1964 MINOR TRAVELLER PROJECT! The Manky Moggy!

[Pilkie]

Hi all.
Following on from my last forum entry,see here!
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43729

Have recently purchased a 1964 Morris 1000 traveller that has been locked away in a very dry garage since 1988.
Its remarkably solid,having only 2 small 50p size holes in the main chassis/shells structure,but these are not structural.
Its cosmetically challenged,inside and out and the wood needs a couple of minor repairs.
Mechanically it seems to be ok,bar the usual brake master and pistons seized.
I have just got the engine turning over,and am working my way through the electrics.
Todays target is to have all or most elecs working,and once I have got the fuel pump working,and cleaned out the carb,it will be go for ignition!
My 1st and main target before the resto proper gets underway is to get it through an MOT,and the jobs I will need to do that are;
New steering rack gaiters,new tre rubbers,new o/s top trunnion,get all lighting and wipers working,new tyres,overhaul braking system with new master,hoses,pistons,shoes.

[Pilkie]

Well it started up with no problem and runs!!!
Fuel pump needs an overhaul or replacement,all the electrics work,but the light switch is faulty,and dynamo is very noisey.
Another day of tinkering should sort these problems out,then I can get to work on rebuilding the brakes and o/s top trunnion.
The guy who does my MOT's is a classic car fan,and will pop round after work one eve this week to give it a look over,for anything silly I may have missed,and as long as I can get the brakes sorted,it will be road legal by the weekend.

[margriff]

Looking at your other posts and pics, on other forums, I'm sure this mog will look just as fantastic as all the other cars you've 'done up'. I'm working on my first mog at the moment, had him a month...out and out newbie. Not exactly a resto' job cos he was up and running but getting stuck in with his aesthetics, inside and out. Learning all the time. Great to have people like you inspiring us beginners. Good luck and keep posting those progression pics

[Pilkie]

Its VERY SMOKEY!!
Even though it runs,Mr MOT wouldnt let it pass with a period James Bond smoke screen!
At first I thought it was due to the very hot central heating oil I poured into the bores to help free it off,getting into the exh,and burning off,so I disconnected the exh and its still very smokey!
The compression test was perfect,150 dry and 160-170 on all 4 wet,sounds a bit timing chain slop rattly,but revs smooth and bottom end sounds good,however there is what I would regard as excess crank endfloat,suggesting the thrusts are knackered.
Ive just whipped the head off,and its very oily in there,and there are obvious signs of oil seeping past the valves,on the head chamber,and onto the pistons,suggesting seriously knackered stem seals and or valve guides!
Will strip the head down and see whats what.
Old ring seals are useless and 3 were missing,so will rebuild with new tophat type.
Pistons are +030 small dish and in good condition with very light build up on top.
I've cleaned all piston tops,and then put equal amounts of thin oil,"WD40" into the bores,and 3 have not passed the 1hr leak test,so will drop the sump,pop out the pistons and fit new rings,quick glaze bust,along with looking at the big and main bearings and thrust washers,and timing chain.

If anyone has any useful tips or suggestions,feel free to chip in!
Ive owned,used,repaired,restored,many classics for the last 37yrs,but theres bound to be something about Morris 1000's ive forgotten about!
Hopefully a mini in-situ rebuild will be all it needs,as long as the crank looks good![frame][/frame]

[MarkyB]

The compressions sound pretty good.

thin oil,"WD40"

WD40 is very thin, doesn't it evaporate?
How do the bores look, any sign of cross hatching or a ridge at the top?
Your plan sounds ideal anyway.

[don58van]

Hi Pilkie

It looks like you have a dream barn-find there!

So many turn out to be a complete mess (mine did ).

It looks like the Minor ranks will be joined by a superb restoration.

Cheers
Don

[Pilkie]

Well ive got a replacement engine,that hopefully will be ok.
All the tests I could do on it without starting it proved ok.
The old engine is now ready to come out,and all the bumper and panel nuts and bolts undid without problem.
There are no signs of accident damage or rust to worry about on the front panel,crossmember,inner wings etc!"Very happy"
I will strip any bits I need off the old engine,fit to the replacement and fire it up on the bench for a test run before I put it in.
Radiator looks excellent,and hoses were new,makes me think it was renewed not long before it was parked up and water drained off.
I know the clutch works ok,but have no idea about the state of the gearbox,so until I finish off the brakes,and as its not road legal yet,I can only run it with the rear suspended off the ground!
[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[Pilkie]

It lives!!
After doing a few more checks on the engine I recently bought without hearing it running,I can confirm that compression is 180 on all 4,oil pump and oil pressure ok.
I set tappets,timing,primed carb with fuel,then fired it up on the bench this morning,and it sounds great!
No smoke,no rattles,no rumbles!
A neighbour who used to rebuild Austin/Morris A series and Beetle engines in South Africa came over,had a look and listen and said.
"Theres nowt wrong with that,it sounds sweet,now get it in the car!"
So will refit the clutch,fit the new dynamo,generally get it all ready to put in after lunch.
Time for elevenses first though!!

