Morris Ten Four Thread.

[cros]

The cylinder cleaned up and with new seals and linings the car went back on the road. I think that what looks like rust is brake lining dust. And what looks like brake linings were actually bits of knackered trouser belt rivetted to the shoes. The car stops OK now (by 1930's standards)

[UltraWomble]

Just curious - what was behind your choice of seasoned pine?

Not my choice Bobs.

Cheaper than Ash, easier to work than Ash, same strength for what its being used for, car isnt likely to spend a great deal of time exposed to the elements, was used on the woodwork in the Eight and has so far stood up well with no ruptures or rotting. Its already present on the car as the original frame is patched,

Its been used on the Eight and stood the test of time.

[cros]

The A series is going back together slowly- Taiwanese made 'County' pistons in the new bores.

I was lucky in that the head had already been fitted with hardened valve seats, but the guides were shagged. With new guides the valves went back in and everything trimmed up. You are advised that when rebuilding an engine the bench should be clean enough to eat your lunch off- good luck with even finding your lunch on mine.

 

 

[cros]

I've started to whip it out. I'm pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to gain access to the engine room. Two captive screws and the bonnet is gone, take off the 2 radiator support rods and undo two (also captive) bolts under the rad and that's it. Eat your heart out if you've had to gain access to a Mercedes V8 to replace the cam chain.

[cros]

That plastic fan doesn't look at all out of place on a 'professional' conversion does it?

[cros]

There's now a big hole where the A+ engine was. The gearbox has gone too, and what a lump. Cast iron, it weighs twice as much as the one that will replace it. Sadly for all its mass these Triumph boxes did not have a reputation for strength and the late 2.0 litre O series Marinas were only available as automatics. This one is shagged- reverse and first make horrible noises and I usually give 3rd a miss as it is very baulky. It's now in the skip.

 

Here's the plumbing arrangement for the hydraulic clutch. A couple of compression fittings and two different sizes of steel pipe brazed together to enable the fluid to travel 2 feet to the master cylinder.

I'd forgotten about this little trapdoor in the passenger foot well. A secret compartment for the 1930's driver to stash his porno or where you access the handle for the built in jacking system? Anyway, a handy excuse should your rapidly nodding head be spotted when parked up in a lay-by.

[vulgalour]

You keep saying professional conversion and yet posting pictures of a quite clearly amateur installation.  Looking forward to the new engine and box going in, should look far nicer and sound super.

[cros]

By using the word 'professional' I'm quoting the previous owner who told me that this work was carried out by a classic car specialist who had converted several cars previously. The quality of work I've seen in this area is sometimes truly awful. It might be that old cars are perceived as unreliable so expectations are low.

Heres a nice example of the bodyshop's art which was exposed when the cab lining fell off in my lorry. It was committed before I bought the thing.

[mk2_craig]

Ergomatic?

[vulgalour]

That's... wow.

[rml2345]

That's spectacular. It looks like the cabs been patched using that marble affect melamine you usually find on the counters at chip shops.

Good work on the 10 though, you'll have a lovely useable car with bags of character at the end of it

[anonymous user]

You keep saying professional conversion and yet posting pictures of a quite clearly amateur installation.

Of course they may not have been a professional car restorer, perhaps it was done by an accountant, a lawyer, psychyatrist or some other type of professional.

[cros]

Something bizarre happened yesterday when I was out in the Austin, shortly after I took the photo of its lovely roof. (An Ergomatic would be nice Mr Mk2_Craig but sadly it's not one of them). Anyway, a recovery truck driver was having a chat and mentioned that his mate had just removed a good Loadstar cab because he was building some kind of special and didn't need it. The Loadstar's military sibling, the K9, (not to be confused with the 'woofer' or WF) has found favour with the sea coal gathering fraternity and is used to drive into the sea where they pick the stuff up. Not surprisingly, this usage tends be hard on the bodywork so I never expected to find another cab, at least not on land. Fingers are now well crossed.

[ruffgeezer]

That is a lovely selection of tat you have there sir.

 

Did you ever find a home for that 1275 lump?

[cros]

That is a lovely selection of tat you have there sir.

Did you ever find a home for that 1275 lump?

