Sally the series 2
Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 10:17 pm
Hi,
After a couple of years forced absence I have managed to acquire a 'new' Morris Minor.
Allow me to introduce Sally my latest series 2.
She wants work but appears basically sound, which is just as well, as I drove her back from London on Sunday.
The only issues I had were an erratic / unreliable speedo, which I have temporarily resolved by the use of a speedo app on my mobile and almost running out of fuel. To be fair to Sally I can put the last one down to the worlds biggest mobile car park, namely the M25. Progress was initially okay then it reverted to the usual stop, wait, start, stop, wait, start, stop, wait, start, etc. etc. that we must all be familiar with whenever we have the misfortune to have to use this road. Needless to say this reduced what seemed to be a decent return of miles per gallon, despite having to extract myself from London to, effectively, zero miles per gallon! By the time I got past the Heathrow junctions I was on just under 1/4 tank, by the time I was nearing junction 21 for the M1 (after yet more stop start traffic jam adventures) I was into the red zone and sweating.
Despite signs promising imminent service stations none materialised before aforementioned junction 21, which meant I joined it to all intents and purposes running on fumes and prayers. I stuck to the slow lane, even when it bizarrely intermittently reverted to the hard shoulder / emergency lane, only to morph into the slow lane once more (what seemed like) every few hundred yards and kept doing this all 13 miles to the first service station and (thank God) fuel.
How I got there without grinding to a halt beforehand I will never know, I had visions of being that suicidal mad lone figure wandering up the inside lane fuel can in hand......
However despite this (or maybe partly because of the amazing fuel / fresh air consumption to this point) I was left with a very positive impression of my 'new' series 2. I arrived home in Mansfield (Nottinghamshire) without experiencing an actual breakdown and having 'bonded' with her.
Despite all you hear about the 803 engine and box, the gearchange was good, any graunching / grinding was my fault not the cars and, once I was used to her ways, could be achieved without the aforementioned protest noises.
The engine itself is a Goldseal unit and maintained what I thought was good oil pressure throughout the long journey, 40 PSI at idle and 50 to 60 when travelling. I settled to a speed of between 59 and 65 (on my speedo app, so that should be correct) and even had her up to 69 mph on occasion, without protest.
She only lost a little power on hills (803's don't like them do they) and even then not enough to worry about, however to be fair on a 'flowing' motorway it had a good run at them.
As I said I was left with good feelings towards her.
That said part of my upcoming renovation will include an engine and gearbox swap to a 948 engine mated to a 1098 box.
Too many hills with no run up to them in the Peaks...............
So in due course I will advertise a well proven Goldseal 803 engine and gearbox on here, I consider this journey their testimonial.
Now the real work commences on the car and yes at some point I will submit her for an MOT, after the mechanical / bushing overhaul is complete. I think once every two years is a good compromise for classic cars, what do you think? I believe her last one was in 2016, so by that measure she's overdue one.
The paint / bodywork will bug me too......
More immediately though I have an appeal for a replacement red (maroon) front seat, see second picture, as the covering is beyond TLC / redemption.
If you have one that you can spare I would be interested in purchasing it off you, I would like an original to preserve the look (and smell) of the original, does anyone out here have a (near) match?
To this end if anyone can help I will be extremely grateful.
Best wishes,
Mike.
After a couple of years forced absence I have managed to acquire a 'new' Morris Minor.
Allow me to introduce Sally my latest series 2.
She wants work but appears basically sound, which is just as well, as I drove her back from London on Sunday.
The only issues I had were an erratic / unreliable speedo, which I have temporarily resolved by the use of a speedo app on my mobile and almost running out of fuel. To be fair to Sally I can put the last one down to the worlds biggest mobile car park, namely the M25. Progress was initially okay then it reverted to the usual stop, wait, start, stop, wait, start, stop, wait, start, etc. etc. that we must all be familiar with whenever we have the misfortune to have to use this road. Needless to say this reduced what seemed to be a decent return of miles per gallon, despite having to extract myself from London to, effectively, zero miles per gallon! By the time I got past the Heathrow junctions I was on just under 1/4 tank, by the time I was nearing junction 21 for the M1 (after yet more stop start traffic jam adventures) I was into the red zone and sweating.
Despite signs promising imminent service stations none materialised before aforementioned junction 21, which meant I joined it to all intents and purposes running on fumes and prayers. I stuck to the slow lane, even when it bizarrely intermittently reverted to the hard shoulder / emergency lane, only to morph into the slow lane once more (what seemed like) every few hundred yards and kept doing this all 13 miles to the first service station and (thank God) fuel.
How I got there without grinding to a halt beforehand I will never know, I had visions of being that suicidal mad lone figure wandering up the inside lane fuel can in hand......
However despite this (or maybe partly because of the amazing fuel / fresh air consumption to this point) I was left with a very positive impression of my 'new' series 2. I arrived home in Mansfield (Nottinghamshire) without experiencing an actual breakdown and having 'bonded' with her.
Despite all you hear about the 803 engine and box, the gearchange was good, any graunching / grinding was my fault not the cars and, once I was used to her ways, could be achieved without the aforementioned protest noises.
The engine itself is a Goldseal unit and maintained what I thought was good oil pressure throughout the long journey, 40 PSI at idle and 50 to 60 when travelling. I settled to a speed of between 59 and 65 (on my speedo app, so that should be correct) and even had her up to 69 mph on occasion, without protest.
She only lost a little power on hills (803's don't like them do they) and even then not enough to worry about, however to be fair on a 'flowing' motorway it had a good run at them.
As I said I was left with good feelings towards her.
That said part of my upcoming renovation will include an engine and gearbox swap to a 948 engine mated to a 1098 box.
Too many hills with no run up to them in the Peaks...............
So in due course I will advertise a well proven Goldseal 803 engine and gearbox on here, I consider this journey their testimonial.
Now the real work commences on the car and yes at some point I will submit her for an MOT, after the mechanical / bushing overhaul is complete. I think once every two years is a good compromise for classic cars, what do you think? I believe her last one was in 2016, so by that measure she's overdue one.
The paint / bodywork will bug me too......
More immediately though I have an appeal for a replacement red (maroon) front seat, see second picture, as the covering is beyond TLC / redemption.
If you have one that you can spare I would be interested in purchasing it off you, I would like an original to preserve the look (and smell) of the original, does anyone out here have a (near) match?
To this end if anyone can help I will be extremely grateful.
Best wishes,
Mike.