ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION REMOVAL

Today we removed the engine and transmission.  No, Glenn isn't napping again.  He's removing the fasteners from the transmission mount.  

While the final disconnections were being made, I moved the engine hoist into place and made the necessary attachments to the engine.  The engine and transmission will be extracted from the car simultaneously.  

After the wiring, hoses and mounts were disconnected, the removal process took only a few minutes.  In the photo to the left, you will see that the engine and transmission has been positioned on a rolling platform so it can be moved aside.  It may be necessary to reuse some of its parts when we assemble the new engine.

Moving right along...

Tom McCurry

Tommy's Topless Cars

tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com

843-338-2253

I welcome your questions and comments.

REMOVAL OF INTERIOR

Today Glenn and I moved "Morris" into the mechanical area.  We began by removing the seats, carpeting and transmission tunnel in preparation of engine extraction.  Shown in the photo to the right, the removal of the interior components revealed an almost pristine floor pan.  There was some surface rust underneath the pedals.  This area is particularly prone to rust because it is frequently subjected to moisture.

The transmission tunnel, shown in the photo to the left, also shows signs of surface rust but this part will be sandblasted and refinished.

After removing the tunnel, the transmission mount was easily dis-connected. 

In the photo to the left you will notice the master cylinder cover plate, which is adjacent to the transmission tunnel, has been removed.  Maintaining fluid level in the master cylinder is done by lifting the carpet which exposes a rubber plug.  Removal of the plug allows access to the filler cap.

The engine and transmission are now ready to be removed from the Morris.

Stay Tuned...

Tom McCurry

Tommy's Topless Cars

tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com

843-338-2253

ENGINE REMOVAL PREPARATION

The next step is to remove the engine and transmission.  The preparation is fairly simple.  The radiator and associated hoses were removed with the grille surround.  

In the photo to the left, Glenn is removing the fasteners from the motor mounts.  

You will also notice the orange heater hoses, shown above, have been disconnected from the engine.  The starter wire, coil wires and accelerator cable have also been removed and labeled.  Now the Morris will be moved to the mechanical area for the removal of the engine and transmission.  The hydraulic hoist will be connected to the engine block and the eight bolts securing the transmission mounts and drive shaft will be removed.  The engine and transmission can now be removed as one unit.

Exciting stuff...

Tom McCurry

Tommy's Topless Cars

tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com

843-338-2253

DISMANTLING CONTINUES

Glenn and I spent the day removing exterior body fittings in preparation of body work and engine removal.  In the photo to the right, I captured Glenn removing the grille surround...or maybe he's taking another nap.  It's difficult to tell at his age.  

The radiator is actually mounted to the grille surround.  Both assemblies are easily detached by the removal of the 16 bolts and screws securing them to the body.

The photo to the left shows the front of Morris with the grille surround removed.  Now the engine and transmission can be removed easily through the front of the car.  Amazingly, only one fastener was damaged during the dismantling process.

The boot, taillights and rear bumper have been removed.  

The bonnet, boot and grille surround, shown in the photo to the left, are in extraordinary condition.  Very little body work will be required.  This may be the easiest restoration ever...I may regret that statement.

Stay tuned...

Tom McCurry

Tommy's Topless Cars

tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com

843.338.2253

THE NEW ENGINE

As I explained earlier, the existing 1098 cc engine, will be replaced by a 1275 cc motor from a MG Midget.  Yesterday, my engine builders, Paul and Ron came by the shop to investigate the "new" engine.  They found the motor to be suitable for rebuilding.  The only issues they found were the cylinder tolerances.  The bore exceeded allowable tolerance by several thousandths of an inch in two of the cylinders.  The rebuilding process will now include boring the cylinders to .020" over and replacing the pistons and rings.  The crankshaft and camshaft are within tolerance. 

 New bearings for the mains, cam and rods will be fitted.  Also, the cylinder head will be reworked with hardened valve seats to allow the use of unleaded fuels without damaging the valves.  

The "new" engine will be transported to the machine shop next week.  The machining process will take about two weeks.

Tom McCurry

Tommy's Topless Cars

tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com

843.338.2253

ITS ALL ABOUT CONDITION

I find it exciting when I discover an older British automobile in this condition.  Most of the cars of this vintage are usually consumed by rust and corrosion.  The more I uncover on the Morris, the more intrigued I become.

 As an example, in the photo above, you will notice the white "box" in top-center.  The box, made of plastic (obviously "aftermarket"), is located in the battery box.  When I saw it, I assumed it was a feeble attempt to repair damage caused by acid fumes from the battery.

As I removed the plastic box, I was amazed to find a pristine original sheet metal battery box with the original rubber shield.  The more I see...