Thank you kindly. The A+ is sitting uneasily between a 2.8 Iveco and a 2.5 300 tdi. The diesels are kept to discourage the series one and lorry's motors from dying on me, a sort of St Christopher's badge only bigger. I just need to make sure the Morris can make adequate progress with the 1100 and it will be up for grabs. Will post here- are you in a hurry?

[ruffgeezer]

Not at all, my father in law mentioned that he wanted a bit more pep from his A30.

[cros]

Not at all, my father in law mentioned that he wanted a bit more pep from his A30.

The 1275 would do it, but its not a drop in fit for an a30. Apologies if you already know, but a modified flywheel is needed as the crank boss is different. At the front you need a new plate as the A+ has its mounts in the centre of the block. If the A35 has its original gearbox you're stuck with a 6.25" clutch; some people say you can get the bigger clutch in but it wouldn't fit in mine.Asking the small clutch to handle twice the power that the 803 produced might not end happily.

[cros]

Yesterday I went to look at a Morris 10/4 that's been on eBay. It is a later post war type without the separate chassis, and though I find them ugly I would have liked to try one, any normal person would. The front suspension is "interesting" in that they were trying to get the best from a solid axle at a time when nearly everyone else was offering independent set-ups.

I don't want to be too rude about this but it was totally fucked. The chassis box section, described as good except for the last 6" only existed in the vendor's imagination- the bottom and half the sides from the 'a' post back were not present. Engine was on the button as promised, but with oil-pressure unable to get above 20 psi at cold and lots of mechanical clatter the expensive to rebuild xpag lump was also fucked.

I must have gone dyslexic as I cant see how the unremarkable 3 number 3 letter registration number alone is worth the asking price of 2500 so I wished him luck with the sale and had a rainy whizz back across Woodhead in the MG.

[cros]

Today I prepared for 'dropping' the 1100 engine into the Morris 10 4. Firstly I removed the old A+ engine mounts. I can only hope that my conversion lives up to the high standard achieved previously.

I got fed up trying to grind the mess off and settled for just removing the worst. Then I craned the engine with box aloft and wiggled it into the hole. Note precision balancing mechanism which you can buy from Travis and Perkins.

I'd already scrabbled about underneath and bolted an old Minor propshaft to the diff; as there's plenty of room I don't want to piss about shortening the prop and will let the existing length determine where the engine is positioned. The shaft is just entering the box here, the outer sheath has been left off in case your wondering. I'm on fire tonight.

A trial fit of the gearstick shows it falls readily to hand. The knob has gone soft and perished, they get like that after 60 years of being handled- unusually they are made from rubber


It just remains to make some engine mounts, sort out a new clutch linkage, plumb everything in and get back on the road. I can't wait.

[vulgalour]

Are you sure someone paid actual cash money for the previous work?  I'm struggling with that bit of this still, it seems hard to believe.

 

New engine and gearbox installation looks right at home in the trial and that square dash dial is a really nice looking bit of design.

[UltraWomble]

. The knob has gone soft and perished, they get like that after 60 years of being handled- unusually they are made from rubber

 

 

At least yours has a knob!

 

Spent a bit of time with Bob this weekend and the 10-4 now has a full complement of doors all fitted and nicely aligned - the roof (previously plated over) has been opened up and the sliding roof will be restored to its former somewhat leaky glory.

 

A little more tickling with the welding stick and its ready for paint. The plan is to re-upholster over winter ready for it to burst forth next spring - its also looking like the spares car is going to get a new lease of life, but as a van. Personally I think it would be easier to make it into a pick up ( we have two back panels that can be used to weld up a 2 seat cab) but Bob feels that a van would be more useful. Given that very little of the spares car will be original anyway aside from the chassis, wheels and some panels I dont suppose it matters much anyway whats done with it.

 

Currently looking for a Rudd autocycle of 1936 vintage and negotiating for a bit more land purchase to extend the workshop cum garage to fill with more cars!

[cros]

A van is a very nice idea; I'm sure it will be tastefully executed unlike the Minor pickups that keep cropping up. Is that a Rudge you're after or is it a 'not in Tragatsch' piece of exotica?

