Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi. I have a '54 Series II with Lucas Voltage Regulator with spade terminals [it has probable been re-wired sometime in its life]. I believe this incorrect. When did Morris change the Voltage Regulator from the Lucas screw terminals to the Lucas spade terminal units? I take it they are a straight swap over, does anyone have the exact part number of the Lucas Voltage Regulator screw terminal unit? Thanks. Looks like it was screw terminals. As I want to keep the car as it was in 1954 [as near as I can!] I've ordered a new screw terminal regulator from Bullmotif.

They are a straight swop - but if it's working on spades, best left well alone I think...

bmcecosse wrote:They are a straight swop - but if it's working on spades, best left well alone I think...

Hmmm. The trouble is if its not the right part I have to change it! Some people will understand!

Sorry...that's just madness....

bmcecosse wrote:Sorry...that's just madness....

Not too sure about 'madness' a bit obsessive perhaps...I take it you are from the 'just bang a nail in' posse! Each to his own in their love of Morris Minors!

well its your car and i have great admiration for guys to get it right as it shouild be
well done

I can't tell you what part number it should be, but I'm 99.9% certain it would have been screw terminals and not Lucar, as my 1962 948 was originally screw terminal I believe, and your car is a lot earlier (unfortunately it has now had Lucar terminals bodged onto the ends of all wires and the control box is the later type). When it eventually gets rewired, I'll likely replace it with the original type if I can get one!

You would need to cut off all the Lucars - and then the wires may not quite be long enough... So the harness would need to be unravelled.... It's a practical thing really to just leave well alone. I object to your 'bang in a nail' comment - the forum is not for personal slanging of others... I presume you will also be running your car on crossply tyres and SAE 30 oil if you are so fixed on it all being the correct age... Hope the dynamo is not the later Lucar type or you will need to change that too..... Or the distributor, or the coil .......And of course you'll be running the old bulb type headlamps, not modern 'sealed beams' or even worse halogens !! Oh dear....

Sorry...you're clearly not a 'nail banger'! I've seen your other posts! But you did call me mad! The good news is the screw terminal regulator is a direct replacement fit, plenty of wire even when the spades are cut off. Not too sure about the cross plies or the oil [if you were being serious] If I could get some original cross plies at a decent price I would go for it. With the oil, I use a classic oil, that will do for now.

I and many other classic car owners believe we are just the custodians of our vehicles and It is our responsibility to preserve these vehicles in as near to original condition as possible whilst enjoying them, particularly the older ones, for future classic car enthusiasts to enjoy. I know some people want to modernise the cars, fit twin carbs and disc brakes or V8s and chopped roofs etc. but if EVERYONE did that what would the future classic car enthusiast buy? There would be nothing left!

I say do what you like with your car...its yours and please let me do what I like with mine! it IS mine after allI

Another point to consider is that the Bull Motif regulator is probably a repro, whereas the one on your car might be an original Lucas unit. If this is the case you'd be making your car less original.

If going for concours or 100% originality you'd be better off looking for an original Lucas screw type regulator on ebay or similar (and you can sell your existing one as well).

You are right, the Bull Motif regulator is a repro unit, I think the spade terminal was also a repro. So I figure I'm slightly ahead. I am constantly looking for original items for my car, If I find an original Lucas screw regulator I'll buy it. To me its part of the fun! I will never finish my car. It will never be concourse. Its one of my many hobbies and I love it![frame][/frame]

Tony H wrote:Sorry...you're clearly not a 'nail banger'! I've seen your other posts! But you did call me mad! The good news is the screw terminal regulator is a direct replacement fit, plenty of wire even when the spades are cut off. Not too sure about the cross plies or the oil [if you were being serious] If I could get some original cross plies at a decent price I would go for it. With the oil, I use a classic oil, that will do for now.

I and many other classic car owners believe we are just the custodians of our vehicles and It is our responsibility to preserve these vehicles in as near to original condition as possible whilst enjoying them, particularly the older ones, for future classic car enthusiasts to enjoy. I know some people want to modernise the cars, fit twin carbs and disc brakes or V8s and chopped roofs etc. but if EVERYONE did that what would the future classic car enthusiast buy? There would be nothing left!

I say do what you like with your car...its yours and please let me do what I like with mine! it IS mine after allI

Annoyingly no modern cross-ply tyres available for the Minor now are produced in the original style used. I believe the original tyre is known as the 'B5' from Dunlop, the style is only available for larger wheels now (the Riley RM wheel being one).

Just a tip, I would never trust original tyres on the road... Better to have a 'road set' and then, upon arrival, put the originals on.

I really admire your passion for originality, and totally see why you want the correct part. Especially when concerning the Series 2. Seriously. How many truly original Series 2s are left? So many have had their drivetrains replaced its become a surprise Just to see an 803 now.

I didn't call YOU mad Tony - I said it was madness... Slightly different - but I take your point..

Sorry its a bit late, I kept forgetting I had an old spare one.
Cheers, Ian
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According to the Workshop Manual you should not mix dynamos and control boxes though it does not say why, probably due to the different outputs of the C39 and C40 units.
I agree with you, spade terminals just look wrong on an early Minor