Nov 2013

So starts November and still more delays getting my hands on the car. Looks like there is no doubt now, the Count won't be in Melbourne this year, it is going to be late January or early February before it appears in town, actually may have to consider waiting until the kids go back to school after the christmas break just so there won't be so much traffic on the roads, thus the mention of February, very tiresome as I want it here now! It is hardly fair I think really, but our trip to Europe and then my parents European cruise have not left great amounts of time available between now and christmas / end of year to be able to head up north and sort things out, such trials haha. I am visiting though in early December and as such will be able to get some work done, though probably limited for a short visit. 

There is quite a deal of small fiddly things that need to be done before I can get it running and one of the first items has to be the brakes, if for nothing else other than that the garage is at the top of a quite steep driveway and there is no chance that the car can leave the garage unless the brakes work. So on this December visit I have to take such parts as are necessary to ensure I can get it running, any of the nice to have parts can stay in Melbourne to be fitted / replaced once the car is down here. I am going to have to sort out the front wheel geometry as I have said before I don't want to be destroying a set of new tyres just getting back to Melbourne (27 hour drive from my parents house!) as they will certainly scrub out over the return distance otherwise. 

I have been in contact with a local tyre seller, well local to where the car is currently, and everything seemed good as he had found the inner tubes I will need are available, though I have not heard from him in a couple of weeks so I must chase that up and see if he can supply and fit tyres as well. I will be getting the Nankang CX-668 Tourer 155/80R14 81T, and yes I know that 145/80/14 would be a much better option, but they just aren't available in that size here in Australia, well not anywhere that can locate anyway, and I don't want "antique" items. The 155 are only 10mm wider than the 145 and if they are maintained and the pressures checked regularly they should be just the ticket. If he can't supply the tyres as well as the tubes then I will just get the tyres direct from a supplier on the internet and then see if he will fit the tyres and tubes for a reasonable price, hopefully all will work to satisfaction. 

Items I have to replace that I can think of at the moment are: Master Cylinder Front and Rear Slave Cylinders,  Front and Rear Brake Shoes, Flexible Brake Lines, Radiator, Heater and Fuel Rubber Hoses, Water-pump, Thermostat Housing and Thermostat. 

I think that is the total of the absolutely must do items, that I currently have, just to get it ready for the trip to Melbourne, so as such hopefully I will be able to get that done in December. Further I still need to decide on what I am going to be doing in relation to the radiator, it has to definitely have something done as it is just past its best really. I have had a quote from a reconditioner and the price could be either $350ish or $450ish, depending on what type of core my radiator has. It seems that the Radiator man has been informed by his supplier that there are two different types of core used in the Morris Minor (really? there are?) and until the core is removed and measured up he can't tell which it would be. If this is so you can bet without shadow of a doubt that mine would be the most expensive kind as most anything always seem to be so if there is a cheaper option available. That being said I can also buy a brand new radiator to just drop straight in and bolt up and not even have to worry about it at all having old top and bottom tanks, that would cost more though technically it would be the best option I think, mind brand new isn't a guarantee of quality and longevity is it! The brand new beastie would cost $500ish but to be honest given the approximate quotes for the re-core it would probably be better to spend just that bit more and get new, radiator bling, haha! 

I am also still throwing around ideas about the gear box, I have found some very helpful people that quotes me about $660 to recondition a box for me, using a later 948 box, though then taking the remote leave housing off the box and fitting the earlier 803 box tail. This of course would require them to swap the reverse gear selector rod so there is a lock out as a straight swap out with out changing the selector rod means that reverse would be able to be selected at anytime due to differing lock out systems between the two boxes. I think it would not be necessary to swap the 803 speedo drive with the 948 one in the 948 box as the car currently has a 948 speedo in it and it doesn't read correctly with the 803 box anyway. Maybe this all need some more thought and advice from the rebuilders. I'll have to get back to you on that I think....

Back when it was on the farm, keeping the Humber company