An American Moggie ~ My '59 Morris Minor 1000 2-door saloon

[MarkyB]

Warning light sender bad?
Highly likely.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Well done for getting it back on the road. Car looks grand.

[Fingolfin]

Thanks Marky and Jowett -- re the warning light, I'll have a new switch on order as soon as I've any money!

Having resolved the engine mount issue for the time being, I drove Mog a lot today -- 38 miles in total. I need lots of practice with the car in order to feel comfortable taking it to uni. First I drove around on some country roads, like the first test-drive, racking up 22 miles on the odo. Then I took Mog to town for the first time (well, the first time with me driving!) and filled up the fuel tank.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]The little spot on the pavement isn't from Mog.

Mog performed quite well; I was able to keep up with traffic on the highway (just a two-lane county highway with 55 mph speed limits) and the noise, vibration, coolant temperature, and oil pressure were all tolerable (the latter two were spot-on). I did notice that the car tracks a bit to the left when I release the steering wheel, but I was aware the tracking wasn't optimal. I still have some rattles from the rear, and the engine does seem a little more gutless than it ought.

So -- still some work to do! But now at least I have a functioning car of my own (for the first time in my short life)!

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

The engine will improve with use and some fine tuning. I wouldn't worry too much about the car moving to the left when you let go of the wheel - as long as it is only slightly - most cars do it over here, but then we have cambered roads whereas yours are flat. It is well worth investing in some old-school jute underlay for soundproofing, which makes a great reduction in noise levels.

[davidmiles]

fantastic set of pictures there Fin, really gives us Brits a taste of your part of America, She looks great there too, pretty rare if not unique. Bet she turned a few heads, they'll all be waving before too long. Well done getting it road legal. One milestone way behind you now .

[alexandermclaren]

fantastic set of pictures there Fin, really gives us Brits a taste of your part of America, She looks great there too, pretty rare if not unique. Bet she turned a few heads, they'll all be waving before too long. Well done getting it road legal. One milestone way behind you now .

Brilliant super news a real credit to you its been a steep learning curve for you and being so young its an even bigger achievement
The whole morris minor forum over here in Britain is going to miss your daily struggle to get mog back on the road and am sure will look forward to the woodie project although those dreaded dollar signs will slow things down
Superb and with many miles happy motoring ahead and no problems you cant overcome now that your expert at all things morris minor

[Blades]

Great pictures Fin, Bah-li-ver looks a really nice place

What will your mates at University think of Mog

Nick

[Fingolfin]

Sorry it's been a while, I haven't been terribly interested in posting because I was busy driving! I'll answer the previous posts and then give an update.

Jowett -- part of the engine trouble has been discovered to be wear in the carburetor (around the butterfly valve and in the jet shaft), but the rest of the marginal running is probably down to wear in the valve train and the piston rings (though the engine gets fair compression on each cylinder). I may have the engine professionally rebuilt next summer. I'm not terribly worried about the front-end alignment -- someday I'll do that myself, or if I run into some money I'll let a local specialist do it. Per your suggestion I looked into jute underlay (my father is a flooring installer, so he can easily obtain many similar materials for cheap), but apparently it's difficult for the local suppliers to obtain. I found it online, but it's expensive!

David -- you're quite right, Mog turns lots of heads! Some people disrespect the car, tailgaiting and passing closely, but many more people admire it and are kindly. Thanks for your compliments and kindness through the whole process, David!

Alex -- no worries about Mog -- there's still PLENTY to do! I do look forward to doing Stiltzkin, and I've already done a little bit, but no major stuff yet.

Nick -- everyone at my school is eagerly anticipating Mog's arrival! I have been very pleased by the interest. Bolivar is a very nice place, but could do with some different people, if you follow my drift.


And now the promised update.
I did end up changing the timing chain cover for the 1098 unit (mentioned two pages ago), and that just about solved the leak from the engine at front. I did have to order a later oil thrower, because for some reason my spare 1098 didn't come with one![frame][/frame]This was prior to inspection, but I mention it because the repair seems to be holding. I desperately need to redo the sump gaskets, though, because it is leaking horribly (perhaps an indication of leaking pressure from the cylinders), and really I need to remove the engine and place a gasket under the oil pump (somehow it didn't have one, and the lack of a gasket escaped my notice when I last had the backplate off), but that may wait for next summer.

