Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi folks!

After visiting this excellent forum a few times in recent months, I thought I’d better raise my head and tools above the parapet and mentioned my own project.

For the last ten years I’ve enjoyed driving and working on my Rover P4, although for almost as long I've been attracted to the challenge of a full classic car rebuild, after getting bored with shorter but time-pressurised projects on modern cars.

Circumstances made a classic car project possible almost two years ago, so I scoured the adverts. Although an early, ‘Cyclops’ Rover P4 attracted me, my ‘nigel farage’ would realistically hold only the car with no room left for tools and working space. A Morris Traveller always appealed, and I was drawn to one advertised on the ‘Bay and located about fifteen miles away.

The following pictures show Maurice the Morris in his unlovely state on the drive:
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... deview.jpg
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... ntview.jpg
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... arview.jpg

Ignore the smart wings – they’re GRP. Beneath them, both inner wings were grotty in the extreme and needed to be replaced. As did the floors, sills, middle cross member, cross member under the radiator, chassis legs and one kidney panel. The boot floor looked sound, then I realised that the underneath was an aluminium cover, beneath which lurked the original steel panel daubed with MoT tester yellow marks. How do some folk get away with it?

Photos of the part welded shell:
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... member.jpg
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... oorNSF.jpg
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... emoved.jpg
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... tfloor.jpg
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... erwing.jpg

The previous owner had begun in dismantling, but soon given up. Thankfully not before he bought complete floors, sills, and a Steve Foreman wood kit. Essential when you look at the powdery old frame:
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... rframe.jpg
After rotting and then spending 18 years under cover, boy did it ignite quickly from grinder sparks, let alone welding torch heat.

I’m no expert at forming panels, and have bought ready formed sections from Bull Motif, other than the bits included in the purchase. I made an exception when replacing the corroded aluminium side panels, which are easy to cut from sheet aluminium and about a quarter of the price of buying ready made:
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... panels.jpg

These photos were taken a few months ago, and since then I’ve painted the shell indoors and the panels outdoors. Thankfully Almond Green overspray doesn’t look too bad on the lawn, until the grass turns yellow.
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... anels1.jpg
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... lfront.jpg

This week I’ve reached the rewarding stage of buffing up the whole shooting match, and I’m now looking forward to the nuts & bolts part of the project. Wonder if I’ll understand the scribbled and shorthand notes I made whilst dismantling? At least if I can’t find the ashtray, the Rover’s identical part will fit.

First things first though, and the plan is to rebuild the suspension next, followed by brakes and then a new wiring loom.

At the NEC Classic Motor Show I found suitable green vinyl, to make new rear inner trim panels: http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... imsnew.jpg
to replace these warped and ripped ones:
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a212/ ... imsold.jpg

Today the latest bag of bits has arrived from Bull Motif. Must say that a less than ‘clement’ weather forecast for the Bank Holiday weekend is actually welcome.

What a nice job!

You have made it look very simple, sign of real expertise!

Lovely to see someone giving a bit of TLC to a sad shell of a car.

I didn't realise you could buy the vinyl and I am encouraged by seeing someone respray in their garden. I don't have the luxury of a garage so i will certainly have a go myself when the time comes.

Looks to me that you have tackled one hell of a project! another one saved! congratulations and well done.keep us posted!

scotwood59 wrote:Lovely to see someone giving a bit of TLC to a sad shell of a car.

I didn't realise you could buy the vinyl and I am encouraged by seeing someone respray in their garden. I don't have the luxury of a garage so i will certainly have a go myself when the time comes.

The vinyl looks the same as the original from five feet away, although you probably wouldn't use it on a concours car. It's worth taking an small piece from under a seat along to the NEC Show to compare with what's on offer. Thankfully the profiled vinyl on the front door cards on my car are OK, as were the seats other than the driver's seat backrest back. I bought another backrest cover for a nominal amount with a tear on the front, then stitched its back onto my cover after fitting new webbing to the frame. Upholstery was light relief in a warm house when the garage was too cold to work in over winter.

The weather needs to be right for outdoor painting - which it isn't on probably 90% of days. On the day I chose there was no wind to blow muck around, but temperature fluctuations created a challenge. At first it was a bit too cold, paint was slow to dry and 'ran' if I wasn't careful. Then, an hour later, strong sun heated the panels enough for paint to dry too soon and 'orange peel'. At least it's cellulose and the number of coats hid a multitude of sins once rubbed down and polished. The number of individual painted parts seems immense compared to a modern car.

I think you have done a brilliant job a credit to you cant wait to see the finished car