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Morris Quad - Mk-2 early


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Well - it's been a while since joining the green-machine fraternity, and my first effort at restoration is still a (slow) work in progress.

 

Having been inspired at a recent show to try and make more of a push to be ready for Capel next year, I thought it about time to open up my project for wider review & advice.

 

First-up is the picture of my project in 1997 - long before I knew it would become _my_ project.

 

Abandoned & awaiting the scrap auction - it was preserved by someone who was already restoring a Mk-2 (late) Quad and didn't want to see this one lost.

restoration 1997.jpg

 

I will put a couple more pictures up to bring it a bit more up to date... and then try and keep it a bit more current!

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Stepping a little forward in time - to 2013 - this is the Quad as I collected it. This side very much shows it's best side!

restoration 2013_collection.jpg

 

During the 16 years since the previous picture, the "Saviour of Sheppy" had freed the engine and got it running, as well as getting the brakes freed and working so it could stop too.

 

Getting it onto the loader was my first experience of the "wrong way round" brake & accelerator on these early Quads :D

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... and finally skipping forward to yesterday:

 

I managed to get the last remaining panel off, including the drivers window (glazing intact).

 

Now I can see the extent of the rot/integrity of the underlying framework all-round. In short - what was left of the cab was _broadly_ sound - but all the bodywork framing that was exposed is, well, not sound.

last main panel off.jpg

So: does anyone happen to have a spare Mk-2 body lying around...?

 

... No?

 

How about dimensions &/or plans for the frame structure?

 

As an ex-recovery vehicle, it had no rear body, so I have no idea what the lockers, bins, etc. should look like inside.

 

(The Bolt-Action & Flames of War Mk-2 Quads just aren't the right scale to get accurate measurements.)

 

Is anyone taking a Mk-2 to War & Peace Revival this year?

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Will,

 

I have one of the most original Morris quads in the country in storage here at the moment and the body is 100% original and intact.

You are more than welcome to come view it and take dimension's and drawing, however I am 300 miles North !

 

Rob........................rnixartillery.

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I was going to ask about brake and acelerator. :D I've had some exciting moments with that combination. My advice would be change them to normal layout. You can drive them for ages, then at the critical moment forget which way round they are.

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Will,

 

I have one of the most original Morris quads in the country in storage here at the moment and the body is 100% original and intact.

You are more than welcome to come view it and take dimension's and drawing, however I am 300 miles North !

 

Rob........................rnixartillery.

 

Thank you, Rob

 

I strongly suspect that if I entered your premises, I'd leave with a 25pdr too :laugh:

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I was going to ask about brake and acelerator. :D I've had some exciting moments with that combination. My advice would be change them to normal layout. You can drive them for ages, then at the critical moment forget which way round they are.

 

Thank you, Tony

 

I'm a while away from being near taking it on roads, but there is farm livestock and other vehicles that might get a surprise!

 

What "change" have you made? Is it a straightforward bolt-on/modification, or does it require altering any original structure?

 

Do you have any drawings/photos of such a change?

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Thank you, Rob

 

I strongly suspect that if I entered your premises, I'd leave with a 25pdr too :laugh:

 

Sounds good, choice available , that limber is very lonely ! ;) all joking aside if you struggle to view one nearer home you are welcome to come up.

 

Rob..................rnixartillery.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just a quick "it was a good day on Saturday" update.

 

Having an unexpectedly "free" Saturday afternoon (Mrs W. had no immediate chores, so I legged it out quickly), it was a pleasure to get the Quad started and drive it out of its shelter into the middle of the yard.

 

The footbrake was a little soft, but the handbrake was solid. Oh - and it had sprung a small fuel leak from a brass junction. This was fixed very simply with a little tightening.

 

I had been given some old rear frame sections that came from a previous restoration - so not "showroom" quality, but far better ('coz they existed) than what was currently there. Getting them bolted into place has gone some way towards giving me key external dimensions - and the satisfaction of a sniff of what it might look like when done.

 

'O course - it still won't keep the rain out - but it's another (small) step towards the restoration.

rear-frame pattern.jpg

 

And then there was the 8-point turn in the narrow driveway to get it back into shelter - I certainly feel my forearms getting more Popeye like!

 

Next-step is to strip down the wheel arches for pattern & replacement...

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Just a quick "it was a good day on Saturday" update.

 

Having an unexpectedly "free" Saturday afternoon (Mrs W. had no immediate chores, so I legged it out quickly), it was a pleasure to get the Quad started and drive it out of its shelter into the middle of the yard.

 

The footbrake was a little soft, but the handbrake was solid. Oh - and it had sprung a small fuel leak from a brass junction. This was fixed very simply with a little tightening.

 

I had been given some old rear frame sections that came from a previous restoration - so not "showroom" quality, but far better ('coz they existed) than what was currently there. Getting them bolted into place has gone some way towards giving me key external dimensions - and the satisfaction of a sniff of what it might look like when done.

 

'O course - it still won't keep the rain out - but it's another (small) step towards the restoration.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]106069[/ATTACH]

 

And then there was the 8-point turn in the narrow driveway to get it back into shelter - I certainly feel my forearms getting more Popeye like!

 

Next-step is to strip down the wheel arches for pattern & replacement...

 

Great project. Good to see another rare British MV being saved.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 2 years later...

So, it's been all quiet for a while, but behind the scenes, measuring, head-scratching, photo-scouring and research have been continuing.

 

A big shout-out to Green Barn Services - who have agreed to help start putting bits together on it.

 

A big relief at the weekend when an original locker door (from a Mk-3) fitted neatly in a side frame (also from a Mk-3) which attached to the upright of the original Mk-2, supported by a newly minted and rolled wheel arch (worked out by 30 year old trigonometry). All the bolt-holes lined up...

 

attachment.php?attachmentid=129219&stc=1

 

 

Happy days!

new shiny + old not-so-shiny.jpg

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So, it's been all quiet for a while, but behind the scenes, measuring, head-scratching, photo-scouring and research have been continuing.

 

A big shout-out to Green Barn Services - who have agreed to help start putting bits together on it.

 

A big relief at the weekend when an original locker door (from a Mk-3) fitted neatly in a side frame (also from a Mk-3) which attached to the upright of the original Mk-2, supported by a newly minted and rolled wheel arch (worked out by 30 year old trigonometry). All the bolt-holes lined up...

 

attachment.php?attachmentid=129219&stc=1

 

 

Happy days!

 

 

Fantastic project...keep up the ( slow ) progress ! You make me feel less guilty about the lack of progress on my Bedford. :blush:

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