14 Sep 2024

 14 Sep 2024

Well, not a lot has been happening with the car and it hasn't been anywhere either. I have a 3d printer so I designed and printed some parts for the car that have been fitted, who knows how well they will last given the summer temperatures here and especially inside the car, but we will see how it all goes I guess.

So The Count has a heater unit out of a classic Mini Clubman and it seemed strange that the only vent hole in the car heater points directly at the floor (or of course at the windscreen), so quite some time back I designed a vent cover that would direct the airflow from the vent into the centre of the car rather than just down. I had the vent 3d printed professionally before getting a printer of my own, but I found it needed some modification, so I have now printed it again with better vent fins in the model. It sits flush over the hole in the heater unit and directs the air forward with the vent fins directing the flow centrally and to either side. Amazing how quickly the car warms up inside now.

New directional vent 

 Additionally, it has always seemed weird to me that the heater controls and fan switch sit so far out front of the unit and not in some kind of housing, it has never seemed finished. Further, I wanted to install hazard lights on the car and have somewhere for a switch or two, so I designed a facia for the heater that incorporates a tray on top for pens or change (or whatever really) and places for the switches. It makes the front look finished and not some finishing trim had been forgotten. It isn't the greatest, but it does the job, and the heater vent sits nicely underneath it.

The 1st design of the vent under the heater with "floating" control panel

The new facia panel with hazard and switch, vent just underneath

Another item that needed attention was an unusual metallic rubbing/knocking sound that had developed which was unusual. Inspection under the bonnet highlighted that the engine steady brace had snapped the actual mounting plate, the stabiliser bar itself was fine. Very strange that the mounting bracket fatigued, though it snapped clean through the centre of the plate. The original, way back before I ever owned the car (and I feel that I can say way back as I have owned the car for 35 years now), had done the common Minor trick of tearing the battery support box, where the stabiliser is bracketed through and had been welded back together. The difficulty was that the remaining half of the stabiliser mount had also been welded under the battery box and wouldn't come out.

A new Mr Grumpy stabiliser kit was ordered from ESM in the UK, this kit mounts a plate into the two spare bolt holes next to the driver-side shock absorber mount and a new longer connection bar stabilises the engine. This is supposed to be a twenty-minute job and to be fair probably would have been, except that my coil has always been mounted on the firewall and could not remain there if the new stabiliser was to fit. So a day and a half later, coil relocated to the inner guard (have an alternator, so can't mount piggy backed like in a generator car), modified wiring, found a longer HT lead to reach and all is now good. 

27 Aug 2024

 27 Aug 2024

Have just put the new "Dealer's Decal" in the car. The Count is a Lane's Motors car and I have always wanted a dealer decal for the back window, though to my knowledge the car didn't have one. It does have the Lane's Motors brass stock plate in the car and previously I had a window decal created from a photo of that plate, it looked ok and suited the purpose as far as I was concerned. Move forward to just recently and I wanted to get the windows of the car UV tinted as the sun does terrible things to the upholstery with alarmingly quick speed. This of course lead to the problem that the window decal had to be removed and I decided to see if there was anything on the internet that would give me some idea of what an original Lane's Motors dealer decal might look like. The internet didn't turn up too much, though I did manage to find a copy of an official Lanes Motors receipt from 1955. This is the same age as The Count, so it provided some idea what an actual dealer decal might look like (if indeed one existed). I created some similar images to the ones on the receipt and managed to get the original shade of blue and pieced together a completed image which was then printed to make a dealer decal, which is now on the car. OK it probably isn't original or what the had, if anything, but I'm happy with it.

7 May 2024

 The time has finally come, it has been a long ride, but it can't be put off any longer. 

The timing chain that has happily been rattling away for years finally has to go. 

I asked a mechanic many years ago to do the job, but they possibly weren't interested in doing it as they stated "Why the hell would you want to do that, they last forever, there's no need". As a true believer of the "if it ain't broke" principle, I decided to just let it go and keep running with that chain in place. This course of action has been just fine and the car has done many miles quite happily, rattling away as the chain got longer and longer. 

