Morris Minor Owners Club

hi i have just bought myself my fist minor its a 4 door 1955 saloon 948cc, i bought it as i loved the look of it and admired the fact it was still going!, reading the history i saw why! total bare metal rebuild in 93, good stuff, its starting to get a bit ropy but have started the resto!! i was needing advice on how to get it going a bit better and handle a lot better! is there any good/cheaper alternatives to coil spring coversions sus wise and can i change gear ratios ect or would it be better to just upgade to 1100 or 1275. any advice on handling upgrades making it quicker generally making it more everyday friendly ect would be apprciated, and anyone in east devon cullumpton area with any mechanical?morris knowhow up for helping 4 a bit of cash let me kno, im good at bits but no mechanic! thanks.

The limiting factor is usually the ancient/narrow tyres. So - better wheels tyres are a very good idea........ Dampers can be drained of horrible old oil - and refilled with new/more viscose oil for a good improvement for little cash. Brakes - if original will need urgent upgrading to at least the later 8" front drums........ Engine - first find out if it is in good condition, Improvements will cost money - how much do have in the budget?

It's a '55 Minor... to be honest i'd enjoy it in it's period guise. I find my 7" drums ample to stop my mog, provided they are kept in tip top condition and the pedal is hard and not spongy. Just drive it and wave back at everyone.

gearing can be changed by swapping differentials in the back axle. i'm not sure what ratio will be in your car. It may have been changed to a 948 one when the engine was done.

you will find that every thing is a comprimise. changing diffs trades off acceleration against top speed.

putting thicker oil in the dampers will make it handle better, trading off some comfort.

improving the brakes is one of the few things that has no downside, just the cost of converting.

you can get more power, by various means, normally at the cost of being louder, or less economical (or both!).

A 948 in good condition will easily keep up with modern traffic at the legal speeds,If you want to fly about beating up boy racers in fiestas and saxos,Sell the minor and buy a bigger classic,jag scimitar jenson etc.Handling can be vastly improved by poly bushing the suspension,My 55 with 948 and polybushed suspension,handles better then my friends mgb, on twisty roads I leave him for dead.

If you want to fly about beating up boy racers in fiestas and saxos,Sell the minor and buy a bigger classic,jag scimitar jenson etc

Not nearly as much fun. I used to whip the odd 1.0 corsa in mine (admittedly 1275) and it was hilarious. Plus going sideways in a moggy is just about the funniest thing in the world ever.

I'd replace all the bushes and maybe look at simple carb/head/exhaust mods if I were you.
You dont want it handling like a modern car, a bit of scary body roll in the corners is half the fun. To much 'improvement' and you're in danger of loosing some of the cars character.