MorRX

[graham]

G'day

Well so much for the power of positive thought, the auto box is too high in the wrong places to clear the rack.
The engineer is having a look tomorrow, so will see what he is happy with lowering the motor, raising the rack or a bit of both.

cheers
Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[-==L=a=N=c=E==-]

notch the bellhousing.

_________________
Richard

1954 Black Morris Minor Ute

[graham]

G’day
Saw the engineer today, some good news he dose not have any problem with what we are doing.
The biggest problem is how to fit the engine/gearbox; he seems reluctant to move the rack so replacing the front cross member would seem to be the go.
I am not sure how successful cutting the bell housing would be, it is not that big to start with and the internals occupy most of it.
Be interesting to see what the experts come up with.

Cheers

Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[DON58VAN]

Hi Graham

Have you seen the discussion about raising the rack here:

http://www.morrisdownunder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4290

It seems that if you use Morris Major uprights (almost identical to the Minor's) you can raise the rack so long as you are ultra careful with the geometry.

You probably know all this already...but just in case.

Cheers

_________________
Don
1970 2-door -- on the road
Trying to get some Morry projects done, but ultra slow. ;(

[twincam89]

I'd say your best bet is to lower the motor down an inch or two, you need at least a 1/4 inch gap between the bellhousing and rack just to be safe. Will you have to reset the pinion angle or are you going to get lucky?

_________________
'52 minor, 4age, 5 speed, all the other good stuff

[nickshord]

iv'e seen this car before

[libbor]

where?

[graham]

G’day

We have some progress not much but some the engine bay has been modified (the lip on the rails was removed, that seam re welded then angle welded over the top which widened the gap a bit and strengthened the rails) to allow the engine to be lowered. The gearbox has been measured up to have a notch cut, tomorrow? Then we can fit the engine in its new position and fabricate the new front cross member with engine mounts. And suddenly the big bits will be fitted and the rest will be detail, time consuming but detail.

Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[graham]

G’day

The engine and gearbox have been fitted, with the mounting brackets and cross member fabricated and fitted. Well actually it was only a dummy engine, just the case, lighter and easier to move around. But now other things can happen as the space/distance available is known, radiator, tail shaft etc.

Cheers
Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[DON58VAN]

Hi Graham

Its great to see some serious progress with the MORRX!

Cheers

_________________
Don
1970 2-door -- on the road
Trying to get some Morry projects done, but ultra slow. ;(

[graham]

G’day

Yes it is good that the engine is finally fitted. I thought that is the big bit done but when you think about it there is still mobs to do and it will all have to be custom made as surprisingly no one make parts for rotaries in the Morry.
The real engine has to be fitted, not as much room after that as it takes up a lot more room with the extra bits fitted (fuel injection, alternator, airpump, air con compressor but no power steering or turbo so could be worse)
We have the tail shaft from the RX so it only needs shortening.
The exhaust will have to be made.
The Fuel system has to be changed to meet the requirements of the engine and emissions.
The brakes need new lines etc.
The engine bay needs rewiring, we have the wiring loom from the RX so should not be too bad.
New radiator has to be made and fitted, allowing for the air con condenser to be fitted.
The common thread hear is that everything is dependent on auto trades men doing what they say when they say, so far this has not happened , so delays are expected . Good job the next nationals are two years away, we might make them.
Times are supposed to be tough, but everyone I have dealt with is flat out so where is the recession?

Cheers
Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[oliver-morrisminor]

Graham
Looks like it is comming on a treat!

I just looked at the photo's for the slot cut in the bell housing for the G/Box.

I am not an expert, but I was always told to cut these with rounded
corners as the curve evens out the stresses or you could end up with
cracks in the corners of the cut. Espesially with all the torque of a rotary. That's how I have done my datto conversions.

_________________
oliver-morrisminor

www.morrisminorspares.biz/

1950 Series MM Tourer
1960 MM1000 2 Door Datsun Powered
1973 Leyland Marina Coupe
BRISBANE SOUTHSIDE MORRIS MINOR CAR CLUB Inc.

