Morris Minor Owners Club

today it was a cold and rainy day, and my wife needs some space near the Morris ;)
Because the left chassis leg was still not on the right place, more hydraulic power was needed.
But there was enough space to bring some hydraulic force on the chassis legs and A-post.[frame][/frame]
Some chains on the other side...[frame][/frame]
and inside...[frame][/frame]
And the result:
top and bottom are on the same place since years:[frame][/frame]

Today the final millimeters, all the holes have the right places for bolts and nuts.

[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

And a surprise, the original radiator front is fitting again,

With a little bit luck, the original grille can be repaired at the bottom, so this one is usable again[frame][/frame]
But the other one looks better, so I think this one should be used.[frame][/frame]

After 2 months, the car is still waiting, but first a short holiday in the Canterbury area...

I've just come across this thread and noted that you were thinking of having replacement gearlever knobs made. I've just got a '51 MM and this is its "handle" which is damaged, as the nut should be fixed inside. I'll have to cut out the bits of cork and old glue to see if I can make it fit, but the pattern is quite different to yours (it is also made out of hard dark brown bakelite)[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
Your restoration project is fantastic - what a labour of love.
Regards, George.

Amazing work, I can't wait to see the finished car.

this is the first time I see this gear lever knob.
My "original" one should be a series II knob
Because of the text Morris on one of your pictures, this could be the original one.

but when this one is the original, more people should recognize him ;)
OK, after 60 years, some memory's are not perfect anymore, but..

I found some lowlight parts, and try how it like on my car:[frame][/frame]
the "inserts" are including:[frame][/frame]
But, one wing came without holes on the front side, it looks like a NOS because of the one layer black paint on some places.[frame][/frame]
And another "problem" the head light should not fit because of a metal part on the wrong place....
Does someone know how the original model is?
And another problem, to make it complete, I still need some parts ;)[frame][/frame]
The steel parts are complete I think, the grille is not rusted:[frame][/frame]
The old grille gives a strange effect, no headlights ;)[frame][/frame]
And, the wing came with a lot of filler, why, I don't know.

And one spare wing found:[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
also with rust, but repairable I think.

You'll have to trim the inner wings to fit the headlight shrouds - it will fit together then.

Pete

gtt1951 wrote:I've just come across this thread and noted that you were thinking of having replacement gearlever knobs made. I've just got a '51 MM and this is its "handle" which is damaged, as the nut should be fixed inside. I'll have to cut out the bits of cork and old glue to see if I can make it fit, but the pattern is quite different to yours (it is also made out of hard dark brown bakelite)[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
Your restoration project is fantastic - what a labour of love.
Regards, George.

This is a correct series mm gearknob, although the nut you show with it is the locking nut. There should be a brass threaded bar in the hole which was fitted before the plastic/bakalite was poured around it, so it is integral. The lock nut is on the gearlever and pinches up to the brass thread to hold it in the correct position and stop it from spinning. Did I really sell that car with that still fitted??!!!!! What was I thinking! I need one for my low light now

Today I got the wings and front back from sandblasting, the RH wing is ready to mount, the LH wing needed some welding before...
The radiator frame is remade, from the original bottom and a series 2 top ;)
[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
but this was the LH wing before:[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
the not original lamp hole is welded:[frame][/frame]
so now some mounting points to weld, but first check the other parts and positions.

because of some jobs outside from Europe, and an engine who can arrive in a few weeks, first painted the engine bay..[frame][/frame]
I bought some black from a guy who told this is an end color, but when it was a little bit dry, you could see some blank varnish was needed to make it better.
Lucky man I was, I had some from my wifes car ;)
also mounted one of my cheese grater grilles for painting, together with a rust free bumper...[frame][/frame]
I am not sure for the right color...[frame][/frame]
And I am also not happy with the result,[frame][/frame]

The old paint did not like the base 2K paint:[frame][/frame]
But the 2K varnish is working like a mirror, maybe when I am back home, a thin layer from the right color, with, or without blank 2K varnish.[frame][/frame]

this weekend I cleaned the floor, and put it first in the 2K base coating.[frame][/frame]
The floors are all original, all the weldings are from the factory.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

After this, I took the black paint again for a first layer, and sprayed the whole car with it.[frame][/frame]
With the blank coating, I can see the small unnoticed dents, and it is a base between the original paint and the final layer.[frame][/frame]
The only problem, this is the wrong black color, The sold it to me as the original one, but this is not the black I needed.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

Maybe I have to check a RAL 9005 if this is a better choice....

today another spray test with a deep black color:[frame][/frame]
This black is better, but I got some RAL 9005, and try to do the lowlight wings with this paint another time.

The problem with black, you cannot see a lot inside the car in the evenings...
But the floor heating is ready for use, so this winter i hope to do a little bit more..[frame][/frame]

After a year, all the parts (and car) found a lot of dust.
I traveled a lot of miles by air, was two times in the US, another time in Joburg, the UK, but nothing happened with the MM.
But yesterday, the engine came back, re-bored, new valve guides in it, crankshaft ready for use again, new pistons, so the original engine can be rebuild for the car.
Because of the surface, they need to make the engine flat again, lucky the angine number is still visible ;)[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

Went to my dry, warm and a little dusty storage, to look at the other parts.[frame][/frame]

3 cylinder heads, the original green one, a spare Grey one, and one complete without any paint ;)[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
2 gearboxes, one is complete, and the one, got together with the car, is missing some parts.
Is there a serial number, who I need to check?
And what is the right color for the gearbox, green or grey?

Crankshaft mounted, Camshaft mounted, Flywheel on his place, and all the new valves on there place.[frame][/frame]
And enough spare parts to rebuild another engine, 10 used pistons, and another 4 new, 2 more crankshafts, another block, 2 extra cylinder heads, but only one water pump....[frame][/frame]
But one side from my workbench is a little bit more empty as before [frame][/frame]

More parts mounted[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
But what to do with the waterpump?
I have the original blank plate, and an original pump, together with new bearings.
Also the after market pump is there, and it looks like this car was delivered with the after market pump[frame][/frame]
The condition from the grey cilinderhead was much better as the original green one, but when you have 3 cilinderheads, the best one is mounted ;)[frame][/frame]

And I have to find out what to do with the clutch, I have some spare, but in a daily car I should always mount new....
But a new clutch for this car, where to find, and what is the quality?[frame][/frame]

Always nice when the engine parts can get a basic primer at the company ;)
Yesterday evening I got a little free space and a lot of light.
The only problem is that we does not have the black color in our factory [frame][/frame]
Front and back I do not paint, I think the aluminium surface is the original.
The black color can be the same as the black from the car.

Engine painted in the original color[frame][/frame]
And the parts in the same black color as the car, and mounted.[frame][/frame]
Only the clamp for the after market waterpump does not fit perfect, so I have to modify this.[frame][/frame]
new spark plugs mounted.[frame][/frame]
And the rest from the 2K paint on the car, to look how this deep black color is.
Some engine paint on the bumpers, with 2K engine paint you have two options, use it, or its gone.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
Doorframes and dashboard are now in the right color (i hope)

Good progress!