Morris Minor Forum

Ouch, I think I might have hit a nerve,while your post has very much info. it's all about the past and parts that are very hard to come by for most people.I think it's great that some people can keep the rides stock. In my area there no parts to be had(I don't think I've ever seen another Morris around here). Stepping up to modern running gear is not a bad thing. I can run the speed limits are here (70 mph) with no problems for many hours, and I can enter the expressways without worring about getting run over( it's seen over 100mph a few times and is very stable) and If I do have something go wrong I can pop into any auto parts store and buy a replacement part,I built mine to be a daily driver and in 25,000 miles I have very few problems. Don't get me wrong I love looking at everybody cars,I just built mine the way I wanted it.On another note, my other car goes 230mph in 5.9 seconds, I am an old(60) american hot rodder

Don't worry about it, I only upgraded to a 1275 with dual carbs and a 3.9 dif. It'll rbun 90mph, cruse at 70mph. Purists don't agree but to each his own.

I am no purist! I hot rodded my Morris to the max. I am all for it. I make up my own parts all the time. However, my experience is that the stock set up (well, with a really good 1098cc engine, good bearings and balanced tires) performs as well as hot rodded versions. That's all.

Take carburetors. The BMC engine can only use so much fuel/air. Sure, you can bolt on a 1 3/4" SUhif44, for a pair of 1 1/4". (why stop there? Go for a Holley four barrel). However, until you are screaming along at 6,000+rpm (say, racing your Mini Cooper at Road Atlanta), you are getting zero benefit from having a big carb. At anything under 4,500rpm (about the max a street Morris should ever rev to), the stock single SUhs2 provides all the fuel the engine can consume. And the small carb give much better throttle response, better fuel economy, less pollution, easy to tune, easy to maintain.

Take exhaust systems. I built several with 2" pipe, glad packs/exhaust extractors, etc. Actually, the stock set up gives better power because it is tuned with the proper resonance for that engine. The engineers at BMC were not fools, and knew a lot more about getting power out of a BMC-A engine than Bubba down at the muffler shop does.

So customize away. I enjoy it, too. However, For all the work you put in, you will get little real results that surpass a well tuned, well balance stock rig. Ask me how I know.

I believe that cars that are modified are the owners art work. We all want what we like and that being said I love that kind of art work. I chose to build something that looks good,turns better,and will smoke the tires at the hit of the throttle,plus gets great milage. I dought the enginers were fools but a lot has been learned since thes cars were built(being how mine was built when I was 5 years old) but even then most of the parts that I have used were made in the late 70s. I'm getting the parts togeather for the next part of my build, updating the car to the ot the style of today(turbo charged 4 cyl. ,4 wheel disc brakes etc.cera 2010) so that I may continue to drive mine daily without worrying about not being able to find any part that might fail as I try to log 10,000 miles or more a year.While I love the way my Morris looks , I love the way it runs and drivers better. The only 4cyl ,manual trans I want is the one in my S-10 pick up,ands that only because I've already had one with a V-8. Have fun with your ride and wave when I pass you by so I know who you are. Merry Christmas and happy motoring

Best of luck! But like Phillip said above, get some serious brakes first. Morris brakes, in good shape and adjustment, work great circa 1948 road conditions and 35 MPH - it is really easy to out run your ability to stop.

The brakes are great, I have mustang two 9.50inch discs up front and 11.50 X 2.75inch drums in the rear with high performance shoes and pads, the correct front to rear valving and some great tires. (It stops on a dime and turns on one too.) If it can't stop or turn ,It ain't much fun to drive! With the mustang front suspention, the dual1.25inch sway bars and the rack and pinion ,and the motor down low and in the middle it drives like a big slot car. You don't have to go fast(but it will) to have a lot of fun driving this car.

Hello Randy,
Hey .."Congrats" on your new purchase of your .."I guess"? ..First Morris Minor ..I myself bought my first 1959 Morris Minor 2

Hello Randy,
Hey " Congrats" on your new purchase of your new Toy ..your first Morris Minor, it looks Really nice ! ..I myself bought my first 1959 Morris Minor 2 Door Saloon back in 2007 and I am Finally just about at the point of gettin er done !
I am now finishing up the last of the wiring ,then fit up the Hood to the both front fenders and I then about got it !..I WILL have it Running and driving by this Spring 2015 .
Well I'll tell you another Great Tip "For Sure"...If you are looking for a Super good price on Morris parts new & used plus a Ton of Pro Knowledge Definitely check out Good Ole ...Steve Christiansen out of Laguna Beach Ca. He owns and operates
L(Ol Phartz Parts) for ALL Morris' and much much more British Metal !..He has been a Tremendous help for me over these past few years on helping me out with my Morris...his web site is www.olphartz.com and his phone number is 714-686-1236.
..............................Good Luck with your new project Morris and Welcome to the MM ..."WORLD"....
The Best To Ya,
Butch Wyrick

Alex,

I always enjoy your posts - and in this case I couldn't agree more. We returned from Australia safely, and Sadie arrived home about two months after we did (apparently after circumnavigating the globe), and I got some time to enjoy driving her - bone stock, never rebuilt, 57 years old - before winter set in here in IL. While I would like just a tad more power, I have nothing but praise for the 948 - which is the absolute smoothest 4 cylinder I have even owned - moderns included - and the smooth case 'box is quieter - by FAR - than the rib-case in our '73 Midget - that was supposedly rebuilt just before we bought that car. It also has the slickest shift-action of any "A" series engine-equipped car I have ever owned.

Hope Japan is treating you well. We miss "Down Under", but are happy to be home.

Cheers,

Tom