Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi,

I was wondering if the Wire rims on a mid 70's MG midget fit a 1960 Morris Traveler from the UK? I have the complete differential, axles, rims, brakes, and wire rims.

I think it is possible, sounds like you have everything you need. great idea

The handbrake mechanism is different, and would need modification. The minor rear cylinders may fit, but im not sure, that would solve the h/brake prob.

The spridget front hub with brakes etc is a straight swap for the minor one (ie. the diameter of the stub axles are the same), but you would need to manufacture a caliper mount (I think someone here has drawings). Also with disk brakes a remote fluid resevoir should be fitted (although opinion about that is varied) and the master cylinder needs a seal removing.

A mid 70's midget will have a higher ratio diff too, so more relaxed cruising however you only have 13" wheels so they cancel each other out to a certain extent.

I believe the springs are the same distance apart, but you would have to measure that. The axle attaches to a midget in exactly the same way as it does on the traveller.

If I was going to do this conversion I would look out for some MGB wires which are 14" and fit on the spridget splines.

I cant think of anything else really...

Hope thats of some help!

My friend Randolph in So. Cal. has done quite a few of those conversions. Here is his email: MorrisMinor1000@aol.com
He has a lot of pics up somewhere but I do not have the link.

Depends if they are 'original' fit wire wheels or bolt-on adaptors to the steel wheel hubs?

The adaptors, front and rear, can be transferred to a Minor, as can the front 'original' hubs, but the Midget rear axle is much narower than a Minor and will not fit, nor will the half shafts fit a Minor rear axle, as they are unique to the wire wheel Spridget axle, which itself is even narrower than a steel wheel Spridget axle.

As Matt says the spring mounting on a leaf springed Spridget is the same as the Minor, but the axle mountings are closer together, so will not fit the Minor.

Brakes:

Rear - the Frogeye definitely, and I think all 948 Spridgets, have the same rear brakes as a Minor, the later ones were the same size but used a double piston cylinder and rod handbrake mechanism - there is no advantage over the Minor.

Front - 1970 Midget has discs, and the hubs fit straight on to a MInor, but you will need special 'J' bracket adaptors to fit the calipers. Mini Mania in the USA supply the brackets you will need - see this link:

http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/DSK10 ... Detail.cfm

or contact me and I can send you the drawing of the same thing if you have access to steel plate profiling services.