Morris Minor Owners Club

I've just pulled the front end off my moggie (quite literally pulled, to say there was a little rust would be the understatement of the century) and after inspecting the lump of metal that is my grille have decided to replace the entire radiator grille- brightwork- bonnet lid catch ensemble, which through the virtue of time and oxidation have become one completely immoveable and inseparable unit. Various sites have provided me almost everything (main grille and brightwork surround, hockey sticks, etc) but I am lacking one major thing: on the top of the grille piece there's a horizontal beam bolted on that holds all the bonnet catch stuff, and has the little hole for the bonnet catch itself etc. I can't find either this beam or any of the release mechanism parts that are attached to said beam. Any suggestions anyone? My car is looking a little miserable with her front end off, I want to get her smiling again...

i think you are referring to the front rad panel
not available new anymore
2nd hand ones come on ebay quite often
i think morris minor centere do repro ones now for about £57.00

ask on here first

I have all the bonnet release parts except the actual panel, you can have them for free if you want.

Oh, you do? That would be great! The only problem is, I'm in the US... I could pay for shipping, though, I think! I really need those parts, mine are all semi-unrecognisable under rust, one partially crumbled when I touched it!

There's a complete panel on e-bay at the moment too. They might post to the US.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Morris-Minor-1000 ... dZViewItem

I would try to fix up the panel you have Jack - because anything else is going to be ultra expensive. Maybe a local bodyshop (Foose!!!) would help out ? With Picky's parts you would be back in business.

I will weigh the parts if you want, then you can work out what the postage cost is likely to be. trouble is the pull handle is nearly a metre long so the package might end up quite large! I could leave this bit out though, if yours is still useable.

Picky

Oh, yes, the pull handle and spring attached to it are fine, it's the bits from the little pivot onwards that are beyond repair! That would be great, thanks!
If it'll be expensive, I'll try and fix it up... The top (apart from the release mechanism) is ok (also the nuts attaching the panel to the main grille panel are beyond repair, I tried removing a few and they sheared in half!). Really, it's the bottom half that needs doing. All along the base where it attaches to the main car, it's so rusted you can put a finger through. Is there a good way to repair that? Welding, I suppose... Well, I have to learn sometime! But yes, I could repair it, and I'd be set with Picky's parts...

Arm yourself with a MIG welder and some scrap metal offcuts (ask at local body shop for scrap steel) - a pair of tin-snips and some body hammers and dollies (none of this is expensive - specially in USofA) and you will soon be an expert with your own TV show. Watch the likes of 'Overhaulin' (but NOT Pimp My Ride) for inspiration !!

The front outer panel - that holds the grille - is readily available new and the backing panel behind that - which supports the radiator - is really just a flat sheet of metal with angle fixings for the radiator. Would be the simplest panel to make for the Minor! Just get a flat sheet of metal (galvanised if possible) at local hardware store and start cutting.

Hmmm. I like that... I think I might give it a try! You're right, it is a pretty simple panel.[/i]

air intake hole and shroud, wire mesh, also the top mouldining for fitting the top chrome and bonnet catch ??????????

Funnily enough, I'd just noticed those... I don't think my negligible metal skills are up to that top part, though my particular panel doesn't require the air intake shroud, and therefore the wire mesh. But I could just keep searching online for the stuff... I can at least get the bottom part on most spares websites, I've just noticed, and it's the lower section that's most rusted. Just one question, though: how are the two sections (upper and lower are most definitely separate) joined together? I can't see any evidence of welding, no bolts, and I don't think they used industrial epoxies in cars back then?..

I think they're spot welded together. If the top rail isn't rotten you could cut it off and weld it to a new bottom part.

Which was my plan - the top section is very much thicker metal - it's usually just the lower half that dissolves - and it's just flat sheet with rad brackets added.

Oh, I see. Yes, might be worth it, the prefab thing off the net is about thirty pounds I think... Seems an awful lot of money for something so simple. Spot welding? OK, thanks... I might learn to do that, it could be fun... Or the local garage could help out.