Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) The Sweet Spot?

My early CVH with a weber carb and conventional timing etc is a good place to start. basic Ford engine XR2 & XR3 parts.

I'm with Steve above, although we don't own it now, the 4/4, with 1600 CVH on the twin choke Weber was easy to maintain, parts available and was a really 'nimble' Mog to drive

Yep that XR3 carb engine was excellent, when Ford moved it to the injection version the XR2 got the carb version and the power to weight ratio was phenomenal and was my favourite of all the XR variants. So that's why its so fantastic in a Morgan.

I'm a big fan of the Crossflow engine, ultra reliable, will stand a fair amount of neglect and abuse too. Easily tuned to up to about 130 bhp but after that you are into big money or Zetec engine swaps. Can have the engine swapped in 1hr 30 mins.

Don't write off the CVH engined cars nor the FIAT engined ones too.

When I put my TR engined Plus 4 on the road last year, it took a bit of getting used to compared to the 4/4.

Arwyn

My first Morgan was the 1985 CVH with a 5 speed box, whilst only a few years old when I owned it, it proved amazingly reilable and a joy to drive.

Get a M3W - less to go wrong but more likely it will

Let's face it, a trad Morgan was never a technology tour de force! The parts that were upgraded, chassis, suspension, dials, transmission etc, most major mechanical bits, have from what I gather did not suffer additional quality issues towards the end of production. In the world of Morgan, the factory do seem to slowly get things sorted the longer something is in production.

With that mindset, I would assume getting as new of a trad as the budget can allow would be the best choice. The sigma engine in my 4/4 was used in so many other vehicles and I don't see there being any issues getting parts.

Mine is close to turning over 20,000 miles and have toured in it extensively, going as far as Greece and back without a hiccup. I know 20,000 miles isn't astronomical but for a sunny day car, it's not always sitting either.

I have had a rethink.... (-: While I picked out the Ford crossflow 4/4 as a good basic candidate for introducing one`s offspring to matters electro/mechanical, I suspect that choice was from an era wherein I was most comfortable learning to be self reliant in order to maintain my personal transportation, as I was unlikely to be able to pay others to do so for me...Thus my thinking was of that period of time groveling around scrap yards finding bits to keep my machines running, and in the process learned so much about many aspects so related...

Today the world has moved on considerably thus it seems logical that whoever wishes to "teach his children well"...... oops slipped back a few years again... OK, so much depends on the parent`s current level of understanding and thus capabilities, so a bit of honest self assessment required. When sharing my knowledge with apprentices, I was amazed at just how much I learned from them, thus with one`s kids I guess the same applies..

In an attempt to prepare the young to be somewhat self reliant in as many areas as possible for the future and seeking a simply constructed yet interesting vehicle on which to expand knowledge and build confidence in terms of learning from mistakes and successful repairs, I guess 70`s/80`s tec may not be an ideal starting point...?

Chances are that the kids will be well into digital tec, thus the basic electromechanical tools of the past although necessary, require to be added to with basic digital tools..?

This is where I back out... my working life was so full of digital frustrations, that I backdated my automotive ideals, and ended up with a Morgan, as the result of prioritising the KISS principal given self reliance in as many areas as possible was ever my ideal...

I suspect perhaps a younger Morganeers perspective is required relative to the original question and one who is regularly involved in hitting Mog bits with hammers as well as dealing with digital dilemmas, and in that regard I would be interested to read whatever Montegue might care to share on the subject initially raised

Which was :-

By Talk Morgan..... I was asked this question recently, by someone looking to purchase a Morgan; the end goal was to find one he could maintain with his teenage children and ultimately was as much about that experience as it was driving it.

Would be interesting to hear how the far more mechanically inclined would answer that question.

A very interesting thread, as I expected it would be and thank you to those who contributed.

I'm also inclined to agree with those who mention the balance between 'ability to work on it' and the minor improvements that MMC made to their cars over the years to provide better durability and less concerns over the need for restoration. To my mind, most of the oily bits on Morgans are relatively affordable, where as bodywork, chassis or frame work can fall into the realms of a specialist and the associated costs that go with that.

I also agree with Luddite's latest post, there is an arguement for something that may have some electronics because they are all too common place on modern cars. With that said, there are 'electronics' and then there are 'useless to work on unless you have a main dealer computer system', which seems to be the way most new cars havwe gone... a technician plugs it in, reads the fault and is told what plug and play part to replace.

As before, appreciate all the comments, other than the engine specific recommendations, they mirror a lot of what I suggested. I do think they are leaning toward a Plus 8 but that is due to the lure of the V8; however, I have suggested a few drives because a well set up 4/4 or Plus 4 can be equally compelling and no lesser car.

Duratec 4/4........
The zenith of the 4/4 imho.
The narrow body, perfect engine, lightness and nimbleness, availability of parts, all the 'modern' bits but not remotely modern or sensible......!
Perfect.