Daisy finally arrives in Hong Kong

[swithland]

Picked up Daisy from the docks in Hong Kong yesterday morning. No damage, but an oil pipe had become disconnected from the pressure guage behind the dash and when I cranked her up, a litre of oil drained down my jeans, into my trainers and over the drivers side carpet........haha, trainers are wrecked, as are the carpets, but I can buy new carpets, new trainers and a 10 pence clip to make sure that bloody pipe doesnt come off again !!

Her indoors made a video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7NRlhsejBo

[sgray]

Excellent video

[bmcecosse]

How on earth could an oil pipe come off 'in transit' ! Still - could have been much worse!! I thought it would have had to be shipped 'dry' ie no petrol in the tank ?

[swithland]

I think it must have been really hot inside the container. But, I confess that I was in a bit of a rush to get the car shipped and in the rush putting the dash clocks together broke the flexible plastic oil pressure pipe. I joined it together again with a section of washer pipe that slipped tightly over the top of the oil pressure pipe. I thought that it was tight enough to do a satisfactory job, but clearly I was very very mistaken.....also, I was surprised that so much oil came out. I would not have thought there should be any oil pumped out through the oil pressure guage pipe.....

So im going to order some new carpets, and a new oil pressure pipe and fittings ( dont want that happening again in a hurry ).

I tried to wash the carpets last night, but no matter what I used, I could not get the oil out. My jeans boil washed up a treat, but for some reason the carpet does not want to part company with the oil !!

[bmcecosse]

Great video - was the trailer pre-arranged, or was that after the oil pipe incident?

[swithland]

The trailer was pre-arranged. In Hong Kong, you cant drive the car away from the docks because it must first be MOT'd then registered. I did consider just driving it home from the docks anyway but its just as well I didnt, because as I was leaving the freight terminal, a Policeman on a motorcycle came onto the roundabout right in front of me.

Funny thing though...as I was driving to the docks, I stopped on the side of the road and a police motorcyclist stopped alongside me. It was a no stopping zone and I thought I would get a ticket. What a shock when the policeman took off his helmet to reveal that he was British !! I was completely shocked and lost for words when he asked "are you lost sir".....then he said " dont worry if you are lost.....so are you lost ?"....I said yes, but my wife is being given directions over the phone to the freight terminal. The Policeman let me off the hook and drove away. Ive never seen a British policeman on a motorbike before in Hong Kong. In 16 years, Ive only seen one at a police station.

Just as well I didnt drive the acr home otherwise I would have been in serious trouble.

When I got home, a neighbour came out and admired the car. He asked me to take him for a spin around town. I said I couldnt because its not yet registered...to my amazement he said...."dont worry, im a barrister.....if you get pulled up....I will defend you in court" !! That was so funny. I cant imagine a Chinese Judge finding it amusing pleaing not guilty to driving in Hong Kong in a Morris Minor with British number plates and a British road tax disc in the window ( which still has three months to go ).

[irmscher]

great video

[Jonah681]

Fantastic car, great video. You'll certainly turn a few heads pottering around Hong Kong.

Bet you have the top down a few more times out there than back in Blighty!

One question - when you come back, can you build my daughter one?

[Kevin]

Excellent video and I hope you plenty of pleasure from Daisy over there

[swithland]

Hi Jonah & Kevin

Thanks for your kind regards. Yes, I cant wait to get the registration formalities out of the way, fit the new plates and take her out on the road.

On old Chinese gentleman and his wife stopped and told me that they had a Morris Minor in the 1960's in Hong Kong. The old chap sold it for the equivalent of 40 pounds back then. Aparently all the driving schools in Hong Kong used Morris Minors back in the 1950's and 1960's, yet none have survived. Thats fairly typical of Hong Kong.....out with the old and in with the new.

Ive got a completely dilapidated 1955 Split Screen Traveller back in the UK. Would love to get started on it, but I just dont have the time these days. Knowing how long it took to restore Daisy, I think its going to be many years before I muster the courage to start another project !!

Charles

[Kevin]

Ive got a completely dilapidated 1955 Split Screen Traveller back in the UK. Would love to get started on it, but I just dont have the time these days. Knowing how long it took to restore Daisy, I think its going to be many years before I muster the courage to start another project !!

