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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:57 am Post subject: |
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G'day
.
Morrx and I went for a little drive down to Lorne yesterday afternoon, about 200km round trip.
We went via Geelong, Winchelsea, Deans marsh then over the Otway ranges to Lorne, came back via Anglesea, Torquay, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Drysdale.
The terrane varied from open undulating grazing/cropping land, Geelong to Deans Marsh, to mountainous temperate rain forest , Deans Marsh to Lorne, then panoramic ocean views from the Great Ocean Road, Lorne to Torquay.
From Deans Marsh the road rises to 427m in 12km then drops to sea level in 11km, the road is two lane with a 80km speed limit but most corners are signed at 30 to 40 kph with generally only a couple of hundred metres between the corners, with the gear box held in second Morrx had good engine breaking going into the corners and good acceleration coming out for the straights great fun. With second giving 20kph/1000 the engine was operating in the 2000 to 5000 rev range which gives easy power as peak torque is at 4000 and power at 7000. With ventilated disks up front not brake fade which added to the fun.
The Great Ocean road is cut into the side of the Otway Ranges which come down to the sea, it has panoramic ocean views on one side and a cliff on the other, winds around the edge rising and falling as it goes past creeks and beaches.
A pleasant sunny day yesterday ( high 20s C) but being mid week not too much traffic so a very pleasant drive a nice bit of variety, and Morrx performed beautifully, a very good day.
Cheers
Graham
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jax overdrive
Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 89 Location: Melbourne
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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Green with envy Graham. A great drive indeed and one that could have been specially designed for Morries. As a mad 19yo in the late 50's I used to thrash a series 2 around there, No speed limits in those days and not much traffic, probably not much sense either, although in an 803 probably didn't get much above 80 k anyway!
If you havn't already done it another great drive in that area is Lorne- Apollo Bay and then back Skenes Creek- Forrest you can then choose to toddle back up the Highway or through Deans Marsh back to Lorne. I've never done this in a Morry but the Rotary should love it. Did it recently on an MX5 club run at 7.00AM, saw one other car on the Lorne AB leg- Brilliant! If anyone wants to try this 2 tips. If you go Lorne- Apollo bay in the AM you won't get the sun in your eyes, and watch out for logging trucks on the Skenes Creek- Forest road. Cheers John G
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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delray I am not the Stig
Joined: 16 Aug 2010 Posts: 3 Location: hobart tas
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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HI graham I see you are in tassie for march I spotted the morrie on the hwy heading out of hobart would be great to have a Look at your car I also have a morrie with a 13b that I have just completed .give me a call 0407326107 cheers ian ..
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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1_fast_minor_ute I can do it
Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 31
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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Graham,
This is a fantastic journey to have seen for the first time today. Thank you so much for all the info you posted. I am keen to look into the brake system you used on the front. I have a '56 Morrie Ute that I am converting. I have a Toyota 4AGE engine, T50 5 speed box and a Mazda 323 rear end. I am going to change to a Toyota rear end.
A lot of work with little money. All work done so far i have done my self. I will start a post for my conversion now that I have seen yours.
Sean
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LittleBlue 3rd gear
Joined: 08 May 2011 Posts: 71 Location: South Gippsland, Victoria.
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Graham,
Great job on the mods! It looks great!
I was wondering if you know what colour Morrx is painted? My Little Blue is a very similar colour, and I'm trying to find a match.
Thanks![/img]
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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LittleBlue 3rd gear
Joined: 08 May 2011 Posts: 71 Location: South Gippsland, Victoria.
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks a lot, I'll look it up.
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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Scouse moderator
Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 5266 Location: Wollondilly, NSW
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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graham wrote: | This just confirmed to me the requirement for good brakes and made me very happy I had not compromised the brakes but put new big bakes on
the front, the back disks came with the Mazda axel.
Power assist 295mm ventilated, grooved twin piston may seem a bit much for the front of a minor but when you need them you stop with a lot of confidence.
I am happy I spent the money on them and I bet the car on the inside was too.
| How do you find them in the wet Graham?
Mine are great in the dry (Tarago discs+calipers) but I don't get enough weight transfer in the wet to give me 100% confidence in them.
