Respray / engine overhaul

[Tonymnyphot]

Hi all! I've had a 68 Traveller for the last 10 years in Old English White. The previous owner had owned it for some 22 years but moved to Spain. He had fitted new wood and re sprayed from Snowberry White to Old English. The bodywork and work is very good but now showing a few chips here and there. I was thinking about the possibility of having it resprayed to the original Snowberry and having the wood rubbed down and re varnished. At the same time, the engine and electrics could be overhauled. I live in East Kent. Any idea how much I should budget for a really good job? This really isn't a job I would want to do myself!!

[MarkyB]

having the wood rubbed down and re varnished

For this just phone one of the woodwork specialists and ask, a few hundred quid.
For the respray,the engine and electrics the sky is pretty much the limit.
For a few chips and no rust or bubbles in the paint you just want a good quality blow over, if you have money to burn only a bare metal respray will do, some thousands of pounds.

What is wrong with the engine and electrics?

[Chipper]

My brother runs a bodyshop in East Kent, Auto Body Care, in Sturry, near Canterbury:

http://autobodycareltd.co.uk/

He did my Traveller a few years ago and did a cracking job of it - stills looks good to this day, despite being used in all weathers. They can also attend to the electrical side of things.

Mention my name, and I'm sure he'd do you a favourable rate.

[Tonymnyphot]

Nothing especially wrong with the engine, perhaps a little worn. I do worry about the eke trucks though, the distributor has a nasty habit of cutting out when I least expect it and in the worst of places too. I've learnt to carry some spares now!

[Chipper]

Perhaps the little lead inside is frayed and earthing against the dizzy body? You could fit a replacement new 45D4 dizzy available cheaply on E-bay. They are 'universal' fitment and suit most A-series engines:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Minor- ... 2a0c27ddfe

[Tonymnyphot]

Thanks for that Chipper, that's an idea. "Eke Trucks"!! Damn this infernal predictive text! I meant electrics, of course!

[Chipper]

I fitted one of those cheap 45D4 dizzys to my 1275cc MG Midget engine while I overhauled the original 25D4. I didn't notice much, if any, difference in the overall performance.

I did wonder what you meant by "Eke trucks", and was about to go and look it up!

[katy]

Being a colonial I thought "Eke trucks" was some kind of UK slang for electrics.

[rogerowen]

And here is Eke Trucks;

http://ipocars.com/vinfo/grecav/eke_pick_up-2009.html

Looks a bit like a Smart Car crossed with a Skoda Fabia, but with the added advantage of a tilting rear roof???

[MarkyB]

That took a beating from the ugly stick

[rogerowen]

That took a beating from the ugly stick

Bit like the 1970's Saab 95 Estate I used to own. Back end designed by someone who had never met the front end designer! However - it was a lovely car (once you've sorted out the column change gears and the 'freewheel' device. [frame][/frame]