Morris Minor Owners Club

The van's been on the back boiler for a few months now.
Was getting my boat ready for the summer & now getting some use out of it, but, the autumn & winter will be here soon.
I'm still on the lookout for any bits which are right for the van - let me know!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCXQT-H ... hnrutLidge
Before it was sold. I too would love to see it again

Back working on the van today, it's a long time since last August
Anyway, had some fun in the boat after it's complete refit
Now, back to the van & I find an article in the latest Minor Commercial magazine which states that some of the Sri Lanken retro van chassis may have an inherent weakness in the area of the rear outriggers, where the back end of the torsion bar locates.
So, as my chassis came from the Morris Minor Centre, Birmingham in June 2002 I assume it's a Sri Lanken item. I've still not fitted the body, front & back, to the chassis, so it's now looking like I'll be taking the top off the chassis to weld in some strengthening before refitting the cab & back, ah well it's been I rebuild now for almost 14 years, so I don't suppose an extra day (or two) will matter much![frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

Had a go at it this afternoon, welded in two gusset plates either side[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

capnblack wrote:The van's been on the back boiler for a few months now.
Was getting my boat ready for the summer & now getting some use out of it, but, the autumn & winter will be here soon.
I'm still on the lookout for any bits which are right for the van - let me know!

Standard post 295020 fittings, interior step-ladder frame was quickly brush painted PO red - some had battery stands/bkts - need to check for holes in o/s rear floor behind partition line.

Are there any extra bkts or holes?

Mine had retro fitted hazards when bought direct from PO - flasher unit different post 305010/308103.

Hi Chris
Not sure what you are alluding to there?
Have you got some bits which I will desire?
Anyway, dropped the cab back on the chassis today:[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

Nice telephone box in the background. The van's coming on well!

Don't forget to do the dash and toeboard in matt black.

Additional foam sticky back tape on B post to van body joint commencing 308104.

What do you class as the toe board?[frame][/frame]

Great work, i have always thought roof gutters are my ultimate nightmare, really good to see detailed pictures of how your doing this.

Sorting out the roof was indeed quite challenging, I think it's one of those jobs that you just need to do properly, no skimping. If it's done as shown in my pics, I don't think you can go far wrong. It just takes time, quite a lot of it.
What I've found the hardest to deal with during this restoration, so far, is sorting out previous repairs which perhaps have not been done so particularly.
Anyway, I'm hopeful that the van will reflect the many hours of effort put into the resto once it's finished, which will be ......... at some time in the future!

Before i start on my traveller i have a 1978 mini that i want to practice on and i have found a few old repairs hidden under thick body filler, but its a good practice car as i want it for a daily user and as many people have told me once you take a car off the road to do resto work it can be years before things get done, i shall keep looking in on your progress with a keen eye.

Everything's up in the air at the moment!
At last I bought a 2 post lift[frame][/frame]

Hmmmm......
As I've currently become obsessed with my boating I'm thinking of selling both the van, as shown in the pics attached to this thread, and Lilly, the pickup shown in my avatar
Ideally Lilly should stay in Cornwall which is where she has spent all her life, me being the second owner (bar the garage who bought her off the first owner).
I know, I know........