Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello My names Tom I'm 21 and from Co. Durham.

Me and my dad have recently purchased an MOT'd and Taxed 1965 Moggy 4 door saloon. It runs and drives beautifully. However it has been attacked by the dreaded tin worm. The rust is pretty comprhensive. Its attacked the sills one chassis leg needs to be replaced, the crossmember, inner wings, outriggers, wings etc. I've taken it to a local place and they've told me its beyond economic repair and just to sell it on while I can. However me and my dad have grown really attached to it and don't wanna let it go.

Do you people think we're mad? I mean lets face it pretty much every panel it needs is available and reasonabley priced, so there's no reason not to do it. Plus it'll save at least one more minor!! Worked out panels are prolly gunna be Around £600 which is more than I originally spent on the car but I have no idea how much welding will be!!

Anyway here are some pics to see what you think (photo's are from when I put it on ebay on Tuesday in a fit of apathy)












And some of the Grot:










Words of encouragement and advice welcome!! Especially about where the cheapest place to get panels is and also where would do the Welding for a reasonable price in the NE.

Thank You

Tom

Hi and welcome! That really does not look too bad at all. There have been plenty worse Moggies put back on the road.

As you already know, the panels are available and are reasonably priced so why not go for it? Looks like a tidy car and its a 4-door! - always my favourite!

Seriously, why not do the work yourself? MIG welders are cheap and easy to use and the satisfaction you get from putting fresh steel back into a rusty old car is amazing.

Take out the seats and carpets, store them carefully and have a good look at the condition of the floor, chassis rails and the sills. Remove the petrol tank for safety make a start.

Dont lose heart, just concentrate on one part at a time, then move on to the next.

The Minor is the perfect first restoration, go for it.

I'm really scared that we might start this project and then not get finished. My reasoning is that if I pay someone to do it it will actually get done. I have a MIG welder but can't weld. Also how easy is it to cut a chassis leg out and weld a new one in because it definitely needs one......

Its understandably daunting, but its so rewarding to do it yourself. If you do pay someone to do it, Make sure you use someone recommended by another Minor owner, there are some very talented people around. There is a superb welder around here who does excellent work for very fair money but that isnt much use to you in Durham so hopefully there is someone near to you who can suggest a suitable restorer.

If you do decide to do it yourself, there are plenty of night classes about to learn to weld.

Yeah the learning to do it ourselves is certainly appealing at the moment. The light nights are coming as well which is a huge bonus.

Thank you for your words of encouragment. TBH We were both feeling really dispondent about the whole project until I logged on to this forum so thank you greatly StaffsMoggie!!

No problem!

If you get stuck in now you can have it done in time to still enjoy the summer! Ok dont set unrealistic targets, it will get finished when its finished, but once you get cracking you might be surprised at how quickly you make progress.

Enjoy.

Querty, we have a branch (North East) who meet monthly. Why not contact them and go along and ask a few questions of the members. They will be able to recommend a local welder and give you both a bit of help. The person to ring is Sue Cook on 01four29 88one1seven9. Hope this helps. Let us know how you get on.

Always great to have new members, wish u all the luck for your new resto project!

you will learn to use a mig in about two hours,get some bits of scrap sheet steel and practice if you can draw a straight and steady line you will learn to use a mig.Getting someone to rebuild will cost more than the car is worth .Do a panel at a time and keep on the forum,believe me you will be given the right sort of how to do it step by step from members who have done the same job several times.Just decide which part you are going to tackle,and ask how to do it someone will take you step by step through the job. I would start with the panel at the rear of the boot,as a practice first go.It's not to bad a job and if you get it out of line you are not effecting the alignment of the car,Have a go it will change your outlook on life,nothing more satisfying then seeing a nice new panel fitted.Good luck with it.Have a look at the postings by youngun he's just done the same.

Thanks for the ecouragment folks. As I was wandering to work today I was musing and formulating a plan. My idea was to start at the back and work forward, completing stuff as I go......then this was confirmed as a good idea by Kennatt......so suppose there's nothing more to do than take the plunge and order some panels!

Where's the best for fit? I've heard horror stories about badly fitting repo panels

As far as parts are concerned there are loads of suppliers listed in our mag Minor Matters - if you are not already a member of the Club it might be worth joining. A few are : bullmotif.com based in Evesham, Worcs. ESM (morrisminors.com, (East Sussex) and Tom Roy (Cleveland) 01six42 seven23fouroo. They all do mail order and are used regularly by members. Cant list them all here.

Welcome Tom. As has been suggested, contact Sue Cook she'd be only too pleased to help.

Thanks for the help and advie. Just paid my membership so onwards and upwards from here!!

hello there BHC looks honest enough, my brother owns BHC857C so yours must have been registered in brighton like his was.