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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LRS At rest
Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 248 Location: Melbourne,Inner Eastern Burbs,
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Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 2:04 am Post subject: Ducks at lunch |
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Hey Graham,
It was a nice surprise to see you arrive at the start point (the mutter was, "there is a blue Morry over there", Who is that??)
I saw the MORRX plates and knew in a moment.
It was nice to see you again and have you join us on a run.
Had to have a peek under your bonnet at the first stop.
Thanks for coming along be it ever so humble, we usually have a lot more cars on our runs, however it was a fun day with the few who came and a pleasant drive to Daylesford and back vie Trentham. I hope you enjoyed yourself.
Your car is looking good Graham.
Thanks for coming along today, I hope we made you feel welcome.
Leigh .
LRS
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:01 am Post subject: |
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G'day
At 1058 this morning I will have owned the car that has became Morrx for four years.
This is my first old car project and clearly from the thread I could have done some things better but my basic concept for the car has proved to have been right.
The Morrx package works, for me anyway, the appearance of a Morris Minor, albeit a bit modified, but with upgrades to enable relaxed easy use in modern traffic.
The best change has been the brakes, it has gone from having adequate breaks in the 50's to stopping better than most cars on the road today.
It makes driving it much more relaxed and enjoyable knowing you can stop.
The motor is the heart of the car and the rotary/auto combination has proved ideal for the Minor , with the power/torque coming with the revs the basically original suspension is not over whelmed on take off( no axel tramp etc) and the car just pulls smoothly away at what ever speed your right food dictates.
The main advantage of the increased power comes on the open road where you have more choices as to where to set the cruise control and where you can maintain your chosen speed irrespective of obstructions, hills, caravans etc. overtaking acceleration is much improved.
Come up behind a caravan at 100kph which is 2500 revs, slow to 80kph 2000revs in top but kick the auto and it will go back to second which is 4000 (peak torque) and with a satisfying push in the back you accelerate
and pass the caravan. The only thing to watch is your speed as it could easily exceed 120 before you pull back in. Because of the acceleration passing distances are much shorter and therefore are possible and safer than before.
More power dose not mean you have to go faster it just means you have more choices and can sustain your chosen speed more easily.
I am still amazed at the number of people who comment on the car, it appears that the majority of people with grey hair had something to do with a minor in their youth and it left a positive impassion.
I started out to build my vision of what a Morry should be in the 21st century and I think I have succeeded just a little fiddling with some cosmetics and it will be finished, if they are ever finished.
As I said before first time project and first time on a forum. In the time I have been on this forum I am surprised at the number of projects that
have started had frantic activity then stopped, hopefully they lost interest in the forum not their projects/dreams.
As we go into another year I look forward to having some more adventures and fun in Morrx and I hope you have as much fun in your chosen toy.
Cheers
Graham
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Kel 我能行
Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 463 Location: Hunter Valley
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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Graham
Please keep writing and placing the pictures in. I like reading the happenings.
I'm just jealous that I cannot trip around at the moment.
Regards
Kel
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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graham At rest
Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 744 Location: Wanguri NT
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:58 am Post subject: |
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G'day
We went to the Portarlington Mussel Festival on the week end, the festival promotes local primary industry primarily the mussels, wine and olives. They also have a classic car display, this year it included over twenty Minors, 19 from the Geelong club ( including 2 visitors from Melbourne ) and 3 or 4 others. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so have no pictures.
Of the other cars there the Roots Group club had the ones that impressed me most. A very nice early 60's Hillman Minx with a 1800 twin cam Nissan motor, he even has the cam covers powder coated to match the car. All he has to do is get the Nissan off the engine top and you would not know it was not original. There was also an early 50's Sunbeam alpine convertible that was very nice. But the real sleeper was a Sunbeam Tiger Mk1, it was parked next to an Alpine of the same vintage and apart from the small badges looked the same. The mk1 Tiger came with a 260 V8 but this one has a stroked 289 to 340 with over 400bhp, it would be a very interesting drive.
A good day all up, sorry about the no pictures, I will do better next time.
Cheers
Graham
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