Morris Minor Owners Club

So I tried to remove my headlining following the instructions in minor matters, I musts say it couldn't of gone worse, All I have ended up with is a broken piece of plywood and a bunch of bent metal bars ( my fault I lost my temper).

What should I do ? I fear the bars can't be saved and the plywood certainly needs some work

Kick the hub caps and go for a pint.
Why do you think I have not changed my Traveller head lining?

Losing your temper is rarely, if ever, the answer to anything.
This can be sorted out, you might have done something that couldn't be.

Yes, I think that's the first rule of owning a classic car: when you get frustrated while working on it, put down the tools and calm down for a while, then go back to it. Not only can working hotheaded damage your car -- it can damage you.

Now that that's out of the way, I just took my headlining out; if you'd like, I'll measure my wooden former and make you a bitmap diagram from which you could make a template. Looking through Bull Motif's online shop, it seems that the rails aren't available for replacement, but considering it's metal, you may be able to unbend them carefully and use them again; I can take measurements there too to help you in unbending the proper way.

Yeah I realise I shouldn't of lost my temper but it is easily done .

A couple of years back my dad broke a 4 door saloon, luckily he kept the headlining bars, so I think I'll be using them.

Don't you love it when nothing goes to plan

When it gets too much. Stop and go and have a coffee/tea. It's a lot cheaper than having to buy new parts!

I find a compost heap with a piece of carpet on top is very useful in such situations. It 'gives' in a very satisfying way when jumped upon or struck violently with a variety of firm objects and the sound given off can be very apealing too.

PS. please cheak for snoozing wildlife first.

The headlining on my series 2 needs doing. I saw the instructions in Minor Matters and decided that, as yet, a scruffy headlining is not an MOT failure so I shall leave it alone for the foreseeable future: at least until it is stripped down for a respray. Anyway, it adds character

Agreed it's a bit of a pig of a job. The headlining in a Ser II is a cardboard kind of thing |(from memory). This is no longer available so we replaced our '56 with the headlining available for the 1000. When you do do it don't throw away the wires as you can't get these new!

That's useful to know, thanks. Mine is also a 1956, and I have wondered if there might be some small detail that would differentiate it from other models or whether some might be more transferable despite later changes. That makes me feel more confident...but I think I might still leave it for now...

You need a good dry warm day, lots of coffee/tea breaks, and patience, patience...... It's not hard but fiddley.

Lots of tea: I like that. The Haines manual doesn't tell me at any point 'now walk away and make some tea'. In fact nowhere does it say, as far as I know that 'this won't be easy'. More likely 'now remove the flange situated under...(insert almost any major part)' but without telling you what body contortions to get into, or just how many pairs of hands, bent screwdrivers, or stillsons you will need.

Perhaps we need a guide on the 'Tea Drinkers Manual for the Morris Minor - a step by step guide for when to stop and make a brew while repairing your moggie'.

I think the worst bit is removing the board and clips from behind the sunvisors. Once this is done you can relax a bit! or as Petee says if it gets too much go for a bounce on the compost heap personally I prefer a coffee (better smelling as well! ):lol:

Just for giggles, how exactly DO you get the clips out? I tried the good Mr Hurst's advice with the bent-up putty knife, and (perhaps I didn't understand his instructions) that failed miserably. The wooden former came out, but the clips remain...

What excellent adivce from Peetee and ASL 642! Keep taking tea breaks (have to say disagree with the idea of coffee being better though!) and when all else fails resort to the compost heap safe punch bag!

Hope you sort your headlining soon youngcamper - when you've finished do you fancy having a go at our old Volvo 740 estate's extremely saggy/torn mess of a headlining?!!

If you want it in a big heap on the floor I am willing to help .

Seriously I hope it gets sorted soon, my dad has some spare bars stashed somewhere and I am planning to make the wooden front piece again, I don't have to do any of this until its re-sprayed though

Cheers,

Don't go believing everything it says in the Haynes manual, or any other book for that matter.
Once things are broken they tend to stay like it, and cause even worse problems, this doesn't only apply to classic cars either.

Perhaps we need a guide on the 'Tea Drinkers Manual for the Morris Minor - a step by step guide for when to stop and make a brew while repairing your moggie'. [/quote]
Good thinking, it would out sell "Technical Tips"

I made carefull note where the clips where and drilled holes in the front rail at that point so that I could push a blunt nail up and unclip them easily, I expect you will need to remove and refit it several times before you get it just right. The holes were behind the sunvisors as I recall and therefore not visible.

Hi

Heres a diagram of how to disconnect the front headlining and some pics of the clips and ply rail etc.

The headlining needs to be undone and the tension wires slackened before you push it forward.

I hate to see these broken but it is very frustrating until you find just how easy it is to do properly!




















Hope these help someone

Taupe