Morris Minor Owners Club

So today I thought I'd tackle the missing rear bumper ferrules...
It turned into one of those times you just want to grab hold of whichever past owner/repairer and shout into their face 'Why the &%$£... did you do that!'
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I cannot comprehend any sound reason for such butchery of the holes.....
So I won't be fitting the ferrules and the gutter sealant gun will be required.... At some time in the distant future I may get around to devising some plates I can affix to the inside of the boot with the right size holes.
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On the positive side, the bumper came off easily because they had used some rather nice brass Dome Cap nuts in lieu of the expected 1/2BSF Steel one..
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Odd! Also I agree, annoying.


Stephen

Crikey! there's no end to people's ingenuity when it comes to mods and upgrades!

It looks like my mate, Bodger Birch, has been at that car.

Two years ago, I posted about a noisy clutch (rattling from bell housing). Prior to my ownership a 1098cc engine and ribbed gerbox had been fitted. It was a 948cc engine when built.
Looking into the bell housing by removing the rubber "bung" the clutch was seen to be for a 948cc engine. The flywheel was for a 948cc engine too.
The correct refurbished flywheel and clutch assembly were fitted. It was a 1098cc release lever.
It puzzles me as to why anyone would do that?
The 948cc friction plate was not far off failing. The friction disc was moveable due to worn rivets and the holes they were in. That was the rattle.

It puzzles me as to why anyone would do that?


There are/were lots of people about with the 'it's a Minor... they're all much the same, it'll fit near enough' attitude. They fight to get it working, usually with an excess of BFI, loose interest in the end because it doesn't work as it should, and some other poor soul has to sort it out, working out what has been bodged, swapped or even used from an old Fiat!

We had the same issues when messing about with side valve Fords. There was always someone who would assure you that a 100e engine was easily fitted to an 8/10hp model. There were some awful 12v conversions to the 8/10hp cars, indeed my last 103e was converted back to 6v to make it safe and reliable. There was a generation to whom all side valve Fords were 'Populars'. Again, I once spent twenty minutes failing to persuade a bloke that my Prefect wasn't a Pop, despite the discrepancy in the number of doors and the Prefect badging!

I'm surprised my head hasn't worked loose with all the disbelieving shaking I've endured over the years.

It does boggle the mind to think that someone has gone to the expense of replacing a 948cc and g'box with a 1098cc(Goldseal) and ribbed g'box (Goldseal) and not spend the extra for the correct clutch and flywheel?

Mervin wrote: ↑Wed Sep 10, 2025 10:35 am It does boggle the mind to think that someone has gone to the expense of replacing a 948cc and g'box with a 1098cc(Goldseal) and ribbed g'box (Goldseal) and not spend the extra for the correct clutch and flywheel?

I think we have to remember that Minors went through a long period of time when they weren't "cherished classics" but old bangers owned by folk on a shoestring budget. There was a lot of bodging from necessity or ignorance or both.

Stephen

Yes, that is true - and a reason so many eventually went to the scrap heap.