Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi, just thought i 2would introduce myself as i have just bought my first moggy. Its a 1970 minor 1000 2 door ex panda car.i have a few questions i wanted to ask but will search through the forum before i ask. For anyone who wants to know my name is Chubbs and i am only 26 so i guess i would be one of the younger users on here i have plans for the moggy but not the typical boy racer plans. I want it to look standard but i would like to tweak it so i have a decent sound system and also i would like to modify the interior using new materials but keep the shape and size the same. Just wondering if anyone could tell me where the best place to mount the stereo would be?

Hi,

Welcome!

The neatest place (IMHO) for the stereo system is:-
Front speakes in the front side panels (just above parcel shelf) rear on rear parcel shelf (behind rear seat but it's a small space).

The "cleanest" install would be a head unit in the glovebox, wired (or IR) remote, and the CD Juke box under the rear seat (though I guess these days you could do that with an MP3 player fm link!

You'll be able to mount a roof aerial via the zip

Before you start, check two things!

1) You will need to have negative earth - the car is probably positive earth!

2) check out if you can turn the system you like "off". I use a Sony DAB radio, it works either with the ignition "ACC" switch (and Minor's don't have this as standard) - or with a manual "off".

Cheers,

Colin

Car has an alternater so i thought the earth would be ok and i have already started work on the speakers just where you said. The stereo i am putting in is a sony mp3cd unit with a ir remote and a external ir receiver which i will hide somewhere in the dash.I will be using the manual off like i thought i would have to

Good to see another young owner!

I run two smallish speakers in the front doors (not my idea - better to put em in the 'kick' boards as mentioned above) and a large subwoofer in the boot.

The bootboards are very thick and heavy so are ideal for a sub as they wont rattle.
I power this with a bridged 350w amp thats mounted to the underside of the parcel shelf under the dash.
The shelf is a repoduction in plywood so easily takes the weight, I just cut around the original cardboard one.

If you want to put spekaers in the front just take out the soggy vinyl floor/arch cards and use them as a template for making plywood ones.
I've done this too, although without speakers, and it looks much better.

I used 3mm ply for all my interior bits, its easy to cut and shape and looks nice when painted. Also ideal for holding speakers.

If you are modifying the interior, you can probably sell off the original panels you replace. E.g. remove door cards or rear side panels, replace with similar coloured vinyl over hardboard, mdf, ply or milboard with holes cut out for speakers of your choice.

Home made panels are cheaper than originals and if you are cutting them about anyway, can look nicer and more paradoxically more original.

Check the polarity of the Alternator as I think some Pandas had positive earth Alternators fitted as standard.

Someone brighter than me can probably give you all the details or explain that I'm talking Hogwash

There is just enough space under the heater to fit a Stereo head unit in the centre (over the tunnel) But depends on the look of your unit.

Making your own panels as described above is very easy.

I am going for the new panels as i have already started work on them using mdf and i am gonna make some armrests shaped out of foam and fix them on there too with the speakers. final step will be to cover with fleec and resin and sand and paint to a nice finish.Anybody point me towards a way of telling what i have as regards to neg pos earth i want a simple way of telling really

Which battery terminal is connected to the body?

Whats with all this pos earth stuff?
Surely a 1970 would be well into the negative earth era?

dunketh wrote:Whats with all this pos earth stuff?
Surely a 1970 would be well into the negative earth era?

Nope ours is still posi earth and that was built about mid '69and sold 1 April 1970.

Ow must have just had her 37 birthday!