Morris Minor Owners Club

I'm sure most of you already know this, but don't go prodding at small rusty holes on a Sunday afternoon!

I'd taken the cover sill off to investigate a small hole in the outer bit of sill, then found a similar hole in the inner bit of sill and rusty bottom half of the vertical bit of sill (the bit with the big round holes along it). Ended up cutting off the upright bit completely, repairing the inner bit and welding in a new upright bit. All working frantically thinking "It'll be getting dark around 5pm and I need the car tomorrow!". Then the welder ran out of wire, fortunately I had another reel so could finish the upright bit. And then the angle grinder packed in, so the job's not finished (I was running out of time anyway) but I figure it's stronger now than it was before I started even though it's still got a (now bigger) hole in the outer bit of sill.

(I think the grinder's brushes are the problem and it looks like Clarke kindly supplied a spare set but I didn't have time to investigate the little packet to see.)


Of course if I'd started it on Saturday afternoon it would have been a lot less stressful. You would have thought I'd know better by now. Sigh.

You did an impressive amount of work for a Sunday afternoon! Good stuff, any photos?

Didn't have time for photos! And I wouldn't want to advertise the size of hole I've still got in the sill to anyone impressionable (my welding's not that pretty either).
I'm hoping it's not going to rain before next weekend and get wet in there. Still, it's at least got weld-through primer all over it but I wasn't going to put any wax in there when there's still more welding to be done. That would be bad. Very bad.

It will be spare brushes - they wear out quite quickly. Does sound like a lot of work - i'm guessing the car is back on the road meantime ?

Does it really make a difference if you prod or not?

Surely if it is rotten then it isnt holding anything together anyway?

alainmoran wrote:Does it really make a difference if you prod or not?

Surely if it is rotten then it isnt holding anything together anyway?

Hopefully annual inspection will spot flaking or damaged underseal (which I for one have stopped using), better still if it's coated with smoothrite or chassis black any blistering is obvious. Better to prod and discover surface rust, or in worste case a small hole that can be patched. It's not nice when you find tin worm has already made panel replacement the only option, but that's old cars for you.

Well the cause of the small hole wasn't spotted in the MOT 6 months ago, I noticed it was flaky and prodded to cause the small hole a few weeks ago but hadn't had time to do anything about it. Now of course I know that small holes become a lot bigger before you can patch them I just hadn't expected the rest of it to be rotten too. I though I could do a patch in an afternoon, no sweat. Still, at least I know what I'm letting myself in for next weekend now.




Except I've just read this on the Met Office website:

"There is fairly high confidence for a band of rain, heavy at times to cross all parts of the UK over the weekend"


Ho, hum.

but don't go prodding at small rusty holes on a Sunday afternoon!

Or any afternoon in my experience! Unless you like crying!

Well the cause of the small hole wasn't spotted in the MOT 6 months ago

MOT's not worth the paper its written on. Mine pased with an advisory about 'slight play' in the front suspension.

A week later it collapsed, a wheel came off and I took a nosedive into the asphalt. Made a hole in the road mind you, the minor was fine.

I used to put mk2 fiestas through with GRP sills and strategically 'stuck-on' dirt to cover any dodgy looking joins.

'stuck-on' dirt to cover any dodgy looking joins.

got any dirt left?ive got a peugeot close to MOT

Mine pased with an advisory about 'slight play' in the front suspension.

A week later it collapsed, a wheel came off and I took a nosedive into the asphalt. Made a hole in the road mind you, the minor was fine.

I used to put mk2 fiestas through with GRP sills and strategically 'stuck-on' dirt to cover any dodgy looking joins.

I'd strongly suggest that you go to a decent MOT station instead!!
I would certainly never use a garage again that couldn't spot a worn trunnion - as you've now realised, that's rather safety critical.

rayofleamington wrote:I'd strongly suggest that you go to a decent MOT station instead!!
I would certainly never use a garage again that couldn't spot a worn trunnion - as you've now realised, that's rather safety critical.

ABSOLUTLEY .. I once had an MOT done, and then three months later had occasion to pull the eyebolt out of the chassis leg .. when I did half of the chassis leg came with it!

On later inspection (hours later I might add) by a PROPER mot station it was found that there were THREE separate failures due to rot ... and I'd been driving that bucket of rust for three months not knowing a thing about it!

If anyone is in the Preston area and wants an MOT man who will fail you on ANYTHING he can find (and believe me if it is not quite right, he will find it) then I would reccomend Barker's on Ord Rd

Admittedly after he failed masie for the third time I took her to my usual garage who is a bit more lax, however before I actually put her on the road for real (she's currently just sat outside the house so that I can work on her, but for that she needs tax, which my local plastic policeman kindly reminded me about), then I will take her back to Mr Barker and have him do his worst

A good MOT testing station is a must. The above two examples are scarey. For Central Scotland I found RCA MOT in Stoneyburn to be top notch. One of the mechanics used to build Moggies for a living at the factory so he gets the MOT job. Mind you, he couldn't remember where the bonnet release was on my first visit 5 years ago

Event though the emissions test is not required for Moggys, they give me a print out anyway, as they know I like to keep an eye on the engine health. Plus they only take thirty quid...