Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Barn find

I am referring to an early cowl rad plus 4 that has not been on the road for about 40 years. In all that time it has not been touched. It is a bit of a cheat calling it a barn find as it has been in my garage in Farnham for about 4 years and in one other persons garage for all the remainder of the time (so it has not been in a barn and it is not a find). Anyway, after 40 years standing it needs a total restoration and the intention is to start that in 2017. Before the restoration starts, if you would like to look round a time warp please email me and we can arrange a suitable time. Of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch and I will be looking to gain knowledge on the problems likely to be faced and the economics of the restoration.

Welcome to TM Andy.

I can't help much with restoration advice but there are many members who can.

We all like photos (hint, hint)

Good luck with the project. Not a fast fix but can be a great personal achievement.
Now.......this could be the start of an ongoing thread of the progress.
Plenty of photos please!

Firstly welcome from Wales. Secondery. not cheap. if major work needed, but will be well worth it when back on the road. Did it once on a 56 +4, wish you well,and your in the right place for advice and help with your project.

Welcome to TM Andy and good luck with the restoration. One of your first tasks will be to identify suitable suppliers for any replacement panels/wood you require.

Andy M,
I am afraid that Farnham is not too convenient for me , but you are welcome to any knowledge I have about restoring the car.

A couple of questions for you before you begin in order to help your thinking:

1 What do you want from the rebuild: A working and enjoyable +4? A totally original flat rad? A concours example? Something else?
Each of these will entail a different approach to the rebuild, both in terms of the parts needed and the effort and resources that you going to invest in it. It will also affect the cost (a lot!)

2 What do you currently have? A complete car that was working before it became a stored example? A basic car , but with lots of pieces in boxes? Is the engine an original Standard Vanguard , or has it been replaced with a TR? Is the Moss Gearbox and Sailsbury rear axle all there and complete?

3 Lastly, how much space do you have? A basic minimum would be a double garage equivalent so your restored car takes up one space and the old one another.

Based on your answers we can start to give advice. However I feel pretty sure that after some 40 years you should at least budget for a new chassis, new suspension, new brakes , an engine, gearbox and axle overhaul to get to a rolling chassis. The radiator will certainly need a rebuild with new core , header tank and a re-chromed shell.
Unless a miracle has occurred I suggest that a new wooden frame will be needed, and then new panels. Wings may be dictated by your choices in question 1. There options, and each one will involve a range of costs , and waiting times.
This will not be cheap , but it will be immensely satisfying doing it yourself (with help from others)
Do take lots of photos , of absolutely everything, before you do any dismantling, mark things with something permanent so you know what fitted to which part, and keep smiling as the job progresses.

I found, when rebuilding a Morgan (in my case I do not call it restoration) that if I put the "How-To" inquiries on the Web Site, even though I was sure how I was going to approach it, I would get different ideas. Pictures are helpful. Ron Garner's Blog "Mad About Morgans" is helpful. I used a lot of techniques in My Rebuild that would not be acceptable to many Restoration experts. But, they are hidden, strong and inexpensive. Andy G's guidelines are very helpful. Follow them and You will know what needs to be done.

Andy, I used to live just down the road in Holybourne, before that Four Marks.

On the restoration front I have not done a Morgan but I did restore a flat floor E-Type, it was not all there at the start, shell was gone in the bulkhead, had engine, gearbox and axle, wheels, some of the chrome work and a lot of interior gone except for dash and clocks.

My experience went like this, get many books on E-types and read them a lot, speak to those that knew flat floor e-types (only just over 200 built). Spent 1 year searching for a genuine usable original shell (came from USA). Spend the next 4 years when not working on the car searching for missing parts, returning the wrong parts when sent, then getting the right ones fixed. Spend 2 years in a shed at weekends, cold in winter and hot in summer, rectifying issues and panels on the shell and bonnet (even though no rust it had minor rear and front damage in its life, and the floor had been modified for a V8). Learn how to braze, mig weld, lead load, panel beat and prepare a car body from scratch. Once ready bolt it all back together and then work out how wire it up and repair the loom. Once on wheels check out if it starts and then finish it.

I started it 25 years ago and sold it 6 years later not quite finished, I just about got my money back. Would I do it again, NO, some of it was enjoyable but most of it was a hard slog, finding stuff and getting things fixed properly was often very frustrating.

So if you have got lots of free time, practical experience and want a challenge then have a go. If what you really want is a working Morgan to enjoy, sell it and find one that works and does not need major restoration.

I'm full of admiration for anyone taking on a major rebuild, especially if you are still working full time. I have always preferred paying over the odds for a well restored car and then enjoyed the tinkering bit knowing the PO took the hit on pain and cost, usually not recoverable. Its always worked out best for me given the limited space and resource.

All depends on what your aim is but I rather agree with Adrian, focus on the end game before you leap into it. But good luck.

I did a full resto just because I wanted to..............

I pushed hard and did it in a shade under two years, but it took over my life, when I should have spent more time with my daughter, aged 7.

The problem I found with it was that having created a concours specimen, I found it so difficult to use it in all weathers. I certainly wouldn't have used it in the way I'm using the Morgans, and although I would have preferred to keep it (given the money and space), it would only ever have been a weekend fair weather car.

It's much easier using somebody else's restoration in all weathers!