restoration of my minor convertible

[glenn1]

well its been cold !!!!! ( thats an understatement !!) we have had -6 to -9 at night up here in the frozen north, but beautiful sunny days, getting to the heady heights of -2, but today was a tad warmer, i say this as progress has been slow this week, too cold to fit the rubber seals, so i have concentrated on getting the underneath all sorted, done the brakes, except for the rear pipes, as i broke a connector, and waiting for a new one, so we now have a speedo drive fitted, propshaft, exhaust system, handbrake cables, routed all the wiring loom, and fuel line, front and rear stabilizers i think they are called, the bits that hang done from the back and connect to the shock absorber, and the front tie bars, what a pig they were to fit !!!

engine bay is virtually done, just the carb to sort out and the front light wiring, and then i can get the front end mounted on the car

[glenn1]

so i thought i would try and burn the Christmas turkey and pudding off today, so managed a few hours on the car, its a 30 min journey to where it is, so time is always at a premium, so i managed to put the radiator, and front cowel on today, put the 4 small screws in the front brake calipers, fitted the handbrake in completely,as i got the guides from ESM this week, and the new rear flexible brake pipe, after i broke the original one !!, plumbed in the radiator, and got the fresh air connected to the front cowel, i am just waiting for my beehive springs to turn up, and the underneath is completly finished, then on to the doors.

[myoldjalopy]

Wow! S'looking very nice. A lot of work gone into that already

[philthehill]

http://www.dover-kent.com/2014-project/ ... asted.html

https://www.whitehartbrasted.co.uk/#/

[glenn1]

http://www.dover-kent.com/2014-project/ ... asted.html

https://www.whitehartbrasted.co.uk/#/

sadly i left Kent in 1992, so i havent been to the white hart since then, but it was a good sunday lunchtime venue, and thanks for the photos

[philthehill]

The Lakes are great for Minor motoring. I lived and worked there for 10 years from 1984 to 1996 and spent many a happy hour driving my Ser 2 along the narrow lanes and over the passes of the lake district.
You also have the Jennings Brewery at Cockermouth producing 'Sneck Lifter' so living north west of Lancaster has its benefits.

[glenn1]

yes the lakes are great for driving, the best views from any car
so i guess you worked on THORPE then, when they built it, and sadly the brewery has been closed down, Marston closed it when they got brought by Heineken i think, but the building is for sale if you want to start a new beer company ?

[philthehill]

Closing the Jennings brewery -what ever next.
I never worked for THORP (Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant) but I could see Sellafield from my place of work. I did get my teeth filled at Sellafield dental centre though.

[glenn1]

erm ok Phil, no problem, i just thought you may have been up here as around that time there were thousands of people here ( contractors) building the site, and now they are dismantling it !!!!!
i wont guess anymore at your workplace, but glad you have your teeth fixed

[glenn1]

finally found some time to do a bit more on the car, front end now on, grille, managed to put the bonnet back on, nearly lost a finger trying to fit the bonnet stay, as it fell on me hand, and finally managed to get the front screen on, but not the surround, as waiting for a tool to do this, with lots of fairy liquid!!

also added the gearstick, so i can move it around under its own steam now

the one thing i am having a problem with is the front cover/step plates, brought some stainless steel ones, the passenger door fits ok, but the drivers side is way out, just seems very short, and impossible to line up with the holes at the bottom ?, should i trim a bit off the edge that goes over the sill ?, anyway here are some more pics of the progress

[glenn1]

i thought i would post some more pictures of the car, had a really busy last few months on the car, and it is nearly there, just got to sort out what joins the rear body work to the rear windows, there is a small hole on the body work and a corresponding one in the window frame, dont know if its a screw or a rivet ? so anyone with a convertible may be able to advise

just repainting the hood frame, and have the car booked in with Don Trimming on the 30th October for a new hood, and wheels to re-paint or powder coat, havent decided on that route yet

have a banjo style steering wheel, but not sure it will fit as the horn spindle is far to long to fit inside the steering wheel, so will have to refurbish the original 2 spoke wheel

and i have decided to go with a 3 tone interior, as i just preferred it

[glenn1]

more pictures

[ManyMinors]

That is good progress. The horn contact inside the steering column is the same for both types of steering wheel, so the wheels are interchangeable. You just need the correct hornpush.

It looks as if you've fitted your front bumper blade upside down

[glenn1]

yes thanks for that, i have rectified the bumper blade today

[glenn1]

rear window hole, thinking perhaps a stud goes on the end to hold the hood in place ?

[ManyMinors]

Exactly that.

[svenedin]

Hello Glenn,

Congratulations on your advancing restoration!

Here is a photo of that area from my car as you requested by PM. It is indeed a stud to hold the hood and then the hood cover goes over too.

Best Wishes,

Stephen

IMG_9290.jpeg (2.27 MiB) Viewed 23155 times

IMG_9292.jpeg (1.98 MiB) Viewed 23155 times

[mogbob]

The Lift a Dot studs come in a variety of fixings and heights. You need one that will accommodate two clips , at the same time. As mentioned by
Stephen.
eg https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-978-li ... t-fastener

variety available, so know what to look for. Major Morris Minor suppliers stock them.
https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/c-58-lift-the-dot

The clips are directional , as in , you pull the fabric towards you ( so you can read the lettering conventionally ) opening the small spring
in the clip , freeing it's grasp of the peg / stud. When fixing , stretch the fabric over the relevant stud and push down when the hole lines up with
the pointed end of the peg / stud.
I'm sure Don Trim will sort you out with the relevant hardware. Flag it with them early , so they are aware.
Bob

[glenn1]

thank you so much for the pics ( Stephen) and the advice ( bob) really helpful as usual on here, i will get some studs from ESM and then just the horn to sort out, and an MOT, yes i know it doesnt need one, but after a 5 year restoration, i think its prudent to, in fact i do think it should be mandatory

[glenn1]

wiper boxes !!!!

i am told there should be a spacer on the inside of the car body, which goes on top of the wiper boxes, before it goes through the body, i guess to keep the correct angle for the blades to wipe, i am looking for a set of these spacers ?, does anybody know of a source or has a pair there willing to sell ?