Getting back to knobs, I'll see if I have a spare one.

[UltraWomble]

A van is a very nice idea; I'm sure it will be tastefully executed unlike the Minor pickups that keep cropping up. Is that a Rudge you're after or is it a 'not in Tragatsch' piece of exotica?

Getting back to knobs, I'll see if I have a spare one.

You are quite right - it is a Rudge.

Cant say I have had much luck finding the type that he says his father had mind you - but not in any rush. The van ( if it ever happens) will be a true "bitsa" and likely end up on a Q plate. 

I might try and find an autocycle myself to tinker with 50cc with tiny vulcanised rubber brake blocks!

[cros]

I might not always put the correct bits into my cars but in case a future owner wants to get all concours about it I wanted to attach this engine without further butchery. Hence an adapter to join the A series engine mounts to those of its older relative.

All a bit crude, but it is a sliced up fencing post.

The Chinese hacksaw was rescued from the tip and is completely shagged out. It's holding the pointy bit of post which will be going back there as it's too rusty to use. I sometimes make the mistake of taking re-cycling too far.

 

 

That's the front of the engine fixed in

 

 

At the back more of the same and a clutch shaft that is an infuriating one inch out of alignment with where the car's pedal is pivoted. Some linkage was needed to bridge the small distance and is arranged so that hopefully it dis-engages the clutch rather than push the engine and box backwards; Morris Minors have a little cable to stop this happening, A35s don't because they are cleverer.

I'll snip the ends off that split pin to stop it bothering anyone.

[cros]

I patched up the floor this week and stuck it back in after giving it some paint. Patches were not needed because of corrosion but to cover the many holes that had been rudely made for the Ital gearbox and hydraulic master cylinder.

 

The engine has already run but wouldn't idle nicely due to a sticking carb piston. The carb is an unknown quantity from the scrapyard, and after a bit of re-centering of the needle is working properly. I prefer these to the later spring 'bias' needles as once set they don't suffer from wear so much.

 

I decided to dispense with the services of the previous leaky heater and spend 100 quid on a tiny thing that is made for kit cars. I've got one in my lorry and find they're ideal for warding off hypothermia.

I had a brief drive up the road without the bonnet and it is nice to have a light clutch and reasonable gear selection. It's a bit troubling that this clutch, at 6.25", is saucer sized and small for even the 1100, so I'll probably avoid towing lorries with the car in future- it dragged a broken-down one about a mile last year. Tomorrow a tighten down of the head, set valve clearance, sort out the offensive battery cable, then drive it to the pub.

[vulgalour]

Good solid engine mount that, not the most elegant and certainly not crude, just sensible and practical.  Nice stuff.  Can you take a video of it pootling about at all?  That would be nice too.  No worries if not, I can use my imagination and your pictures.

[alf892]

That's a nice little heater......where did you get it?

[cros]

Hello Alf, heater was from ebay, several people are selling them now but mine came from here.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322065326261?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3A

 

They have what looks like a computer fan inside and the little radiator is copper, not paper as on todays cars. Last one was direct from the UK makers but I couldn't find them so they are probably knocked up in China now. It is supposed to be 3.5 Kw but doesn't feel like you're in front of a 3 bar electric fire. Doubtless the Kw. has been devalued post brexit.

 

[cros]

Just found the heater makers, T7 design. However on the search I came across a few suggestions for making your own by using 12 volt computer fans strapped to an old matrix from a VW Polo. Wish I'd thought thought of that.

There used to be company called Heat On (probably a catchy name where they're made in Holland). I've got one of their 6kw ones in my series 1 and it tames even this draftiest of vehicles. Was £150 but havent seen one for a while.

[cros]

My wife used the Morris for shopping today and it has been declared fit to be back in service.

It seems fine on its smaller engine but is being nursed due to running in. Gears work nicely but I will have to come up with a blocking device as there is nothing to stop you going into 4th instead of reverse. Because I used parts from 2 types of gearbox the original spring loaded thing got left behind as it moved from the early type selector rail to the remote, neither of which I used.

I've developed a strong hankering for another car like this but in open form. I never use the Wolseley 1500 and feel that it would be better swapped for something more Morrissey.