Search found 158 matches

by Edward1949
Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:28 pm
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: MO Traveller in 1956 advert
Replies: 1
Views: 1302

MO Traveller in 1956 advert

Nice shot of Minor's big bro in this Jan 1956 US ad in National Geographic magazine. Notice the price of B&B !
MO Trav .JPG
MO Trav .JPG (148.91 KiB) Viewed 1302 times
by Edward1949
Fri Oct 23, 2020 10:41 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Hardtop for convertible?
Replies: 3
Views: 735

Hardtop for convertible?

Back in the seventies there were any number of hardtops available for MG Midgets, Spitfires etc Does anyone know if there was ever a hardtop for the Minor?
by Edward1949
Wed Oct 21, 2020 2:59 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: ETHANOL CHANGES
Replies: 11
Views: 2678

Re: ETHANOL CHANGES

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Millers-Octane-Booster-Additive-Treatment/dp/B07M5HBD34/ref=asc_df_B07M5HBD34/?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-458...
by Edward1949
Sat Oct 17, 2020 12:14 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Ignition Timing *again!*
Replies: 12
Views: 1982

Re: Ignition Timing *again!*

I've always fancied a manual advance/retard control on the dashboard, as fitted to many pre-war cars. It could be used to find the timing "sweet spot" while climbing a moderate hill in top gear, then locked until next needed - eg after an overhaul, or change of petrol grade. Alas not - it...
by Edward1949
Fri Oct 16, 2020 11:46 am
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Ignition Timing *again!*
Replies: 12
Views: 1982

Re: Ignition Timing *again!*

I've always fancied a manual advance/retard control on the dashboard, as fitted to many pre-war cars. It could be used to find the timing "sweet spot" while climbing a moderate hill in top gear, then locked until next needed - eg after an overhaul, or change of petrol grade.
by Edward1949
Fri Oct 09, 2020 10:46 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Bike on a traveller?
Replies: 8
Views: 1221

Re: Bike on a traveller?

You can now get a bike rack that fits onto a tow ball there very good and really secure I have used one on my motorhome for a few years with no problems. You obviously need a tow bar fitting and the racks aren't cheap https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOWBAR-TOW-BALL-MOUNTED-BIKE-CYCLES-BICYCLE-CARRIER-RA...
by Edward1949
Mon Aug 03, 2020 12:07 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Strange whirring noise under bonnet
Replies: 32
Views: 4424

Re: Strange whirring noise under bonnet

Good advice above.
Could also be buzz from exhaust contacting underbody upon deceleration. This would fit with the noise disappearing under acceleration.
by Edward1949
Wed Jul 29, 2020 5:12 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: blocked engine drain tap
Replies: 24
Views: 2730

Re: blocked engine drain tap

I read somewhere that fresh water does its worst to the innards of the block and then becomes effectively neutral. In other words, fresh water is the enemy and breeds rust; old, used water is good. It was suggested that old coolant water should be retained when draining the system for maintenance, a...
by Edward1949
Mon Jul 27, 2020 3:32 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Knocking sound in 948 Minor
Replies: 8
Views: 1184

Re: Knocking sound in 948 Minor

Also, could be something else completely random. You say it's only under acceleration. This changes the engine position in its mountings, sometimes enough to allow contact by, say, the exhaust against bodywork.
Do the easier checks before taking things apart ! :wink:
by Edward1949
Mon Jul 27, 2020 11:46 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: worst year for minors
Replies: 20
Views: 2703

Re: worst year for minors

In fairness to Minors, they were one of the bangers of choice for the typical young buyer 50 years ago. Friends and I were quite canny about what was available at the bottom end of the market. Among Ford Prefects/Populars/Anglias, Standard Eights/Tens etc the Minor stood out for its handling, econom...
by Edward1949
Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:55 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: worst year for minors
Replies: 20
Views: 2703

Re: worst year for minors

What on earth makes you think that :-? According to Wikipedia: "For a short time in 1968, the thickness of the steel used in the bonnet and doors was decreased from 1.2 mm to 1.0 mm to act as a form of crumple zone, but as the wings continued to be made of 1.4 mm mild steel, the modification w...
by Edward1949
Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:28 am
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: 'A' Series engine
Replies: 3
Views: 625

Re: 'A' Series engine

Excellent article. Some of the readers' comments are especially interesting, particularly by ex-BL insiders.
by Edward1949
Sat Jun 06, 2020 1:31 pm
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: Charging battery of modern car
Replies: 13
Views: 2205

Re: Charging battery of modern car

Follow-up report: yesterday we needed to use a car for the first time since lockdown. As anticipated the Morris fired up instantly and the Toyota failed to start - tried until the starter would no longer turn. Connected my 25 year-old charger (having disconnected battery earth lead from car) and kep...
by Edward1949
Sat May 30, 2020 11:51 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Spotted today.
Replies: 2449
Views: 698696

Re: Spotted today.

Local optician commutes in this (only in dry weather, methinks):
mm traveller.JPG
mm traveller.JPG (1.13 MiB) Viewed 2520 times
by Edward1949
Tue May 12, 2020 4:24 pm
Forum: Electrical
Topic: Cup-type battery connector - drill post?
Replies: 4
Views: 937

Cup-type battery connector - drill post?

Just bought a new battery. My Minor has the old lead "helmet" or "cup" type negative clamp. Clamp has a hole in the top for a self-tapping screw to insert into the post, as on the old battery. But the new battery post doesn't have the necessary hole. Am I OK to drill a suitable h...
by Edward1949
Mon May 04, 2020 9:56 am
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: Charging battery of modern car
Replies: 13
Views: 2205

Charging battery of modern car

Our Diesel Toyota Avensis has been idle during Coronavus lockdown. Never a great starter, I anticipate difficulty when the time comes to use it (unlike the Morris which bursts into life after weeks lying dormant) so I'd like to charge the battery. Internet is full of dire warnings and contradictory ...
by Edward1949
Tue Apr 28, 2020 1:11 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Advantages or otherwise of changing / uprating the diff
Replies: 7
Views: 1395

Re: Advantages or otherwise of changing / uprating the diff

Assuming he means he wants lower revs at a given cruising speed he should be looking for a numerically lower diff ratio, eg a standard 1098 car uses a 4.22, so a 3.9 or 3.73 will provide lower revs at a given road speed. A 4.8 diff could be useful for a laden van used in hilly areas, but the engine ...
by Edward1949
Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:21 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Classical gas - say ‘no’ to E10 petrol
Replies: 9
Views: 1412

Re: Classical gas - say ‘no’ to E10 petrol

I use Millers VSPe additive . In addition to providing a lead substitute it claims to protect classic car fuel systems from the adverse effects of up to 10% Ethanol. It also claims to enhance the octane rating of fuel by up to two points. I've been using it for quite a while and I do feel that the c...
by Edward1949
Thu Mar 19, 2020 6:27 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: problems starting
Replies: 18
Views: 2569

Re: problems starting

myoldjalopy wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2020 6:06 pm Were there ever any cars with a cable operated trafficator? That sounds even more eccentric than the trafficators we know and love on the earlier Minors!
Don't know. But some prewar cars had single filament headlamps dipped by being tilted mechanically by levers or cables.
by Edward1949
Thu Mar 19, 2020 2:24 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: problems starting
Replies: 18
Views: 2569

Re: problems starting

myoldjalopy wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2020 2:05 pm Whilst we wait for the OP to come back (if he does), I have a question - would the mechanism which operates the trafficators be described as a solenoid?
Yes And if the semaphore was operated by a mechanical cable, "no". Same difference as early v late starter switch method.