I’ve often complained here about how irritating it is having to go and collect the Traveller before a run out, simply because I haven’t the room to garage it at home and wont leave it out to the elements. And although I’m not personally into the Concours competitions (mainly because I’m too lazy to maintain [...]
Articles/Tech
Dec 032010
(Apologies – I promised to put up this article some time ago but have been trying to recover the pictures to accompany it from a seized hard drive. Unfortunately I still can’t get the pictures back, so here are just the words for now)
While we were building this car we spent a lot of time working out how best to protect it from the elements. We knew even then that the car would be doing a lot more mileage than most Minors and that inevitably it would be at risk of corrosion from road detritus etc. After a bit of online research I spoke to Bilt Hamber, who’d had some fantastic reviews in the classic car press. They’re still relatively little known in the UK compared to people like AutoGlym and the other big players but the high praise they were receiving persuaded us to have a chat with them.
After discussing our needs, they despatched some Dynax S50 injection wax to inject into the chassis rails. Traveller Timbers who built the body did the dirty bit for us, though from what they said we needn’t have worried about doing it ourselves. The pressurised cans came complete with a long thin nozzle and actually applying it appeared to be a breeze. On the external surfaces, the S50 stuck well to the metal and stayed ‘sticky’ and soft even now some months later. It’s also a lot less ugly than thick underseal (although I can think of better colours than brown!). Since it stays soft, it can also ‘heal’ itself if it gets knocked, which gives more peace of mind.
It was a fairly warm day when it was sprayed, but just to be sure the can was warmed slightly beforehand. The cans went a surprisingly long way – the last thing I wanted was to ‘skimp’ at this point and Traveller Timbers were instructed to “give it a good blast” but we still had nearly a full can left over afterwards.
You can’t see the brown anymore as road grime has coated and stuck to it, so it looks quite ‘standard’ underneath there now. More importantly, its definitely still soft and pliant. I’m pretty sure that by now Waxoyl would have gone hard and started to crack, leaving metal open to the elements. I’ve been back under the car this week while its up on the ramps having the rear shocker conversion done, and I couldn’t find any gaps anywhere. Bilt Hamber continue to win huge praise for all their products, so I’m happy I made the right choice. Have a look at the tests they’ve done here.
 How to buy a Morris Minor Pt3(Back to Part 2) ELECTRICS The Minors electrical system is incredibly simple, so there’s little you have to worry about apart from previous owners attempts to splice in stereos or security systems. But age doesn’t help things and the wiring may well have cracked while some of the connections will probably be getting temperamental now. [...] |
|
 How to buy a Morris Minor Pt2(back to Part 1) ENGINES Unless you’re looking specifically for a sidevalve Minor you’re unlikely to stumble across one for sale. Although the engine is reliable, it’s pretty gutless and not very easy to source spares for. It can suffer as a result of owners not knowing how to maintain the engine properly. Exhaust valves [...] |
 How to buy a Morris Minor Pt1This article first appeared in the March 2003 edition of Practical Classics and is reproduced by kind permission. Please remember that any prices are obviously no longer current. IN THE LATTER stages of World War II Alec Issigonis was working on a new family car for Morris. Called the Mosquito, this was to be an [...] |
 Laying up the Minor for the winterWell, do you put your car away after the last rally? Or do you use it on Sunny afternoons all through the winter? Are you one of the innovatives who puts a calor gas stove in the passenger footwell to use the car the whole year round? The service list is similar for all these [...] |
 Minor Brake failureTech tip for this month – The Mystical Case of Brake Failure. Most of us run a VW, an Audi, a Vauxhall or BMW as well as a moggie. Some of the more unfortunate among us run Fords! Service interval 60,000 miles, courtesy car and check the tyre pressures one Sunday morning just before you [...] |
Winter Minor foiblest’s not over yet! I was called out the other night to a Moggie that wouldn’t start. Winter Blues. It was very frosty, I suspected a flat battery and very little else. I packed the jump leads because my back won’t swing a handle these days and took the every day car so the 56 [...] |
Odds and EndsOk, so what do you pay? Mine is due now and the reminder is for £85.00 which is a fair jump on last year. I’m on 6000 miles and limited use. I don’t insure with the MMOC and on the form where the company asks for the classic car club I usually fail to mention [...] |
