Merlin the traveller restoration

Let us all know what you are up to with your current restoration project. Get that Minor on the road!
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Morris Mike
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Morris Mike »

Hello Grant,

20 years old...is that your age. ? If so well done for taking on such a challenge. I have a few years on you, well a lot really. :D

I re-timbered a Traveller about three months ago. I posted the progress on this forum.
There is a lot of associated work to do along the way. Most people do not realise this.
They just look at the finished timber work and think that is all you have carried out.

If you need any info just contact me.

As for treating the timber the other advice is correct.

Give the timber plenty of coats of 5 star Cuprinol complete treatment against fungal attack,wet and dry rot.

Danish oil is the very best finish you can give it. I personally always give my exterior timber a coat of light oak wood dye first to seal it,it also gives it a better colour...
Danish oil on its own looks too pale.


Avoid varnish. Any cabinet maker, furniture restore or joiner will tell you Oil is best for outside finishes.
The interior timberwork you could strip back to bare ash and then you could give it some coats of medium oak beeswax...a lovely natural finish.
Cut back the timber with a scotch pad between coats ,wire wool was used in the past,I used it for years, but things have moved on since the invention of new products.
The trade use it all the time working with joinery finishes and the car trade for giving paintwork a good key.
M.M
Morris Minor Traveller 1961 Modified.
Austin 6cwt Van 1972. Teal Blue
Morris Minor Traveller 1961 Original
Austin A30 Van 1956.
Austin A35 Van 1960
What else is lurking behind those open doors.?.
Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

Thanks very much Morris Mike :D

Yes i'm 20, the official mobile greenhouse of the young members :P

I will definitely have plenty of question soon! Hopefully building the wooden frame up soon :)
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


ASL642
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by ASL642 »

Grant - one suggestion. The interior is quite expensive to replace. If you intend to re-use the seats you have can I suggest you cover them or preferably remove them as they are very close to the area you are working and any cutting sparks will ruin the vinyl.

Bring back meories of when we re-wooded Vikki! :D

Lou Rocke
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Morris Mike
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Morris Mike »

Oh and cover any glass with masking paper when cutting,welding and grinding...... even the speedometer.

Also watch were the grinding sparks are flying,I have seen very good items ruined when placed in a workshop near work being carried out.
The amount of classic cars I have worked on or veiwed where someone else has been at them in the past and the glass has been ruined by careless workmanship.

Windscreens are the worst that suffer especially when the sun shines.

M.M
Morris Minor Traveller 1961 Modified.
Austin 6cwt Van 1972. Teal Blue
Morris Minor Traveller 1961 Original
Austin A30 Van 1956.
Austin A35 Van 1960
What else is lurking behind those open doors.?.
irmscher
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by irmscher »

Looks good nice work :)
Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

Hi all, thanks for all the comments etc :D

I'm soon going to have to use some body filler for a bit of smoothing, to be followed by some temporary painting!
Any suggestion or perhaps guides? Thanks!
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

Happy New year, apologies for not updating as I go!

I'd hit a bit of a dry spell with Merlin's restoration, mainly because I'd run out of time and skill!

He's currently getting a few bits professionally sorted and looked over, before I get on and rebuild him!


I've recently changed careers and am now working at DSN Classics in Attleborough, perfect!

Photos soon!
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


irmscher
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by irmscher »

Any further :D
Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

Updates and a ton of pictures coming soon.... I hope everyone will be impressed! :D

Due to work commitments and the like I've not been updating!
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

SO...

Before I disappeared and became Shop manager of DSN Classics I was busy trying to get some welding and panels fitted.

The below shows the rear lower panel 'ready' to be fitted. I managed to tack it in place and got the wood on for fitment, just. I wasn't happen with it and soon realised I was out of my depth (having never done anything like this before)

This was in September of 2014.

[frame]Image[/frame]

A few months down the line and several long trips to my local Morris Minor specialist restorer I had some more metal on the car.
I was very lucky that I was able to help and do some metal work and other jobs with the help of my specialist.[frame]Image[/frame][frame]Image[/frame]

So we toiled away for a few months. I stripped lots of suspension parts and brake bits, wire wheeling cleaning and painting.
The rear springs were reconditioned and wrapped in the old school wax wrap. The diff was given the once over too.[frame]Image[/frame][frame]Image[/frame]

The wood was on and off so more times than I care to remember... It was still looking nothing like a car, but a lot closer than if I had continued by my lonesome.[frame]Image[/frame]

Several months, with long gaps in between work due MORE work commitments, Merlin was looking like an actual car. The dream looked like it might actually happen.
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

Boom..[frame]Image[/frame]

We were back in business!

