Morris Minor Owners Club

Now it's back and looks like this:




Lots and lots of stuff to seal, tweak, prep and paint.

Perhaps someone would like to shift this thread to the restorations section? Thank you in advance.

tis looking good

Thankyou.
I'm looking forward to the next stage.

Many more pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/beelzibus/ ... 807603201/

Looks brilliant

Thankyou.
A huge shopping list has been submitted to ESM this week, can't wait.

I wish I had just let in some metal for the rear wheel arch instead of replacing the whole arch. Nice space you've got, I had to rebuild mine in a 'phone box!

A few more questions for the learned Minor experts;
Fuel tank- we need a new one, are the aftermarket tanks any good? What's the shape like, and general quality?
Whilst on the subject of repro parts, it turns out our grill is damaged, not sure if it was before it went to the blasters, or whether it got damaged since, but either way we need a new one. How do the repro ones fare in terms of shape and fit?
The cab rubber mat is of course long gone, are there any decent pictures out there of original ones that might assist in allowing a reasonable home brewed reproduction of sorts to be made? Does anyone have any patterns/dimensions of an original?
The centre rear wooden floor panels in the back, how should they be finished? Black paint, or varnished? I've seen both, or maybe something different?
I think that's the lot for now.

les wrote:I wish I had just let in some metal for the rear wheel arch instead of replacing the whole arch. Nice space you've got, I had to rebuild mine in a 'phone box!

There was just no need to replace the complete arches, the ends were very good, I figured this also assisted in keeping the rear sides dimensionally as correct as possible, if the repro arches were in any way incorrect, putting them in complete would ruin the shape of the rear sides. Putting in partial arches worked out well in this case.
As for the work space, yes indeed at work I am very lucky both in space and facilities.

Mine were pretty rough but even so I should have thought twice especially as I actually did do it your way on my pick-up!

In general terms as you're aware, it's always a good idea to retain as much original metal as reasonably possible, however It's a fine line, and with hindsight if I'd have realised how bad the cab floor was in places I'd have stuck two new halves in. It would have saved a few hours that's for sure. I'm happy enough with the end result anyway.

Agreed and another justification for letting metal in is the general state of many pattern panels, you probably made the right decision regarding the floors as the ones available do not incorporate the recessed 'channels' that hold the rubber strips that seal the gearbox cover. Another 'that'll do' job. I'd like to think the panels now have that feature but------

les wrote:Agreed and another justification for letting metal in is the general state of many pattern panels, you probably made the right decision regarding the floors as the ones available do not incorporate the recessed 'channels' that hold the rubber strips that seal the gearbox cover. Another 'that'll do' job. I'd like to think the panels now have that feature but------

Years and years in the aircooled VW scene have taught me never to trust aftermarket repair panels.
When I started this I was pleased to discover how many of the Minor LCV only panels are available, but it seems the fit is a lottery.

Just remembered ---your bumper length, 61 and 3/4 inch end to end.

les wrote:Just remembered ---your bumper length, 61 and 3/4 inch end to end.

Oh good man, thank you. I guess the ends are just a smooth radii, a copy of the saloon ends?

I had a nice surprise at work today with the arrival of two huge boxes of parts, not 100% complete/correct, but nigh on, and it all looks decent enough, but of course I haven't actually fitted any of it yet.

I'll post a photo of the end shape, hopefully tomorrow, It's not a perfect radius more pointy! Not sure what the saloon end are like.

Don't know where I got the idea it was more pointed, it actually looks quite uniform.

Cheers for that Les, along with your earlier measurement that will be a great help.

Right, I have some more questions for folk on here, mostly related to planning what needs to be what colour. I really would like to get this looking as original as possible. There will be one or two deviations from stock, we're putting a rubberised stoneguard on the underside for example, also adding an alternator as opposed to a dynamo, but I'd still like to get things looking right.
So, can I assume that from the factory the shell (cab/buck) came in a body colour finish, and not black underseal? Or something different?
The inner front panel, why do I think I've seen or heard they should be black as opposed to body colour?
The wheels, ok so we've ascertained they should be silver, both sides? or black on the inside?
What about the diff casing, bare aluminium or black along with the axle casing?
Dampers, front and rear, were the fronts bare alloy, black, or again something different. Also the rear telescopic shocks as fitted to the LCVs, what colour were the originals?
Thankyou in advance for any help on this or the earlier questions I still need help with.