1965 Four Door - sympathetic resto

[OGY985K]

Hi All,
My new project, bought via this forum, arrived today. Lots of positive surprises:
Rebuilt engine with 3500m on it
Evidence of new radiator, pump, pipes
Servo Riley brakes
Improved washer pump
A plethora of plates underneath but also proper repairs to the Spring Hangers and appears fit enough to pass a MOT.
Great maintenance (new wheel bearings etc)

Not quite fathomed the brakes. The PO (23 years owned) said Ford Escort parts plus Riley drums. The brake pedal is too close to the accelerator for my liking.

Rust? Quite a bit, but fixable and paint is decent.

Interior is tired.

My plan is to take off, cut out and repair panels instead of replace.

I will put seats with headrests in.

I’d like to get it running (does drive but on 3 cyl…May be the 2017 petrol…it’s been SORN) and fix the outer panels this year. Next year, the engine needs to come out so I can sort the engine bay rust/grime and (probably) change the chassis rails (curiously perfect around the eye bolts but welded near the fronts).

Overall, I’m delighted. It’s an honest car with lots of upgrades. Well worth some work!

[rocco]

Congratulations on the new project. I usually describe such a car as "presentable", as in it looks great from 5 yards or more.

You should have that on the road in no time and then you can tackle one job at a time. It's what I was advised to do but then my engine had been sat a long time and I just couldn't bring myself to make it cough and splutter in to life. Luckily you have an engine already sorted.

Some interesting upgrades in there and a massive screen wash reservoir. The brake master cylinder should give some good stopping power - it really fills the engine bay up.

I hope you'll share your progress on here of the work you do.

[OGY985K]

Thanks @rocco . 'Presentable' is a great description. The sort of car that could easily fall apart without a bit of intervention.

Yes, I'll share updates as I go along.

Job 1 is to get it running smoothly so it's easy to move plus clear out the carpets so I can see exactly what I've got.

Job 2 is take first of the front wings off...address any hidden pillar/inner wing rust (I can't see any yet) + fix the wing itself

Job 3...next corner...

Job 4...next corner

etc.

[philthehill]

You have a Mk1/Mk2 Ford Escort brake master cylinder/servo assy fitted.

[OGY985K]

Thanks @philthehill Very useful to know (for getting spares). It's going to stop well with this & Riley brakes.

Also discovered the almost new engine has a duplex chain, electronic ignition!

[OGY985K]

Just following on from the need to sort the dodgy accelerator arrangement in the car...Are there Morris 2nd hand parts merchants that are great? When I was restoring my previous Morris I went 'all new'. The Spitfire was much easier to restore with a lot of original mech parts (when needed) from the likes of the brilliant http://spitfiregraveyard.com/
Thanks

[OGY985K]

I’ve reviewed the driver’s side. A fair bit of work required…waiting for a battery to arrive so I can move it about and get to work! It’s not terrible but, longer term, requires a new cross member and sill.
The great news is that it runs beautifully (in the drive). The new battery will let me shift it about so I can take the wings off.

[OGY985K]

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[OGY985K]

Rear arch, boot floor

[philthehill]

As regards obtaining S/H parts - I find 'e' bay is a good source of S/H parts.
I use 'e' bay all the time and have in the main found that the parts have been in very good condition with lots of life left in them. Sometimes you can get New Old Stock (NOS).
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155880872928 ... R7yUoPH3Yg
See the above sellers other items as well.
Another source of S/H spares is the MMOC web site in the spares wanted section.
Also you could always place a wanted ad in the MMOC magazine Minor Matters.
MMOC club spares is a good source.
Your local branch of the MMOC may be a source of S/H spares.

[OGY985K]

Thanks @philthehill.
A bit more stripping out. A PO had completed some neat, seam welded, repairs. The rear pan isn’t so good and I’m going to cut out the clumsy plate that’s plonked in the middle to see what it reveals. It may be best to replace this section of floor pan.
The outer sill has been replaced by layering a new panel onto the old. My finger tells the story!

[OGY985K]

A few bodges emerging…passenger sill is stuffed with newspaper! Hmmm. Very strange bolts through from the new spring hangers. I’m hoping these were just to hold them in position whilst being welded in, and there’s nothing worrying hidden by underseal.
I take back my ‘looks like could pass a MOT’ comment. Lots of welding required!
Think I’ve found why the middle of the car is soaked in oil…probably from the pre-rebuild engine running on this stuff rather than 20/50 grade.

[OGY985K]

Oil as used

[OGY985K]

The newspaper stuffed inside the rusted out sills is dated one month prior to the car’s last MOT…fooled the tester and fooled me! This car is going to need serious work before it can hit the road again.

[unclealec]

Don't get despondent - they are always worse than you think. Unbreakable rule of car restoration.
That is what makes Minors such great little cars to work on. Everything available cheaply and quick; that takes a lot of the hard work out of it.
And don't forget - you are enjoying yourself!

[OGY985K]

Don’t worry, I’ve fixed far worse. As you say, parts are cheap. It’s the first time I’ve seen paper used in structural parts of a car though!

[unclealec]

Sheltered life, mate.

[OGY985K]

Corner No. 1- much rot concealed behind MOT patches. The good news is that the door post isn’t too far gone, the inner and bottom sills are solid. So, fix boxing and inner wing, cover plate.

[OGY985K]

No more today…haven’t been welding since finishing my Spit in 2021 and the batteries need replacing in my welding mask.

[StillGotMy1stCar]

I drilled the case (for the cell holder pins) and fitted a couple of PCB mount coin cell holders to my mask a few years ago and use the smaller and more popular CR2032 cells. It works fine with the smaller cells and changing them now is a doddle.
My mask has a solar panel and the batteries originally fitted were supposed to be rechargeable, but the numbers on the old ones said otherwise according to the battery manufacturers website.
I keep my mask in the dark when not in use and the batteries still last a couple of years or more.

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Regards John