Cheap modifications

[mike.perry]

I fitted seat belt shoulder pads from Halfords on my Series MM and it will do 65 down the dual carriageway. Actually they were fitted to stop the seat belts from rubbing on my new leather seats

[melanddoug]

Cut in the manifold to remove the heat spot. Apparently actually worth an extra 1/2 bhp.

Er - what is this heat spot and cut of which you speak ??!

[d_harris]

You wont have it on monty.

Its where the exhaust section of the standard manifold radiates heat into the inlet

[bmcecosse]

The unwanted heat transfer to the inlet manifold is by Conduction - not Radiation.....

[melanddoug]

oh I see - thanks BMCecosse and Dan.

Handy to know that for Mel's car though (1098 saloon), although it already goes like the clappers in completely, utterly, standard form.

[ben_minor_63]

I need more ideas as i will be using the car daily, and still want the older generation to like the car as some don't.
Suggestions im thinking of are
MiniLite Wheels
1275 Engine (when i have the money)
Car stereo and speakers
maybe a 5 speed gearbox
the modern seats from newton commercials
front spoiler?
Disc brakes
oil, temp guage

What do you think?

[phurn]

Minilites are ugly! 5 speed is expensive for little real benefit.

[ben_minor_63]

What other rims suit the Morris Minor tho i am not fond of the standard ones

[bmcecosse]

Forget the silly front spoiler - and no need for very expensive disc brakes ! Nothing wrong with standard seats either - just fit new straps and some foam. I agree about the 5 speed box too - just fit a 3.7 final drive.

[MColes]

MiniLite Wheels - if you must but I like the originals, in keeping with the character of the car
1275 Engine (when i have the money) - my 1098 engine can certainly shift and go faster than I'd want to go on any regular basis
Car stereo and speakers - sensible, unless you have a really good singing voice
maybe a 5 speed gearbox - with BMC on this one, fit the 3.7 diff
the modern seats from newton commercials - nothing wrong with the originals if re-strapped
front spoiler? - I can only imagine, don't do it!
Disc brakes - Don't see the need myself, but others will argue the case to go for them
oil, temp guage - oil gauge makes sense, though I've yet to fit one to mine

You did ask for opinions!

[ben_minor_63]

Matt ur so tempting me to keep ir origional but with some slight modifications

[Alex'n'Ane]

MiniLite Wheels- I like the look of them, lots of minor have them and i dont think the most people will dislike them too much.
Disc brakes- I personally feel they are a very good idea for modern driving especially if you have a 1275 engine or are thinking of fitting one in the future.
Temp/ pressure gauges for oil and water are a good idea reliability wise.

[MarkyB]

I think the problem is that you want to do something, but don't have a direction that you want to go in.
Some of the mods you suggest are for performance, the rest are for appearance.
Most of them are expensive!
None of them will let you out drag your mates hatchback.

Use the car more and see what you want, stop worrying about the "older generation" sort out the things that irk you whether it be the lack of music while you are driving, or the amount of revs on the motorway.
Make it your car and don't worry about what what anyone else thinks.

[chrisryder]

the 5 speed may be outweighed by a 3.7 diff, but that doesnt give you a quieter stronger gearbox, and the ability to go into 1st while moving without crunching!

minilite wheels can be good or bad. 'Minator' ones look really weird in my opinion, i quite like mine, which are still copies, but much more faithfull to the originals. and people do mention that they don't mind my wheels as they are a 'period' modification. ok someone did threaten to remove them with an anglegrinder coz they're not standard... but there's no pleasing everyone.

[MColes]

Matt ur so tempting me to keep ir origional but with some slight modifications

Nooooooo, that's just my opinion, I like standard and modified cars. I'm not a fan of the cars with overly modified bodywork but if you feel the need to change mechanical components to make it easier for you to drive on a daily basis then go for it! I personally find a standard car practical to drive everyday

Like MarkyB says and like I've said on the Facebook group I think you need to actually drive the car and see what you like/dislike and then modify it to suit your needs.

[phurn]

Wider steelies would be decent. No spoiler!!! And Tbf you very rarely need to go into 1st if your moving.....
If you want quiet then put some good sound proofing down.

I guess I just don't see the point in such intensive mods for minor gain. Now if you said fit a v8, well that'd be a different matter. Probably wouldnt cost much more than a 1275, 5 speed box and disks to fit!

I presume you'd be paying a garage for the work as from the questions you ask I assume your abilities dont match your dreams, as with so many of us!

[ben_minor_63]

Well Matt i am going to drive it for a bit and see what it feels like to drive and that and i am now thinking period modifications because now im investing in some period clothing, and also i want to do all the work by my self, i have a grandad helping me rebuild it now. and the 5 speed gearbox a friend told us why aint we doing it, i dont know what 5 speed gearbox will fit on a MG midget engine and if i have to change the ratio of the rear axle.

[chrisryder]

ford five speed kit should fit straight onto a midget engine. they have the same shape backplate as a 1098 minor, and the bellhousing you get with the kit fits both.

you may want a 3.9 or 3.7 diff to suit.

[phurn]

but its sooo expensive! would be cheaper to buy a dead sierra and take the 2 litre pinto with it! then fit it with twin webbers and job done!

[Alex'n'Ane]

Except a 2.0 pinto wont fit in the minor engine bay, Its a very long and extremely heavy engine, will ruin the handing and require major bulkhead mods.