Pick up Restoration (Part 2)

Post by **davidmiles** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:03 pm

been to Harris breakers yard near chichester today, great staff there.
they fork lifted the old morris four door up onto a high frame so I could get at these bolts, the floor was so rotten I was able to chisel them off. They don't come with new floor panels, and I haven't seen them on anybodies catalogue list for new replacement parts.

Post by **davidmiles** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:20 pm

Hopefully its a case of holding the bolt strips in place with the nuts through the holes in the floor and tac welding the strips in place. The strips were spot welded originally, that is why, once Id unbolted them from above the strips could easily be chiselled off the scrap four door saloon. So If you do this you don't need to take your angle grinder, extension lead, and a small genny to the scrap yard. (like I did)

Post by **davidmiles** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:33 pm

this picture taken by Moqwai on Busguys scrapyard topic about this poor old gal in Harris's yard, she's slowly being picked apart like a carcass on the open range, still she's donating her parts to good causes, hopefully it'll be a while untill she goes in the crusher.
I have taken off the front bumper as I need the support bars that fit to the inside front of the wheel arches. but she's had a shunt, and they were all bent. Bumpers ok though, its inside her now if you need one.

Post by **webbnuts** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:47 pm

I'm really enjoying following your progress on here! I'm doing the same thing (although on a smaller scale) so its good to see the photos! Keep up the good work!

Post by **davidmiles** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:52 pm

Thanks webbnuts, is your own work on view on these pages anywhere?

Post by **webbnuts** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 7:57 am

I'll try and add some pictures later on! Looks like its going to be a nice day so off to the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival!

Post by **davidmiles** » Sat Sep 12, 2009 7:12 pm

Blast treat called, the chassis has been sandblasted and is ready for collection, I'm picking it up on tuesday morning so I expect I'll place some interesting shots on here on wednesday morning, I'm working on late shift so thats the soonest I can get them on. very well priced, £50 for the chassis. So I'm deffinatly going to take the rear axle to them for treatment later on.

Post by **davidmiles** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 1:23 pm

freshly sandblasted chassis being collected from blast treat in Arundel.
Its amazing how many glaring faults show up clearly after all that paint and rust is blasted away.

Post by **jonathon** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 2:28 pm

Make sure that you put either zinc rich primer on (weld through) as soon as possible as the rust will be back in days if not treated. Good luck with the re fab work

Post by **davidmiles** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 6:34 pm

cab bottom is in for some de rusting before it can join the chassis.

Post by **davidmiles** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:25 pm

well, there are more ups and downs in this project than a roller coaster ride, this chassis is out of the picture, its been repaired all wrong in the past, before I got my hands on it, it's beyond economic repair. Its out of allignment and has had a rear end shunt. So I'm waving goodbye and letting it go to the scrapyard rather than sell it on to some unsuspecting sucker like myself. back to the drawing board. At least the shotblasting showed me the truth in the end.

Post by **davidmiles** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:31 pm

So its back to this one again, I'm informed that its reliably square, hasn't been mucked about with and botched, its a far more original chassis and thats what this Morris Minor restoration game is all about in the first place. So, that front offside leg will have to be renewed after all. But first, blast treat of Arundel... they're getting sick of the sight of me.

Post by **mmjosh** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:31 pm

dont get down hearted calling your self a sucker you will find 1 one day

Post by **aupickup** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:36 pm

dont get down it will all come right in the end

just be careful what you buy and who you buy it from

just cos they are members dont make it right

Post by **davidmiles** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:38 pm

Cheers Josh, I'm not downhearted, just temporarily cheesed. Ive got a chassis I can use, its just all going to cost more than I'd originally thought. And take longer than I originally planned, those same factors creeping in, time and money.

Post by **davidmiles** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:41 pm

Thanks Dennis, thats good advice.

Post by **aupickup** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:17 pm

yes even if it was a bit late

wish i had come with you when purchasig it

still like i said it will all come together

i am just down the road if you need any help

Post by **davidmiles** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:03 pm

Thanks, Ray has given me an idea about this van chassis in a scrapyard near leamington, as I'm at a junction chassis wise I may just go and take some shots in a few days, Ive had a lot of chassis experience since I bought that pup, so I'll be carefull.

Post by **Dean** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:32 pm

When it comes to van/pickup chassis please excuse my ignorance, but... Is there any mileage in buying a couple of full length chassis legs (£120 +vat), using your existing cross members and asking a fabrication shop to make the rest..... new??? Just a thought, may be dearer, but might save in petrol/pain in the long term...

Post by **jonathon** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:58 pm

No need as ( I believe) there is already a full new chassis available for around £600ish from Nordisk Minors