Our 1st Moggy. 1956 Split Screen. WSL 230

[Steamerpoint]

Just thought we would say a quick hello to other owners and enthusiasts here.

Today we made a 350 mile round trip to collect our 1956 Morris Minor from the New Forrest and towed her back to Peterborough.

Someone has spent a lot of time on it over the years and given that we are it's 9th owner, a few people here may even recognise it.

I'm told that the previous owner called her Betty.

I'm sure I'll be picking brains here in the months and years ahead.

Cheers for now.
Chris & Claudia
Peterborough[frame][/frame]

[irmscher]

Hi Chris and Claudia welcome and great looking car

[gtt1951]

Welcome, and that is a nice looking car - can't beat the Splitscreen versions
George.

[John Naylor]

Welcome! Lovely car, just like Dad's first new car in 1956...
John

[Steamerpoint]

Thanks for making us feel very welcome.

We took her out for a test drive with the dealer yesterday and one thing I noticed was how quickly the car went through the gears. According to the V5, she is meant to have an 800cc engine in it, but the previous owner told the dealer that she had a 1090cc engine fitted.

4th gear was achieved at around 30mph (According to the sat nav, not the speedo) and she sounded as if she was red lining at only 45mph! Is it easy/possible to fit a bigger Morris Minor engine to an older gearbox and end up with a a low geared setup?

Cheers Chris.

PS.. Here is the ebay advert with more photos if anyone is interested: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321697033716

[bmcecosse]

The rear axle ratio is the problem...and although the 803 gearbox is very weak and has terrible internal ratios - in 4th gear it is 1:1 same as the 948 and 1098 gearboxes.

[ianmack]

The 1098 engine can be fitted with the original box and axle but for optimal use of power and gear ratios it is best to use the box and axle for a 1098. You can tell if yours has later items with a look underneath. The 1098 gearbox has external strengthening ribs in the casing and the 1098 axle has the oil filler at the rear. If the Gear casing is smooth or the oil filler is in the nose of the diff they are earlier types.

[Steamerpoint]

Thanks for the info. I'll have a look underneath and report back.

Chris.

[XWL61]

Looking at the pics on the e bay advert, you already have a later engine and box. Need to check the diff ratio. Could still be the original 5.375:1
Nice car btw

Andy

[Steamerpoint]

You can tell from this pic? Wow impressive. [frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

No -we can tell from that picture that it is a 1098 engine (or at least a 1098 head..) and the interior pictures show that it has a 'remote control' gearbox fitted - but we can't tell if it is a 948 or a 1098.

[Steamerpoint]

Cool. Okay tomorrow I'll dig the car out of the garage and take some more photos of her and put some up for others to comment.

We can't drive her at the moment as we need to get some insurance first and this long bank holiday weekend doesn't help either!

[minor65]

I saw your car advertised. Very nice car !!! Enjoy

[The Issigonis Kid]

Betty? I feel, you can't change a cars name once you know it had on but Wesley would have been more appropriate. The previous owner called mine, surprisingly, Woody. He has a little name badge off ebay now but I couldn't put it under the Minor badge, that would have been inappropriate.

[Steamerpoint]

It's meant to be bad luck changing a name I think.
My son wanted to name her Betsy after his grandma in Holland.

Picked up some insurance today via the web (Only £58 fully comp!) So about to take a drive into town.

Given the low gearing, I made a limited to 40mph sign and used a window suction cup off an old Baby on Board sign, to hang it in the rear window! Don't want to feel I have to drive fast at the moment!

[bmcecosse]

Even if it had the original 803 engine - it would be able to do 60+ mph on the flat! Bumbling along at 40 just give Minors a bad reputation.... Which Company gave you insurance for £58 ???

[Steamerpoint]

Photo of the engine.[frame][/frame]

[Steamerpoint]

The gearbox.[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Hmmm -get rid of that fuel filter - it's nothing but a nuisance. And that 'pancake' air filter is both losing you power and making much noise to no good effect....... That may be why you feel 40 mph is enough....
That's a 'smooth case' 948 gearbox. As before - it's still 1:1 ratio in top gear.

[Steamerpoint]

The rear axle.[frame][/frame]