I had extra motivation when my younger brother/parents bought this beast - Norris![frame]Image[/frame]

The work continued and paint seemed to happen?[frame]Image[/frame]

This was a real turning point for me. Up to this point my enthusiasm had been tested. Now I was really excited.[frame]Image[/frame]

I am now into that really interesting stage of working out what I want to do him!
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

So since his return I have been pretty busy!

I have painted/coated the inside.
Image[/frame]

Fitted the rear lights and even got them working first time, magic really.

The front then came off.
Image[/frame]
With the front off most of the engine stripped away, new mounts and gaskets everywhere.

Image[/frame]

I was just having fun doing stuff in the engine bay and not worrying about people's views. It's not perfect - but it is mine and I love it aha.


Some very lovely new alloy billet parts, courtesy of work, have added some temporary mods (the billet thermostat housing will soon be a silver special one).
I fitted the billet filter head, which uses the spin on oil filters, braided hose and new filter.

I love this photo.[frame]Image[/frame]


I gave the cylinder head the once over, valves, rockers etc etc.[frame]Image[/frame]

I had the engine back together with the front on for a test start... check the oil pressure etc etc. The extra long hoses are just a temporary thing, for testing 8)[frame]Image[/frame]
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

After several failed attempts at starting the fuel pump was diagnosed (Shoutout to top team member Rob & Kim for your help)

A new one was purchased from work and fitted the same day, obviously![frame]Image[/frame]

I had a few little problems in my attempts to get it started!

- low tension lead caught fire (that was my bad for poor wiring awareness)
- No fuel
- No spark

STILL I perceived and.... it started!
This is a link to a shared album, if you wanted to hear it run. This is the first time it had ran in about 4 years aha :lol: :lol:
https://goo.gl/photos/4HfYcHpGxUwoALmG9[frame]Image[/frame]
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

I shall get some more photos up over the next week.

However I have got the brakes all fitted and bled (thanks again to Rob for his help). The rear and interior electrics seem to work okay, so far? The engine has blown up, although I think the piston rings are not what they use to be..so it might be an engine out properly job before long.

This photo below is pretty much where I'm at currently. I feel a certain sense of accomplishment and relief that it is this far![frame]Image[/frame]

I have to say though that the bonnet side moulding clips are a lot of fun to put on :evil: Thankfully a small socket came to the rescue... 8)
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


irmscher
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by irmscher »

The paintwork is lovely I wish I could spray :(
greendefender123
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by greendefender123 »

Nice looking really good!
Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

Thanks guys!

I have been trying to fit the head lights this evening... My halogens were literally cut through and removed and not labelled (woops :oops: ).

From the O/S look i have two blue and white wires, then two red wires and a green and red. I have earthed the head light and managed to get it to work. HOWEVER... with main beam on i only have the RH side and when i switch to dipped beam I only have the LH side... WHAT HAVE I DONE :evil: :evil: :roll:
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


ManyMinors
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by ManyMinors »

Probably just poor connections? If you're using the original wiring then clean up the brass bullets with something like wet or dry paper and then assemble using new connectors. You probably know all this but the blue/white are main beam. Blue/red are dip. Red are sidelamps and green with either red or white tracers are the indicators. The side/indicator lamps should earth through their fixings but the headlamps require a separate earth as you have done. It is also possible that the headlamp filaments which are not working have blown I suppose but connections are the more likely. A simple test bulb will tell you how far the current is getting if you don't have a meter.

Well done with it - it is looking great now. Maroon is a very striking colour particularly on the traveller.
Sparticus
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by Sparticus »

So I have made some progress since my last post.

I have correctly wired up the head lights and indicators, everything now works wonderfully (so satisfying).[frame]Image[/frame][frame]Image[/frame][frame]Image[/frame]

Unfortunately the mirroring of the NS head light is peeling so I shall have to replace it!

The brakes haven't bled up to a satisfactory level and has left me doubting the master cylinder, I'll have to replace it I fear.
Grant, 23, Morris Minor traveller - Saloon. Merlin traveller 90% finished!
DSN Classics


DAVIDMCCULLOUGH
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Re: Merlin the traveller restoration

Post by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH »

Great work! 8)


Too many Minors so little time.....
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