MON 87, Series MM

Let us all know what you are up to with your current restoration project. Get that Minor on the road!
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RobThomas
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MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

Well, just an intro so far. I bought the car as a part-restored project and plan to have it on the road within a week. It has changed hands a few times so there are quite a few small bits missing and it is hard to decide what has been done and what has been assembled just to make it mobile. No cataloguing of parts...al dropped into a selection of Ice Cream tubs. Doh!

Still, not much welding to do and it has fresh paint.
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Cardiff, UK
palacebear
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by palacebear »

Good to know another S-MM is heading back on the road. Upholstery looks pretty good too 😊
1956 4-door called Max
alanworland
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by alanworland »

Looks pretty tidy, love the colour (but I might be a bit biased!)
I should think with all your MM experience you could put it together with your eyes closed!

Alan
Image
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

Day 2 has gone well. Engine and ancills all bolted back on after cutting my own gaskets. Several metric heads on the engine bolts to get changed over, one missing hinge part on the drivers quaterlight (anybody got one), trafficators reinstated, propshaft UJs changed and lubed up and rear lights stripped and rebuilt. The handbrake cables seem a little short and foul the tailpipe on the left side. An extra couple of inches would have been handy. Awaiting an ESM delivery before I can carry on much more.

The remould Crossplies are new but are shot. I have some 4 inch rears to go on so will need to paint strip and respray a pair.
Cardiff, UK
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

Np parcel turned up today so I went for a shoot. Fired about 50 rounds of .44 from my revolver, a dozen from my .451 Enfield Naval rifle and a dozen from a .357 revolver. On the way back I got overtaken by the BBMF Lancaster as it made its way back from the Swansea Airshow. Not a bad day, after all.

So far I seem to be lacking a few screws from the RHS window frame, those short stainless ones, the pin bracket from the top of the quaterlight and the small plate that the quaterlight latch rubs against. The 2 big screws that tighten the quaterlight hinge are also missing. Probably lying in a bag together at the home of one of the previous owners. Ho hum.

Nice to see that it still retains the 4 original bronze suspension trunnions. Not bad for 65,000 miles from new.

Some of the wiring looks to have scorched. The white feed to the fuel pump may well be shorted out, hence the lack of ticking. Not the end of the world but there is an invoice for a new loom from a few years ago so somehow it has shorted early in its life. Another invoice shows a 1.6mm rebore with new pistons and all bearings. Beginning to look quite good.
Cardiff, UK
DAVIDMCCULLOUGH
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH »

Great project Rob, keep up the good work :D


Too many Minors so little time.....
smithskids
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by smithskids »

Hi Rob, just sold my 2 enfields but still shoot my Musgrave with 30" barrel. We don't get as many range days at Strensall due to MOD "higher priority bookings" these days. I often go in the MM and always get a crowd round it when there.
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

I've been casting my own bullets recently. Lots of relaxation but it is giving me a bad back crouching over the pot.
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Anyway, today I fired it up for the first time since possibly 1990 when the engine was rebuilt. Ran smoothly and sounded OK. A bit quiet with the original pea-shooter 1-inch bore exhaust. One leaking (new) wheel cylinder to change out, steering wheel to change for a better one and some tyres. The old steering wheel was shrunken and crumbling so I'll find another in the shed. The carb was coked with Bicarb of Soda from when I presume someone tried to clean it. About 2 tsp of Bicarb in the float chamber. Yuk.
Cardiff, UK
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

Well, who'd a thunk it. Lowlight door handles are a different shape to the ones with escutcheons on the doors. Also, the inner door lock handle on the passenger side is a different external shape. Problems solved by visiting the shed.

Door window sealing rubbers from ESM are too short by a good half inch. What a waste of effort. Why not make them long enough for the owner to trim them, for goodness's sake.

Dissy is a cause of some concern. 40215, so the mid era version, but the bushes inside are very sloppy. Not sure how best to solve that issue. Timing is all over the place, not that you can really tell in an MM. Choke cable is snapped off so I might need to get some piano wire and spend an evening tinkering.
Cardiff, UK
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

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Pinstripes on, lights working, interior fitted (except for the carpet) and now on to the brakes which are all new but need bleeding. Interestingly, the original bronze trunnions are still in good nick.
Cardiff, UK
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

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Cardiff, UK
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

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Like Busses, you wait for ages and then 3 turn up.
Cardiff, UK
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

Floor looks awful. Might have to scrap it.
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Cardiff, UK
StillGotMy1stCar
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by StillGotMy1stCar »

Thought you were being serious for second are two.
I have a slow broadband speed so takes some time to see the pictures, that one took about 25 seconds or more.
Nice :D
Regards John
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

Fitting the front bumper was a nightmare. no matter what I did, the valence would rub against the front wings. Eventually I twigged that the front valence and chrome were all OK, I merely had the steel spring on the wrong way up. Solved the issue straight away. I'd never notice the spring was 'handed' before. Lesson learned.
Cardiff, UK
Dean
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by Dean »

Looks amazing, well done.
My Minor:
A Clarendon Grey 1953 4 Door Series II.
MMOC - 66535


RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

Grrrrr. Bloody tyres.

I bought some cheapo Toyo tyres and a set if inner tubes. I can't get the tyres to ride up the wheel rim and seat properly. Also, 2 of the tubes have already popped. Poop.

Might just say S** it and use them tubeless with some Tr415 valves.
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The original suspension trunnions, in Bronze, are still like new. The only mod to the car seems to be the usual change to 948 type 7 inch brake backplates, and the new duck-tape grease cap that I designed.

I can't get the door seal to stay on the rim of the door frame so may have to tinker with it. I noticed that the early cars have a straight rear edge to the frame whilst the '63 has a bulge to keep the driver/passenger from catching their coats on the bracket that locates the door (pin and hole thingies)
Cardiff, UK
RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

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Nearly done. High level brake light will hopefully help keep the car intact for a bit longer. Those original lights are rather awful.
Cardiff, UK
alanworland
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by alanworland »

Looking good. Think the extra brake light is a good idea. I have a led unit fitted on a couple of those magnetic pickup telescopic devices which stick to the parcel shelf and are adjusted so the light shines nicely through the rear window.
Simple and no holes!

Alan
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RobThomas
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Re: MON 87, Series MM

Post by RobThomas »

Just insured the car. RH Insurance, Fully Comp, 3000 miles, £60. :D
Cardiff, UK
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