[frosty]

[twincam89]

Looks really good.

One thing though, it seems to me that now you don't have a front cross member? Maybe i can't tell from the pictures.

_________________
'52 minor, 4age, 5 speed, all the other good stuff

[graham]

G’day

A new cross member will be made up when clearances for the radiator have been established, so it will fit allowing for the radiator rather than the other way around.
The car is being engineered as we go so it will be strong enough.
A couple of shots of how it fits from the top.

Cheers
Graham






New diff

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[graham]

G’day

Progress some of the bits we have been waiting for have finally arrived, they are supposed to be on the car on Friday so I will get some pictures then.
The rear telescopic shock kit from Morris Garages has finally been modified to fit the new diff housing U bolts and is ready to install.
The front brake kit from Hopper stopers also arrived this morning ready to go, it looks very impressive with very detail instructions, pictures and all. They will give Morrx a bit of a sporting look, vented slotted disks.
The new tail shaft has also turned up and been fitted just to be sure it is ok.
Plan A is to have the brakes (front and back) fitted on Friday so the new brake lines can be done on Monday, one can live in hope.


Cheers
Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[graham]

Old front and back Brake

New Front Brake


Diff housing bolted up and lower shock mount.

Diff and tail shaft.

Back brakes


Cheers
Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[DON58VAN]

Graham

The new bits look fantastic. Worth the wait.

Cheers

Don

_________________
Don
1970 2-door -- on the road
Trying to get some Morry projects done, but ultra slow. ;(

[graham]

G’day
I am just getting impatient to get the car on the road to see how it goes.
With the brakes on we have gotten the measurements for the wheel off set/back space so I have now ordered the new wheels, Superlite 15x6 platinum contemporary, replacing the rims that were on it,14x 4, which were an inch wider than standard. They said 5 weeks hopefully they were being pessimistic and we will get them sooner not later as most other things seem to have been.
I have not decided on the tyres yet but it is looking like 185 60 15 will fit ok and give me the gearing I want, 40kph/1000 in top, possibly Yokohama C drive, any ideas?

Cheers
Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[Redfourdoor]

Looking good Graham, Ive bought some 185 60 15 tyres for my rear they look good, what stud pattern are you using? 4x?

I so want to do a rotor next, maybe in a Van

_________________
4AGE in the works

[graham]

G’day Paul

Are your 185 60 15s on the Honda rims in your thread? If so they seem to have plenty of clearance. Look good.
I have used a S2 RX7 diff modified to fit so have the old Mazda pattern 110 x 4 with the front hubs and rotas made the same. The diff gives me 235mm disks and a 3.9 ratio, which is higher than the S5 RX7 but with the smaller wheels/tyres it gives me about the same gear ratios but with about half the weight.
I hopefully will be able to tell you how a Morry goes with a rotary by Christmas, not sure which Christmas though.
It seems to be the way it goes you start one project and then start thinking about another, I can see how people end up with more than one Morry. I have thought about a king cab Ute with a Vitara V6 nice V engine burble or may be one of the new small common rail turbo diesels but probably a bit expensive yet.

Your car seems to be progressing nicely.

Cheers
Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[Redfourdoor]

Graham that's a great choice for the diff. Any ideas on wheel type yet,
yes those are the tyres & rims I just posted up

_________________
4AGE in the works

[graham]

As mentioned a couple of posts up I have just ordered the new wheels, Superlite 15x6 platinum contemporary. Pale grey centre with machined rim.

Cheers
Graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[graham]

Back on the hoist waiting for new engine

New motor nearly ready







New axil/diff installed


cheers
graham

_________________
58 2 door with Mazda 13B. Morris 13/160 Previous: First car $60 2 door 45years ago.

A reasonable man accepts what is
An unreasonable man does not.
Therefore the unreasonable man
is responsible for all change.

[frosty]

looking great Graham...

but I hope that you're getting rid of those horrible orange trailer lights on the front guards

_________________
BE Australian, ...BUY Australian (or Kiwi)


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... Remains to be seen.