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"Christine" the ute

 
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jimmy_d
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Joined: 29 Aug 2009
Posts: 322
Location: Melbourne eastern suburbs

PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:33 pm    Post subject: "Christine" the ute Reply with quote

So guess what I just bought and got home today after 4 hours of travelling back and forth,give up?its a ute,or at least it will be one day,98% complete and 100% dismantled,a lot of work to do.
Its the one that was advertised on this forum about a week ago.Chassis is great,have to re-inforce 1 weld above the rear shock crossmember and adress some surface rust.It has been acid dipped but never coated so its covered in surface rust.
Externally I will wire wheel it,rust killer,prime and paint,can anyone recommend a good chassis paint.Question,what should I do about inside the frame channels as access is poor,I dont really want to dip it again,advice please.
I will concentrate on getting the chassis back on wheels for the present as the cab scares me a bit.It has NO floor,the lower support panel at the rear that bolts it to the chassis is cactus,the sills are shot,there is other rust but I can deal with that easily.I know repair sections are available but maybe I could find a donor floor out of a sedan or something,Im open to advice and lots of it.Thats it for now,I cant really get onto anything for another 6 weeks yet till the specialist gives me the go ahead since I broke my clavicle in 2 places and cracked a rib or two so I will just plan and sort out the pieces.
Will post some pics when the camera is charged,this project is also listed in morris owners uk web sight,though postings will probably be pretty much the same.
Regards Pete.


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Kustombruce
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Joined: 09 Sep 2003
Posts: 603
Location: Canberra, where they put creative spirit in the water

PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pete
I would clean the chassis then paint the out side and as much of the inside with POR15
then spray Lanotec (Sheep wool oil) in the rails.

Sounds like a big job so take it one step at a time.

good luck

Bruce


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mowog
I can steer now


Joined: 12 Dec 2008
Posts: 160
Location: country WA

PostPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

be wary of the por it is good but don't inhale it or get it on your bare skin some people react quite badly to it. its ok when dry.
don't cut huge sections out to weld new bits in, you risk the body going out of shape, do one sill and finish it, then do the other, then do one side of the floor then the other.
if you can, line the doors up correct, and tack weld them in to the door jamb to help hold the shape. the rear of the cab comes off so you can weld from there.


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jimmy_d
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Joined: 29 Aug 2009
Posts: 322
Location: Melbourne eastern suburbs

PostPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

great,so is POR readily available or is it specialist trade supplies?
If I had enough of the floor etc to do it bit by bit I would but I have NO floor at all inside,the rear section of the cab is off and there are 2 panels that fit under it,one bolts on and the lower is welded to the body,this is the one that is almost non existent.I will do as you say and fit up doors and align best as possible then work from there unless I cut a sedan to suit but this is a little in the future as chassis is straight forward and I would like to get it rolling so I can move it out of the way when Im working as area is very limited.One thing for sure,this is not intended to be a show car/custom,just a fun little cruiser in time.


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oliver-morrisminor
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Joined: 14 Nov 2005
Posts: 998
Location: Brisbane, Redlands.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A friend of mine bought a Ute and the cab was shot like yours so
he found it easier to chop a 4 door in half and just weld in the rear
cab attachment and associated bits and pieces...an alternatiive
I suppose it may be easier in the long run to keep it all straight
and possibly less welding!......Oli


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jimmy_d
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Joined: 29 Aug 2009
Posts: 322
Location: Melbourne eastern suburbs

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have considered this but for the present I'll leave it in the "sort it later" box unless I come accross a really cheap 4 door as in free as the budget is pretty slim at present.The more I look at my cab to more I see various ways of addressing the issue.
Regards Pete.


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libbor
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Joined: 01 Feb 2009
Posts: 1341
Location: Ghoulbon

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

oliver-morrisminor wrote:

chop a 4 door in half and just weld in the rear
cab attachment
.....Oli


Chopping a two door in half would make a nice ute. You would just need to add a 100 or so mm to the chassis.

Oh how my brain just gets ahead of me sometimes

Cheers

Libbor


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mowog
I can steer now


Joined: 12 Dec 2008
Posts: 160
Location: country WA

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

unless i am mistaken (I remember I was once) the 4 door has different size doors to the ute. you will have to use a 2 door body.
I made the mistake in my panel van of getting too enthusiastic cutting out floors and sills and never got the doors right on it. you don't have floors now, why not do them first? the sills I presume are holding the shape, so that gives you a start.
you can get por at most auto paint places.


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Kustombruce
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Joined: 09 Sep 2003
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Location: Canberra, where they put creative spirit in the water

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The floor on a sedan will NOT fit a Ute, Very different shape.
The doors are the same as a 4 door sedan.
either buy new panels from the UK or brace everything and make panels from flat steel and put some shape in them.
if you want more cabin room extend the roof and use 2 door doors and B pillars or just space the cabin back to make more room.

Bruce


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Wigman27
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Joined: 09 Apr 2010
Posts: 75
Location: Lithgow NSW

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Pete,

I would really recommend new panels, by the time you cut the old floor out of a Ute (if you can find one) and fix them and weld them in it's going to be a right royal pain in the posteriour Very Happy

I just had to replace all the sills in my van as well as the inner guards in front of the hinge panels. I got all my replacement panels off pete jackson from Old Era services he is based in NSW. http://www.jackson-s.com/olderaservices/ May take a bit of cutting in but well worth it and his prices are reasonable and he offers shipping at a good price. Just email Pete from Old era from the address on his website and he will send you a list of parts availible and their prices.

Have a look at my panel van if you like and it shows the new sills in place. http://www.morrisdownunder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5219

If you have any dramas PM me your email and I can send you some more pics if you like.

Good luck mate Very Happy

Lee


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jimmy_d
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Joined: 29 Aug 2009
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Location: Melbourne eastern suburbs

PostPosted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know that nothing has been posted here for a Looooong time but just to say that Christine is STILL a project and still in my carport. She is looking good and getting closer to completion,I would post some pics but I dont have a third party host so all the pics are on my computer which wont allow me to post to the forum. If you are a member of the MMO forum in the UK,she is on there with pics.


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Kel
我能行


Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 462
Location: Hunter Valley

PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 11:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jimmy-d
any idea where on MMO-UK web site

Kel


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frosty
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Joined: 23 Dec 2003
Posts: 3829
Location: 4559 near a big pineapple, Qld

PostPosted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 3:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kel wrote:
Jimmy-d
any idea where on MMO-UK web site

Kel


https://www.morrisminorowners.co.uk//viewtopic.php?f=34&t=2894


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Kel
我能行


Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Posts: 462
Location: Hunter Valley

PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 10:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pete
A good read

Kel


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jimmy_d
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Joined: 29 Aug 2009
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Location: Melbourne eastern suburbs

PostPosted: Tue Nov 12, 2019 1:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thought I should update this. After coming to the realisation that the ute was not going to be suitable for my intended use with a lack of internal leg room for me to be comfortable on long drives,we decided to part ways. I still have a Morry project but will start that topic elsewhere,so fare well Christine and enjoy your new life.


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