1954 2dr Saloon
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
I would certainly recommend the complete inner wing panel.
Had a good look at mine and the main problem is the weight of the rear part of car will be on the back of the chassis rail with the inner wing completely removed. In my case the boot floor also needs repairs where it meets the upper chassis rail, but as far as I can tell the upper chassis rail is solid. The lower chassis rail incorporating the rear spring hanger is completely corroded the same as yours. The outside of the chassis rail is actually made up of the inner wing itself and is the first part to rot as it is thinner gauge steel. Probably more than 95% of minors have had a plate welded on there!
My plan is to complete the repairs to the sill boxing plate extension area and work backwards removing the inner wing and rear spring hanger panel assembly completely There is a bump stop strengthening bracket inside the upper chassis member that will probably also need to be repaired. I don't want to remove the rotten boot floor from the edge of the upper chassis rail at that stage because then I will lose too much reference, as the chassis rail and rear of the car will be totally disconnected. My plan is to dress that area enough that the spring hanger panel will rest in place (albeit a mm or so higher) and help to position the inner wing. After welding the inner wing in place there will be enough connection between the chassis rail and body to replace the section of rusted boot floor and fit the rear spring hanger. Needless to say the weight of the body will need supporting throughout.
Not sure if you follow that, but I will post pictures when I do it next week. Unfortunately I am tied up the weekend with MMOC business, a combined Lancs/Cumbria Mechanics day tomorrow and our Northern Area liaison meeting on Sunday.
You can measure the key dimensions before you start between front and rear spring mounts and cross member. If they are all correct then be careful to keep everything tight, if they have already altered (not uncommon) then you can set them right. But you will have to pay extra attention to inboard outboard and diagonal dimensions and relative height to ground (datum).
Had a good look at mine and the main problem is the weight of the rear part of car will be on the back of the chassis rail with the inner wing completely removed. In my case the boot floor also needs repairs where it meets the upper chassis rail, but as far as I can tell the upper chassis rail is solid. The lower chassis rail incorporating the rear spring hanger is completely corroded the same as yours. The outside of the chassis rail is actually made up of the inner wing itself and is the first part to rot as it is thinner gauge steel. Probably more than 95% of minors have had a plate welded on there!
My plan is to complete the repairs to the sill boxing plate extension area and work backwards removing the inner wing and rear spring hanger panel assembly completely There is a bump stop strengthening bracket inside the upper chassis member that will probably also need to be repaired. I don't want to remove the rotten boot floor from the edge of the upper chassis rail at that stage because then I will lose too much reference, as the chassis rail and rear of the car will be totally disconnected. My plan is to dress that area enough that the spring hanger panel will rest in place (albeit a mm or so higher) and help to position the inner wing. After welding the inner wing in place there will be enough connection between the chassis rail and body to replace the section of rusted boot floor and fit the rear spring hanger. Needless to say the weight of the body will need supporting throughout.
Not sure if you follow that, but I will post pictures when I do it next week. Unfortunately I am tied up the weekend with MMOC business, a combined Lancs/Cumbria Mechanics day tomorrow and our Northern Area liaison meeting on Sunday.
You can measure the key dimensions before you start between front and rear spring mounts and cross member. If they are all correct then be careful to keep everything tight, if they have already altered (not uncommon) then you can set them right. But you will have to pay extra attention to inboard outboard and diagonal dimensions and relative height to ground (datum).
1956 Morris Minor Series II
1959 MGA 1600 Roadster
1966 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 MOD
1959 MGA 1600 Roadster
1966 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 MOD
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- Minor Fan
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Great, thanks for all your help!
Had a look at the last blog post and I'm guessing we've similar problems. I'll get a parts order sent off soon.
Took Monday and did some tidying up of small jobs. Sorry I've no pictures at the minute for here but if you go to my resto blog at:
www.restosaga.wordpress.com
there is plenty see. Will keep you all posted and thanks again for all your help everybody!!
Had a look at the last blog post and I'm guessing we've similar problems. I'll get a parts order sent off soon.
Took Monday and did some tidying up of small jobs. Sorry I've no pictures at the minute for here but if you go to my resto blog at:
www.restosaga.wordpress.com
there is plenty see. Will keep you all posted and thanks again for all your help everybody!!
