entire new chassis and floor

[Jackmansell]

hi all, ive had my moggy 1000 (borris) for nearly 4 years now and i use it everyday, hes my first car and its safe to say im in love with him. i refuse to get a modern car to replace him even though i initially bought him due to low insurance etc. ive done nearly 30,000 miles in him since i had him (im sorry!) and its beginning to show. the two front chassis rails around the tie bar brackets are pretty rusty, as is my crossmember and my rear spring hangers. i know i can get all the bits i need for about 250 and my dad is a professional welder so i could do the work myself, however, i want the whole thing doing in one, totally new chassis. my dad is sure he saw an ad in last years mag for an new floor for £1000, but i cant for the life of me locate the ad. i dont mind paying more than that however i want a good job. does anyone know of anyone in the west midlands who is capable of doing this? im also looking for a 1275 engine, disk breaks, a 5 speed gearbox and a conversion for the back axle to take the power. any thoughts are greatly welcome, Jack.

[chesney]

Minor saloons do not use a chassis, they are of monocoque design, that is, the structural 'chassis' sections are built into the bodywork and cannot be removed from the body (without an angle grinder).
Minor LCV's use a chassis, but they are not compatible with a saloon.
With regards to your mods, investigate using a Ford (Escort MKII preferably) axle, the English ones have a large choice of diff ratios, and since your dad is a welder, will not be too tricky to fit. These are 'bulletproof', and allows you to use the Ford (108mm) PCD (using disc kits from JLH/ESM for eg) and makin use of their wide selection of wheel choice.

[jagnut66]

Hi,
Don't apologize for using your car, it's what they were made for. It's the ones that rarely go anywhere that you see broken down by the roadside on the way to the national.
1275 MG Midget engine is a straight swap using the existing engine mounts, it fits straight in. The existing Moggy 4.22 diff will cope perfectly well (Midgets used them as well), unless you want something different...............
The existing Moggy 1000 gearbox will cope with the 1275 too, so you don't need to spend all your spare cash at once. If you get one with the box attached the Midget gearbox has the reversing lights switch fitted to it as standard.
Though in that case I suggest you retain your Moggy gear stick, as the Midget one may prove a bit short..........
Best wishes,
Mike.

[bmcecosse]

Worry about getting all the welding done - properly - before thinking about upgrades.... As others have told you - there is no complete floor/chassis option -it's all individual panels. I'll be very surprised if you get all the panels you need for £250.... Have a good look at the many 'resto' threads for guidance on what's involved. All are amazing -but 'Neil MG' is particularly informative and enlightening.

[Jackmansell]

id read it was a monocoque design i was just wondering if there were and workshops around willing to strip my car down and put all new stuff underneath ha. Mike, thanks for that, id always seen people saying that when you whack a 1275 in its best to put a better gearbox/axle in in order to take the power, id still change the front drums for disks though all well and good going faster but you still gotta stop ha. i was planning to put those minilite replicas from either JLH or bull motif on him eventually aswell

[les]

I can't see why you and your dad don't do all the welding yourselves then worry about getting others involved. Especially as your dad is qualified! Silly to pay good money out for welding, under those circumstances.

[Jackmansell]

i know i know but hes busy with work a most the week and has to care for my mom on weekends, plus, as hes said many times, hes no spring chicken, so he doesnt like the thought of getting under the car and welding

[les]

Fair enough, I just thought your mention of his profession in your initial post suggested a way round things!

[bmcecosse]

How deep are your pockets? For all you are planning you're going to need £4000/5000 ......

[Jackmansell]

yea les i want it to be a solution too! maybe i can twist his arm welllll ive got about 2000 at the moment set for the underside, the rest of the improvements will be done in the next year or so, that being said i think my big end is going, so if im getting the engine out i may aswell throw a 1275 in ha

[ianmack]

If your dad doesn't want to crawl underneath (and I don't blame him) you could turn the car over with a roller or rotisserie, or some people just use mattresses.

[Jackmansell]

ive been looking into that just, i cant find anyone who rents them out and i really dont wanna buy one as the workshop we currently rent wont be ours in a year or so as the facility its in is closing down.

[chesney]

Where are you based?
The MMO forum has a free rotisserie that is passed from member to member when needed.

[Jackmansell]

birmingham

[Chipper]

I would advise fitting a stronger gearbox to go with the 1275cc engine - at least a 1275cc MG Midget one, which also gives you closer ratios that match the revvy nature of the engine. I fitted a 1275cc MG Midget engine to my Traveller and it destroyed two standard 1098cc Minor gearboxes in quick succession until finally I found a matching Midget gearbox, which has been fine ever since.

If fitting a Marina engine/gearbox, bear in mind you'll need to alter the gearbox mounts and gearbox cover panel to make the bulky gearbox fit, whereas the (more expensive) Midget stuff all bolts straight in.

You may also need stronger halfshafts - one of mine snapped at the hub end when pulling out of a junction, leaving the car stranded across the busy A13 in Essex! I had to get out and push it to the side of the road and get it towed to a local garage to have a new one fitted, which touch wood, has been OK since.

[jagnut66]

That's the first time I've heard of a 1275 wrecking a standard Minor gearbox, anybody else had this experience??

[bmcecosse]

A standard 1275 engine is 55 bhp - vis the 1098 at 48 bhp.... So it's not a huge jump in power, and the 1275 (in standard form) can never be described as 'revvy' !! Any engine will wreck any gearbox - if it's not treated well. No need for wheel spin starts/racing changes.....and every reason to double de clutch when going down (any) box. Sure the Spridget box has needle roller bearings - and the 'ratio' difference is marginal to say the least.. A good 1098 gearbox should be perfectly able to handle a standard 1275 engine........

[smithskids]

Like bmc says if you treat it with respect it will be ok. I have a much modified "1275" engine in my pick up and as long as you dont attempt sprint starts the box and half shafts are ok. With a decent cam and head you can use the power to accelerate with ease and get good economy as well

[Chipper]

A standard 1275 engine is 55 bhp - vis the 1098 at 48 bhp.... So it's not a huge jump in power, and the 1275 (in standard form) can never be described as 'revvy' !!

Comparatively, it is, compared to the long-stroke 1098cc standard Minor engine. My Midget engine easily revs to 6,000rpm, and just generally feels quite sweet revving, compared to the 1098cc. Don't forget the extra torque (at least an extra 10 or so lb ft) as well over the 1098cc.

[bmcecosse]

1098 also revs to 6000 -and above.......which is risky... But that's not 'revvy' !! Yes of course -a 1275 has more torque... and of course , as above, with a few simple changes will give a lot more power. Then you may need to worry about the gearbox - or just treat it nicely....