Once its all in with rad,exh etc fitted,it can be fired up and left to run for longer,allowing me to set things up and get it running as it should.
I know all the electrics on the car work ok,so once ive got hold of a rear brake adjuster,"Anyone got a spare one?" I can then finish setting them up!
Get some new tyres fitted,and give it one final careful check over to make sure ive not missed anything silly,it will then be ready for its 1st MOT since 1987!

[Pilkie]

Engine is now in,and still running ok,but once the water was connected it was found the waterpump gasket was leaking.
On removal the main outlet was also corroded,so am getting a new pump and bypass hose today.
There were bound to be a few niggles,and once this one is sorted,I can fire it up again and let it run up to temp,and get everything set up ready for the road.
Hopefully there wont be any more niggles to sort,but as its just woken up after 25yrs with a new donor heart,and had its other bits tinkered with,once its out on the road and starts to loosen up a bit,there are bound to be a few more to sort out!

[Pilkie]

Got a new water pump and fitted it.
Found the brake pipe from master to front was leaking so got one made up ready to fit.
Found,bought and collected a V nice dark blue interior,2 front seats, rear seat covers,trim panel set,+ carpets!
Also secured a nice set of hubcaps and trims.
Not had time to do anything on it last week,but hope to catch up this week once ive sorted my nephews ball joints and fitted a new radiator to his Mini City,and I need to give it a good check over for any other potential MOT fail points and sort those for him.
[frame][/frame]

[samuria]

keep up the good work .
you will soon hear the drone as you drive her??????

[Pilkie]

Hopefully that wont be the drone of a knackered gearbox or axle!!
Not too sure if its a him or her yet?
My other 2 cars are definitely male though!
I dont name my cars,but this is currently just called the Manky Moggie!!
My 49yr old neighbour is called Morris,and at school there were 2 Morris's in his year!
He was the younger and smaller,so he ended up being called Morris Minor!

[Pilkie]

Engine fitting and setting up all finished and its running sweet!
Lets hope the gearbox and axle are OK??
All the electrics now working to satisfaction for the MOT!
Just got to bleed the brakes if I get enough time this week!
Source a set of new 155 x 14 tyres! "Any ideas anyone for best make and a supplier?"
Then give it the final going over and get it in for its 1st MOT since 1987.
Interior and wheel trims can wait till its passed.
Apart from the obvious mechanical/electrical repairs needed,and new tyres,I am presenting it for MOT as found,with old and new cobwebs,dirt,dust,and other detritus,dog snot/slobber on inner rear windows and all!!
But I may have to clean the front screen and door windows,so I can see where I am going!
He will probably have a heart attack when I turn up in it!!

[Pilkie]

Mr Mankys brakes are now all bled and adjusted,and hopefully working nearly as good as when new!
In the morning,I just have to bolt on the front panel and bumper,then I will give it a really close final inspection,to make sure theres nothing silly ive missed,or any excuse for Mr MOT to fail it.
Am taking wheels to have 4 new tyres fitted tomorrow lunchtime,and then will see if they have a MOT slot available before closing time!
I do hope it doesnt rain!
Its been kept dry for 26yrs,and I dont want all those years of storage dust and cobwebs patina to get washed off!!

[MarkyB]

Get a few coats of lacquer on to waterproof the patina

[Pilkie]

Was thinking that,but it would need at the minimum a scotch padding all over for something for it to key to,and then it would loose its look!
I just wont drive it in the wet,,,,,much!!

[Pilkie]

Right!
Mr Manky is all ready for his appointment with Mr MOT tomorrow at 4pm!
Well he was till a handbrake cable snapped!
I was just giving it a quick test thrash up our road and,,, !
Better now than at the MOT!!
I knew it was a little frayed,but had hoped it would get through the MOT!
Never mind,a quick evening trip over to Mr Eggletons to get a new pair will see it fixed in time for tomorrow.
Meanwhile here is a linky thingy to his beauty shots album on photobucket!
http://s107.photobucket.com/user/PILKIE ... t=3&page=1

[Blades]

Pilkey

Good luck with the MOT, you name for the car is quite apt!

Nick

[Pilkie]

WAHAY!!!
After a 26yr layup,Mr Manky is deemed fit for the road again by a very shocked Mr MOT man!
A few minor advisories as I expected,as he had never done a Morris 1000 before,nor has he ever done a woody car.
With a little help from yours truly regarding the MOT rules and regs,"Coz I had checked up ",
he was happy that it was roadworthy.
The look on his face when I pulled up in it was priceless,as the guy who booked me/it in didnt put the type of car down!,so it was a jawdropping surprise for him!
I will tax it next week,and use it locally for a while to gently ease in back into use before undertaking longer journeys!

[Jonah681]

Congrats on the MOT. Another Minor back on the road.