Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Flooring of a traditional Morgan

I have a question regarding the flooring of a traditional Morgan. Why in the centre section of flooring of a two seater(the area under the seats made up in two pieces? Where there is a 6mm gap between them which runs longitudinally under the prop shaft. I cannot see a reason for this and as I am renewing the flooring I intend fitting just one complete sheet of ply across the chassis instead of the two. I know on the newer chassis the flooring under the seats extends further back and is fitted around the front hanger bracket of the rear springs, so in that case for the removal of the flooring it would need to be in two pieces, but I cannot see why it is so in my situation, as for the removal of the flooring in that area it would only require the prop shaft to be taken out

When Kevin Vernon put the new chassis on my car, he replaced the wooden floors with panels made of Tufnol. He used a single sheet right across the car. As you say, if in needed to come out it would be easy enough to disconnect the propshaft - the transmission tunnel would have to be removed anyway.

I wonder if the reason is chassis flexure and hence the 6mm central gap? Plywood is inherently quite stiff. If you had one sheet securely fastened all around the torsional stiffness of the chassis would be affected. There would also be more stress on the plywood fixings if it were a single sheet.

Or Morgan are just using up their old off cuts from the more expensive models

I like the space because it does not hold water, oil, grease, dirt & grime. I can just wash it out. I make my floorboards from marine grade 5/16" plywood. Seal it with "CPERS" an epoxy sealer. There are some that want to stiffen the chassis. I do not!

Probably so you could get the maximum number of boards out of an 8x4 sheet of marine ply!

Arwyn

Thank you gentlemen for your observations regarding my flooring question. I have been somewhat reassured by Tim's comments that Kevin Vernon fitted a single sheet under the seats of Tim's Morgan, and that a Tufnol sheet was used, which I think would have a greater torsional resilience than that of the 9mm Marine Ply I am using, which discounts my concerns over chassis flexure being an issue.

Button's comment about the gap between the two being useful for evacuating water, oil, grease, dirt and grime out. but surely with that gap it is just a likely to let water, oil, grease, dirt and grime in
Finally I must admit I did have the same thoughts as Roger and Arwyn
wondering if it was a penny pinching exercise by Morgans to reduce wastage, but surely this cannot be the case, can it?

If Mr Morgan could do anything to save a hapenny, he would!

Arwyn

The gap is useful for greasing the front u/j on the propshaft. Very little road dirt sticks to the centre section between the chassis rails. It must be the Aero effect of a flat bottom but even water marks are rare. All the road filth is under the arches.

Greasing universals? What! Are we living in the dark ages?

The next thing you will be telling me is that we have to grease the kingpins!

Interestingly the gap between the boards in my Plus 4 is much wider than the 4/4 anniversary. But also interestingly is that the propshaft journal is in the way so it's not possible to get a grease gun on the front nipple. I tried changing the nipple for a long straight nipple, but even this was not long enough. A box spanner makes short work of removing the nipple.

The grease inside the U/J's on current cars is a luminous green, and you may see traces on the inside of the tunnel. These U/J's don't need much attention so I'm not too concerned. If I can't get a fit, one option is to take the propshaft off at the diff end and lifting it will provide enough room to get the grease gun on. I used to have a pointy grease gun attachment which inserted into the tiny hole but I can't find it now.