1965 Four Door - sympathetic resto

[OGY985K]

Hi All,
I need new headlight bowls to fit halogen headlights but there seems to be some that fit the outer chrome ring and some that don’t. Does anyone know which ones to buy please?
Good progress on the bodywork (pics next week) and I hope to complete ‘side one’ shortly.
Hoping that side two is sufficiently ok that it’s a case of repair not major surgery like side 1. Superficially this looks to be the case.
Need to get my Spit inside so I can fix a driveshaft UJ. Triumph cars eat these!
Thanks
Alan

[OGY985K]

Steady progress. The quarter floor is in but not yet fully welded. Run out of gas again! You can probably see the big splodge of weld where I finally noticed….
Front wing is repaired - new metal and then skimmed. I’m not the best with filler but then again this car isn’t good enough to turn into a show car (for prizes…will be very smart though).
Colour matched paint is on the way from a supplier.
I’ve checked the brakes. The front Riley brakes aren’t leaking and pipes are good (changing seals anyway). The rear brakes are soaked in brake fluid so rebuild required.

New headlights have arrived to replace the rusted out originals.

[OGY985K]

Hi All,
There’s going to be a long delay before I can progress the car again. Been diagnosed with blood cancer, age 55. I’ve been promised a year of treatment hell for 2024 but with a better 2025.
So, I’ll hang on to the car for the moment and hopefully get back to it when better times return.
Alan

[myoldjalopy]

Very sorry to hear that news, Alan, and I hope your treatment goes well for you and that you will be able to continue the restoration before too long.

[OGY985K]

Thanks. If I feel well enough then car restoration may prove a positive focus given all public spaces are out of bounds during treatment.

[ManyMinors]

Very best of luck. Sorry to hear of your problems but, as you say, restoring a car can be therapeutic if you feel able . At least the better weather should be coming along and it'll be warmer in our garages

[Maria1959morris]

Sorry to hear that wishing you speedy recovery hope all goes well for you best of luck here hoping everything get better soon and u can get on with your car your health comes first of course good luck

[OGY985K]

Thanks Everyone.
Really appreciated.
I'm an optimist and have confidence in the wonderful team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (unlike my local GP team who, over the last six months, are rubbish enough to have told be I'm old (three people), that a lump is normal; prescribed a six week course of Pilates as my hips weren't quite level!).
Moral of the story is that if you know your own body, push past the GPs. They only look for the obvious, especially if you're the type who turns up with a cheery 'hello' rather than crawling in looking miserable. I should have done this back in November rather than trusting their expertise.
Alan

[OGY985K]

Hi All,
Treatment is going really well…so I’ve started buying all the bits I need to finish the Morris. Luckily, a near side Dove Grey wing has just come up on eBay. The current wing is beyond repair so this is very handy.
I can’t weld as am in a full body brace, but may be able to do things like rebuild the brakes.
Positive stuff.
Alan

[OGY985K]

My buying spree continues while I can’t work on the car. I now have:
Alfa 916 gtv rear seats that will fit and offer headrests. I’ll reuse the back board of the original bench seat.
New underlay and carpets
Rear brake cylinders, shoes, rubber dust shields
Riley 1.5 brake seals to rebuild the front cylinders (theses don’t leak but the car hasn’t been driven for 7 years so I’m being cautious).
I know this may seem a bit mad right now, but it’s fun and forward looking.
A

[OGY985K]

A bit more progress. The front end is off to give access to repair the inner arch/inner panel. I’ve also found the source of the car’s water leak. A bodge bypass hose made from garden hose. A new pump gasket is on order so I can change this.
It’s a curious car in that so much of the mechanics are new. Engine, radiator, dampers, pipes (brake and water) but nothing is done up properly. A liability if it was on the road but fantastic for a restorer since there are no seized bolts other than holding the back outer arches (which can stay for the next year or so).
Slow progress of course as I’m in a full body brace to protect my spine following the damage from cancer. Cancer is literally the most boring thing I’ve ever experienced so I’ve taken the decision to find ways, however slow! I’ve an 80% chance of being here in ten years so why not get on?
The funny thing is that I spent 5 years building the perfect Spitfire and have found it hard to get into…thus the Morris with upgraded seats….but now I know why the Triumph is a challenge

[OGY985K]

Lots of small jobs progressed. New water pump and pipes, wheels stripped and painted, brake fluid changed, brake seals changed (front), cylinders and shoes changed (back), engine oil changed. But much to do!

[OGY985K]

Any thoughts on available 155 tyres? The set on the car are dated 2006 so will need changing before the car hits the road.
Thanks.

[OGY985K]

While I’m continuing to put this car back to a solid and reliable road condition, I am going to be selling it so am open to offers. Price goes up the more I do but open to sale at any point. Sale is purely because my health situation is very different to when I bought it and I need to keep half my garage clear for a static bike/ exercise as a compromised immune system means I can’t use a public gym.
A few things for anyone interested to know:
Engine is new (3500 miles)
Duplex chain
New water pump
Electronic ignition
Riley 1.5 brakes plus servo.
Alternator
Fresh brakes all around.
Big washer bottle (electric)
New carpet set.
New seat belts.
New halogen headlights.
Will be very solid underneath (see this thread).
Original seats plus 2011 mini seats (perfect comdition) with it.
Previous owner had for 25 years and there is history back to 1990s.
£2500 (firm) at the moment (got near side welding to complete). Will be £4000 when it has a MOT.

Alan

[OGY985K]

Reassembly of the repaired and tidied engine bay is progressing.

[OGY985K]

One side done…this one needs similar attention once I’ve removed all the paper that’s stuffed in the door pillar!

Parking it now until after my stem cell transplant.

[OGY985K]

Can anyone point me in the right direction to adjust this door forward a bit please? It’s catching the B post slightly.

Would like to adjust before commencing sill/pillar/wing work.
Thanks

[les]

Check if someone in the past has put shims behind the hinges, often used to rectify a gap that is too big at the B post. Although, you have a lot of corrosion on the car so check the hinge post has not moved in any way

[OGY985K]

Thanks Les.
I suspect movement due to rust. The wing is being replaced so will give access for repairs.

[ManyMinors]

Good luck with it all. You've made good progress so far