Honestly, I think my M3W was/is a victim of the goop. I have several 40+ year old Quaife gearboxes in motorcycles that still perform fine. I contacted Quaife directly 8 months ago detailing the problems I have and tried to source a BB direct. I got a nice long detailed response from them but the bottom line was that they manufacture for Morgan and couldn't deal with me direct. They did, however, say that they would assist me with Morgan should I need backup. I have the utmost respect for Quaife as they compare to Morgan. Being state-side, I wasn't able to contact anyone with Morgan that gave a damn. It took me 6-7 months to accumulate all the parts for a Centa upgrade as the "kit" was slowly piece-milled together. I have been nagging the dealerships to source me a new BB at my own expense...5 months later, I still haven't been quoted a new BB. I'm sure if and when I do get a quote, it will be 6 months before I have anything in my hands. It is my intent to do all my own wrenching because, frankly, I don't trust anyone associated with Morgan as corporate steers the dealerships into doing what is best for Morgan and not the consumer.
The dealership indicated my BB may be covered under warranty but I've been put off long enough now that the warranty (such as it was)has now lapsed...as if I didn't see that one coming. I didn't want to go the warranty route anyway as he indicated a possible BB rebuild and would require two 1800 mile trips to the dealership adding insult to injury. I wanted a new box at my own expense where I could check it out completely before installation and keep the old box for a future rebuild/back-up box as I believe they will be a consumable item for the M3W.
I had a vision of morphing the Polaris BB and swingarm into the M3W but under closer review, it is entirely too wide to be an option. I could care a less about the noises transferred through the chassis as long as the box is working correctly and not self destructing. As a life-long gearhead, I don't have the option or ability of driving it and pretending like nothing is wrong. I'm not in denial...I just need parts....for my $60K car with less than 4k miles on it. I've ponied up for the Centa at my own expense, the Empire kit at my own expense and will cheerfully lay out the cash for a new BB to fix Morgan's short-comings. Morgan is a dead-beat dad...and as a general rule, I have trouble praising anyone that knowingly screwed me.
Guess while looking on the bright side, since my M3W is mechanically handicapped and unfit for use, it reduces the possibility of a chassis cracking issue. I'm waiting until I can accumulate all the parts before tackling this project. When I have everything I need, I'm pulling the body off the chassis to fix any other evils hidden beneath the bodywork. I will most certainly change out the alternator and rectifier with quality items while at it. Not to be too harsh on Morgan, S&S isn't on my Christmas list this year either. It's a damn shame that the only reliable item on the whole rig is the Japanese transmission.
Once I receive the Slingshot to park next to the M3W, then I'll have a three wheeler that is pleasing to the eye that won't reliably get me across town and one that is ugly as hell but pleasingly reliable to drive and that performs...and at less than half the price. The dealership's demo Slingshot already has more miles on it than my M3W in just a few short weeks and no telling how many different drivers who, probably like me, ran the hell out of it. Guess the Slingshot has knocked a scab off a wound that won't fully heal.
Z
