Any tips for a new member?

[cjwood]

Hi there everyone.

I was wondering if anyone could advise on where best to find details on correct parts and replacements for a Morris Minor 1000. I have recently inherited my Grandparent's Morris Minor, and I am looking for some tips on general maintenance and some key problems to keep an eye out for.

The car is in good nic and has been looked after for quite some time, however in my Grandads age he hasn't been able to dedicate as much time to it as he used too and requires some parts replacing including the sparks and most bulbs amongst a few other bits.
(picture below of his last drive)

PXL_20230304_142825425.jpeg (2.23 MiB) Viewed 713 times

Any advice on how to cross-reference the parts needed would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks All.

[ManyMinors]

Your local motor factor/car accessory shop will be able to supply really simple stuff such as spark plugs and bulbs. If you don't have one already, get yourself an owners handbook and a workshop manual and they will tell you all the basic stuff. Then depending upon whereabouts in the country you are, find out if there is a local branch of the club or a local Morris Minor specialist you can contact?
Finally - congratulations on obtaining your Morris!

[Boomlander]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Check the Moss Europe website where you can get a free parts catalogue with all the drawings of what part goes where, right down to the last nut and bolt. You can purchase from Moss or one of the other suppliers like ESM or Charles Ware.

[svenedin]

Good tips above. Bulbs are easy and most motor factors will have them. They tend to "soot up" even if not blown so changing very old bulbs can really improve the brightness. When you change the bulbs clean the inside of the lenses too. Most parts from the specialists are good but some new parts are not the same as the original parts and can cause problems. You can be sure a part will fit if you use new old stock or good second hand parts and MMOC spares can help you there with both NOS and reconditioned. Be aware that NOS parts may still need cleaning up as long storage can cause grease to harden etc.

Charles Ware parts went bankrupt some time ago and is closed down but ESM are very good.

It is definitely worth getting the Morris Minor BMC/British Leyland Workshop manual. Much better than the Haynes manual.

Depending on how much you do yourself you will also need tools and over time your collection of tools will inevitably expand. Unfortunately, it is not as simple as just buying a set of Imperial AF spanners. If you find a nut that your AF spanners will not fit the chances are it is BA if something electrical or carburettor or Whitworth if elsewhere. In other words you'll have 3 sets of spanners and sockets eventually! Having the right tools makes so much difference and can make a job easy rather than getting upset and disheartened.

Congratulations on getting your Morris, welcome and may you have many happy miles together!

Stephen

[Bill_qaz]

Welcome to minor ownership, plenty of great advice already from a great forum group.

[myoldjalopy]

The car looks to be in good condition, as you say. It will repay you to follow the routine servicing these vehicles require, which are detailed in the various manuals. This will prolong life and maintain reliability.

[cjwood]

Thanks all for the responses. First thing will definitely be getting hold of the workshop manual to work off.

Do you find the "specialist tools" a necessity for any of the work or can most upkeep be carried out with your standard workshop tools?

[svenedin]

I would suggest you start with a basic set of AF Imperial combination spanners (open at one end and ring on the other). Don’t buy cheap tools. Draper make decent stuff. Then get other tools as you need them. You’ll need a spark plug socket if that’s considered a specialist tool. Note that crosshead screws in the Minor are Phillips not Pozidrive. Use the correct screwdriver. Perhaps the most useful tool of all is a head torch

[simmitc]

Most tasks can be completed with a set of basic sockets, spanners, screwdrivers. feeler gauge, hammer and so on. You will find that as you do more and more, then you will gradually accumulate specialist tools to make life easier. A Whitworth socket here, a heavy duty wrench there, perhaps a 1/4" BSF tap to clean threads in captive nuts or a pin spanner to hold the front anchor bolt for the rear springs. If doing a lot of wiring, then crimp tools, soldering iron, bullet closer and good strippers will be useful; but truly specialist tools are not needed for post jobs.

