Morris Minor
Minor bodywork slowly starts to come together
Bodywork; the time-sponge that can be relied upon to push a project deadline set by an optimist like myself. Since I last reported on the two-door’s progress, I’ve been up at CBR Classic Restorations for another three of days fettling gaps, then applying and sanding aluminium body filler in an attempt to push the project forward. This is a huge learning curve for me, which is the reason that I’m keen to do as much as possible myself. But that’s also the reason that it’s taking so long.
My first task when I arrived in Cannock was to break out the electric DA and sand back epoxy primer I’d applied prior to the car’s voyage west, removing the perfectly exaggerated orange peel effect I’d achieved that any ‘how not-to’ guide would have been proud to show, while also creating a ‘key’ for filler to adhere to. I also sanded the black ‘transit primer’ from the new rear wings from ESM Morris Minors and set about juggling and joggling them to fit ‘something like’.
Years of repairs had left the mounting flanges, particularly on the drivers’ side, in the wrong place. Packing the gap out with filler wasn’t an option, due to both the risk of cracking and CBR’S exacting standards regards anything that leaves its workshop. Master fabricator Kev and I spent a noisy couple of hours massaging the arch into the correct position before re-making the mounting flange where required and welding it in position, ready for a final skim of body filler.
Panels aligned
With all the panels lined up, it was finally time for some filler. CBR’S Andy and Jon applied the Upol D aluminium reinforced body filler. It’s their filler of choice as it simply hardens over time and doesn’t shrink back like some cheaper fillers.
The guys skimmed along the length of the car with the door held shut and with its rubber in place to ensure its position was correct, before I then spent several hours after each application with a sanding block removing excess filler.
By the time I left, the drivers’ side was ready for the final skim of filler – Upol Easy 3 that Jon informs me will fill any pinholes and be an easier surface to sand ready for primer. That will be my first job next time I’m up. The metalwork around the bottom of the boot surround will still need some fettling before the filling and sanding process can begin, before we move
around the car onto the passenger side which, thus far, has only received a single skim of Upol D. Progress is progress, though, and I’m finally starting to see benefit of all the hard ground work we’ve put in to get the metalwork straight before filler. In Andy’s words: ‘There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of filler, but you have to ensure that the foundations are correct first. This is bodywork, not sculpture.’
Feelin’ blue
Back in the PC workshop, I’ve mounted the 1275 engine block on a stand and am preparing to assemble it. After much agonising, I plumped for a pastel blue-coloured engine enamel that should tie the engine in with the car’s Smoke Grey bodywork nicely. I’d considered OE ‘MOWOG Green’, but I’ve spent a lot of money making this engine non-standard so wanted to reflect this, subtly, with engine colour choice. I’d considered black, but was concerned that oil leaks wouldn’t be as easily traceable should they develop. When it arrived, the paint was a much lighter, brighter shade than I’d envisaged, but it is growing on me and the hope is that it will be less garish once the engine’s fitted with its many ancillaries. ■ matt.tomkins@practicalclassics.co.uk