Morris Minor Owners Club

Any recommendations for tool kits, a trolley jack and axle stands? Any must-have tools/equipment?

An angle grinder is going to have to wait, but I'm looking for a kit that will let me deal with simpler things now that Jasper's on the road - like changing the half shaft gaskets. Inevitably I haven't got a huge budget, but looking to get the best possible quality.

Thanks, Claire

Believe me, if you plan to do a lot of the work on your Moggy yourself the tools do add up. You can always hire the tools you don't use often of course. Since buying the Moggy 5 years ago I have bought a load of tools.

Minimum is a decent set of spanners, ring at one end, open ended at the other. Decent socket set and a torque wrench. Trolley jack and Axle stands. Cheap tools are false ecconomy, as they break really quick on seized or tight fittings. I use Taskmaster and Britool, a few Draper items as well. Oh and a hammer, the bigger the better

A big box of plasters.

Already discovered that plasters come in handy

I'm sure I'll end up buying more tools and equipment as I go along and hopefully get more confident. At the moment I'm after the basics, like you've listed, Moggy Tech. WRT combination spanners, am I right in thinking I want metric and imperial?

Thnx

You want to get a set of Whitworth sockets and spanners- there is no metric on the Minor. (Unless a past owner has used some). Anything on the body is Whitworth bolt head size- on the engine is AF. You can get reasonable quality "Laser" whitworth sockets on a rail for under £20, can often get whit spanners at autojumbles/ boot fairs.

I never thought I'd say this but the Halfords 'Professional' range of tools are good value for money. They put them on special offer quite often too so I'd wait for then.

can often get whit spanners at autojumbles/ boot fairs.

Absolutely. Autojumbles, car boot sales and steam fairs are the best place to get these, as well as grease guns, screwdrivers and sockets. The last autojumble I went to had a chap selling Elora and Matador socket sets at £5!! Old screwdrivers (50p each) seem to be stronger than new similar priced ones; A pair of mole grips, hide/plastic/brass mallet and a cheap slide hammer set I think are also invaluable. Oh yes, and a can of plus gas

This may be of help
http://www.ukfayres.co.uk/home/

For really long term keeping your Minor on the road, in addition to the grinder, you might want to consider a pair of tin snips, a Mig welder ( and all associated safety equipmen- of course!).

Yep, all in good time - need to get the basics first, then see how broke I am in January (I know, great time to have time off to be able to work on Jasper...).

Ebay looks to have some reasonably priced stuff - time is of the essence as I want to get the half shaft gaskets changed next weekend.

I'd also like to add to that list, from the boot fairs/ autojumbles- get some taps and dies. 2BA tap, 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 BSF taps and dies. Its good to have a big chunky crosshead screw driver for unscrewing brake drum screws and a short chunky, fairly thick flat bladed screwdriver for adjusting the points. A spark plug socket or wrench is vital for any DIY servicing.