Technical Articles

Tips on How to Restore a Morris Minor

Introduction
The Morris Minor is probably one of the simplest cars to restore provided that you understand how the panels fit together. Most parts are still available from the smallest rubber washer, to the largest panel. If it is repaired properly it should last for many years. The Morris Minor uses unitary construction, i.e., the strength of the vehicle depends on the whole structure rather than a chassis.
Before plunging into restoring your Morris Minor it is vital to decide what you want to do with the car:-

RESTORATION

This is an enormous subject to cover in detail and it is recommended that a good book be purchased such as:-

• "Morris Minor Restoration Preparation and Maintenance" by Jim Tyler (Osprey Automotive)
• "Purchase & DIY Restoration Morris Minor & 1000" by Lindsay Porter (Haynes)

These books contain numerous photographs and masses of information and are an excellent investment.
Before taking the plunge it is a good idea to decide if you have the skills, motivation, facilities, plenty of spare time and an understanding wife and neighbours to see the task completed. At this stage it might be a good idea to look at an amusing story on the Psychology of Restoration!

Prepare
Firstly join your local Morris Minor Club.
It is a good idea to strip one or more Morries for parts - this will not only provide useful parts but the know-how to dismantle a Morry. You will also quickly discover the areas that rust and crack - very useful knowledge when purchasing a car to restore. Free Morries suitable for wrecking are normally available from your club.
Attend a welding and panel beating course at your local Technical School.

Plan
Carefully examine the car and determine what body parts need repairing and what parts will have to be purchased.
Estimate the cost of carrying out the work - then double it!
Allow at least two years to complete the restoration.
Decide what work you are capable of carrying out. Obtain estimates for the cost of work to be completed by a professional tradesman. The two areas that may have to be done by a professionally are welding and spray painting.

Examine
It is highly likely that parts of the car will suffer from rust and metal fatigue. Examine the front chassis leg carefully as it likely to be rusted or patched.
The front suspension is mounted on a bolt that fits in a tube passing through the chassis leg. Examine the area around the eye bolt for fatigue - it is common for this area to be cracked.
The sills below the door are susceptible to corrosion. This area is vital to the strength of the car and should be examined by removing the sill outer panel.
The rear spring mounts and rear chassis rail should also be examined for rust.
Other areas that are likely to suffer from metal fatigue are:-
The front drivers door at the base of the quarter window, and the font and side edges of the bonnet.

Strip-down
Before major bodywork repairs can be carried out, all or part of the body shell will need to be stripped of mechanical components, lights, trim and ancillaries. If it is proposed to restore the car to concourse standard it will be necessary to remove everything from the shell. Carefully label and store parts so that they are not misplaced.
If it is proposed to re-paint the car, strip off the old paint and then repair any body faults such as rust, dents, etc. It is a good idea to consider having the car professionally cleaned by sandblasting or chemical dipping. Thorough cleaning will show up any areas that are rusted or cracked.
If you decide to clean the car yourself, the easiest way to clean and repair the underside of the car it to roll it over on its side. A roll-over frame may be found useful but a couple of willing helpers can easily roll the car over onto some old tyres.
It should only take a few days to completely strip a Morris Minor of all parts including front and rear mudguards (wings). However, cleaning the parts will take considerably longer and will test your patience.

Welding
Oxy and MIG welding require considerable skill to weld thin sheet metal. The MIG welder is probably the most suitable for home use. However, MIG welding requires considerable skill and it may be cheaper to employ a professional welder with portable equipment than purchase a MIG and learn how to use it.
Metal which is to be welded must have all traces of rust, paint, oil and grease cleaned from the surface (sandblasting or chemical dipping provides an ideal surface). Replacement panels may be purchased or simple parts fabricated by the handyman. It is important that all rusted areas of the body are cut out and replaced by welding in new panels.

Spray Painting
Spray painting is too vast a subject to be covered here. It is another area that takes considerable skill to produce a good result. The car should be painted before assembling the mechanical parts onto it. The home renovator should use Acrylic paint in preference to two pack (which is toxic and requires special breathing equipment). Acrylic paint is ideal for amateurs as it is very forgiving of mistakes. It is highly recommended that the restorer attend a spray painting course at a Technical School and purchase a good book on the subject.
A good compressor and spray gun will be required to obtain good results. A mask is required to protect the operator from fumes and fine paint dust. Practice on old car panels before starting to spray paint the car. The preparation, painting and finishing is a very time consuming task and it may be preferable to have the car professionally painted using two pack paint..

Assembly
It is important to check all of the mechanical components before assembling onto the body of the car. Important areas to check include:

• Braking system
• Condition of shock absorbers.
• Front and rear suspension parts
• Steering rack
• Wheels and tyres.

Don't try and save a few dollars by using worn old parts. New parts should be used when the condition of old parts are doubtful.
It is possible to improve the appearance by painting the grill and wheels a different colour to the body. And different tail lights may enhance the appearance of the car and improve the safety.

Finally
A lot of help can be obtained from members of a car club or from attending a TAFE restoration course.