In the month following licensing, I drove Mog about 500 miles in total. The largest trip was a day-long affair from Bolivar to the tiny hamlet of Bois d'Arc, west of Springfield, where my significant other lives; this trip covered a total of 135 miles, which went well, on the whole.
I covered lots of other ground too. Here are some photos.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]This is one of my favorite photos of Mog.

I had Mog appraised, too. Here it is in the appraiser's shop.[frame][/frame]The appraiser reckoned Mog to be worth $6200, slightly below the average American market value for a '59 Minor ($6500), primarily because the paint is in poor shape. My seat belts, headrests, gauges, and two-speed wiper motor added a lot of value to it though.

Around 7 August I began having trouble with the speedometer, after trying to calibrate it. I also burnt out the fuel gauge when calibrating IT. I managed to fix the speedometer somewhat, and it reads accurately (but sticks at high speeds), so I've ordered a new speedo cable. I've also ordered a new speedometer and fuel gauge unit (found on eBay for cheap), so I can replace that gauge, and if the speedo fails I can replace it (or use the new one on Stiltzkin).

You may have noticed I mentioned I do not have Mog right now, despite being back at uni. What gives? Being an amateur restorer, I wanted to have Mog looked over by a professional, and it turns out that in Springfield there is a British classics specialist (Swope Automotive). Swope discovered that the brakes were underperforming due to a kinked brake line, and they discovered the aforementioned carburetor wear. So, since I am unable to correctly flare brake lines (trust me, I tried), and carburetors confuse me, I left Mog with them. Mog should be finished early next week, and after a few days at home to do the work I need to do, I can bring Mog back to school -- perhaps in as soon as a fortnight.

Here's what I've got to do myself:

• Replace speedo cable
  Replace and calibrate fuel gauge
  Test speedometer function
  Replace diff pinion oil seal (leaking scarily)
  Adjust headlights
  Replace sump gaskets and oil seals
  Replace oil pressure warning switch

Stay tuned, folks...

[Fingolfin]

It turned out to be rather longer than two weeks. As it always does. The trouble was, the carburetor had been modified by a prior owner to take a too-large throttle shaft ( ), and the mechanic had a hell of a time finding a proper replacement for the larger shaft. But he managed to source one this week, and Mog should be ready for picking up no later than Monday.

Due to school responsibilities, I will be unable to retrieve it myself, so dad will pick it up for me; I'll do the jobs in the list above next weekend (the 11th through the 14th), and then, if all goes according to plan, drive it back to school.

[GBond]

I see you've already fixed this but the holes in the carburettor body for the throttle shaft frequently wear down.

S.U. sells a kit with a new shaft and brass liners that you drill oversize holes in the carburettor body to install, if you have the same problem with another carb in the future or can't find a shaft there's no need to scrap it.

I'll be doing this soon to my carb since it had about a millimeter gap in the shaft.

[Fingolfin]

Ah! Thanks for that, Gabe. I'll keep it in mind in the future.

[thecount]

Hey Fin
The cars looking great, you've done an excellent job getting it going there. I find with mine that no matter how much you do there is always something that need a bit of adjusting, or a good sharp tap with a stick, to set it going again, part of the attraction I guess I guess once you've got these minor troubles sorted there will be no stopping you, well exciting to be driving it to school finally I bet! Jealous though that you've been clocking up the miles in it, very much looking forward to driving mine again after 12 years in the shed and I don't have anywhere near the work you've done to get I going
Cheers
Gav

[Fingolfin]

Isn't that the truth! Minors need a lot of "fettling." I don't mind any of that, except when it's not me who gets to do it! I hate relying on mechanics, but in this instance there were a few things (well, one thing -- the brake line) which were beyond my abilities. I'll be only too happy to drive Mog to school! All my friends are very excited about the prospect.

I'm sure you'll be tootling along in yours in no time! Perseverance is the key (as I'm sure you know).

[Fingolfin]

Just a quick update for you. The mechanic has completed the repairs to Mog's carburetor and remounted it, and he says the engine runs well. Total cost is $340 for the carb repair and making a new brake line, which is pretty reasonable when parts cost is factored in.

I have middle-of-semester exams next week, so going home this weekend to retrieve Mog is a bad idea. I also won't be able to next weekend, again because of exams and projects, so I won't see Mog until 25 October at the earliest. Dad is trekking to get the car from the mechanic (and pay him) sometime next week.

It's not far off now!

[Fingolfin]

Dad has retrieved Mog from the mechanic, and it's waiting for my eager hands at home.[frame][/frame] I'll be going home tomorrow to do the remaining work over the weekend.

