Morris Minor Forum

Purchased 1958 Minor Convertable just out of storage. Will need clutch assembly, hoses(might do water pump at same time) rear pinion seal and rear tranny tail shaft seal. While not run a lot, 3500 miles in 30 years, it has been started and moved at least 2-3 times a year, but now has clutch problem. Also need tires, not a purest think radials will be OK. Do I need 185/60x 14. Would maybe like to deal with same vendor on parts.. Any thoughts appreciated. This is a really nice car that was restored in Europe and brought to America in 1987. Thanks

If the clutch issue is it won't release you can fix that. Sometimes just putting in gear, depress clutch pedal and attempt to start. More often warm car up then get it on a nice straight bit f road, put it in 1st gear and start car. With clutch depressed it will usually release within 100'. You can also do this by putting on jack stands and using the brake. If I leave min parked in the rain over a month it does this. All parts are available from various sources, check adds on this forum.Old Phartz parts in CA is one source. I may have spelled that wrong. I run 175 70 tires but they are on wider rims, the 185 is probably a little wide. check what others are doing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-01-04 07:18 AM by 66jalopy.

I put these Bridgestone Ecopia 145x14 on my '59 van, and love the look and the ride.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=642130959224946&set=p.642130959224946&type=3&theater
I have found that it is cheaper to source parts in the UK rather than the US and have found ESM to be good to deal with.

You can probably get what you need from Ol Phartz Parts. I bought a clutch and a rear axle seal kit from them. Service is great and prices are reasonable. I also buy a lot of parts from Charles Ware Morris Minor Centre in England. Mechanical bits you can get from Moss if they are the same as early Austin Healey Sprite parts. Your engine is the same as a 1098 Sprite/Midget, and your gearbox is similar, as is the differential. Your car uses an 8" clutch as did the 1098 Midget. The 1275 Midget used a different clutch. I agree that you can probably break lose your existing clutch. There is an oval rubber plug on the side of the bell housing that will give you access to the back of the clutch assembly. it is there so the gearbox can be assembled with the the clutch lever coming out of either side, but it will allow you to get in there to put a touch of light grease on the splined input shaft. Can't help with tire advice as I'm running 1971 13" MG Midget wheels with radial 13x175 radials. They look good and the wider tires helps reduce rear axle hop. Good lucki!

They'll be lots of opinions about tires and tire sizes but I am very happy with the Firestone F560 radials, 155X14 size which I fitted to my sedan a few years ago, replacing the Michelin 165/70 R 14 tires the car came to me with. I sold these to an MGB owner that is a more appropriate car for these tires. I am sure that a 185/60 would not be correct for a Minor with its relatively narrow wheels.

John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA

It seems like most people choose tyre size on looks rather than road-holding Brad.

Choosing a tyre size for road-holding is a confusing and difficult problem.
If you look at a tyre on a car at the correct pressure it looks a bit flat.
The sidewall bulges at the bottom, and the tyre lies flat on the road at the bottom.

The correct sidewall bulge improves road-holding.
The correct amount of flat improves road-holding.

Too much, or too little bulge damages road holding.
Too much or too little flat damages road holding.

As you fit larger and larger tyres on a Minor, you need lower and lower pressures to get the correct sidewall bulge, and the correct flat at the bottom necessary if the tyres are going to imp[rove your road-holding.
Unfortunately, you can't lower tyre pressures far before you have a negative effect on road-holding.

There's a further point that standard Minor wheels can only run fairly skinny tyres safely.
If you like the look of fat tyres, you will need wider rims to carry them

The easiest is to choose on appearance, but be aware that a big increase in size will damage your road-holding, and may cost you some extra rims..