project Boris the '59 Minor.

[2flags]

For £350 you have to ask yourself, just how rusty is it. I have just read Captain 70's thread. That was a weldathon and a half! On both cars!

[Joey spud]

It goes without saying you have got to buy a Minor on structural integrity rather than mechanical condition unless you're some kind of cutting, grinding,welding pervert.

Lots of them out there to choose from too.

[High Jetter]

  On 18/06/2024 at 21:37, Joey spud said:

Lots of them out there to choose from too.

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Not just you, then? 😀

[Joey spud]

A pair of 18 month old part worn 175/70 14's arrived this morning.

So I need to unpack my welder from storage and finish off the fourth wheel pronto.

[Joey spud]

A quick up date.

I've still not completed the fourth wheel as I don't fancy the faff of squaring everything up with a dial gauge atm but as mentioned elsewhere all the lights are now fitted and work as intended although I didn't like how I had done the rears as it looked awkward so I did away with the indicator plinths as they didn't sit right and annoyed me greatly and just fitted the lamps flush into the wings instead.

I've got orange lenses coming too as red doesnt look right.

The sound deadening sheets and insulation has been completed.

And the carpets and seats fitted.

I've been watching AC Dodd's A series tuning stuff on YouTube and he was saying Powerspark Distributors were for the money a good improvement over points/condenser ignition as they can run with a 1.4 ohm coil for a fatter spark at the plugs (now gapped at 35 thou) and being variable dwell they can create the big spark at high rpm too.

The one I purchased has an advance curve suitable for my 1275cc engine and slotted in and worked no problem and once timed up to 8 degrees I had to drop the idle speed so that must mean something. My existing coil was a bog standard 3.0 ohm jobby but digging through my Subaru parts stash I found a spare coil that was rated at 1.5ohms.

Obviously I couldn't fit it without smartening it up first...

So it got wrapped with an Atlantic pale ale can (very tasty) instead of the rowdy Stella can which can now go on the Subaru.

I'm showing my age here but when I started driving me and my mates would often decorate our ignition coils with random drinks cans.

The rocker cover gasket was leaking so I changed it and this time used a thin layer of silicone on both faces only to find that hot oil is now leaking through the cork material.

I mean how is that even possible ?

[Joey spud]

So six months later I've finally made some time to get this Minor finished enough to use as my local runaround (although I am hankering after something late thirties/ forties tbh).

It still needs some of its interior remaking/fitting and probably a remote brake servo adding as despite having Midget discs up front they don't inspire confidence and really need a good hard push on the pedal. Maybe the ancient pads need updating to more modern friction material.

First up is the poor running and holding back the ignition system is new and now electronic so I feel fuel delivery is where my troubles lie.

After watching a clip of it in action I purchased this 38mm Hif. I wanted a 44mm one really but couldn't justify the cost.

I stripped and cleaned it inside and out before fitting it but soon realised my Minor throttle cable didn't fit the mounting plate so rather than order/wait for a Metro cable I cut off and welded the stub from the old HS4 mounting plate on to it instead.

The K+N filter was black and gummed up with oily crud and obviously not ideal so I cleaned it with petrol and a tooth brush before bathing it in really hot soapy water and it seems to have come up like new again.

The needle jet already fitted was allegedly suitable for a 1098 engine and with a bit of research a AAM needle was suggested as being suitable for a Hif 38 on a 1275.

Original needle (ACC) versus the new AAM jobby on the right. There's quite a difference in profile.

So with it all back together and the mixture roughly set using the piston lift pin as a guide I went for a trot around the village and can report that Boris is now a happy little Morris Minor who pulls well and idles sweetly.

 

[Matty]

Excellent news @Joey spud. I've chased my arse a few times over needles on a 1098 and a 1310. Thanks to our resident a series guru Tom of here everything worked out great. Im on an inch and 3/4 HS.

If you go with a remote servo please let me know how you get on. I'm on the same midget discs as you. I've got greenstuff pads and a later mini dual circuit master cylinder. Don't get me wrong they work but don't half need a shove. Which is fine if you don't swap from modern stuff to old stuff then back.