Morris Minor Owners Club

Hey, I've bought the red mog from rod and having fun. My immediate concern though is fitting seatbelts. I have spent the last couple of weeks reading through as many of the threads on here to book up a bit but cant find much on fitting seatbelts. Who has fitted 3 points to their 2 door saloon? Where do the mounting points go?

Is there an easier way to secure seatbelt/harness? What about bucket seats with built in harnesses? anyone have any knowledge on what buckets seats are best?

Sorry about all the questions... expect many more in the coming weeks!

And a quick aside, what books are recommended? (It's a 58 minor but a 1275 engine and very few original parts on it.)

One last thing, the exhaust on it is very loud, although it does great it is parked in a garage and must be driven under the neighbours house to get there so limits hours of the day we can socially move it. My dad (who has decades of experience with the 1275 engine and mini's) recommends the RC40 mini exhaust, does anyone know where I'd be able to get hold of one?

(thanks!)

right, now i can't overly help you with much, but if you look on the mini sites, (minisport and minispares) they should have an RC40 exhaust that you can adapt. Speak to Matt on here as he has the set up i believe.
the exhaust was one of the things i liked about that car, but yes, noise is prohibitive!
when are we going out for a drive then? you going to join sadmog with me? we could go together! its on thursdays at 8ish in the southampton (boo hiss!) areas...give me a PM if you are interested.

The first book you need is a workshop manual although if it is non standard I expect there are going to be a lot of questions asked.
Pre 1965 the car doesn't need seat belts but I expect you will want to fit them.
The problem with 2 doors is that there is no strong enough place to bolt the shoulder level mounting so I would not recommend inertia belts. (I expect a lot of people will disagree with me). The reel of an inertia belt needs to be positioned so that it has a straight and smooth run or it will not lock up when required (part of the MOT).
If you use static belts then the top mounting should be under the rear side window, a third to half way along. There is a chromed triangular bracket available for this and extra strengthening can be welded into the rail. The bottom mounting should have a bolt welded into the sill at the bottom of th B post. The buckle strap can be mounted on the propshaft tunnel behind the seat, again with additional strengthening.
The seatbelt clip can be hung on a hook near the top of the B post.
Maybe someone else can advise on the fitting of seat mounted belts.

I've just removed the drivers inertia seat belt reel from the sill (to paint the area) of my 57 - guess what - the 'reputable garage' just put a nut on the inside of the sill (without welding or reinforcing) when they were fitting them - must have been when they were replacing the sill sections. Now, I'll have to fit properly - retrieve nut, then reinforce the mounting point. Not too difficult, but makes you wonder.
Incidentally, it is fitted with brackets at the window area to raise the height of the top mounting (about 4 inches) - surprisingly seems to work just fine - came from ESM I think.
I'll have to check all the other mounts when I can be bothered.

Pete

The inner sills are fitted with re inforcing plates and welded nuts and i did add a stregthening plate to the tunnel for the seat mountings that may surfice for the clasp. Think i used 18 swg.

The exaust does wake a few people,have you looked at the aftermarket exausts from the specialists?

Sounds like your enjoying it anyway. I'll send you a PM with specs soon as i get five mins.

Rod

Thanks a lot Rod, I really love everything about it. (Already finding myself getting in a terrible mood with the birds and getting irate with people getting too close! hehe).

I cant believe how fast it wants to go, it really feels uncomfortable when going slow, hehe.

If you want to tame it a little at slow speads then a single carb is prob the way to go. I found it lost that sorta eagerness though.
Im missing the silly little grin i used to get from it!!

Definitely recommend talking to Matt about the RC40. The way he's fitted it, looks almost made for the job! Surprisingly cheap new, or there's always one or two on Ebay!

It really isn't like me to enjoy speed but I'm definitely not going to change it much. I love the eagerness, it really feels like it wills you to go faster, I've had a non stop grin on my face since friday!

what books are recommended? (It's a 58 minor but a 1275 engine and very few original parts on it.)

Depends just get the manual from the doner car either an MG Midget or Marina thats a useful starting point.

Bout time there was a pic of it with them there dirty things?