Here are some of the major parts I am missing and don't know as yet where to find them. If you can help please get in touch. Email to MGB-101@sky.com
- Inner door panel covers- both sides
- Spare tyre carrier
MORRIS TYPE JB VAN FROM 1959 (AUSTIN 101 Version)
Missing Parts
Oct 2011
Here are some of the major parts I am missing and don't know as yet where to find them. If you can help please get in touch. Email to MGB-101@sky.com
Here are some of the major parts I am missing and don't know as yet where to find them. If you can help please get in touch. Email to MGB-101@sky.com
Drivers Seat
Nov 2011
Just got the seat back from the trim shop...looks like new..well it should as it has all new upholstery in black vinyl on the original frame.
.
Sept 2011
Have cleaned and repainted seat box and frame. Whole thing is currently away to be upholstered.
Managed to find seat box door in back of van and restore hinge. So the seat is now complete...or will be in about 4 weeks time when it returns.
Just got the seat back from the trim shop...looks like new..well it should as it has all new upholstery in black vinyl on the original frame.
Sept 2011
Have cleaned and repainted seat box and frame. Whole thing is currently away to be upholstered.
Managed to find seat box door in back of van and restore hinge. So the seat is now complete...or will be in about 4 weeks time when it returns.
Body-Exterior
June 2011
He are some shots of the exterior.
I have decided to remove the front bumper as I think the van looks better without.
It was just fastened on to the body work anyway so needed to come off.
Have now removed the rear doors just for ease of access. Working in a 16ft x 8ft garage is a bit of a tight squeeze!
He are some shots of the exterior.
I have decided to remove the front bumper as I think the van looks better without.
It was just fastened on to the body work anyway so needed to come off.
Have now removed the rear doors just for ease of access. Working in a 16ft x 8ft garage is a bit of a tight squeeze!
Engine
July 2011
Decided to clean engine of oil, dirt and grease. Also removed most engine components and cleaned and painted them.
Radiator was already off when van received and in a damaged state, so had a go at hammering and bashing out the dents and re soldered splits around the neck. However the main core was damaged so had a new core fitted by local radiator restorer.
Decided to clean engine of oil, dirt and grease. Also removed most engine components and cleaned and painted them.
Radiator was already off when van received and in a damaged state, so had a go at hammering and bashing out the dents and re soldered splits around the neck. However the main core was damaged so had a new core fitted by local radiator restorer.
Don't yet know if engine runs! However it should be easier to tackle now it is clean. Watch this section for further news around the end of 2011.
Have also cleaned off the old paint from the engine covers, bashed out the dents, filled any 'spare' holes and primed. They look much smarter now.
Along the way
Radiator
Before & After
Engine Covers
Brakes and Hydraulics
June 2011...Soon after purchase I decided to take a look at the brakes as the van had been hard to push along...needed two of us! Needed pushing because it didn't run...no battery, no radiator, no steering wheel fitted, just for a start.
Checked front brakes and they were jammed pretty tight. Eventually managed to free the brake drums and remove them. All looked not too bad so I freed the adjusters, re greased the bearings and put them back together. Wheels turned OK now but I didn't try the brakes because there was a pair of mole grips hanging from the rear brake line...which is usually a sign of trouble ahead.
So I removed the rear brake drums to take a look. What did I find?....well nothing! no brake shoes and no wheel cylinders! Now I realized what the two plastic carrier bags with brake shoes were for!!..... they where not spares!
So I ordered new rear wheel cylinders and replacement seals for the clutch and brake master cylinders while I was at it together with a new rear flex hose.
After a couple of weeks I had fixed it all and put it back together including removing the pedals and painting them and all other associated parts. Also found that Morris Minor rubbers fit the pedals. So did it all work?
Not quite...The front brakes didn't operate!
After removing the front wheel cylinders it was clear they were jammed tight. So another order to PowerTrack for front wheel cylinders. Once fitted these cured the problem.
