Newbie owner

Post by **toryradio** » Thu May 12, 2011 7:01 pm

This will undoubtedly get the award for the most ridiculous post ever...... I have just bought my father in-laws Morris Minor 1000. He very unexpectedly passed away, and I thought it a nice idea for my wife to buy it and keep it in the family.

I am a complete novice with regards mechanics and indeed doing up cars, but what better way for me to spend my free time.

The car is in fairly good nick for something 40 years old. He didn't own it long, but fitted a brand new exhaust for example.

Already I can see some issues which I would like to have a go at improving - for example. There are areas of rust between the rear left wing and the main body of the car, and around the front right hand headlight.

I have filler, I have paint and the tools - so on this first issue - do the front or rear wings come off?

Can you get touch up blue trafalgar paint. I have an aerosol, but I'm not looking for a show winning car, just one that can withstand the rain and not rust away.

Then there is the steering wheel badge which has come off - the horn seems to be operated now by a separate switch. Can you get a new centre steering wheel badge easily enough?

What issues should I look out for?

Come on people - I know you will be full of advice, and I'm happy to receive it.

Post by **Budgie** » Thu May 12, 2011 7:10 pm

firstly welcome to the fold,the beauty of a minor is thats its a bit like a mechano set,most things bolt on and off which includes both front and rear wings there will be a plethro of people/knowledge heading your way so sit back and wait.Parts are cheap there easy to work on with little knowledge and a bit/lot of help from this forum and of course a must a Haynes manual you,l soon have your minor gleaming and purring like she should over to the experts......

p.s. nothing is a ridiculus question on this forum i,ve asked a few myself oh i,ve just contradicted myself

Post by **chrisryder** » Thu May 12, 2011 7:13 pm

all four wings SHOULD unbolt. but you often find they've been welded on during previous 'restoration'. fronts and rears alike are held on by 8 (if i recall) bolts each.

most morris minor parts suppliers can supply trafalgar blue paint, failing that you can head to a local automotive paint suppliers and ask for them to mix some up. or even better, take the glovebox lid or something the right colour for them to match it to.

if your steering wheel is a two spoke affair (1963ish onwards), you can get new horn pushes (the centre badge) or put a post in the 'wanted' section on here. if it's an earlier 3 spoke wheel, take a picture of it to put in your 'wanted' post as there were lots of different 3 spoked wheels!

there are lots of suppliers for minor parts, and there is always the wanted section on here. any other questions you have may have already been covered in the past, so don't forget the 'search' box at the top right to do a bit of background reading! anything else, just ask!

Post by **toryradio** » Thu May 12, 2011 7:15 pm

Very helpful.... I will have to take a few pics and get them online shortly. Suspect I will be asking loads of "dumb" questions for a while.

Post by **toryradio** » Thu May 12, 2011 7:31 pm

Here is the wing next to the petrol cap for example

Post by **Budgie** » Thu May 12, 2011 7:54 pm

as i said no such thing as a dumb question and a picture paints a thousand words at least you can post pics i still havn,t figured it out how "dumb "is that

Post by **beero** » Thu May 12, 2011 11:16 pm

Welcome to the forum. I am afraid that bit of rust in your photo is liable to be a welding job once you take the wing off, not something you can fix with filler. Don't let me put you off though, everything is fixable on Minors. [frame]

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Post by **toryradio** » Thu May 12, 2011 11:20 pm

Assume that isn't something you just take down to the local garage to do mind you.....

Post by **ASL642** » Fri May 13, 2011 8:09 am

Hi - if you fill in your location (under your name on the right) we can point you in the direction of a location branch (we have branches all over the country). Then a local member may be able to suggest a minor friendly garage or a local welder to help. If you choose to become a member of the MMOC you will receive our bi-monthly mag which has adverts for all the morris suppliers and also a diary of rallies/meets, plus a section on general routine maintenance which you might find interesting. You can even join online!

Post by **toryradio** » Fri May 13, 2011 9:49 am

Will definitely join.. my ideal is to own a Morris van.. shhhh don't tell the wife.

Post by **ASL642** » Fri May 13, 2011 11:01 am

Yep just wait. It's an addictive hobby. One minute you've got one and the next you've got 4!

Post by **toryradio** » Fri May 13, 2011 11:07 am

Just the one would do.. a nice van to do up, so it can be used as a gardeners van... hopefully green.. pure bliss.

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