New owner now the real work starts.

Let us all know what you are up to with your current restoration project. Get that Minor on the road!
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Steve_k
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New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

Last year I had a lock up unit in a shared industrial building and I turned up one day to find a sorry looking 1963 Minor parked outside. My landlord and good mate had nowhere to keep the car it was one of his collection of 4 so was going to leave it there until he found somewhere. The car was parked in an open car park and worried some kids would damage it I put it in my unit to keep it safe after a short conversation and a few pound later I was the proud owner of a Morris Minor.

I spent a couple of weekend at the unit getting the car running and brakes light etc working and now needed to get it home, I decided to sort some insurance and book it for a MOT when in fails I will drive it home get it in the garage and continue working on it. To my surprise it failed on just headlight beam alignment, so this was sorted and it was on the road ideal for moving it around.

The next stage was starting work on it I now have the bug and cant stop.

Cheers

Hope this works a link to some pictures of the old girl.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/b4ncw6mAoSN7DFq17
palacebear
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by palacebear »

Looks like a very worthwhile project. Duo-tone interior too... a great feature of some early 60's Moggies. Good luck with it. Keep us posted of your progress! :)
1956 4-door called Max
mogbob
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by mogbob »

Steve
Great work on your car. You certainly haven't been sitting around twiddling your thumbs !!
Is your " smile |" of deep satisfaction working well ?
Well done. Bob
DAVIDMCCULLOUGH
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH »

Looking good, keep up the good work!!

I sold a green duo tone 63 last year, my favorite colour combination


Too many Minors so little time.....
Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

All opened up now and chassis rails emptied ready for cleaning out and preserving I decided a new floor would be easier and look better than patch up what was left of the old one.

It looks like a long term leaking gearbox output seal has preserved the chassis rails they seem very sold and original saying that I have not found any previous welding on the car at all. :D

Image
Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

Cleaned up a few bits at work during my lunch break yesterday using the parts washer and sand blast cabinet.

Shame I can't get the full car in. :)
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Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

Floor panels arrived so I started to adjust the fit on the drivers side one to make it fit.

Image
Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

Chassis leg cleaned out and painted with zinc paint

Image

Floor panel trimmed and prepped for welding. The fit of the pressing was not as good as I hoped and took quite a while to get it satisfactory.

Image
Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

Missing pictures from last 2 posts.
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Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

Drivers side front floor pan welded in.
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firedrake1942
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by firedrake1942 »

Very nice !!!
Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

Cleaned up the front inner wing wheel arch and painted with zinc primer.
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Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

Seam sealer and a coat of red oxide on the new panels and a clean and paint of the gearbox cover.

I then decided to have another hour in the garage and remove the front panel.

:D
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Last edited by Steve_k on Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

The front cross member looked terrible all flaky rust which turned out to be just years of grime but underneath was the original green paint and some surface rust.

It was more like archaeology than car restoration cleaning years of grime away to reveal the true colour of the engine bay and the body plate details.
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Due to lack of work space in the garage I now need to finish cleaning up the drivers side chassis leg and get the suspension refitted to the car so it can be turned around and the passenger side sorted out.
ManyMinors
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by ManyMinors »

It isn't really too bad that car is it. Isn't it funny how some cars are quite rust-free in some areas and quite rusty in others. Not always the same places in each car. Maybe your car always had plenty of oil leaks around the engine!
Good work!
One small point: Don't forget the captive nuts for the lower front wing mount.
Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

Going to put rivet nuts in when I realign the wing up and give them a tack weld to make sure they don't turn.
irmscher
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by irmscher »

Looks nice and solid now :)
Steve_k
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by Steve_k »

I have been away the last couple of weeks on a family holiday so no progress on the Minor, but I hope to get some work done on Sunday wife permitting :D and back to full speed next weekend.

I need to get the off side built back up and wheels back on so I can turn the car around due to space in the garage being very tight and start to dig out all the hidden rust on the near side floor sill area.

Longer term very open plans are, engine and gearbox removal clean up all the engine bay and transmission tunnel paint up the engine (its a good one) rebuild the gearbox (noisy bearings) refit these except the prop shaft, followed by refurbish the rear suspension and back axle. While the car is being striped cleaned up and rebuilt I hope to deal with any areas of rust I come across.

Finally when all the major mechanical are done, refurbish the brakes, tidy the interior, start prepping the body and finally some shiny paint I fully intend to do all the work myself if possible to keep the budget tight and so I know every inch of the car.

Writing this I am starting to get withdraw symptoms and need to get back at it to keep up the momentum.

Thanks for looking and all the encouragement. :D
mogbob
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by mogbob »

Steve
You've got the " right mind set " for restoration. DIY as you say means you know every inch of your car and working on it , means you will know exactly where to start looking , when a funny squeak or noise appears.
A little break every now and then works wonders, recharging the battery ( your's ) and encouraging you to get
stuck back in again to the work.

DIY also means you have time to save up for some folding money and spread the cost over a longer period
( Worked for me and the wife's still talking to me ).
I promise the buzz you will get , on completion , will be like no other ordinary " work " you tackle. It is very satisfying being able to say to people " I did all the work myself ". Other restorers will treat you with " knowing
respect ". They recognize the hours of hard slog to achieve the outcome.
Confession time , I had serious withdrawal symptoms when I finished my classic car 12 year resto. That's how
I came to help out my mate with his Morris Minor resto. I taught him to weld , fabricate, panel beat, re-wire , upgrade mechanical stuff , etc., etc. I've also done a couple of other resto's for / with a couple of other pals ,including a 1937 Morris traveller complete with running boards.
Keep steadily plugging away and treating yourself to break every now and then. You'll make it.

Bob
myoldjalopy
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Re: New owner now the real work starts.

Post by myoldjalopy »

The work you have done so far looks great, Steve. Well done on saving another old Morris Minor! I wish I had your skills - anything to do with welding and painting I have left to others and, although I have learnt to do lots of fairly basic mechanical jobs, rebuilding a gearbox would be beyond my current capabilities :(
By the way, Bob, I have an occasional, funny squeak from the front passenger door but I can't figure out what it is - sounds like a cricket chirping when it happens! :lol:
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