Charles

Hi Charles well as you are living in Hong Kong I think you are probably right that it will take some years before starting another project.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

You certainly looked chuffed in the video, happy motoring

[fussyoldfart]

I think it must have been really hot inside the container. But, I confess that I was in a bit of a rush to get the car shipped and in the rush putting the dash clocks together broke the flexible plastic oil pressure pipe. I joined it together again with a section of washer pipe that slipped tightly over the top of the oil pressure pipe. I thought that it was tight enough to do a satisfactory job, but clearly I was very very mistaken.....also, I was surprised that so much oil came out. I would not have thought there should be any oil pumped out through the oil pressure guage pipe.....

So im going to order some new carpets, and a new oil pressure pipe and fittings ( dont want that happening again in a hurry ).

I tried to wash the carpets last night, but no matter what I used, I could not get the oil out. My jeans boil washed up a treat, but for some reason the carpet does not want to part company with the oil !!

I too have had that pipe break and fill the footwell with oil. I really don't think you should rely on plastic tubing to carry up to 60 PSI of oil pressure. My 1950 Series MM has a fine copper tube to do that job. When I repaired the line I made a small modification by using a union where it goes through the bulkhead in such a way that there is a fitting on either side but the tube no longer relies on a grommet to avoid chafing.

That's a great video, I wish I'd done that when I brought Millicent home.

Darrell

[swithland]

Hi Darrell

I didnt realise there was that much pressure. Ive ordered a new heavy duty plastic pipe from ESM that comes with metal fittings at each end, but looking around I have not been able to find a copper pipe version. It would have been nice if I could have used copper as it would have looked far more authentic, especially all polished up !

Cheers
Charles

[ASL642]

Don't know whether you can get it in HK, but have you tried Vanish Carpet Shampoo? I have used it and it has got rid of oil and rust marks (left from the seats legs)

[d_harris]

Your seats leave oil trails? Something very wrong there Lou.......

[Kevin]

I have not been able to find a copper pipe version

Here are some options

http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/ht ... lines.html

http://www.stevsonmotors.co.uk/oilpress ... &hoses.htm

http://www.jonspeedracing.co.uk/index.p ... 0&cID=2077

[swithland]

Hi Kevin

The Speedograph one looks just the job even though a little expensive !! 25 pounds delivered to Hong Kong !! I think I will order one as a christmas present to myself.....well thats my excuse anyway ;-)

Thanks for the links. These little details make a big difference to the overall look of the car.

Charles

[swithland]

Don't know whether you can get it in HK, but have you tried Vanish Carpet Shampoo? I have used it and it has got rid of oil and rust marks (left from the seats legs)

Hi Lou. Not seen it over here. I tried spraying with very hot water first, then rubbed in washing power and then washing up liquid. Nothing worked. By the time I had given them a full bath ( and greased up the whole bath tub......to the joy of her indoors....) the carpets were looking very worn around the edges. So ive dumped them in the bin and am waiting for new ones. This time, ive ordered black carpets and to match ... some black draught rubbers for around the door frames.

Im fitting a proper ratio diff tomorrow ( 4.22 )..... as its got the wrong one which makes the engine scream at 40 mph ! Ive been told by the MOT people that ive got to put some stickers around the speedo to show the correct speed in KPH as the speed signs here are in KPH not MPH.

ALl good fun !

[tonup]

nice looking little car.
the oil pipe is available in copper, just go to your local car parts place and buy a metre or so of the correct size copper tube, get a couple of olives (little brass things that slide over the line after slipping the nuts on first and get clamped up when the nuts are tightened) you may have to shop around a specialist copper pipe shop etc for the olives and fit it in. I had mine chromed to look good. if the pipe is hard to get also try refrigeration shops they use copper in their fridges.
However the plastic is designed to handle the high pressure I don't think you need to fret about it, and copper is not invulnerable, it goes hard and brittle and fatigue cracks. Which reminds me. if you do go copper always bend a couple of full circles at each end, wind arouind a broom handle or something like that. This allows the copper to 'spring' and reduces the fatigue aspect. As a ponder, maybe stainless steel would be available also. no need to chrome.