For example, you could get a clutch alignment tool, but the same job can be done with a screwdriver, or, better still, the input shaft from a scrap gearbox. Beehive spring fitting tool for rear brakes, or a washer over the end of some long-nose pliers. Brake pipe flaring tool, or buy ready made pipes. Also how often do you need to undertake a particular task? To go to extremes, would you buy an engineering shop to rebuild the engine once, or employ a specialist to skim the block and head for you.

Part of being a home mechanic might be being able to improvise

[myoldjalopy]

Improvisation can be good, but not too many bodges please. Many on here have cursed previous owners for awful bodges which they then have to correct.....

[geoberni]

I strongly recommend getting a 'proper' workshop manual, i.e. a paper copy of the BMC one.
It is downloadable from a few places, but not the sort of thing you want to be reading too much on a phone.
I have both, I can look things up in the manual and then if I need to print of relevant pages to take to the garage, where they can get filthy and be disposed of afterwards, without ruining the book.

The Minor 1000 parts manuals are worth getting as downloads and they can give pointers to correct part numbers by chassis number.

The documents to search for are
AKD530 Workshop Manual
AKD3541 Minor Mechanical Service Parts List (that's everything that's not bodywork)
AKD3542 Minor Body Service Part List (guess what that covers.... )

I won't give links in case someone raises copyright questions, because the AKD530 is still in print from a subsequent publisher, and it is worth getting; all I'm saying is that it is out there. The parts books are not in print.

[jagnut66]

Beehive spring fitting tool for rear brakes

Not the easiest thing to find these days, unless someone on here has the link to a supplier?
I got lucky years ago but couldn't find any online recently.
Needless to say, if anyone offers you a set of old spanners or sockets never turn them down, you can never have too many and with some of the most frequently used sizes it's always good to have two or three of each.
The stands at the MMOC National can produce a good selection of secondhand tools for sale, always worth a look.

Nice car, by the way.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[cjwood]

Thanks again everyone for the pointers and geoberni for the names of each manual. Much appreciated!
I'll see if I can find some physical ones about and have a look for a temporary digital one for now.

Tools are top of my list at the moment, keep pinching a friends as my tools fall into carpentry not mechanics.

[svenedin]

Thanks again everyone for the pointers and geoberni for the names of each manual. Much appreciated!
I'll see if I can find some physical ones about and have a look for a temporary digital one for now.

Tools are top of my list at the moment, keep pinching a friends as my tools fall into carpentry not mechanics.

Sharing, borrowing and lending tools is a very good idea actually. You need a basic set of your own tools but most of the more specialist tools will spend 99% of their lives sitting doing nothing. As well as tools you will need some consumables as well. Greases, oils etc. Take care you use the correct products for your Morris. For example, modern antifreeze is not suitable for our elderly engines. Likewise modern engine oils.

[philthehill]

As regards the workshop manual - edition 14 is the copy you want. Earlier editions do not have all the relevant information.
A set of BSF combination spanners and a set of AF combination spanners will get you on the right road.
Buy tools as you need them, there is no need to rush out and buy tools that will just sit in the tool box.
A set of BSF sockets and a set of AF sockets will help with repairs. There are usually good sets of Gordon or George combined socket sets for sale on 'e'bay at reasonable prices.

[philthehill]

As regards the workshop manual - edition 14 is the copy you want. Earlier editions do not have all the relevant information.
A set of Whitworth combination spanners and a set of AF combination spanners will get you on the right road.
Buy tools as you need them, there is no need to rush out and buy tools that will just sit in the tool box.
A set of Whitworth sockets and a set of AF sockets will help with repairs. There are usually good sets of Gordon and Bedford pre owned combined imperial socket sets for sale on 'e'bay at reasonable prices.
Here is a good Bedford set for sale on 'e'bay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266159228948 ... R5yR5oLXYQ

[Flywheel]

Hi, and may i add; please look through some of the posts on here, if you have any problems with your Morris.

They really are a 'gold mine' of information. A great wealth of knowledge with experience I can certainly recommend it.

All the best Jonnie.