‘Club chair, Chris, was foreman as we went to our workstations’
Time for a quick team talk. We were about to reverse a process that, on this car, hadn’t been done since it was originally built at Cowley. Our production line, therefore, had to be organized and every man needed to know his task. Chris, as chairman of the club, was foreman as we went to our workstations. Of course from that point on it was chaotic with pointing and waggling and the odd ‘Is it moving yet?’, but after 50 years in a bay, you can forgive an engine for not wanting to come loose.
But come loose it did, and as I lifted the shell away we were presented with a dolly mounted engine and box, covered in five decades worth of filth. The team’s work was done. We said our thank you’s and went on our way. I went home and, over the next
week rebuilt and resprayed my instrument binnacle, made a pair of good rear lights out of four not so good ones and rebuilt the carb (with a kit I forgot I had – I love it when that happens).
I’ve said it before, I am happy to weld anywhere that can’t be seen, but for visible stuff, well… others are better equipped than I. I headed off to buy an offside front wing from Chris and some panels from club stores as Clive Jefferson recreated a front valance (see step-by-step).
Clive then switched to the rear end to let new metal into the back panel behind the bumper. I returned with the front wing and drilled out the spot welds on the old item before cutting down the wing just ahead of the A-pillar. It always makes me feel a bit sick cutting into clean metal on a car I am restoring… but once dressed and the inner wing and corrosion in the front of the driver’s floor welded up, it was time to fiddle and bend. To be honest the pattern panel fit was better than expected. Minimal persuasion was required before it was time to tack it into place.
With all panels required collected together, and three days with Clive and I on the car, another week should see the bodywork done. Then I’ll be looking for a paint shop to prep the body and give it a new coat of Limeflower. ■ danny.hopkins@practicalclassics.co.uk
USEFUL CONTACTS Morris Marina Owners’ Club, morrismarina.org.uk Motorvation, 01780 740631