Morris Minor Owners Club

I posted a bit on here a few weeks ago about a major restoration i'm taking on, on a convertible.

anyone know where to start?????

strange question i know but the drivers side has dropped so i know i need new sills etc. but basically the whole lot needsw doing.

I've never done anything this big before usually i just do a bit of body work and a nice resray and the wood on a traveller once.

i only got the car last night so i'll go out in the next few days and have a good look but as far as i can see the whole lot is shot.

Big holes in inner wings sills floor hopefully the chassis is ok if not i'll have to sort that first i presume.

it would be nice if someone could tell me step by step which order to do things and the best way to do variuos panels etc.

many thanks in advance steve

H'm where to start! if it is sagging (doors not opening and closing easily) then
you need to carefully jack the car untill the door is sitting properly in its opening and,in that position you will probably need to weld a temporary strut
across the door opening so that when the door is removed the body stays in
the correct alignment. You can then remove the boxing plate etc., with some
confidence. Be aware that the sill structure extends rearwards as far as the
front of the rear wheel arch, on my car this was in a terrible state and required much fabrication of metal. You buy the preformed lower curved
sections of the Quarter panels which shows you where to cut out the old stuff
in order to attend to this area. A genuine convertible has an extra 'U' section
heavy gauge beam inside the sill assembly,but it is quite likely to have rotted
away. The answer to restore strength is to fit an oversill which goes on the
inside door step.

you will also need to go in to the front foot wells, to each side (where you might put a radio speaker). you need to check the amount of corrision there, along the top edge of the inner box section. rust here can allow the dash to drop. you may need to cut it out and weld a new strip there. you have to remove the door kick plate and see how much of the box section is there. you are looking for a section running the length of the bottom edge of the door with large 3" approx dia holes in it. hopefully it will all be there. check the rear spring hangers if they are original, or have they been replaced. also is it a real convertable??? big question if you are going to take it on.

dont forget the chassis where the eye bolt goes through, all the way to the front.

I just started the restoration of a 1958 convertible. Have been able to come up with most items immediately needed but have had NO LUCK in finding the wood that goes above the front windshield and back to tack a new top to. Can anyone tell me where I can get replacement wook or just a patter to make it myslef. The back wood is completely gone so no patter at all or anything to go by. Oh yes, I am in the U.S. in Belton, Texas so you can guess that is a problem also. Have found some parts in Australia but have not really receved anything yet? Got my fingers crossed.

My email address is chucklexie@juno.com if you could contact me directly it would be appreciated. I am all out of ideas!!!!