The thing is, with a trip to Perth coming up next April (2025) for the Australian Morris Minor Clubs National Rally, it is probably best that any issues with the car are sorted out before setting out to hopefully minimise any possible problems on the 6,920 kilometre (4.300 mile) round trip from Melbourne to Perth and back. To that end, the timing chain's time has come and it's time to go. The required parts have been lying around the place for a while now as the level of enthusiasm hasn't been high, though given that there is plenty of time available there is no excuse. 

Stripping the front, hockey sticks (seriously what psychopath designed the mountings for those), bumper and nose panel surprisingly didn't take all that long, possibly as it hasn't really been that long since it was last off the car. Removing the starter "dog" (where the crank handle mounts to the front of the crankshaft should you ever wish to hand-start the car) was surprisingly easy, a good fitting spanner, a pile of rag on the passenger side chassis rail and a light push of the starter solenoid it comes loose. Everything else came away easily, two different-sized bolts holding the timing cover 7/18 and 1/2 from memory, the hardest part was getting the old gasket to let go (well not quite true, the hardest part was getting the old gasket off the mounting face!).

Ensuring the car was at TDC and lining up the marks (dots) on the two cogs was easily done and that then positioned the two key blocks on the crank and the camshaft at 12 and 1 respectively, where they are supposed to be positioned. Releasing the nut on the camshaft was somewhat difficult though manageable and then the two cogs and chain slid off as a single unit. To reinstall it is simply put the new chain of the two cogs, ensuring the two "dots" are pointing at each other and then sild the cogs and chain as a single unit back onto the crank and camshaft over the locating keys, ensuring not to turn either shaft at all in the process, and there you go...

Timing dots all lined up

So I did the nut on the camshaft back up and cranked the engine over on the starter (no ignition) and everything seemed fine. Reinstalled the new timing chain cover (the old one had the early felt oil seal and was forever randomly leaking oil) with a new oil seal and tightened everything up. Cranked the engine over on the starter again and everything sounded good and went well. Then reassembled the front of the car, swore a lot about the hockey stick mounting nuts again, filled the radiator with coolant again, started the car and it was fine.

It seems that not everything was 100% fine as there appeared to be a few random noises, though they quickly went away, so decided to go for a test run. All was going well at low speed, though trying to accelerate there was just nothing there, managed to nurse it off on a bit of a run about and stopped for a bit of a break and head scratch. Trying to start the car again and it really wasn't happy to do it, it just cranked and cranked. Finally, it haltingly fired up, barely running and only just managed to get it back home again, hmmm.... this doesn't seem great, definitely a timing issue.

Now the timing shouldn't really have been an issue as it was running fine before, we knew where TDC was and the chain was fitted correctly and the keys and timing marks were all in perfect alignment. There is an additional issue to now in that the new timing cover, fitted so as to do away with the felt oil seal, is from a Mini and just in case you don't know, the Mini has timing marks on the flywheel, easily seen through the bell-housing of the mini gearbox. 

The Morris Minor on the other hand always had its timing marks in the most pig awful place, on the bottom of the timing cover, where the only way you could possibly see them was to lay flat on the ground and try to get a view between the front chassis cross member and the sump and look up at the bottom of the crankshaft pulley. Wonderful as all that sounds, given that the 'new" timing cover is from a Mini, there are no longer any timing marks at all, anywhere...

Original timing marks at the bottom in red. Now imagine the front panel and rad in place!

Next job them, strip the rocker cover (needed to do the valve clearances again anyway (though they were all actually fine)), find TDC again with a drinking straw in the No:1 cylinder, make a mark on the timing cover and the crankshaft pulley, refit the spark plugs, new gasket and refit the rocker cover, give the dizzy a bit of a tweak to get the new mark on the crankshaft pulley to about the right position under the timing light and Bob's your uncle, happy car running again and all pulling fine.

Well, fine until later on the test run when it started making an odd squeaking sound like the fanbelt slipping. Home again and some lube to the water pump bearings and the alternator bearings and some stop squeak on the fanbelt and all seemed ok again, until later on again when it started making a bad squeaking and squealing sound. The best course of action was to give up in disgust and leave it. Next day and pulled the front of the car off again (yes predictably more swearing and cursing the name of the hockey stick mounting designer). Pull the fan, belt and the starter dog off again and attempt to get the timing cover off, which proved difficult as it was now very difficult to get a spanner onto one of the bolts that had gone in so easily the day before. Once finally managed to get the bolt out and managed to get the new gasket to release (it split!) the timing cover and everything looked fine, though there was a bump in the cover where I couldn't get to the bolt and some very light scratching.

