My new project - 1965 Morris Cooper S - HOY 500D

[Andrew1967]

I presume it was the hydro hose that prevented the normal hose from being used, as it fits perfectly ok over the servo on my dry 'S' ?

Maybe the meter that read cabin air quality didn't work when that set up was tested

[Pete]

hi andrew
i guess that bmc wanted you all to get gassed up while driving or they did not understand what fresh meant
cheers roger

Thats probably why they changed it after a year. Anyone got the dates for this feature, late 64 to late 65 isn’t it?

[Gray]

Yep, it ends there for a 65 S and maybe for 64 S hydro cars as well .. hence the 'fresh' comment. Pretty stupid idea from BMC if you ask me.

Off the top my head not sure when but maybe in 66 they went to the reducer hose set up.

Just as a note my 4th Dec 1964 hydro still had full length hose to the grill fitted, so change over date must be after 04.12.64

[swifty]

After a nice drive in that Andrew I can see you using the reducer pipe to the front panel . The heat and fumes with the short pipe set up are not nice ! ... Just my experience of them .... ken

[Andrew1967]

After a nice drive in that Andrew I can see you using the reducer pipe to the front panel . The heat and fumes with the short pipe set up are not nice ! ... Just my experience of them .... ken

You aren't the first person to suggest that Ken and yes, I more than likely will end up doing that.

[Rubber Sprung]

You shouldn't get much in the way of fumes because its not open breathers but a clack valve on that year !

[Andrew1967]

As I'm off work for a few weeks, I hope get the car pretty much buttoned up.

The bonnet should be painted finally in a few days and can be fitted once the servo is fitted and brakes have been bled (just makes life easier not having to bend over quite so much).

The re-chromed grille slats have been fitted to a set of Bob1071's superb backing plates and I trial fitted it today.

After sorting out the wiper motor problems I cleaned up and fitted a set of original brocade dash cards and tray liver. Just the binnacle to fit now.

Soon be able to get the car outside to fit the doors and finish the interior.

[mini_surfari]

Top work as always Andrew!

You’ll be bored in a few weeks when this is done

[Andrew1967]

Quite probably Oli ... roll on the next project

[rpb203]

That looks stunning Andrew!
Cannot wait to see it finished as I am sure a lot of people on here are the same.
Don’t forget to put me on the mailing list for the book when it’s published.
Cheers
Gary

[roger mcnab]

hi andrew
well the first pic of hoy looked like a scrap yard candidate but your perseverance is well justified you have turned an ugly duck into a beautiful swan great job you are justified in being proud of your effort great job cheers roger mcnab

[Nevsmini]

Beautiful! The reg number is fantastic!

[Andrew1967]

More developments ..

The servo is at last rebuilt, thanks those who have helped with parts.

Now to bleed the brakes and get it down on its wheels and new tyres. Then outside (when its not raining) to fit the doors and bonnet.

I have almost finished fitting the new carpets, just need to get the heel mat sewn in. The restored original Britax belts have been fitted. I have used the original webbing, cleaned thoroughly and are pretty good with just a couple rust stains here and there but mostly out of sight.

[harrymini]

Looking great Andrew,

For attaching your numberplate to the backing plate what style of fixing did you use? And are your door catches black or silver?

Looking though the thread to see what bits i need to order or find for mine

[Andrew1967]

Hi Harry,

Good to finally meet you last weekend

I used black nylon fasteners and some 5 or 6mm thick x 20mm spacers in between the number plate and backing plate to stop the plate from being bent due to the pressed edge on the backing plate. These spacers are what our sparkies use to raise their cable trays off the metal framework of the machines.

Catches will be black .. have a big box full to choose from .

[Andrew1967]

Lovely day today and perfect for HOY to get some sun for first time in nearly half a century !!

Still got a few jobs to do but getting there... tracking (after sorting the R/H steering arm on the rack !), refit passenger seat once covers etc replaced. Door cards / soundproofing. Fit carb elbows and airbox. Headlight alignment and fit chrome rims (NOS ones should be here this week). Hub caps

Still need one powder blue check strap

Very happy with the outcome of the carpets

[Fanfaniracing]

Just WOW!

Congratulations!

[Polarsilver]

Andrew .. to be honest when you posted the First Photos of HOY in a small garage and the evident work that was needed ..yes i did wonder how many years (if ever) the final result would take..but we by-standers had no way to know that you had the Determination.Skills & Effort that now make HOY into a "Proper Job" .. HOY is now a car that anyone would be proud to own .. very well done

[Andrew1967]

Thanks for the comments Fan and Norman

Norman, I guess many people, quite rightly, thought either he is mad or simply won't manage it when I started the thread and it became evident how bad the car was. As has been said, the ONLY reason I tackled the shell is that it is the original shell. If it had been re-shelled previously there is no way on earth I'd have tackled it and would have found a better shell to use.

I won't deny that it was huge challenge given my working environment in all aspects of the build. Dad was only saying yesterday 'I really dont know how you managed to paint the car in that garage' It wasn't easy especially as I'm not the tidiest of people and even with the sides of the garage clear of 'stuff' there isn't a lot of room. It is also the first car I have fully painted from base to top coat. But it does prove what CAN be done in a 'domestic garage' as a certain sh1t stirrer once pointed out on here.

It took a lot of working out how to do the shell and I tackled it like once does a frame of snooker .. thinking several panels ahead of 'how' best to do it with a very poor shell and workspace and tools available. One certainly can never have enough welding clamps and was lucky in that I borrowed several pairs of extra long clamps from work.

The shell was obviously the biggest challenge, mechanicals are no problem. Having the original brocade seats certainly helped with the interior and although its not 100% perfect it certainly is an amazing survivor in itself, seeing as how it spend the vast majority of its life. I have sourced original brocade panels mostly from the parts department but one or two from other places. A big thanks to the offer from a forum member of some superb old stock powder blue carpet which has really set the interior off.

A huge thanks to everyone on here who has helped me with parts and advice on how to do certain jobs. I was OK with doing most but I wanted to get this one as 'right' as possible and this is where the forum came into its own. I won't name names as I'm sure I'll miss some out but you all know who you are

So, once HOY is finished it will be on to another project once I've sorted the garage .. either TVB 56F, my Mk2 Cooper or another project car from the 'usual' source.

[Peter Laidler]

I'll keep saying it until I'm blue in the face Andy. There's a fantastic little book here - and a very profitable book too! There's hundreds of people out there restoring minis and there will be others who'll be doing so in the future. Then there's who'll buy and read for inspiration and....... and.....

Fantastic project. All those who have been avid followers already know HOY like it was their own and feel like they're already part owners of it.