1967 Morris FG Cabover

[dmulally]

With help from  @cubastreet we managed to get this thing started. I have 5 billion other projects but with the Imp going into tinkering retirement I don't mind having this to play on. The plan will be to put it on farm rego to move between the quarry and my two properties. 

 

I have no idea what it can carry but if it can manage 3.5 tonnes I'll use it to cart my dozer around. If it can't, I'll put a tipping bed on it. I know from driving it, it feels like a truck. Zero suspension travel. One thing I have no idea about is how to get a truck back on the road having been out of rego. Although I do have a couple of shreds of evidence it was registered back in the day floating around the cab. 

I'd love to do a chassis swap and lower it but I can only imagine that would be an LVV nightmare. So I'll probably go the path of least resistance here. 

 

 

[dmulally]

The first three things on the list I need to sort:

 

The carb is leaking and doesn't inspire confidence. I might look at replacing it with a new carter single barrel. 

The generator has a rooted bearing. Makes an awful noise. I was worried it was the water pump but that seems fine although it does need new rad hoses. 

As you can see here there is a stuck valve. I have soaked it with loads of oil last night and this morning. I'm reluctant to hit it with a hammer just yet. 

[dmulally]

Bottoms up.

Gave the radiator a gargle with coke, then water, then baking soda and water, then water again. 

I won't really know how the radiator is until it is back and running. Thankfully there is loads of room up front to put in any radiator I like. Just means the filler cap wont be under the flap. 

 

 

 

[dmulally]

No thermostat.

Housing with speed holes. 

This should be fun!

[dmulally]

So the generator wasn't working and made an awful noise. 

I switched it for a 1 wire alternator. The wiring needs to be replaced anyway and being positive earth that needs to change anyway. 

The alternator is a pretty cool one. It's made for drag racers and tractors. The drag racers wanted a light alternator that produce max amps at low rpm's. That's due to sitting in the queue with their rad fans cranking at idle for ages. 

Ill need to find a new pulley and do a bit of shimming to get it to line up but should be sweet. Means I can piss off the regulator box too. 

[dmulally]

Like nails down a chalkboard. This is the first drive running on 5 cylinders. Apologies for terrible camera work. 

 

[dmulally]

I'm really happy with this result. Daily oiling the stem seemed to have finally worked. This morning I gave it the slightest nudge with a spring lifter and it popped up with a satisfying click. 

Now I need to find my compression tester and see what I'm working with. 

[dmulally]

Ticking along slowly with the FG. I rebuilt the carb and need to put that on. Naturally the linkage doesn't line up so I have put something together the wrong way round so I'll sort that. The thermostat housing was toast and I had no idea where to find a new one but apparently an old corolla one has the same bolt pattern. Unfortunately the outlet points a slightly different direction so I'll have to get a flexible hose and do some subtle bending. That there wasn't a thermostat inside the housing suggests it has had overheating problems in the past so I'll see how it runs but consider ditching the radiator for a better one. There is an acre of space to put a bigger one in although the flap at the front won't line up with the fill cap so I'd get a remote overflow tank to monitor the situation easier. 

 

I also had a trademark change of heart and decided to put in another more generic alternator. The special dragster one I had used an unusual pulley shaft size and a new pulley was 3/4 the price of a new cheapie alternator. Not really a big deal but I had to order a double row pulley to line it up with the water pump and crank pulley. That way I don't have to modify the housing of the alternator which I hate doing. For anybody thinking of doing similar I just use a threaded rod to use the original generator bracketry. Some washers are used as spacers for the adjuster and it's a 20 minute job. 

Next small job is to order a new pulley belt as the current one is old and get the old radiator back installed as soon as the alternator pulley is installed. Then I have to choose between doing the rewiring (not hard. Just boring) or tackling the numerous rust spots in the cab. Haven't decided if I'll take the cab off yet or not. Looks like a pain in the bum but would make life easier. See how I feel. 

[dmulally]

Well that's a shame. I was just buttoning it all up for the 50 meter drive to my workshop to start on the rust and broke the thermostat housing. To add insult to injury when I lifted the top housing up the snapped off bit stuck to the bottom and dropped into the water pump which was pretty funny. 

I guess this means time to reflect. I might open it up in the chat thread for some ideas. I don't even know what this engine is even called let alone looking for a new housing. 

 

 

[dmulally]

So managed to get it wired up enough to be able to run again. I have the thermostat housing bolted on as best I can and glued too. One thing I noted is that the corolla housing is pointing another direction to the original. So either I need a new radiator or to redirect the top outlet so it points the right way. Not a biggy. When I drive it inside for some rust work I might have a go at tig welding the broken housing up. Or at least melting the bolt in place. 

I ran the engine for a good 20 mins to see if the housing would leak and so far so good. I think until I can find a new lower housing to bolt on it will just have to do. All the valves are free and moving too although there is a slight miss occasionally. I think what it needs is a good long run at 2500rpms on the highway to clear the throat. The rebuilt carby hasn't even been dialed yet and starts on the smallest of choke. I'll still have to adjust the valves yet but am in no rush to do that yet. 

 

 

[dmulally]

Pretty crappy weather on Sat so decided to make the most of and get the power washer out. Interesting to see what I'm working with. 

[dmulally]

Also the diff has to be swapped. After the power wash and the engine dried off I took it for a drive down the road. First gear is unusable like most light trucks but 4th feels like 2nd. I thought the diff was 4.5:1 but It's in the 6 or 7's. It's able to easily take off in 4th!

I might look into a GMC or 9" swap as loads of ratios and easily enough to convert to dual wheels with off the shelf bits.

I couldn't be bothered to stuff around with an overdrive conversion. Although the gearbox is green which was news to me. 

Another thing I have to do is move the shifter. Quite impressive that you scrape your knucks going to second as well as up to third. Not to mention it's behind you so have to find it.