Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) So we learn some things

Morgan owner for 6 months or so. First the Gearstick issue where it came away in my hand while driving her home - fixed. Intermittent electrical issue, which is still not definitively fixed, but I am getting closer (I think it is somewhere around the ignition key). Latest a cough and a splutter and she coasts to the side of the road on the way home from getting a rego check. Note to self, old car, don’t rely on the fuel gauge, and don’t let the tank get too low. Drained the tank, cleaned out fuel lines, new fuel, and she go boom again. As my father would have said were he still here - that's the joys of modern motoring lad. I love her to bits, but she challenges your patience sometimes.


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it may not be your case, but the connector from ignition switch to loom can become brittle and cause electrical issues, along with a host of other sources, including bad earths, so good luck pinning it down. Regarding the fuel indicator, zero the trip meter each fuelling and carry a gallon of petrol with you?
Regards and Happy motoring!
Phil

Thanks Phil, Trip Meter seems to not be working, but the main odometer is, so 200km between fills from here on. I think your suggestion around the ignition connector may be right, It's on my list for next weekend. The big issue was that the car had only been very lightly driven for a year or two pre my purchase (like maybe 500km), so I expect that is what caused the rust in the tank. She still hasn't wiped the smile off my dial.

Carry a spare can for a while any way. I brim my tank to the filler neck(65 ltrs). Last run I hit 340 miles before chickening out; I was racing the next day, so needed 2 gallons of premium. but I have run out even with trip meter monitoring. Fuel guages are often wiring related, although the senders do wear. you can check the guage by "flashing" the two connectors at the sender momentarily; if the guage moves smoothly, it'll be a new sender unit.
Yes, inactivity is the worst thing for these type of cars, maybe more so in a very dry climate. Lots of spray lube around the trim seams- ACF, WD, QX- whatever you've got; and back of the wing running board where the rubber washer spacers are; I found that, and lubing engine mounts and exhaust bobbins helped eliminate or at least subdue a lot of the early squeaks. I imagine in your region you'll want to keep the leather fed also to keep it from drying out.
I had no choice but to use my +8 daily; no garage/driveway and having to park on the opposite side of the street, in u.k weather! and it really was the car's re-awakening; 6 months of niggles but now purrs like a lion, or roars when I want. 80,000 miles since February 2020, lots of smiles, and one or two mishaps on the way.
I've just started a chassis (new) up resto of my latest purchase, a 1980 4/4 four seater; hopefully have the body frame off next week, with a target of on the road by Easter ready for the first event of the year for me.
Enjoy your car, they must be rare as hens teeth over there .
Regards
Phil

We can maybe share some fun, I think the 1980 4 Seater would be nearly identical to mine from 1978. She has only done 60,000km, I am the 3rd owner and the previous owner had her since 1984 or so. As you say, not many of them around here, particularly in the Southern Highlands of NSW where I live, I have not seen another. It was the second Morgan the previous guy had owned. If you look up "Now and Forever" on Youtube (a very trashy movie from the 80's) at the 4.5 minute mark you will see my little car doing a lap of the Opera House - would have been very exotic back then. Don't bother with the rest of the movie it is rubbish, but I can say that Cheryl Ladd and Robert Coleby have sat in her :-) Probably wouldn't want to now, she is in need of a bit of TLC in the upholstery department, maybe later this year...