Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Rustproofing & Chassis Rust

Chris,

You're quite correct, I did delete my post. If you want a closer look at a 6000 mile, two year old all weather (no salt) example then just ask..

Good hunting.

Chris I did have a run today, it was only 2C this morning & froze overnight, PM it was 6C. The roads were dry but there probably was salt on some of them. I hosed down & washed on return with a fan spray underneath not a pressure washer.

Topped up the ACF50 including the engine. Best not spray the shiny rocker covers & cam belt cover just wipe over with ACF50 on a rag. I used to use Scottoiler FS365 but ACF50 is superior & perhaps I would not have had as much corrosion if I had always used it.

There are lots of annoyances with an M3W but they are must fantastic fun & look brilliant. If you have bike or classic car experience you will likely get on better with one. A Toyota like drive it & forget it experience is not on offer with an M3W.

Tim

Chris
I bought the 3W with my heart not my head. I had not joined TM and knew nothing of the problems I would encounter.
I didnt even look the old girl over properly when I bought her secondhand. Everything I had learnt about buying cars and bikes went straight out the window.

The unvarnished truth is that they are a bit of a mixed bag.
The bodies and paintwork are great; not the mudguards, they are a joke full stop, the chassis was very badly designed and the engine is not quite the quality that you might hope for. Look at the engine in the new Indian for an example of how it should be done.
I think the S and S was chosen because the custom bike market crashed and Morgan got them cheap.
Build quality, well it looks like a bunch of 16 year olds have put it together and in truth they probably did.
Having said that; the drive is fan bloody tastic and nothing I have ever driven/ridden comes close.

If you are buying with your head, forget it; buy a Toyota GT( I would love one)
You will regret it.

If buying with your heart. Go put your deposit down now.

To sum up. The three wheeler is a flawed bit of genius, more by accident than design. Typical British engineering really.

Although I have a 4 wheeler I do understand your concern. I have had lots of classic cars and bikes over the years and there is no denying that a Morgan in whatever form will possibly require more of your attention than a 'normal' car, but no more than any other classic type car or bike.

But doing so is really part of the enjoyment for many if not all.. I would suggest there is a small community of owners that just jump in and go without much thought to maintenance and care and their cars do suffer as a result. Most fiddle and faff about to keep them bright and rust free, if you are the sort that likes doing that then I'd go for it.. if you are not, best avoid one.

Thanks everyone.

I have no delusions about owning an old car & I think that it appears to be best if I think of the Morgan in those terms.

Yes they are a real experience & I just loved it. The example I drove at Krazy Horse (red with black interior) was beautiful if rather noisier than I would choose. The after market exhaust was a little too attention grabbing. Actually it is amazing how few of the options I want to tick

Protection against rust was one of my first preoccupation on my first frame.

I drilled the chassis to introduce the spray hose that runs on compressed air spray I have 1 + 1/3 liter of another bottle,the rust protection product emerged from everywhere,I did not forget to make triangles front and rear shock absorbers.

I remade my new frame.









This one will be protected before hitting the road.

As I understand it the chassis are dipped at the manufacturing stage in some sort of rust preventative, hence all the holes at the tube intersection points so it can run in and then drain out.

Mine is a February 13 car with 7500 miles and no rust anywhere, honest.

ACF50 is your friend, use it liberally.

GLLOQ & Dab of oppo

Are all those holes in the chassis as supplied by Morgan?

I must find out what they dip the chassis in as it will tell me a lot.

According to Peter Dron's book (page 61), "...the chassis is treated to an autophoretic (AP) coating which is rust protection of INTERNAL and external surfaces, and finally the top coat spray. "

Thank you.