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- Minor Fan
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:53 pm
- Location: Comber, Northern Ireland
- MMOC Member: No
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- Minor Fan
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:53 pm
- Location: Comber, Northern Ireland
- MMOC Member: No
Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Had a bit of spare time today so began stripping down the engine for unleaded conversion and a general tidy up...[frame][/frame]
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- Minor Legend
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Excellent looking work! Is this your first resto? One thing I would do, is keep testing the doors fit as you have been welding around that area. Just a hunch thing really as you don't want to get near the end... fit them and .... swear a lot.
As per advice above. Measure everything around the rear suspension from a fixed datum.
Have you seen taupe's resto? A very rusty traveller that has seen better days...
An excellent source of advice for replacing panels that had disappeared through rust.
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=25298
welcome to the series 2 gold dash club!
As per advice above. Measure everything around the rear suspension from a fixed datum.
Have you seen taupe's resto? A very rusty traveller that has seen better days...
An excellent source of advice for replacing panels that had disappeared through rust.
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=25298
welcome to the series 2 gold dash club!
My Minor:
A Clarendon Grey 1953 4 Door Series II.
MMOC - 66535
A Clarendon Grey 1953 4 Door Series II.
MMOC - 66535
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- Minor Fan
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Thanks for all you advice, much appreciated.
More progress made on the '54 last weekend with the n/s rear sill and outer panel. I cut off the rusted original, fabricated some strengthening behind and reattached the new pattern part, very pleased with the result!
To start:
More progress made on the '54 last weekend with the n/s rear sill and outer panel. I cut off the rusted original, fabricated some strengthening behind and reattached the new pattern part, very pleased with the result!
To start:
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- Minor Fan
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Apologies, can't get pics uploaded for some reason. Maybe at the weekend.
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Before:
Then:
Finished:
Then:
Finished:
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- Minor Fan
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- Minor Legend
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Good progress, its amazing that the new sills were fitted to hide all that rot! Hopefully you wont find anymore horror stories as you work you way around it.
Too many Minors so little time.....
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- Minor Fan
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Thanks all for your continued enthusiasm, advice and encouragement.
I got a bit more done there at the weekend but progress is slow.
I hope this video will show you how I'm getting on with tricky and fiddly repairs. I've tried my hand with a bit of fabrication and I think it's going ok.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msiN5Ru1rtk
I got a bit more done there at the weekend but progress is slow.
I hope this video will show you how I'm getting on with tricky and fiddly repairs. I've tried my hand with a bit of fabrication and I think it's going ok.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msiN5Ru1rtk
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- Minor Legend
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Keep up the good work! When you get really fed up come over and have a drive in one of mine
Too many Minors so little time.....
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- Minor Fan
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Thanks David, I will definitely take you up on that offer, I've never driven one!
In other news, took off the off-side rear wing and got some more nasty surprises!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO154CEgE_8
In other news, took off the off-side rear wing and got some more nasty surprises!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO154CEgE_8
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- Minor Fan
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
This will be my last update for a while so it's a bit longer but covers all the work done so far, enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XkzaNVKAKg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XkzaNVKAKg
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- Minor Legend
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Enjoy your travels, the rust wont get any better or worse while your away!!
Too many Minors so little time.....
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- Minor Fan
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Hi all!
Back from my travels and now on to the back axle as a break from welding the shell.
I'll get a video up soon but here's a pic of the axle in paint after blasting and new mounts welded on, enjoy!
[frame][/frame]
Back from my travels and now on to the back axle as a break from welding the shell.
I'll get a video up soon but here's a pic of the axle in paint after blasting and new mounts welded on, enjoy!
[frame][/frame]
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- Minor Legend
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- Minor Fan
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Re: 1954 2dr Saloon
Yep, the first proper shiny bit. The brake plates are painted also and now doing to drums in gloss heat resistant paint. Just waiting on my new brake cylinders arriving and I'm good to go for reassembly. It'll be nice to have it ready and waiting to fit. Prop is next then a good degrease and scrub for the gearbox before returning to the welder!