods are pretty good. I'm on the third on my car since I've had it, the first succombed to a low life with a knife when parked in a less than salubrious area overnight (it was a fairly tired shrunk vynil one so I wasn't too distressed), the second double duck canvas one rotted and fell apart after fading and shrinking and the latest mohair one is lasting very nicely for a car that spends a lot of time outside. You get what you pay for in terms of quality...
Problems tend to be: shrinkage. The maroon car in an earlier posting is showing signs of shrinkage in that the outer seam is pulling up away from the door frame and theinner flap is becoming visible from the side view. Most replacement off the shelf hoods seem a little tight from new and leave little allowance for shrinkage. (My latest one I had made to fit the car and is a much better fit). The one on your car looks pretty new and a good fit over the doors and side windows.
Leakage: New hoods can leak from the seams where the stitching passes through. This either sorts itself out as the cotton expands and self seals or some waterproofing stuff for tents can be used.
Back window: There's no way of folding the hood without putting a crease across the window. After alot of use it gets marked and scuffed from road vibration and chafing, but thats just oneof those things you live with. Concours folk don't do many miles (if at all) with the hood down, which rather defeats the point of having a convertible. Also its virtually impossible to fold the hood without scraping paint off the hood frame. again when it gets bad, touch it up or just live with it...

[Deaconbrody]

Thanks Iain,

Very informative.

I will take all your comments onboard.

The hood on my car is brand new so hopefully will last a few years. The car will be kept in a garage all the time apart from the odd night away in the summer.

I suppose your comments on the rear window means the hood is better left up when in the garage.

I know what you mean by the low lifes, we have our fair share in Glasgow. Fortunately although born in Glasgow I now live in rural Argyll so not the same problems as the city. Although no place is safe from the, 'Wee Neds' with their thirst for vandalism.

Anyway I would probably go for the Mohair hood in the future if mine ever needs replacing. However I would need to track down a company that fits these as I do not think I would attempt it on my own.

Did you fit your replacement hoods?

All the best,

Ian

[IaininTenbury]

It should last for years then if kept inside. My car was a daily driver and only got inthe garage when it was being fixed. I had my current one fitted at Don Hoods in Birmingham as they said they would trim the edges with it on the car, then stitch the outer seams on. I've fitted an off the shelf one since on a friends car and it went on and fitted pretty well.

[Sue J]

Hello! Not much longer to wait until you get the morris! Enjoy! I waited from early Nov (last year), until mid Jan to get my two door trafalgar blue the first trip was to drive it home. A drive of in excess of 150miles! I was very nervous all the way being a mature 'lady' driving on my own. It proved to be a most positive, happy experience which did my self esteem wonders. I hope yo have great pleasure from yours. Happy, safe motoring, S

[Deaconbrody]

Hi Sue,

I am a Mature man. Bus pass later this year. Looking forward to the bus pass but not being the age you have to be to get it!

I too have to pick the car up and then drive the 400 miles from Bristol to Argyll, Scotland. Will need to remember about the 6 gallon tank and keep it well topped up.

Ach Well, I suppose it is an adventure.

Are you enjoying your Moggy?

All the best,

Ian