Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Best Modification to your Morgan

My best 3 things would be:

Uprated Rutherford Suspension on the front and Evo Shocks all around .

Brake reaction Rods.

Panhard Rod.

This has made the ride sooooo much nicer.
Like others I've done much more, but these 3 things have had the biggest impact.

My three most important modifications as a prerequisite for good drivability:
1) Vredestein T-Trac 2 Tyres
2) 140 pounds of Mulberry springs in the front and 4 seater springs in the back.
3) after four! sets of brake discs, all of which started shaking and wobbling after 6000 km each:
New original brake disks, but skimmed carefully flat before first use and working wonderfully smooth for 60,000 km.

These were the three most important (or most necessary) of several measures. The first two, so that the car drives properly at all. Even manifold and ECU tuning and other valuable measures come later in the ranking.

Over the years I learned that it was best to buy a machine that was designed to go fast as opposed to trying to modify a more mundane machine to match my ideals, and that has stuck with me to this day.

My choice for recreational transport immediately prior to choosing Morgan was a m/cycle and Porsche 911`s which had a fair degree of performance of all types. My Morgan priorities were to experience a degree of a vintage driving experience not to modify a Morgan to make it stop better or go faster be more comfortable or to suit more modern motoring expectations... Though having typed that, the Morgan I bought had been modified having been stripped and subjected to a nut and bolt rebuild that incorporated many concours ideals in terms of paintwork and preservation, such as SS fixings used wherever possible. The suspension was also not original having been fitted with Koni adjustable dampers the rear lever arms having been removed and the hoop fitted.. I guess had I been obsessed to some degree with my vintage driving experience thinking I should replace the rear Koni shockers and replace them with lever arms... Not a chance of that, for I was not looking to fettle and furtle, I just wanted to drive and experience that which a Morgan might be as opposed to making it into something else..as seems to be the norm.

Having typed that I am not fundamentalist in my ideals, such as those who think might think originality is all, and I do like jimmyw`s thinking on ceramic coating the manifolds, something I have considered for my old +8 to smarten them up a bit and hopefully increase their lifespan.. another option in consideration are to replace the flat mirrors with convex units thinking more safety seems a reasonable priority..?

To finally get round to the 3 mods I like best.. (-:

SS fixings not only look better but make things so much easier to come apart instead of wrestling with corrosion.

Two pack black lacquer on the chassis bulkheads diff, petrol tank looks about as good today as it did 18 years ago.

Colour matched fibreglass case was a great asset while touring for security when parked up, as well as it`s carrying capacity.

If I am allowed three more,

The additional bulkhead mounted toolbox.

The trays cut into the "buck board" over the axle, filled with spares.

And the handy armrest storage for coins and other odds`n sods that might come in handy while touring.

Typed too much as ever...

My three are
Hard Chrome kingpins and stiffer front springs+ steering bearings (all done at the same time by Spanner juggler several years ago- thanks Colin- so counts as one!)
4-seater leaf springs on the rear
Aluminium rad - Mulfab.

And mine are:

1. John Eales 3.9 engine

2. Uprated brakes, calipers and discs

3. Ali rad and uprated cooling fan

I havent done anything mechanical so mine are cosmetic. The best thing I made is the small polished aluminium box that fits on the seat runners and under my legs. Fits all my gubbins a treat and is easily accessible.

Just owning the MOG for two years, only little steps...

1) engine cover (DIY 10,- EUR)

2) round mirrors (Sale item from „LOUIS“, each 10,- EUR)

3) DIY hood stay (as here bespoke 10,-EUR)

4) cargonet and fixingpoints for the luggagebay (about 20,-EUR)

Next step brakereaction bars and tooltray

René

I had exactly the same experience with BRBs. I then fitted a PR, and that made a related, but more pronounced change, believe me - even at slow speeds. Of course you don't need it, as you did not need the BRBs. But then who really needs a Morgan... It's all about fun, pleasure and the driving experience. But a PR is much more expensive and fiddly to fit.
My best three mods:
1. Convex, round stainless steel side mirrors instead of the flat, oval alloy/bad chrome side mirrors + convex front screen SS mirror instead of flat alloy OE.
2. Brake reaction stays
3. Panhard rod
By the way, excellent thread. I encourage all newcomers to read!

3 things to keep it simple:

Alluminium rad. (trad Plus 8 so you can see why!)
S/S manifolds/exhausts
ECU engine chip

Three things:

Plus 4:

1) Aero Racing ECU flash and exhaust

2) Aluminium tool tray

3) Front undertray

Roadster:

1) Mulfab steering bearings (replacing damper blades)

2) Wooden tool tray

3) Front undertray