Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello I brought a new ( new give or take 60 years !!) Morris 1000 and I was wondering what if anything I can do to help her start better as its bit difficult to get her going any help greatly apretiated

welcome.

A good start ( ;) ) with any new car is a thouough service, replacing all the consumables (oil, filter, plugs, leads, air filter, dizzy car, rotor arm, condenser, points) and to make sure that all the adjustments are right (timing and valve gaps).

Once all this is done, you will hopefully be running better, if not it should make things easier to diagnose.

A clean engine is always easier to work on, look out for a product called "GUNK" or "JIZER" which you brush on and scrub with a paint brush. When you hose if off everything should be oil free

have you got any pics?

Thanks very much for your very speedy response cheers

I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow if the weather is not to bad

Apart from the tune up, you could check/clean all major battery and earth connections and try a new battery if the existing one is getting on.

treat the underbody to stop rot

As you are new to the world of Morris Minors and their idiosyncrasies, are you using the choke control correctly for cold starts?

Yes my father had one for several years so he told me how to use the choke and some of the idiosyncrasies (like the crude but effective window wedge )

Crude never but effective for demisting windscreen. BTW it called a quarterlight

Hi...............First as suggested service all the consumables.

If it's difficult to start because it turns over slowly..........

A common problem is the engine earth lead.......sometimes they look O.K but have a kind of furry covering and are not conducting properly.Replace with a new one(They're only a few quid)and thoroughly scratch the metal they join at both ends to get a good passage of current.The starter moter can get slow when the brushes get worn and the things get clogged with dust.They're easily cleaned up inside .

When you get it running,the best mod by far is Electronic Ignition.........Hall Effect is far superior,Aldon Igniter or one from Accuspark............They're dead easy to fit and last forever.....probably!No moving parts,better spark,no adjustment required.

As for the rest,good quality oil changed very regularally,good leads and plugs and it'll run like clockwork for ages.

Did I mention you need to change the oil frequently........

Happy Moggying...............Dave

Thanks for all your help it was the earth and the throttle cable had stretched so the idle was to low thanks again for all your help

as for upgrades the world is your oyster,electronic ignition is a good start ,then convert to altinator ,halogen headlights,a servo on the brakes or change to a disc brake system.then if you want to spend lots put a 1.3 engine in ,new seats .the list can go on and on ,it also depends how deep your pockets are too.the first thing i did was altinator lights and electronic ignition.i save and do something each year to the car above all use your carand have loads of fun ,thats what it is about .

Just remember - if you upgrade the engine you will need to upgrade the brakes and suspension as well