[Fingolfin]

I know you're reading this and expecting another "well I came so close but failed once again, there's this and this and this wrong, etc." post. All I can say to that is, SUCCESS HAS BEEN HAD! Here's the story.

I arrived home mid-afternoon Friday, and the first thing I did was change the oil pressure switch. This was hardly straightforward -- the old switch refused to come out and I had to turn the dizzy, throwing the timing off ( ) -- but it went in, and now the oil pressure light comes on and goes out at the right times. I next changed the fuel gauge for a spare unit, which was successful (though the new one needs calibration), and then I replaced the speedometer cable, which made an immediate improvement but has since given me a bit of trouble. It began to rain that evening, so I did little more, but I did glue down some carpet that had worked loose.

Saturday I fitted the PCV system.[frame][/frame] This was straightforward. It incorporates a plastic spacer between carb and manifold with a vacuum tap, and a one-way valve fitted atop the valve cover, and hose and stepped pieces to connect the two elements. It works -- I have had fewer engine leaks since fitting it, though I still have some leakage, I believe from the oil pump and perhaps the sump.

Next on Saturday I attempted to change the differential pinion oil seal. This did not succeed.[frame][/frame] It's a bad photo, but you can just make out the special bracket (bottom, bolted to nose flange) I made to counteract the motion of the diff when undoing the nut. The nut was successfully undone, but what prevented success was the flange -- it simply would not come off. I began to remove the differential, but upon trying to remove a halfshaft, the car slipped sideways off its jack stands, denting the fuel tank and destroying a plastic oil receptacle (I was not under the car at the time). This frightened me so badly I was shaking for hours, so I gave up, but I did reassemble the rear end.

This morning I added lock washers to the front suspension eyebolts (why I hadn't done this during the restoration, I don't know!), and replaced the front left leading brake cylinder.[frame][/frame] After bleeding the brakes, topping up the engine and dampers, and refilling the axle, it was time to set off for university, 132 miles north. This would be Mog's longest drive yet, and I was unsure of success.

The drive went well for a while. I had lost none of my skill operating the manual transmission, and the brakes were more positive (due to the new brake line) and the engine had a bit more power than before (due to the carburetor servicing). Some ways down the road, though, there appeared a rhythmic squeal that was definitely from the new speedo cable (the speedo needle was subtly bouncing in time). Additionally, the odometer was clearly underreading. It's possible the two problems are related, but the speedo needle seemed accurate or even overreading. In any event, the cable shall get some grease this week.

After an hour of driving on country roads, I stopped in Camdenton, Missouri, to take a break.[frame][/frame]

I proceeded up the road for another hour, passing through the Lake of the Ozarks and Jefferson City. The roads are nice and lazy through here.[frame][/frame] Apologies for the dirty windshield.

Finally I arrived in Fulton, where my university (Westminster College) is. I live in a "theme house" on campus called Remley Women's Center (because, though I am male, I care about women's issues), and Remley has its own private parking (such as it is) in the back.[frame][/frame]

What were the results? Well, Mog runs well enough. Midway through the drive I think I started to hear some tappet/valvetrain rattling, but it may have been the speedo cable. The odometer should have read 132 miles, but only read 98. The trip took 2 hours 36 minutes, making an average speed of 51 mph, which is about as fast as our modern cars make the trip (due mostly to country roads for the first fifty miles or so). Mog was LOUD but comfortable enough to ride in, and I toted a moderate amount of cargo with no problems.

Anyhow, here's the point: Mog's is now a "rolling restoration," with the car in service. It's a great milestone!

[GBond]

Congratulations!

You even found a modern car in the same color for the picture!

[Blades]

Well done Fin, I bet "Rolling Restoration" put a smile on your face

Nick

[Fingolfin]

Haha, thanks fellas. That other maroon car is driven by my housemate Allegra. And yes, I do have a smile on my face, though it's tempered slightly by new problems (always).

I checked Mog's oil this morning. It was quite chilly out, so the oil would have a smaller volume than normal; but the dipstick read only 1/3 full, where before my trip yesterday it was full up. I went for a short drive this morning after putting a quart in, and even after the quart and heating up, it still only reads about 3/4 full. Mog's engine has a capacity of four US quarts, meaning that it lost a quart for every 34 miles driven yesterday. That's horrifying!

So...an engine rebuild is in my future. Wonder when I'll have money or time for that...

[MarkyB]

Unless you laid down a massive smoke screen on the journey it's probably leaking from somewhere.
Park it over some cardboard after a run to narrow the search down.