Morris Minor Ratrod

[SiC]

Saw the Mini today Sic.. Just in the nick of time ! Fella's been kicked out apparently... Only thing left in the barn is the Mini and a dumper...I've text him asking if it's for sale ... I could only see the front of it through the gap in the doors . Looks like a white Mk 3 , wide arches , presumably wide wheels , foglights ! Couldn't see reg plate ,a sack was covering it.

And a call back already ..Non..keeping it for his son poor fucker !

Boo! Thanks for enquiring though. If his son changes his mind, I'm still interested.

[SiC]

Knowing your luck, it's some example that raced at Monteo Carlo and his son is now going to rag it around the field, smashing it up.

[SiC]

The sale of this Moggie has effectively paid for my new garage door. So it's only right I put it away. Which means finally a clear drive!


Before it goes off to it's new owner, I had a check over on the ammeter. Pulling the ammeter found a potential fire hazard waiting to happen.


Likewise the under bonnet look modifications weren't exactly reassuring either.


I decided to remove all this ammeter (not particularly useful for an alternator anyway) and replace it with something more useful.
The modified wiring I cut off at where the factory wiring started - unfortunately not long enough to connect back to the starter switch. So I crimped on a new short piece. Btw I love these heatshrink crimp pieces. When they are heated, they have hot melt glue that seals off both ends and thus make the join watertight.



The other end hand a ring terminal attached, then heatshrink to provide strain relief and sealing.


While I was having a poke around under the bonnet to check other wiring I found the coil wire looking a bit suspect. Pretty much snapped off in my hand after a gentle wiggle. Fixed this up while I was there.


Back inside I fitted in a rev counter. Much more useful instrument. I also cleaned up some of the other wiring on the temperature gauge.


It actually works pretty well! Shame it's not got a chrome ring to match the others but it's not particularly offensive looking. Not particularly expensive to buy either. Has a switch on the back to change between 2 to 8 cylinder operation too.


The horn does attempt to work but let's out a weak fart. As usual with these things the contacts on the horn push were dirty. Gave them a good clean-up on both the button contacts and where they make electric contact to the wheel.



Also got some new wipers on order. The original ones were split to pieces and useless. I tried MGB wipers but these are too large. So I ordered some Valeo Silencio wipers on order that should fit. While not original looking, they should actually work as wipers. Hopefully handy given where this will be going!


Finally got a new washer pump coming from Amazon as the one here has packed in. Should be a straightforward enough swap.

Apart from this, I don't think there is anything left to do on it! Interior could do with a good scrub down to remove decades of dirt from sitting in a garage. I did clean up the dials and remove some of the encrusted o-ring residue that always seems to happen on these Smith's gauges.


Much like selling the 1100, now I've finished, I kinda regret selling it.

BUT I have a MG Midget that (I bought nearly 5 months ago!) is waiting for its turn to be sorted. Before that I will get the BGT down for a check-over and service - ready for this summer.
Hopefully I'll have both the BGT and Midget together on the road before the end of summer. Perhaps some wishful thinking there...!

[AMCrebel]

I like the heat shrink connectors too - I also use the ones with solder inside - no crimp required.

[fried onions]

Unfortunately they are one of those cars which people get at with dubious modifications, and they always go for the bloody wiring first. Wiper blades are 10" spoon fit. Don't know what the obsession is with people fitting electric screenwashers - the manual plunger originally on these is very effective.

[Hooli]

I fitted electric washers on my Midget as it was cheaper than replacing the manual one that just sprayed screenwash into the radio.

[mercrocker]

Yep. My Farina did that too. Admittedly the piping was past its best but why bring water up into the dash area to squirt it on the screen?

[Hooli]

Mine had a split in the pump body, but it does seem a daft place to put the water.

[LynehamHerc]

My MGB has electric washers as does the camper, the latter replacing a pressurised washbottle system.

[AMCrebel]

My MGB has electric washers as does the camper, the latter replacing a pressurised washbottle system.

I was about to say - schraeder valve FTW in my old Type 2 !