Morris Minor Owners Club

I have read it all through carefully. What a task! Giving it plenty of time is key. Well done indeed, it is progressing well. Particularly, I note the amount of room you have to do the work in. I have a double garage, a vehicle occupies half of it 99% of the time but no private outside space. You are almost managing in a single garage! I've not restored any vehicles yet so I read these records with great interest, thank you for providing them and helping all our educations. Mike

Thanks, when you take on something new, be it a old car, replacement kitchen, new central heating system, lean-to at the side of the house (thats next for me) you've just got to get stuck in haven't you. Everyone who reads this is probably practical in some way or other. So you know what I mean. It's no good listening to the people in life that say you can't do that, you're not qualified, no experience, no aptitude. We would never tackle anything if we listened to those types.

coming back to rear panel repair, and there's probably loads of different ways to tackle this, I'm just cutting out small areas and folding in small repairs. The professional way is to replace the whole panel, but I'm not doing it like that as you know. I may be wrong but I'm not questioning myself at this stage. Here's the template I made for the bottom of the rear arch. It worked well for the right side arch, so I'm doing the same this side.[frame][/frame]

held up to the area for repair it's a close fit..[frame][/frame]

This is new metal, untreated it goes rusty very quickly doesn't it, especially in a damp workshop throughout the wet winter months, wire brush, rust treatment it'll be as good as ever,[frame][/frame]

well me not having fully restored a minor before it will give give me a real help on what and not what to do.
i think your brave to tackle something on this scale for a first restoration. you learn as you go along thats what ive found.
ive seen some good and not so good restorations before. but who cares as long as the interests their to keep them going.
at the end of the day its done with good intentions
looks like a decent job to me

Thanks Andrew, the main thing for me is I don't mind critisism so long as it is constructive, if its aimed at helping me improve on a specific point, or show me what I can change I welcome it.

yes keep t it

we will allways help if we can

Cheers guys, This is like being down the local pub with your mates, who's round is it next? mine's a pint of London Pride.

David, I certainly did not want to criticise you as a person or the enthusiasm that you have shown with this project. I would hate to be the person to discourage others from joining the forum or starting their own projects. (Taupe I take my hat off to you, you are very very good at what you do.)

I woulde hope David, that once this project is complete, you take the vehicle to be independantly assessed by an engineer (rather than relying on the hit and miss MOT) before it hits the road.

James

I think you are going over the top here. Putting people in danger, killing an innocent child. Get a grip man! He's got a hobby, and seems quite responsible,

Hi David
Mines a guinness! If you want I could put some of my restoration pics on, that should keep the heat off you for a while!!
Keep up the good work.
Al

JC MEWS, Your comments and presumptions are starting to offend me, please refrain from commenting on this thread any further.Thank you.

most of us on here do our own welding and maintenance
its not exactly rocket science doing our own brakes
and those that really can not do them take the car to a garage

I have edited some comments in this thread as they have caused offence. Please refer any comments about this matter to me via pm rather than on the messageboard.

Thank you.

I think these posts are off-topic - it would be a shame if David's excellent thread got derailed. Could we move the other discussions to a new thread?

Phew, thanks for that, I can start talking about my restoration again now. Just for the record I was planning to get the car checked out by ESM before I drive it on a public road, Just in case anyone thought otherwise. Anyway, by my reckoning thats about three years away. In the meantime my engineless,gearboxless, brakeless and everything elseless isn't going anywhere.
So on with the bodywork...

Like I have said before David, keep up the good work!!

You documenting and photographing every step of this restoration is going to encourage the majority of people to get on with fixing their cars. It also will show the people who buy an old wreck and think that a new wing a polish up is all you do to restore a car that there is so much more to it!! Its a great feeling to know that you have saved and restored a car yourself and that you know every nut and bolt if or rather when you have to fix something in the future. Ive rstored lots of minors over the years and still when you take a car for its first MOT in years you come out with a big smile on your face!!

David,

You don't have to justify anything to anyone. This is your car and you who will be driving it after your restoration.You seem a very sensible person who is learning a trade that takes years to learn. By the time you are approaching the end, there is no doubt you will think you could have approach things differently. We all do... that's what learning is all about.

I am grateful or you for sharing your experiences, but unfortunately in doing that can open yourself for ridicule. Ignore the ridicule, take in the advise.

Keep it up... I'm looking forward to the engine bit... Keep smiling, keep drinking the tea and keep posting.

tea break... time to show you the parts Ive cut out to repair the bottom edges of the wheel arch on the rear nearside. I used a flapdisc to clean up the rusted metal. The cardboard templates are a good way for me to transfer the shape across..[frame][/frame]

the welded in pieces need lots of time with the angle grinder to dress the welding up nice and neat. The last piece to be welded in on this side is the top curve of the inner flange of the wheelarch. Thats it, just rust prevention treatment and its ready to be bolted onto the pickup. Then I can do further work with it in place.
In this shot you can see the toffee can lid I use to retain the water flowing out of the wet towel. The Towel, as I have mentioned, acts as a really effective heat sink.
[frame][/frame]