Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Stuart2u · Joined: 06 Nov 2012 Posts: 52 Location: Nottingham

Hi. I got into classic cars when I retired (early) some 5 years ago. I had an interest in cars and bikes from being a teenager. In those days If you had a car or bike, then unless you were privilaged, you repaired them yourself, often on the road or even in Mums kitchen. What I learned about then stayed with me.

So my first venture into classics was a 1955 Ford Pop 103E.....I had built a special based on this when I was about 19, and so to some extent I was chasing my youth. She is known as Poppy.....not very original, but it fits. She was what I would describe as a 'polished turd'. She looked fantastic having had a lot of money spent on the body and chassis....mechanically she was a mess. But thats what I wanted. You might be able to see if I can upload any pictures, that she is very pretty and now most definately a mechanically sound vehicle.

So running out of things to tinker with, I decided to buy another vehicle.....but could not get rid of Poppy. What to buy? Well I had an open mind, but it had to be similar to Poppy when I got her. Took my time and eventually bought KKKKaty...A 1948 Morris 8 E series. This was in April of this year and I am still working on her and will be for some time......she runs reasonably well, but needs some mechanical sorting as well as a bit more external tinkering than I first thought.

So, I know Ford Pops inside out and should anyone wish to pick my brains, just let me know. I know less about the Morris, but learning as I go along.......nothing is too complicated on these things anyway.

Happy to be on here amongst like minded folk.

Stuart

(sideways scrolling sorted, RJ)

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22791 Location: UK

Welcome to the forum Stuart! there are plenty of Morris 8 owners around and about here, so you're in good company. If you get chance it'd be neat to see a thread about it over in the Morris category of the forum.

rgds, RJ
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welshrover · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 326

welcome
two nice vehicles you have there , id have called the pop george as the reg no is uke as in george formby .the morris has got quite a good reg too kkk.
welcome again
craig Very Happy

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4242 Location: South Cheshire

Hi Stuart

and welcome from another Series E owner (well an SE in lots of bits Very Happy

) and a couple of other Eight variants. Your SE is not on the Morris Register (there are no KKK reg's) do you have any history?

Dave

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22791 Location: UK

Great Pop

RJ
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clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Welcome to the forum. You have 2 lovely cars there. Hope to hear more about them and yourself as we go along Cool

...............Larry.
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Fluffle-Valve · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:00 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum Wink

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Series 3 1972 LWB Truck Cab Pick Up. My daily drive.

buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Welcome..

P3steve · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 8:27 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum, what a great pair of cars you have the chance to compare two cars that were in direct competition to each other back in the day – a sort of period road test. The post war to early fifties period is a personal favourite of mine, we look forward to hearing more about them
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Stuart2u · Joined: 06 Nov 2012 Posts: 52 Location: Nottingham

Hi again. Well in no particular order, I have now registered KKKaty with the Morris Register. I don't know how long it takes for admin to be processed with them, but we are on there.

Comparing the two vehicles, I am really surprised at how much more 'modern' the Morris feels to drive compared to the Ford. The ride is less bouncy even though I have fitted telescopic shocks to the front of Poppy which helped so much in keeping a straight line and damping down the bounce. KKKaty is quieter, more refined and the engine is more flexible even though the engine size is smaller and has less HP, it feels like it has more to offer and doesnt have to work so hard to deliver. This is mainly due to the fact that KKKaty has a 4 speed box with much different ratios as opposed to 3 speeds in the Ford. Poppy always feels like the engine is being worked hard through the gears.

The Ford has slightly more passenger space and the boot is more practical in that the lid hinges down for easier access and acts as a loading area and luggage carrier.....thats why the rear number plate swings down. Where as the Morris has a lift up lid which is fine for very small folk, but at over 6' tall, its a bend double job or get on your knees to gain access to the boot interier fully. Oh and one other thing. KKKaty has suicide doors. Its a whole new way of getting in and out of a car especially as my long legs need a helping hand to bend sufficientl to swing in without catching the trim edge....damn, Ive done it again....need a stainless steel kick plate fitted.

Those of you that know Pops will know that my model the 103E was a honed down model devoid of extra's in order to reduce price as much as possible in the face of competition at the time. So, no crome bumpers, no heater nor indicators a single vacumm wiper and little in the way of interior trim or guages. The Morris has an oil pressure guage and an integrated steering wheel switch for the indicators, hydrolic brakes as opposed to rod and cable and an opening front screen as well as a rear window blind...wowee. Incidently, those rod and cable brakes are the business and do a terrific job, but be warned DONT fiddle with them, set them up and leave them otherwise you will be under the car every weekend.

Other than that I would say that they are in many respects cars of their time and very similar, but at the same time very dis-similar.

Thanks for your kind remarks about them both......

Stuart

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4866 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
You don't say how long youv'e had the Morris, but, have you sussed out the method for checking valve clearances yet?
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Stuart2u · Joined: 06 Nov 2012 Posts: 52 Location: Nottingham

.....I have had the Morris since about May.....I can see that there is an access hatch through the inside of the wheel arch, from there its the tappet chest removal. I have had the latter off because of an oil leak to change the gasket.....still leaks a little so am going to attack it with 'the Blue stuff'.

I have had the sump off (3 times) because of a serious oil leak from the rear jiggle pin.....those rear bearing sealing arrangements are a little crude to say the least, but its more or less cured, I can live with a little oil dripping out cos thats expected, but what I had was going to cause a serious falling out with my wife with all the oil KKKaty was dribbling over the drive.

Stuart