Morris Minor Owners Club

Our Morris Minor is one of the most reliable cars.
Question for the experts: Any suggestions (modifications, special preventive maintenance, ....) to make it even more trouble-free?

Leave it alone? (although I''m no expert)

2nd vote for that!

Even more trouble free, what problems have you had?

Fit headlight peaks and a badge bar
It will never break down then because you will be too ashamed to drive it
Al

If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Any time I give mine a service before a long trip or holiday something goes wrong so I confine myself to checkng the oil and water levels

I could suggest an alternator and a Lumenition electronic distributor but really, in this case, I agree with the above:

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Best wishes,
Mike.

Just carry spares in the boot just in case

One of the main problems with moderns is that if they break down,then its about impossible to fix at the road side because invariably its a management problem,and you need a code reader to work out where the fault is,and to reset afterwards.With a minor with standard ignition and fuel delivery,there probably nothing that couldn't be sorted with a couple of spanners and screw drivers.and a bit of preventative tinkering.
I had a newish citroen ,absolute nightmare with a recurring misfire,main dealer couldn't find the fault,kept saying "Its not showing a fault on the diagnostic,bring it back when its missing it may show up then". Of course by the time I got it to the dealers with a missfire.... it was running ok so "Its not showing etc............. Part x in the end.
Just been trying to remember ,in all the years of minor ownership.first one back in 1960,Can't recall ever needing a recovery.except a crash once. Sorted everything out at the road side,even a collapsed bottom trunnion in 1970 strapped it back together with wire from a farmers fence,to get back.
I accept no responsibility or liability from this type of repair, so don't try it at home folks .. but I was a student at the time and beer money was more important

I should have expected these replies.
Just asking because my wife is asking me why I didn't buy a 'new' oldtimer, and I have to convince her the car is in perfect condition for a longer trip.

I summarise:
- do nothing (first have to get it together again)
- alternator and electronic ignition (done)
- regular oil and water check (done)
- spares in the boot (I only carry tools, oil, tie wraps and duck tape)

Without filling the boot completely, what spares should I take?

Fuses, light bulbs,rotor arm? All fit in the glove box.

carry a spare bypass hose rota arm most are rubbish now

mike.perry wrote:If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Any time I give mine a service before a long trip or holiday something goes wrong so I confine myself to checkng the oil and water levels

As someone once said to me, "If it ain't broke, you ain't fixed it enough!"

To me a sign of reliability is not having to carry spares. Carrying spares suggests you expect unreliability.

'Do nothing' is also ok until you have a trunnion collapse.... Cars have service intervals for a reason.

carry a rac or aa card , if its running fine leave it alone .

I think that a sensibly cared for classic car is as reliable as a modern and easier/cheaper to maintain. Also no depreciation if bought well . Down side is no air con on a hot day but those little quarter light windows are nearly as good.

My only breakdowns needing the AA were halfshafts and diffs. I took spares of both if I was travelling far on holiday after the first few breakages.
Electronic ignition is a good mod, but keep the old set up in the boot as a backup. Proper maintenance helps too of course.

Pete