So eventually when the van runs I might be able to stop it!
If any one has a couple of front brake return springs...the ones with lots of coils I could do with them as mine has currently got two wrong springs fitted.
Here are a couple of pics of brake bits.
Front Brakes
Checked front brakes and they were jammed pretty tight. Eventually managed to free the brake drums and remove them. All looked not too bad so I freed the adjusters, re greased the bearings and put them back together. Wheels turned OK now but I didn't try the brakes because there was a pair of mole grips hanging from the rear brake line...which is usually a sign of trouble ahead.
So I removed the rear brake drums to take a look. What did I find?....well nothing! no brake shoes and no wheel cylinders! Now I realized what the two plastic carrier bags with brake shoes were for!!..... they where not spares!
So I ordered new rear wheel cylinders and replacement seals for the clutch and brake master cylinders while I was at it together with a new rear flex hose.
After a couple of weeks I had fixed it all and put it back together including removing the pedals and painting them and all other associated parts. Also found that Morris Minor rubbers fit the pedals. So did it all work?
Not quite...The front brakes didn't operate!
After removing the front wheel cylinders it was clear they were jammed tight. So another order to PowerTrack for front wheel cylinders. Once fitted these cured the problem.
So eventually when the van runs I might be able to stop it!
If any one has a couple of front brake return springs...the ones with lots of coils I could do with them as mine has currently got two wrong springs fitted.
Here are a couple of pics of brake bits.
Front Brakes
Master cylinders Refurbished and in place
Rear Brakes
Before
After
Floor and Chassis
Nov 2011
Before I add a new front cab floor I needed to add the U shape bracket, between the seat and pedals that supports the floor, as it is missing. However I decided to also add a cross brace. Did this using 20 mm square steel tube bolted both sides and made the bracket of the same stuff. The bracket supports the cross brace and the floor. Have 15mm clearance between gearbox and cross brace...hope it is enough! All is bolted in place so it can be removed if needed. Intend to fasten floor to cross brace also. See pics below.
Some photos of the as supplied state.
Before I add a new front cab floor I needed to add the U shape bracket, between the seat and pedals that supports the floor, as it is missing. However I decided to also add a cross brace. Did this using 20 mm square steel tube bolted both sides and made the bracket of the same stuff. The bracket supports the cross brace and the floor. Have 15mm clearance between gearbox and cross brace...hope it is enough! All is bolted in place so it can be removed if needed. Intend to fasten floor to cross brace also. See pics below.
Some photos of the as supplied state.
 |
| Chassis as of Oct 2011 with handbrake cable bracket reconnected, new flex hose in brake circuit and the wiring started to be sorted. |
Update-11 Oct 2011
Going to try and add new posts by sections of the van. e.g Engine, Brakes, Body etc and then indicate any changes to them by an update notice. Not sure if it will work but will start that way.
Just to let you know I am not a qualified car mechanic but I am a retired Mechanical Engineer with a long passion for this type of van. Have collected all the models and any information on them for some years. The time has come to test out my passion and tolerance as restoration begins.
Not planning to remove the van body, at this stage anyway, but to deal with all the mechanical parts first and the body last. Lots of cleaning, wire brushing, sanding and painting to come! So lets have a look what we have!!
Just to let you know I am not a qualified car mechanic but I am a retired Mechanical Engineer with a long passion for this type of van. Have collected all the models and any information on them for some years. The time has come to test out my passion and tolerance as restoration begins.
Not planning to remove the van body, at this stage anyway, but to deal with all the mechanical parts first and the body last. Lots of cleaning, wire brushing, sanding and painting to come! So lets have a look what we have!!
LSV 492 First sighting!
Acquired it in May 2011 I hope to document the restoration progress on this Blog. Only just started the Blog (Oct 2011)so I need to back track first..
Here is the first picture in the just arrived state...doesn't look too bad, does it!
Had to raise the garage door by nine inches to get the headroom but that bit went well.
More to follow soon....MGB
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)