Boris 1964 2 door saloon

[Boris64]

Oops again, photos for the antipodean members

[Boris64]

15.11.12 basic service - engine oil - 20w 50 Halfords Classic, recommended on some website was the easy bit. Finding the oil filter bowl without plate and spring was a disappointment but parts were no problem and despite a sleeve full of used oil, job done.

29.10.12 To the best of my knowledge, Boris has never had mirrors fitted. I elected to go with door mirrors and was able to to fit these with a single hole through the outside of the quarter light cover plate. Cutting the fixing bolt tight against the nut meant there was just enough 'spring' in the triangular plate to refit it with the door mirror attached - no grommet required to cover a bolt on the inside.[frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

Door mirror from the inside - upside down I'm guessing [frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

Next up, seat belts. This was a really easy and clean job, if you ignore the grovelling in the dirt under the prop shaft bit. I can't find the (upside down) photo of the upper fitting but hope the (upside down) photo of the lower fitting is of some use. One of the fixing holes and captive nut was already there, just can't remember which one, sorry.
I saw a couple of photos of upper fittings which are a horizontal bracket off the bottom rail of the window. Boris has 2 holes, I assume to take this fitting but I couldn't figure how the free running on the belt coil would work to suit the inevitable angle of feed (if that makes sense), so fixed the upper mounting to the door post at shoulder height - works perfectly.[frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

Actually, now that I open my eyes I can find the upside down photo of the upper fitting.
Must stand on my head when using the camera in future![frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

Having sorted the safety items, next up the seats.
As David McC points out a very worthwhile job. I elected to use the full rubber mat rather than the webbing belts and went for the uprated foam. Having removed 2 vintage cushions from within the passenger seat and the same from on top of the driver's seat, taking the covers off was easy. The new foam needs a small quadrant cutting from each of the rear corners to fit the frame and there is a piece of foam from the leading edge (the bit behind the knees) that needs to be reused, otherwise as it says on the tin.
Nothing difficult about the backs, fixed or folding. I did the best I could with the split in the drivers seat.
The comfort level is a dramatic improvement, especially the new skate around on the corners quality that was missing with the previous 'seat-well'.

[Boris64]

[frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

[frame][/frame]

[ian.mcdougall]

you must have been lying under the seat when taking this photo judging by the others

[Boris64]

Ian, if only that we're the problem I'd have a chance of fixing it.
Brace yourself for further inversions

[Boris64]

In spite of replacing all the ignition components, except the coil (seasoned debaters will know what's coming), the occasional misfire was developing confidence and when in traffic and with the engine increasingly hot was having things entirely it's own way.
Boris could not deal with London traffic after 15 minutes.

[Boris64]

In an absurd attempt to regain the upper hand I set out to blow the cobwebs off with the inevitable result ....................... The conversion to unleaded cylinder head wasn't a difficult job and gave me the excuse to strip and clean the carb, replace various gaskets and replace the original jet with a grose jet - guaranteed not to stick, unlike the original, which wasn't sticking either and must therefore cure the misfire.

The only advice I would volunteer is to fit the heater valve to the cylinder head before fitting the head. Access to the value is awkward otherwise and leak proof tightening of the nuts to the head is a challenge.

The photos evidence what looks like a mix of water and oil, 47,000 miles of leftovers in the thermostat housing and that the block and pistons are good for the same again hopefully.

I missed the recommendations to avoid the concertina bypass hose until everything was torqued up but hope not to have to update on its failure until 2020.

Ignition, pull, starts first time, of course - I could get used to this and the misfire.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

Leaving the misfire to cure itself for a bit I focused on the important (to a 17 year old) task of disguising the musical accompaniment by the addition of a radio. This necessitated the conversion to negative earth which took 5 mins on the second attempt having first discovered that +tve and - tve battery posts are a different size. New clamps for better connection by way of excuse.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

I spent a while hoping that the radiator was overflowing but eventually had to face into the ever present pool of liquid rust in the undertray and committed to a new radiator. This gave me the opportunity to remove the heater matrix for a serious flush through. Eventually the water ran almost clear which was a dramatic improvement on the solids flushed through at the outset. I wish I'd taken photos to show what's in there but there are no surprises in the system and with replacement hoses I'm confident of some longevity and a warm draught.[frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

At about this time my wife was able to explain very clearly why I had definitely had enough of the misfire and on the basis that I read somewhere that 'its never the coil' I began to digest toxic data on the workings of the dynamo, voltage regulator and battery.

Electrics, truly the darkest of the dark arts. How can the car body be part of the circuit and the driver not get fried?

Rather than open that can of wires I bought a 40,000 somethings sports coil, won back my wife and cannot say enough about how smooth and how much fun Boris is to drive in any traffic conditions. Faultless !![frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

Somewhere along the way I fitted halogen bulbs into the existing headlights with a change of cable connector and a radical fit into the existing headlamp. I don't notice much change when dipped but frighten aircraft on main beam and must do something about this.

[Boris64]

Whilst witnessing the running repairs to Boris my daughter has been developing her driving skills to the point where professional assistance on the finer points was required.
Returning from her first formal lesson she declared her intention that future lessons and her test ought to be in Boris, whom she could drive rather than ride a Mini 'that does everything for you'.

The driving test however makes clear stipulations as to the 'qualities' of the car in which the examiner is expected to sit. The major one being that the seats have a permanent headrest. All that earlier effort restoring the seats for nothing.

A quick trawl of the related MMOC chat and off to ebay.

I was able to buy a pair of second hand leather seats from a Mazda MX5 with speakers in the head rests, although my daughter has interestingly taken to listening to the car rather than music when driving.

In a quiet moment and making full use of the heated 'workshop' I applied my extensive machining skills to the manufacture of some delicate made to measure brackets and I have done the most vulgar job of fixing them - temporarily.

The seats are however remarkably comfortable with front/back adjustment, tilting to allow access to the rear and happen to be duo-tone, if somewhat discordant.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[Boris64]

That's me up to date.

I hope I've not been too off-message on the restoration pages but I've enjoyed every minute of the few things I've done. I've learnt a great deal (not about electrics) and Boris is now a delight to drive and never let's us down. His major task now is to pass a driving test in a couple of weeks and with improving weather I can then replace the front wings which are shot around the head lights and in front of the doors. Interestingly you just can't tell from the photos - caveat emptor !!

Ebay has supplied the 'rust free' replacements in a fetching maroon so I also get the opportunity to learn how to spray paint.

Bring it on.

Can't believe it, I just realised I have not changed the engine oil.

[jagnut66]

Hi,
You can always swap the seats back once your daughter has passed her test, then resell the moderns on eBay and get your money back. You can always find something else to spend it on with a Minor........

On a separate note, I had no idea today's examiners are such wimps, can't handle the old fashioned seating without a headrest for their delicate craniums indeed.................

As you said once they have had the stuffing is renewed the old ones are perfectly comfortable. Shame to go to the bother and then not use them.

You say your daughter is starting to prefer the engine note to the radio, she becoming a proper classic car driver already then....
Best wishes,
Mike.

[Boris64]

Sorry I meant the gearbox oil - can't believe it !!