Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

peppiB · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject: Stitch in Time

Ever wished you had done something earlier and lived to regret it??

My Morris 1800 had never been welded in its 40 year life, and passed its MOT at the end of November. Following the test I took it to visit my wife (we live 200 miles apart Shocked

don't ask!) and whilst away the screenwash stopped working. I eventually realised the pipe had come off under the dash, and the floor was very wet. I brought it home on 1st December, but didn't lift the wet carpet at the time, planning to do that the following day. I was, however, indisposed due to ill health for a couple of months, only taking the car out again at the beginning of February as a friend needed a car towing, and whilst I was still not fit agreed to do the job with him. When I went to start it, the accelerator pedal broke off Shocked

but I was able to drive just using the stem. Again the car was parked in its garage and only yesterday was I well enough to go back and lift the carpet, mainly to fit a new pedal I had acquired. Horror - the whole of the drivers floor well had rusted and virtually disintegrated. I filled a bag the size of a large loaf with loose rust. Sad

I will have to weld in a new floor, which in itself is not a great problem, but it has now ruined the untouched nature of the car. Never put off til tomorrow ......... you never know, you may be too ill to do it then! Sad

Graeme · Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 24

Must have been going already, floors dont rot out in 3 months.

Always a shame to weld a car for teh first time, but do a proper job and all will be well Smile

Castellated nut · Joined: 08 Dec 2007 Posts: 91 Location: Shropshire, UK

I agree with Graeme. Even if you filled it with salt-water I'd be surprised if you could get a sound floor to rot through in such a short time! Check your windscreen seal (where the rubber meets the body). A leaky seal is the usual cause of rusty floors at the front.

peppiB · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

Screen has a new rubber (I fitted it when I bought the car a couple of years ago) and the carpets are always dry. I was quite surprised to say the least when I saw the mess - especially as the MOT engineer and I were looking at it at the end of November. He is a friend of mine and we had the carpets up so he could see there was still original paint underneath. He is a classic enthusiast as well (SS Jaguar). Another friend coming tomorrow so the pair of us can prepare it for welding. Will try and remember to take a photo.

Scotty · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883

Ouch!

I had an 1800 S way back and it was one of the roomiest cars I ever bought. Its still out there somewhere, or at least there's an Austin still wearing YGG 111 J, I often wonder where it is as I would buy it back.

Scotty.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

peppiB · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:17 am Post subject:

Kelsham · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject: stitch in time

Hi I have a 1968 Morris Landcrab.
I was changing the brake master cylinder rubbers last weekend when I dropped the brake pedal split pin.
When I pulled up the drivers side carpet I found a patch of corrosion. Oh well some more welding will be needed. regards Kels

peppiB · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

Rare things the Morris variant Kels - most of the survivors are Wolseley, followed by Austin. Someone in the club told me there were only 46 Morris's known to survive in the UK. Hope the welding goes OK.

Changed my brake and clutch cylinder rubbers last January (2008) and only found the split pin I dropped yesterday when I took all the carpets out!

Still haven't found my phone lead yet to upload the photos.

Kelsham · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: a stitch in time

I was not aware that my Morris was so rare I have owned it for the last twenty odd years, I used to see a few around then.
I see that you changed the windscreen seal? I have a new one on the roof of the car waiting to be fitted.
I keep putting the job off. Oh yes its for the rear screen any advice welcome regards Kels.

peppiB · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject:

The rear screen rubber is smaller than the windscreen one and they are no longer made - a windscreen one has to be cut down and the gap filled with sealant, so if you have one it is a very rare thing. Mine was fitted by a pro windscreen fitter who just happened to be visiting a commercial garage I used to use for restoring cars. He had a fancy plastic tool to slide the rubber into place. As he was there to replace the screen on a modern car in the garage anyway, he did it for free - said it made him feel nostalgic and yearn for a bygone age! To get the old one out, I used a thin blade to loosen any sealant behind the rubber and then gently prised the rubber off using a short stiff bladed knife, pushing the screen to a helper inside the car.