Epic Morris Wedge restoration.

[rovamota]

It's about time I shared our latest project with you guys so I'll post everything to date. This has been going on since November 2014...

 

This Morris 1800 was donated to www.leylandprincess.co.uk by Practical Classics legend Sam Glover on the proviso that it was either kept as a monument to BL failure or restored to its original condition. We agreed to take on the car and it was delivered to us at the NEC classic car show last November. This was the first time I'd clapped eyes on it and when I did my heart sank. There was a LOT of work to be done!



We decided to have a bit of fun with the car at the NEC show so we let visitors to our stand write their messages of condolence on the car.







Then, it was time to drag it to its new home in Hampshire.

[rovamota]

Once home, the monumental task of assessing the work required was undertaken.

Rust, rust and more rust...



















And all this was before we pulled out the carpets...

[rovamota]

Interior removed and it was obvious this car needed a LOT of welding.

[DaveAspley]

Is this the one that Nick Larkin owned once? IIRC it's an early pre production jobby?

[rovamota]

we were slack-jawed at the amount rot in this car, but undeterred we sourced a welder of good repute and even he questioned our sanity but we convinced him it was worthwhile and got him to work.

Once the floor was welded we decided to start at the back as we had most of the panels ready to go on.



The whole of the inner and outer arch were rotten so it was cut out and replaced with new arches.







Then it was on to the other side.





And then the lower panel was replaced and a replacement boot lid sourced.

[rovamota]

Then we had to pay attention to the outer sills. Years of bodges meant we had to cut off the nearside completely but luckily we found a NOS replacement. Unfortunately we don't have an offside sill.

[rovamota]

The A pillars were giving cause for concern as they were both very rotten and a bodged repair had probably made it worse. The only way to properly repair them was to get the pillars from a donor car.









Luckily we managed to source a screen surround from a scrap car.



Then we had to drill out the spot welds so that the outer skins could be attached to the original A pillar frame.



Of course, the frame was treated and primered before the donor skin went on, and the rest of the lower screen frame area and wiper arm apertures then had to be fabricated.

 

 

 

[rovamota]

We took the opportunity to remove the whole of the rear suspension and trailing arm assemblies for refurbishment, with new wheel cylinders, new brake shoes and a coat of well earned paint.

 

We also had to replace the front to rear suspension pipe with a new made up item as it had been crushed, probably after being lifted by a fork lift at the breakers yard it was rescued from several years ago, but this at least meant we could pump the car up to its proper ride height, maybe for the first time in 10 years at least.



And so, the first time it's moved suspended by fluid for a very long time..



Next job is to get the front wings welded on.

[rovamota]

Our welder is very happy with what has been achieved, as are we, but it looks as though the welding is nearly over. It's only the front valance, offside sill and small patching left to do. The front wings have now been welded on; new ones just aren't available anywhere at the moment so we had to source used wings but they have been shot-blasted and treated, as has the front valance, which will be welded in place next week.



Whilst all this was going on we managed to source a set of excellent correct basic-spec vinyl seats, as well as a job lot of rear doors and boot lids, which have been in storage for 30 odd years and were removed from brand new Wedges that were converted into hearses. We were well chuffed with this find!





The dashboard was in a shocking state so we had to use a newer surround in black and paint it dark blue with special paint.



The steering wheel crash pad was also old and tired so that got the same treatment. Since the last picture was taken it has been coated with a stain finish to reduce the gloss.







Also, a refurbished set of wheels awaits fitting.

[rovamota]

So both front wings now in place and the replacement front valance is now ready to fit.









The dash has also come out quite well.

[rovamota]

Front apron now welded in place with new patches welded in. This almost concludes the welding apart from the nearside sill.

[Dippy]

Amazing job, hoping to see it at the NEC again if you take it back.

[rovamota]

We will be!

[406V6]

Truly epic. Great pics and welding. Look forward to seeing moooaaarrr

[fordperv]

Wedgetastic, i am impressed at the level of dedication for something that someone else would happily give up on and frag

[MarvinsMom]

same here, io saw it last november and to be honest i hardly dared hope that this wedge would live again.

 

seeing it in the spring the car did look a whole lot better and more solid, and now its even closer to completion.

 

i'm so very pleased to see it ride again. the world needs more wedges!!

[outlaw118]

EPIC!

 

That has to rank up there with Joe's samara and Benno's FSO's.

 

Good work Sir.

[rovamota]

It's been a nightmare. It was so rusty even the welder questioned our sanity.

[rovamota]

I'll post pics of the engine resto tomorrow.

[mercrocker]

Brilliant to see.   Thankfully sanity is not always the best measure of a task......

[drum]

Great work. There won't be much of the original left when you're finished.

[EssDeeWon]

Great work, this is really what I come on Autoshite for !!!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

That is some phenomenal work! While I never thought this car would be scrapped, I wasn't expecting it to be restored either. 

 

Fancy coming across a bulk job of unused doors and bootlids! Amazing. 

[rovamota]

We realise that not much originality is left, but then this is the oldest surviving Morris 1800 so that's a good enough reason to get it back on the road.

[doobietoo]

Its not often I am lost for words but..........

[Alexg]

Smashing!

[Waderider]

Very impressive!

[rovamota]

This is what we're aiming for, it's an 1800 basic model.

 

[lincolndanny]

With it being pre production I assume theres every chance it could be the actual car used in early advertising?

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I post a bit on leylandprincess.co.uk and am glad to see this project going so well. I can't wait to see it in the flesh when it's all done. Middle of next year?