Morris Minor Owners Club

Got some queries regarding what look to be serious repairs to a Minor that has to be put back on the road (long story) – so “scrap it and get a more solid one” is out of the question.

Not new to old cars and big restos, but totally new to a Minor. Am unsighted on how serious a job the metal fettling will be, incl panel availability and ease of task for an experienced amateur restorer with body experience.

Car is a 2 door UK based (so UK rot) 67 1100. Photos not avail – I work away during the week so verbal description it is:

Bottom of A pillars when viewed from underneath are badly holed/crusty.

Floor forward of the seat mounts is holey on both sides.

Sills are very suspect

Rear chassis leg from the axle back would never pass an MOT on the passenger side.

Door bottoms are in a bad way too.

So my initial questions are:

Cheaper and easier to get good doors instead of repair?
Is there such a thing as floor section replacement panels – whole or half length?
A pillars and sills – replacement whole sill, or are they in 2 or three ( inner/centre and outer) sections?
Are whole chassis leg sections available or is this a cut and plate job?

Thanks in anticipation.

First off, NEVER scrap a Moggie
Secondly all panels are available from the usual specialists who all do mail order. Try ESM, Morris Minor Centre, Bull Motif etc they all have websites if you Google for them....
Floors are easy to replace. Rear chassis leg as you describe it is known as rear spring hanger rear (as opposed to front) also easy to replace. sills can be a bit tricky to replace but full length plating is an option that is just as good if welded correctly. A Pillars are straight forward but it is critical that these are correct to maintain door openings correctly. Panels are available to repair doors but its only a job for experienced welders if its gonna look right in the end. Maybe better to source good secondhand ones...

Thanks for that advice.

Not into "plating" things like sills. I'd rather do the complete item if that's possible - bit like a heater channel on a beetle - they're structual and will only go again elsewhere - rather whip the hole thing out and replace with complete unit (like on a beetle). Is there such a part or is it made up of different panels?

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/ind ... 16cbc7b378

Try this link Dave, as you can see... plenty of panels!!!


Remember to add VAT onto everything!!! ;)

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/practical.htm

This website may help in your quest for successful panel replacement.

Oh and before I forget, anything that says "pattern" I wouldn't recommend myself. But the decision is yours at the end of the day.

DavetheMinor wrote: Is there such a part or is it made up of different panels?

Its made up of different panels but all available - just a bit of a devil to line everything up properly so be careful when cutting out and do one bit at a time....

I'd agree with avoiding pattern parts also - they just don't fit !!!!

""Just How Bad Is This" or "How Easy Is This This"

The answer to add to the excellent advice above is- its normal rust for a project Minor and if you're an experienced restorer, it should present no great problems, other than the usual resto woes of finding yet more rust and lining things up, as said!

Good doors are not east to find - much sought after as you can imagine - so be prepared to repair your own. At least they are not structural !

DavetheMinor wrote:Got some queries regarding what look to be serious repairs to a Minor that has to be put back on the road (long story) – so “scrap it and get a more solid one” is out of the question.

Not new to old cars and big restos, but totally new to a Minor. Am unsighted on how serious a job the metal fettling will be, incl panel availability and ease of task for an experienced amateur restorer with body experience.

Car is a 4 door UK based (so UK rot) 1100. Photos not avail – I work away during the week so verbal description it is:

Bottom of A pillars when viewed from underneath are badly holed/crusty.

Floor forward of the seat mounts is holey on both sides.

Sills are very suspect

Rear chassis leg from the axle back would never pass an MOT on the passenger side.

Door bottoms are in a bad way too.

So my initial questions are:

Cheaper and easier to get good doors instead of repair?
Is there such a thing as floor section replacement panels – whole or half length?
A pillars and sills – replacement whole sill, or are they in 2 or three ( inner/centre and outer) sections?
Are whole chassis leg sections available or is this a cut and plate job?

Thanks in anticipation.

Sounds like the description of my Traveller back in April I bought replacement panels from Bull Motif and found the fit to be quite good. I worked my way through the welding/panel replacement and all the rot spots are gone now.

I went for the door repair panel on my drivers side door. profile of the repair panel was good however just slightly to short in length and I had to re-fold the end flange, welding the panel in was the easy part but takes time to fill the door to the correct shape, luckily I have a friend who is a panel beater and he helped with this part. Just finished the final sanding of the door last night (ready for painting) and I am pleased with the result.

Sounds nearly as bad as my 4-door! (see Order of Restoration) I've just bought 'Morris Minor - restoration, preparation and maintenance' by Jim Tyler, as recommended to me by Bluesman. Excellent book, although there's not much in the way of 4-door specific information, like c-post repair etc. Still, it's a great help. It's out of print but it's quite easy to pick one up if you Google it. Good luck with your restoration.

Dryad wrote:Sounds nearly as bad as my 4-door! (see Order of Restoration) I've just bought 'Morris Minor - restoration, preparation and maintenance' by Jim Tyler, as recommended to me by Bluesman. Excellent book, although there's not much in the way of 4-door specific information, like c-post repair etc. Still, it's a great help. It's out of print but it's quite easy to pick one up if you Google it. Good luck with your restoration.

Good point, I bought that book as well, there is one on ebay just now -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HAYNES-MORRIS-MIN ... dZViewItem

Does that book tell you anything useful - apart from the usual 'blindingly obvious' of most Haynes Manuals ?

I've got the Haynes resto book, but it and I are some miles apart - htis is a team resto - the rest of the team need all the books as thay are willing but not experienced, and I live elsewhere during the week.

Will borrow it for a week.

Thanks for the advice on panels and pattern parts - all too aware of this from other marques, however there are pattern panel makers who make panels better than the originals as well as those who make things which only resemble the original when viewed thru a MIG mask.

Using advice from other parts of this forum, the Minor had a core plug replaced and rad fushed and refilled yesterday. The team had already done points and plugs, control box, battery etc during the week, and had a small test firing.

I am please to report that after a confirmed 5 year lay up (where it managed to lose a core plug!!) the Minor not only ran, but didn't need Easy Start, and ran well. It was driven gently around the yard because brakes are an unknown as yet. All went well. fuel hose, top and bottom hose and bypass hose are on order, they are either pin holed or suspect.

Thanks for your help. Like Arnie says....... I'll be back.

Wise move to renew all hoses (and other rubber parts such as fan belt and brake flexis) - as they are bound to let you down otherwise.

Surely renewing all bits like that goes without saying. I would never considering re-using stuff like that!