It looked like somehow the timing chain had hit the cover and then scratched against it. Maybe the dent was always there or something else strange had happened, but another new (second-hand) timing cover, oil seal and gasket later and the car was running fine, not a problem and no strange noises at all. The test run was ok, though no power at all, another twist of the dizzy and it was mostly ok again, though a bit down of acceleration, and being a Morris with a 948cc engine, there isn't a lot of acceleration to begin with, so it s noticeable when it is lacking. Further runs and it seemed to sort itself out and start to come good, or so it seemed.

I have to say that the car running is a revelation, as long as I have had this engine in the car, and that is well over twenty years, it has always rattled, but it doesn't any more, it is like having a new car, so quiet it seems weird...

16 April 2024

 Well, it's been a while between posts, with not a great deal happening between them, though that is the way of it sometimes. There are plans afoot for a road trip or two, I want to head out to Broken Hill soon for a look, and if nothing else it is time to start readying the car and planning for the 2025 Perth Morris Minor Nationals in April. At this time it appears we'll have company, with another Series II coming along as well, and no doubt there will be others driving over to Perth and back who we'll come across along the way too. 

So series of small jobs to be getting on with to get everything ready:

    - Replace the timing chain, it's just a bit rattly, so may as well.

    - Replace the rear brake slaves and pads, flush and bleed the system with new fluid.

    - Plenty of other jobs I am sure...

A small job that I have completed recently though was to strip and respray the steel wheels, not a pleasant task, though it does look a lot better for being done, finally. There were copious layers of badly cracking paint on them and on stripping back the original colours came through and the fact they all still had the original pinstripe around them under all the layers. I may have to find someone who can put the strip back on the wheels, I could do it though it would look rubbish, it would be better to find someone who knows what they are doing.

Wheels look quite shabby and even the wrong shade of green.

Looking a lot better and even the same colour 

20 Oct 2023

 Day Three - 20 Oct 2023

This morning was up with the sparrows, well no not really, though I was the first to leave the Motel, off to fill the tank again and then hit the road. I had hoped that there would be few trucks at that hour and that the road would be as sparsely used as yesterday driving into Horsham, though this wasn't to be. Actually, there weren't all that many cars; mainly it was just trucks, though not too bad I just pulled over for them to pass until I got to the turn-off to some quiet country roads. The roads were very country and I thought at one stage I may have been on someone's driveway, though it was just a small road. 

Anyway the first of the day was at Sheep Hills, just a small dot on the map in the middle of fields. The Silos are amazing, what a skill-full painting. It was then back on the road and a bit more backtracking as I nearly returned to Horsham to get to the next stop at Murtoa, then on to Rupanyup, St Arnaud and Avoca silos before heading on home to Melbourne.

Sheep Hills Silo Art - painted by Adnate, featuring a Wergaia Elder,Uncle Ron Marks, a Wotjobaluk Elder, Aunty Regina Hood and two, Savannah Marks and Curtly McDonald.

Murtoa Silo Art - painted by Sam Bates (Smug), was inspired by taxidermy in the local museum and  Murtoa born, Dr. John Cade, a psychiatrist who made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder. The image has thirty Birds and one is a ghost or glowing bird and represents the 1 in 30 people who suffer from bipolar disorder.

Rupanyup Silo Art - painted by Julia Volchkova, featuring Ebony Baker and Jordon Weidemann, who represent a youthful spirit of strength, hope and camaraderie.

St Arnaud Silo Art - painted by Kyle Torney, titled Hope, it represents the Hopes for a small family in the 1800s when St Arnaud was a gold mining town.

Avoca Silo Art - painted by Jimmi Buscombe , featuring the endangered Barking Owl.

19 Oct 2023

 Day Two - 19 Oct 2023

Started out relatively early today, again to beat the trucks along the highway that I had no choice about taking, though it was only for about 50 kilometres so it wasn't too great a problem. Started out sharing the distance with a very nice 1946 Ford Mercury Coupe, though it being an eight-cylinder and all it did leave me behind in no short amount of time. I did catch it up again though as it stopped to do the same thing I was heading for and that was to take a picture at the first Silo Art stop of the day at Walpeup.

