Speaking of the ultimate tow vehicle part 6 or so

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Scott
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Speaking of the ultimate tow vehicle part 6 or so

Post by Scott »

Most here have seen pics of the wagon that my daughters lovingly call "The Beast" or "The Man Truck".

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I used it to haul the new Mini hatch up to Maaco to have it sprayed. The guy saw my truck and was admiring it and said "We can paint that cheap!!"

I said, "No way"

While he was figuring out the Mini hatch he put together a bid and $600 dollars later it should be out of the paint shop the first of next week.

I hauled it to a friends and $70 dollars later the Bed and toolbox were sandblated. $50 for bed liner (self applied) at orielly, and surisingly $200 for an underbody steam and undercoat that is guarenteed that rust will not come through.

$2000 purchase
$600 paint
$70 sandblast
$50 bedliner
$200 undercoat
$90 Powdercoat wheels ($18 per)
$500 in parts since I bought it
---------------
$3510 If I got it right, Cheap truck!!!

Will post pics in about a week.
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Scott
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Post by Scott »

Im kinda bummed.

2 weeks later and my truck is still in the shop.

I must say that what theyve done looks great but Im getting tired of driving the MG and its been too cold to ride the Bicycle in the AM.
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mtc
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Post by mtc »

Scott - you got an MG?

My first car was a Midget. Had several afterwards.

British Leyland.

Seems we've all some common tie.
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Post by Paul S »

MG's Rock! got 2 80 roadster and a 72 GT (Hardtop)

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Paul
aka phantomracer
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kmclemore
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Post by kmclemore »

I'm still tryin' to figure a way to tow the Mac with our Morris Minor!

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Catigale
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Post by Catigale »

No doubt with the venerable 1100 cc motor, although the turbo option might be useful for that tow...

John at Saving Old Seagulls has a lookalike panel version on his website I think, Kevin.
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Lease
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Post by Lease »

Well if it's the 850, no chance; but if it's the 1000..................................

Very nice toy. We never went in for the 'woody' look here, but I do still remember the Morris very fondly. Owned a couple as well:

Mini 850

Morris Nomad

Morris Major Elite

Austin Freeway (I think that counts)
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kmclemore
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Post by kmclemore »

It is indeed the 1000, but with the larger 2" mains & crank from a 1098cc Austin Healey Sprite MKII, a ported head from a 998 Mini Coooper (12G295 for your MOWOG enthusiasts).... and a Judson Supercharger!

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How it works....
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I'm just in the midst of finishng the motor build, and with any luck the tub will be off to the body shop to get a respray in a light powder blue. The car is for my wife!
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Lease
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Post by Lease »

Wow! How does the tranny take the extra power? Has it been on the dyno to get a number yet?

One can't help but admire the fortitude required to take the British approach to engineering (unnecessarily complicated) and make it even more complicated.
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kmclemore
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Post by kmclemore »

Lease wrote:Wow! How does the tranny take the extra power? Has it been on the dyno to get a number yet?

One can't help but admire the fortitude required to take the British approach to engineering (unnecessarily complicated) and make it even more complicated.
No, I haven't dynoed it since as I say, I'm still building it. I probably won't dyno it anyway though... I pretty much use my right foot and a long road to do my dynos! :)

As far as the tranny, I'm using the stock trans which is plenty robust, but I've reduced the rear axle ratio from 4:11 to 3:89 so it will get better highway performance and I've got a recalibrated speedo to match the new ratio. I'll also be adding disc brakes, too.

I do take issue with your 'complicated' comment, though. I find that British engineering is infintely more simple and easier to work on than virtually any other cars out there. For example, I can pull the motor by only disconnecting about 3 wires and 4 hoses, and about 12 bolts - try that with any other car.

And as for the blower and how complicated it might be, well, that's actually an American supercharger made in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania! I knew the fellow who made them (RIP, Haddon, and thanks for the extra parts!).
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Lease
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Post by Lease »

Ahhhrrrrggg!

What an idiot. Too enthusiastic to read what's writ. Appologies.

I'm sticking by the complicated bit though, and would like to argue that some more, but I fear this teeters too close to pub talk.
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kmclemore
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Post by kmclemore »

Indeed.. back to towing. So, over there in the land of Oz with all the rust-free Morrises, can you find me a towing hitch ball for this little unit? I am serious about towing, but not the Mac... but for my little boat instead!
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Scott
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Post by Scott »

OOOooops!!! Been neglecting checking for replies to my own post.
Scott - you got an MG?
Yes like KMC, I somehow got sucked into the vortex of british car ownership.

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Before I put my truck in the shop I had'nt even started the MG for 21 Months. (judging by the registration being due in 3 mos) My youngest finally stepped up to the plate and said shewould drive the car. She will be driving age in about 6 mos. This is a good thing becauseI hate for such a pretty car to sit and collect dust.

Update on my truck: 5 mondays later, they still have to put the trim back on a and then I can take iot to the tire vendor to have the rims powder coated. I believe this guy SEVERELY underbid it and is using it for filler work.

Im OK with this as it was cheap and it looks great!!!. I was loking at it the other day and laughing because it is wierd to see it shiny!!!

Purely for KMC's sake
The car is for my wife!
The MG was my wifes daily driver when we first got married. Raised 3 of 4 kids while driving that car!!! The current rebuild was in fact a frame off restore. (3rd rebuild of varying degrees)

I rebuilt it this time around out of sentimental mush. She loves the car, just doesnt like to drive it anymore. It is a little more work than a modern car to drive. Very reliable but as with all British stuff you have to know how to "fidget with the widget on the Midget"!!!!!!!!!

Tried to get 2 of my other daughters to drive it but they too had much nicer easier cars to steal from me. I mean of their own. (Isnt that what I said??) Before daughter #3 child #4 rose to the occasion. Just so long as someone drives it Im OK with that.

Cant go anywhere without haveing to pop the hood and tell stories about it. Everyone loves the little London cars!!
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Scott
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Post by Scott »

More eye candy.

Outside shot
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Engine bay.
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All the black is Bedliner.
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Interior
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More bedliner
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Everything on the car that isnt orange paint is truck bedliner inside and out.

On edit: who says this isnt towing related???
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Lease
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Post by Lease »

So, over there in the land of Oz with all the rust-free Morrises, can you find me a towing hitch ball for this little unit?
OK. Sent an email to this crowd:

http://www.morrisminorworld.com.au/

They are the suppliers to one of the Morris Owners Clubs, so we'll see what they've got.
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