Morris Minor Owners Club

Well, I have hit a wall in trying to rebuild my Morris front end. I can't get everything to fit! I had to get a new outer grille panel, grille and all the chrome fittings for the outside, due to stuck screws and chronic rust and misalignment and stuff...
The new grille panel doesn't align- or at least, not in terms of the holes along the top. The new chrome bar is even worse- the studs a moulded on, and not unscrewable unlike the original, and they do not fit either into the new outer panel or the (original) inner panel underneath! All very irritating.
I don't know whether this is a common experience with repro chrome and pattern panels?.. The studs are out from the holes by about 3mm, enough that they'll never fit in a million years... It's out with the metal drill tomorrow!

Yep this is the way with most parts nowadays ( no I'm not old and grey, well not old) . Just oversize the existing hole's and use plenty of grease on the back of the chrome. Expect the grill surround to last no more than 6 months(if you are lucky) they are utter dross.
I'll start a new topic /poll tonight asking for more instances of customer disenchantment with specific spares.

this does seem to be the way its going

i think the answer is to refurb any panels you have, as it may be better than repro

i scour ebay for original unused or used parts

but the more that complain to suppliers i think will have no effect, so they may in the end not stock these parts, and then we have nothing.

so what is the answer, try and remanufacture parts here, but as been said before it is not viable for companies to do this.

i for one will not pay these top prices for parts that are crap
i will pay top price for parts that will fit and last

or do we just forget about restoring these if parts are that bad.

Little tip regarding the grill surround chrome trim. As people have noticed the quality is pants, the chrome falls off after a few months and it's not exactly cheap at £26 either.

Get yourself down to Halfords or other motor factors, and get some Scotch 8mm sticky backed plastic chrome. £10 gets you 5 metres and it is flexible enough to go round the grill panel in one piece, plus it doesn't peel off flake or go nasty.

sticky backed plastic chrome

Thats the spirit - a Blue Peter Mod

Maybe you should suggest your tip to the chrome companies MT.

grill surround chrome trim

I should be so lucky! The top strip that holds the panel on is chrome, but the surround is dull steel or whatever metal they use underneath... No shine at all! I thought that was wrong.

Get yourself down to Halfords

3000 miles...
But joking apart, I like that idea. I think I'll try it!

do they do a stainless one i had a new one fitted last year a lot of the chrome has flaked off and has revilled white plastic rubbish

Afraid not, our chrome on alloy lasted less than a month trouble is even if its replaced under warranty we still have a 3 hour job to strip out and re fit at our cost.
Don't be surprised to see bodyshops asking you to supply parts from now on, this way they are exempt from this type of warranty work, the cost must then be borne by the customer, lets see that £35 x 3 hours plus vat, thats £141.75 for a £30 part,

Mine came unchromed as new- it's some dull grey alloy. Not stainless though...

It might polish up. The older surrounds were just polished aluminum,so you might be in luck

Anyone thought of trying a 'chrome' paint?

Above shows the plastic chrome grill strip by Scotch.

I see... That's actually very convincing! I think I'll give it a go.

Anyone thought of trying a 'chrome' paint?

The previous bodger of my car... Terrible stuff. It doesn't look anything like chrome when it's done... You don't get the nice "mirror finish", just a sort of metallic grey matt! The old grill trim was all done like that, as is my rear bumper trim... When I get round to it the whole disgusting lot is coming off!

The older surrounds were just polished aluminum,so you might be in luck

This might just be alum. It's very light, and actually it's about the right colour... I hadn't thought of that! I certainly hope I'm in luck...

Well there are some that look good -



http://www.chromepaint.com/department/chrome_paint/

I'd give it a go if i could afford it

Well there are some that look good -

Bloomin' eck. If that's the size of the bonnet badge, it must be one big Moggy

Kew errrr, thanks very much for that link Kevin, best start saving, must say that velvet finish could have some great applications, nice !!!

Its got a good rep that stuff Jonno, daresay you should be able to get a couple of samples from them FOC !
I'm quite interested in the black chrome one as that migth be a better look than teh complete dechrome i'd considered.

Just figure if it works - youve done the prep properly and you give it the right laquer youd be far better off than a crappy chrome bit that rusts in 3 months.

Ive been looking at it for a while, was mucking about with a can of alu finishing spray for steelwork, put some on one end of teh knackered front bumbper blade - it looked bloody brilliant compared to the rest and that got the brain ticking away

Yes ,black chrome v.nice, I doubt the free samples ,but it will not stop me from asking

I love black chrome! if that stuff is good might be real worth it than the rubbish repro stuff we get I think