I remain impressed,

Tom McCurry

Tommy's Topless Cars

tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com
843.338.2253

PS  I will try to post everyday as the work progresses.  However, during the Christmas Holiday, I will be spending most of my time with my family.  Merry Christmas and may God bless you.

DISMANTLING BEGINS

Our day began by trouble-shooting the electrical system.  Before the restoration begins, it is important to determine if all the electrical systems are operational.  Fortunately, after removing the corrosion from the electrical connections, most of the circuits performed properly.  The horns and the interior dome light were the exceptions.  Again that may be due to faulty connections.  These issues will be addressed later.

Following the electrical trouble-shooting process, the dismantling begins.  It is extremely important to place every part that is removed in a plastic bag along with its fasteners and label them as to location and condition.  If the quality or functionality of the part is questionable, it should be listed as such.  

In the photo to the right you will notice the removal of the hood and front lighting lenses and trim.  The trim was also removed from the hood.  Some of the fasteners retaining the front light fixtures were difficult to remove and rather that break them, they were coated with penetrating oil for easy removal tomorrow.  We try to reuse all the original parts if at all possible.

We also removed the windshield wipers and radio antenna.  Lori and Bill wish to eliminate the radio entirely.  

Tomorrow the dismantling process will continue.

I love this car...

Tom McCurry

Tommy's Topless Cars

tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com

843.338.2253

PS  If you have questions or comments, please feel free to comment.

MORRIS'S PREVIOUS OWNERS

I suppose my involvement with Lori and Bill's Morris Minor is fate.  Morris was actually sold new in my home town in Tennessee in 1968.  Jerry, the original owner, bought the car from the BMC dealership from a salesman that I knew personally.  Jerry and I have spoken and he will be watching the blog on a daily basis.  He is trying to locate some photos of the him and his new Morris.  Now that is exciting.

Lori and Bill received many documents with the purchase of the car.  They have almost a complete history of the ownership.  We will continue to research information regarding the previous owners and keep you informed.

In the photo to the right, Lori is capturing Bill (in the foreground) and I moving Morris into the showroom. You may notice Bill seems to be the only one actually pushing.  I guess I'm a born supervisor.

Thanks for your attention

Tom McCurry

Tommy's Topless Cars

tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com

843.338.2253

MORRIS'S FIRST WEEK IN THE SHOP

I spent some time today inspecting the Morris.  I am so impressed with its condition after all these years.  The interior is still serviceable.  Next week we will be removing the seats and door panels in order to begin the upholstery process.

 We will also begin the process of removing the engine and transmission.  The grille surround and the hood, or bonnet, will be removed and the engine disconnected for easy removal through the front of the car.

We will also be removing all the chrome trim and lighting in preparation of the bodywork.

Next week will be exciting!  Be sure to check the blog everyday. 

Tom McCurry

Tommy's Topless Cars

tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com

843.338.2253

LORI AND BILL'S 1967 MORRIS MINOR 1000

Ah...the Morris Minor 1000.  It has been described as a "British icon" and a "design classic.  

the body is rust free and has only a few small dents

 It debuted in September 1948, as a British economy car and under the leadership of Alec Issigonis of BMC, sold over 1.3 million copies between 1948 and 1972 when production ceased.  The Morris Minor was the first of Britain's automobiles to achieve 1,000,000 units sold.  

Although it was grossly underpowered by todays standards (0-60 in 54 seconds), it was dependable transportation during the post-war era.   However, BMC was reluctant to make changes in the Morris. The 1948 model looks almost identical to the 1972.  In my opinion, this was the major contributing factor to its decline in popularity.

But that was then and this is now.  British car enthusiasts absolutely love these cars.  They are roomy for their relatively small size, easy to repair and restore and so unique.  Seeing one of these on the road always gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

the interior is in good restorable condition

Bill and Lori are so excited about this restoration.  When we first viewed the Morris, we discussed their desires and expectations.  They wanted the car to be restored as a "driver" with a few necessary upgrades.

We will be replacing the existing 1098 cc Morris engine with a 1275 cc MG Midget power plant with twin SU carburetors and a tuned exhaust header.   The braking system will be upgraded to disc brakes, also from a MG Midget. The vinyl interior will be replaced with leather of the original configuration and the exterior will be repainted using the original color scheme.

I will be posting to this blog as work progresses.  You will see photos and explanations of the work throughout the restoration process.  We at Tommy's Topless Cars are excited about the restoration of Lori and Bill's latest acquisition...a 1967 Morris Minor 1000, 2 door Saloon named "Morris".  

STAY TUNED!
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com
843.338.2253