Walpeup Silo Art - painted by Julian Clavijo and Camilo Delgado, featuring Harold Thomas Bell

The Walpeup Silo Art depicts Harold Thomas Bell, who in March 1917 at 16 years of age, lied to recruiters about his age and family history to sign up for active service in the First World War. He was attached to the Light Horse Regiment and he was killed in action in October 1917 and was eventually liad to rest in the Beersheba War Cemetery. LEST WE FORGET

Heading off again and now on to country backroads, which is just the greatest thing as the roads are usually in better condition than the roads in the west of Melbourne and there are virtually no trucks (again unlike the west of Melbourne!). So it was a comfortable cruise down to Patchewollock to the next silo and from there through Hopetoun to Rosebery and Brim for their two silos. A slight bit of mile retracement then back to Beulah to then head west for Rainbow, which is a nice little town with a few murals about, then on to Albacutya for more Silo Art. It's south then back through Rainbow Through Jeparit and Antwerp to the Arkona Silo Art and then head west young man, through Nhill (half way to Adelaide) and on to Kaniva. Leaving Kaniva and heading south for a while before back to the east and on to Goroke Silo Art and into Horsham for the night.

Patchewollock Silo Art - painted by Fintan Magee, featuring Nick "Noodle" Hulland

Rosebery Silo Art - painted by Kaff-eine

Brim Silo Art - painted by Guido van Helten

Albacutya Silo Art - painted by Kitt Bennett

Arkona Silo Art - painted by Sam Bates (Smug), featuring and invisible Roley Klinge

Kaniva Silo Art - painted by David Lee Pereira, featuring an Australian Hobby bird and Plains Sun Orchid

Goroke Silo Art - painted by Geoffrey Carran, featuring a Kookaburra, Magpie and a Galah

Horsham Silo Art - painted by Sam Bates (Smug), featuring Yanggendyinanyuk

There is a lot more information on all of these Silo Art pieces and in fact most of the current Silo Art and Water Tower Art and town murals on the Australia Silo Art Trail website.

18 Oct 2023

Well it's been a while between trips and posts so it's about time for a bit of a road trip. Over three days 18, 19, 20 Oct 2023 we'll be traveling around Western Victoria to see all of the Silo Art. I have planned a route for the best fit for me using the Australia Silo Art Trail site, though it does seem to be not entirely up to date it is the best source of data for the run. I am not using the suggested starting point as I think I have a better plan in mind, though to be honest, just because it makes sense to me does not mean it is sensible. Anyway...

Day One - 18 Oct 2023.

Started out relatively early, 5:30am, as I wanted to get underway and hopefully try to minimise the amount of traffic and trucks that I might encounter (only to minimise the disruption to them by my travelling at only 80km/h). This of course only worked well while I was on the dual-lane roads, once it was back on the two-way highway roads the trucks were a concern. The emergency lane sides of these highway stretches are quite wide though so it was easy enough to pull over into the lane and let the trucks go by. It is certainly much more relaxing driving on the quiet country roads off the highways though.

Anyway as stated I had made up a route plan for my trip and then suitably left the written version at home and the mobile didn't connect when I felt that I may have gone astray, oh well no matter. I did go the wrong way but that was okay as I saw more of the area and it was only about another 50-80 kilometres anyway, so no great concern at all.

The route today took in Charlton, Wycheproof (and at this stage, I went the wrong way), Nullawil, Sea Lake and then backtrack along an awesome back country road to Birchip, Woomelang, Lascelles, through Speed and to the day stop at Ouyen.

Nullawil Silo Art Featuring Jimmy the Kelpie, painted by Sam Bates (Smug)

Sea Lake Silo Art, Titled the Space in Between, painted by The Zookeeper and DRAPL

Birchip's Big Mallee Bull

There  are a few murals to be seen around the small town, though no Silo Art in town 

Woomelang has 7 painted mini Silos around town, unfortunately, I only saw two.

Lascelles Silo Art - painted by Rone, featuring Geoff Horman

Lascelles Silo Art - painted by Rone, featuring Merrilyn Horman 

Hotel Victoria at Ouyen