Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all.

I bought my first Moggie a couple of months ago (in good nick). Since then I've offered a moggie for FREE as it is a MOT failure. It is a 67 2 door saloon in green. It seems rude not to take the kind gent up on his offer as it will at least be good for spares. Then I had a twang of guilt and thought if it can be salvaged then I think it should be.

I got the paperwork from the owner today to help me make up my mind. Looking at the fail sheet for the underside, I think Fred Flintstone was a previous owner. It requires.....
CHASSIS
OSF chassis rotten
NSR floors rotten
NSR sill floor rotten
OS rack gaiter split ????
OS? suspension bolt area creased ??
BRAKES
Knacked !
NS top trunnion play
os top trunnion play and bushes split
NS bottom trunnion play
No OSR foot brake
No OSR hand brake
SEATBELTS
OS floor rotten
These are taken directly from the fail sheet, question marks denote illegable spelling.

I'm not hugely mechanically experienced but am willing to learn. For joe average, what can be done by me reading from a Haynes or other manual? and what needs a mechanic?, and indeed is it worth salvaging? , (I believe everything should be given a second chance)!! The veh failed in 06/02 and has stood ever since.

I understand that a welder is required for the floor or is this likely to be beyond repair.

Advice/comments invited....anyone know a good welder in the leicestershire area. Failing that anyone know a good faith healer !! I'm on a limited budget, soon too be a dad, first child on the way!!

I'll have the car from the gent and make a decision from there I think.

Thanks in anticipation......Funky.

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Funky,

If you have lots of spare time, can weld and can use a spanner, then you might be in for a chance.

Unfortunately with your child on the way, you are not likely to have much spare time!

Farming the jobs out is likely to be far too expensive to make it worth while as you could buy a decent car for far less than the repair bills you are likely to face.

If you REALLY want to save the car then go right ahead, but it will be a costly exercise, if it is a labour of love and money is not really an object then go right ahead!

Minorite are your local speacialists, they are at 71 Uppingham Road, Houghton on the Hill Tel 0116 241 6132 or 9430

Funky,

I hate to be a killjoy but I can't advise doing the car up with fatherhood on the horizon. If you have any cash you can put aside for the car without being pressurised by your other half then do so. If you can put the car somewhere it won't deteriorate further then make it 'your project' in a couple of years time. If not then get rid and spend the money on another when baby becomes child.

If you intend to be an active father rather than someone that shares a house with a baby then time is the biggest sacrifice you will have to make. I was fully prepared for fatherhood but it was still a shock and, to be perfectly honest, I really resent the way it balls up every other plan you have .

But hey, you'll love your kid and the mushy, luvvy bits make up for your free time, in a strange sort of way.

Looking on the bright side, kids love mogs. My three can't wait to jump in the convertible and go for a blat. There's something about the ride quality that will settle them off to sleep too - even at 6 years old
Now there's a thought. Maybe a few years down the line you will want to make it a soft top. Delay the work till then and you can build it in as you go.

kids love mogs

My 2 would agree with that but they now dont wish to actually drive one, but are quite happy with lifts however, but at 23 & 25 I have not had much influence for a long time, and at last the are starting to become financially non dependant (he laughs out loud) by I would not change them for the world unless someone comes up with a good part ex and settles the IOU`s

anyone know a good welder in the leicestershire area.

My advice would be 'don't even think about it'
I fully appreciate the desire to rescue Minors but unless you can DIY the welding it may cost you more money than going and buying a Minor with 12 months MOT.

This sounds similar/worse compared to my green saloon, and due to all the other things that take up my time I'm getting shot of it (and I can DIY weld). If it was my only Minor I would do it, but a half rotten minor isn't a good idea as a second/third car. It never becomes high priority enough to repair and will just sit around rusting.

When the welding has been done, you still have to shell out for the front suspension (£60 per side for the kingpins) plus bushes etc can soon add up to over £150 just to DIY. Then there's the brakes to fix...

If the car has a nice shiny paintjob, you could do the guy a favour and sell it on e-bay for him. That seems to be a good way to get £150 to £300 for rotten Minors.
If the bodywork is very poor, people put them on e-bay without photos and still get £50 or more!

Hence the term 'e-bay scrapper' as a MOT failure car that needs a lot of welding, but still fetches money!

Much as it would be nice to save Minors, this looks like a massive job! I've just had a quote of £600 for 1 inner wing and quarter floor, although I think that's a bit inflated...!

Incidentally, if you want to do DIY, I found the Haynes Manual is good, although the pictures aren't the best quality compared to Haynes Manuals for more modern cars. A book I found incredibly useful, though, is the Haynes Morris Minor Restoration Book (or something like that). There are 2 - one is Haynes, one is Practical Classics. I found the Haynes one to be far superior and got it on eBay for about £15.

But it's cheaper than that new from Amazon.co.uk!

got mine for about £8 from Halford a couple of years ago

Yes, I got both of those from eBay, and the Haynes one is far superior. I have been reading it recently in preparation for my Traveller's resto.........

Doh! he meant one of the other Haynes books

I bought my morrie Haynes for £3.50 from amazon.co.uk (used)