Morris Minor Owners Club

Being of the longer legged variety of homo sapiens, I can't get a comfortable driving position because my knees don't fit under the steering wheel, i.e. I have to turn my leg to the side, which aches after a time. I've moved the seat back as far as it goes (rear most bolt holes plus adjustment) but my leg still touches the steering wheel. I don't want to make brackets to move it back any further if I can avoid it (rear leg room is minimal as it is), so my plan is to swap my standard two spoke ~16" version with a smaller steering wheel - 14", 13" or possibly even 12" to give better clearance.

Questions for the encyclopaedia that is the MMOC forum:

1. I ain't small, so have plenty of arm strength but will the reduction in size/leverage make the steering too heavy with a standard rack without power steering?
2. Are there any suitable straight swaps from other cars that would work, e.g. MGB, Spridget, Mini, etc?
3. Will the Morris horn push fit after market steering wheels (I'd like to keep it if I can)?
4. If I get (say) a Mountney/Moto Lita style wheel then will a standard 3/4" bust fit the column?

Any other pointers welcome.

Thanks in anticipation.

Dunno what size you are - but I am 6'2" with size 14 boots - and I have PLENTY of room under the standard wheel - and I don't even think the seat is moved back on the bolt holes. It is however in the rear setting of the standard adjustment on the seat. Change wheel if you like - but I suggest absolute minimum will be 14". It's a huge mistake to fit a 'boy racer' tiny wheel.....

I'm of a similar height and shoe size but I find that I cannot get my legs under the wheel, even with the seat on the rear bolt holes and rearwards maximum adjustment. Length of lower leg seems to be the particular issue:
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... I have to turn my knee out to the side (touching the door) to be able to lift my foot from the throttle to the brake...which gets really uncomfortable after a relatively short time (partially due to a dodgy knee as a consequence of being hit by an uninsured car driver whilst I was riding a motorcycle many years ago...but that's another story ).

Just a thought, I'm assuming that there is no scope to slide the column up a smidge or extending it to lift the steering wheel up(??); effectively a reach adjustment.

I've got a Mountney 14 inch wheel on my minor, and even with 185 tyres it's not too arduous to steer. parallel parking in a tight space can be tiring though!

it doesn't take the minor horn push, but mine came with a 'Morris' sticker for the centre. the boss fitted straight onto my steering column, and came with a horn push that requires a wire attaching, and a bullet connector to fit onto the existing wire that goes down the centre of the column.

here's a pic:
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As above, 14" Mountney type wheel should be fine. You need to specify the steering boss for a Minor.

You can fit the Minor horn assembly into the Mountney blanking plate with a bit of cutting and re-wiring.[frame][/frame]

Well, I'm not as tall, or big footed as you guys, but if I rest rested my foot on the floor like in the picture, my leg would touch the steering wheel too.

On a long drive I put my left leg down by the dip switch and let it rest there.

Minors were very popular with the police and they don't tend to be small especially back in the day.

I think van and pickup seats are more upright than saloon ones, maybe these got fitted sometime in the past?

dp and chrisryder, thanks for the info and the pictures, they're really helpful. The Mountney doesn't look anywhere near as dished as the original. Does the mounting boss bring the wheel up higher from the end of the column to compensate or is it just that the photos make it look flatter? BTW, where did you get yours from (I've only looked at the bay or fleas so far)?

MarkyB - I agree that I can rest my left leg out of the way but there is no gap between my right leg and the wheel when my right foot is on the throttle, therefore I have to hold my leg at an angle; the effect is worse when applying the brakes. Perhaps these pictures with my foot on the throttle and my left let tucked out of the way show it better:
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I've never been a lover of dash mounted dials in a Minor, but I must say dp, yours look well thought out and neat.

Looks like non-standard well-padded seats there - mine are standard type - and quite 'low slung' in the base (although it has had new straps fitted) - more or less like a bucket seat. Quite comfy though - I don't get any aches/pains when driving. You could reduce the height of the seat from the floor - by cutting and welding the tubes.... but I'm guessing you may not want to do so on these fancy seats. Maybe pick up a spare standard seat and modify it for a trial?

BMC, the seats are standard frames that have been beautifully upholstered by a local craftsman:
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Whilst they have new webbing, I don't think that they sit significantly higher than a newly upholstered seat witha standard cover...especially with my very well upholstered bulk on them!

I'm not fussed to start cutting them about (nor do I have any skills or facilities for welding) hence the idea to raise the steering wheel.

Still not completely convinced the smaller wheel will work though - due to the reduced dishing it could even be worse(!)

I really do think the problem lies with the seat.....and yes - I can understand not cutting these ones. Hence the idea to find a spare seat and play about with it. Moving the steering column upwards (so it sits more like in a Mini) would not be too difficult - but will require cutting/welding.... My wheel is the steel sprung 'banjo' type - dunno if they have more dish ? I'm sure you can buy a custom 14" wheel at whatever dish you want - but probably not inexpensive. And you will end up sitting with your arms up in the air......

I used to love my little mountney wheel, mine was on 13" iirc.
No problems steering, its super light on a minor anyway - lighter than any other car I've owned!
If you do struggle to turn a smaller wheel I'd suggest theres something wrong with tracking/alignment/tyre pressure even..

les wrote:I've never been a lover of dash mounted dials in a Minor, but I must say dp, yours look well thought out and neat.

Thank you

Since my fire and total rewire, I'm actually trying to incorporate those gauges behind an original panel - the one with the speedo, water and something else that would have been painted gold. Got the gauges out of a Skoda Estelle when there where loads around. It was one of the few cars in the '80s that still had separate gauges.

I picked up the wheel pictured from one of the Land Rover suppliers: Craddocks or Paddocks. They only had that one style but were very cheap. don't know if they still do it.

The Mountney bosses are quite deep so push the wheel forward and do make it higher from the seat base but closer to your chest. I have a non-standard seat set probably further back than standard but also used to have a mountney with standard seat and a bit of wood under the rear so I could see out the window so it should work.

Thanks all for the responses and sorry for not responding sooner ('puter woes )

There's a local vintage car show coming up in a few weeks, think I'll take a squint at others and see if I can blag a try. I'll also look out for a reasnably priced wheel.

No harm trying a smaller wheel - but I can't see how it will help. The seat is the problem.