Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rosco663]

Gidday out there,

Does anyone have any experiences or information (be it photos, drawings and/or specifications) for telescopic shock absorber conversion for a Series 1 Morris 8 Tourer.

I am looking at both front and rear as the old Armstrong "Pears" are shot. These conversions maybe available off the shelf but I haven't seen any.

I am looking at doing a sympathetic conversion so as not having to drill new holes etc. if at all possible.

Looking forward to seeing this thread lengthen.......

Cheers
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Rosco

[ukdave2002]

Hi
There was a kit available in the 50's to do exactly this, basicaly it was a bracket with a peg on that bolted on where the pear units fitted. If you have the brackets, VW Beetle or Triumph Herald units will fit. I think I have some photo's and possibly a diagram, the brackets would be quite simple to fabricate, I'll have a dig!

Dave

[ukdave2002]

Found them!

Woodhead-Monroe Kit


Different kit front


Different kit Rear


I'll try and find a engineering diagram, that you can use to fabricate new brackets.

Dave

[Rosco663]

Hi Dave,

This is exactly what I am looking for. If you can find engineering drawings that would be excellent then I should be able to get them fabricated without too much drama

Cheers
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Rosco

[TM8]

Hi UK Dave, you dont by chance have the diameter of the rod used? as well as the Dimension from center of the Orginal shock mount to the C/L of the Shocks top mount for front and back? I am assuming the Rod goes up 100% verticle looking from the front but i noticed from the side there is a slight kink in it. Not sure about the back from the photos though. Regards

[ukdave2002]

Hi

No one seems to have an engineering drawing of the brackets, the photo's are from a Morris Register members vehicle, he acquired the car with the conversion.

The telescopic units originally fitted to this conversion were from a VW Beetle (Gabriel 18727). Their collapsed/extended lengths are 250/390mm. respectively. The brackets as mounted require a maximum extension of 335mm at the front and 390mm at the rear, measured with suspension hanging.

The general view is that these units give too firm a ride. Apparently many years ago there was a conversion using Mini dampers, this gave a better ride but would have required a different bracket at the rear as the mini rear shocks have a stud.

Any new brackets are going to need to be fabricated around the damper chosen, I don't know if Mini dampers have the correct extension, If there are any Mini experts reading this they may be able to advise?

Triumph spitfire dampers have also be used but apparently don't quite let the rear extend fully, but offer a slightly better ride than VW.

Dave

[Rosco663]

I managed to crawl under one of our club member's 8/40's recently and took the following snap.



Unfortunately do not have dimensions yet.....

But do look like the Woodhead - Monroe schematic Dave has put up. They are a lot stronger looking than the bent rod modification. We have quite a few 8's at our club with the mod as per the photo above. Unfortunately I am working away at the moment and can't get a look in for a few more weeks......

Cheers
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Rosco

[Stuart2u]

I know its a different model....dont know if the chassis/mounting holes are the same, but I have fitted telescopic dampers to my 8 E; front and back and find a much improved ride......didn't help that the previous lever arms were seized and generally knackered...... so not a good comparison.

Dont have pictures to hand of the rear fixings, but will get them for you if you wish. The front pics are attached.





(pics fixed for horizontal scrolling, RJ)

[Rosco663]

They look good Stuart, can you tell us where you purchased them? They do look to be of very high quality and of cast iron fabrication. Are they similar at the rear? A quick snapshot would be appreciated.

They are different mounting points to the Series 1 but maybe the manufacturer makes them as part of their range. I did ask Mr Google what he knew about TLH but he didn’t come up with anything of value to me.

One of the stipulations in the code of practice for Historic Vehicle registration in Australia is that the suspension location points must remain as originally manufactured, in order to be able to conditionally register the vehicle. If they do make them for a Series 1 I will definitely look at getting some.
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Rosco

[ukdave2002]

Hi Stuart

Thats interesting, as Rosco states it looks like a puka kit. Do you know what spec the dampers are?

Incidentally my Morris Z van has telescopic dampers on the rear, fitted as standard as its a GPO spec van;



The chassis is different to the E at the rear , but basically follows the same profile.

For comparison this is the rear of my Series E;


Dave

[Stuart2u]

Hi. I have included a few pictures of the rear shocks as promised. Please note I have only replaced the shocks themselves as the kit was fitted to the car when I got it........the old shocks were at least 10 years old and from a mini (old style) front. They were Boge and I was able to replace these with Boge's help with the modern equivalent....again they are front mini. The bottom mounting is standard and the top bracket replaces the lever arm fixing point.

Just a note on the front shocker mounting kit I have fitted...see previous pictures. I bought this complete kit from a car show stall last year from a guy who specialises in Morris bits. He stripped it off a vehicle he was breaking for spares and advised me that this kit was available as an after market kit through Morris dealers many years ago.......I bought it as I had fitted an almost identical kit for my Ford Pop from 'small ford parts' a couple of years ago and wanted to replicate the improved ride they achieved.

Incidently there are no markings on the main bracket (front) other than TLH and TRH.....meaning I assume left and right sidehandAlso you should note that they have 3 mounting bolts. The two side ones fit into the chassis mounting holes to replace the lever arm shocks. The third one at the top is more of a locating bolt which replaces the bolt already there which simply hold panels together as far as I could tell. It does need enlarging to accomodate a larger bolt and a little fettling with the timing cover so as to allow the fit and enable the cover to be removed when needed.

I know I have not helped with all this as far as 'where can I get a set from' but at least you should know they are out they.....its just getting lucky and finding them by chance as I did.

Stuart
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[Rosco663]

Nice 'ground work' guys, it is appreciated. A picture is worth a thousand words.

I believe I now know enough to be dangerous I reckon I will be able to cut a few bits of steel and stick 'em together with a few well directed welding sparks.

Watch this space for an update in the (hopefully) not too distant future
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Rosco

[Rosco663]

Gidday all,

Looks like I have been a bit slack on this update as the works were completed a few months ago

Went down to the local steel supplier and grabbed some angle iron (for the fronts) and some steel plate (for the rears) then carved these little beauties out of it using a thin metal cutoff wheel in the trusty 5" grinder. Drilled a few holes in the right positions to fit the bolts obtained from the fastener shop. The distance pieces were turned up using my father-in-law's home built lathe to give the right angle of articulation.




I haven't had it out and about yet but once all the bodywork is back on I'll share the ride experience with one and all.

Until then cheers
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Rosco

[hunsta]

Hey all. Don't know why I never saw this thread before. Great work Rossco and Stuart2u.
Question for Stuart2u. What was the size and travel lengths did you get for your series E? Id like to do that for mine . Im sure I can whip up the brackets at work. But knowing the shock lengths will cancel out some of the guess work.
Cheers
Craig
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I really am a nice guy. Just ask anyone that hasn't met me.

[hunsta]

Hey guys. Any chance of getting some info for my last question.
Cheers
Craig
_________________
I really am a nice guy. Just ask anyone that hasn't met me.