The ongoing story of

JNP 439

a

1950 Morgan Three-wheeler Model F4  

 

12th June 2007 - A little progress but a lot of hassle with the web-site

This month I have made one step forward and two steps back trying to paint the chassis. I bought some brush paint (just for the chassis and crosshead) and tried to apply it, I gave up after painting about half the chassis. When you put the brush in the paint and removed it dried instantly, so yes it was brush paint but not suitable for the chassis. It made a terrible mess and I will have to rub it down again and find some better paint, can anybody offer any good advice or a source of good brush paint?? (please use the feedback form).

 

The web-site has been causing me major problems (hence the lack of published updates recently) - the software just kept crashing, and I’ve spent several weeks trying to publish this site (time I would rather have spent working on the car). I have finally found a solution. I have divided the web-site up into a number of sections which I have to work on separately and then publish each section, put them together, and then finally test the whole site.

 

I plan to give a more complete update next month, when I hope to have completed more work.

 

12th May 2007 - Slow but steady progress

I must start by admitting I slipped up last month. I wrote some of the words to update this web-site but I did not manage to find time to get the pictures together and publish the update. I have left everything exactly as it was and added the new words (and hopefully the pictures) to the site this month.

 

Well I was right I ran out of time to get the forks and gearbox sorted this month but I did manage to get the engine block reassembled. My aim for the next month is to paint the chassis and crosshead the same colour (they are currently different due to my handy work with the primer and my inability to match the current colour). I will also try again to take the gearbox and rear forks in for repair, but I may run out of time again - lets hope not.

 

12th April 2007 - Slow progress this month

I now have a few more parts, an exhaust, a saint Christopher for the dashboard, a piston ring, bottom end gasket set, a choke cable and a starter cable. I have managed to get a little time working on the engine but I have had to spend several days working on my everyday car and I still have more work to do. I have also spent a little time rubbing down the damaged paintwork on the crosshead (damaged when the brake pivot point was brazed in) and putting on a coat of primer - now I only have to rub down the runs I managed to put on at the same time! My aim for the next month is to try to get the engine block reassembled (I will add the head, manifolds etc later), keep your finger crossed. In addition I am going to try to get the gearbox and rear forks booked in for their repair, but I suspect I will run out of time again.

 

12th March 2007 - Things are starting to warm up

A month has gone past since I created this site and its about time I updated it as a lot has happened.

 

Firstly I would like to thank Terry at G.E.E. Ltd for the help and advice. He has supplied me with two new stub axles, complete with all nuts and locking washers, he took a look at my crosshead and confirmed it is in excellent shape and he also told me the position the king-pin clamp bolts should be tightened up to on the pin. However he did condemn the “original” brake pivot point. Lastly Terry had one surprise for me - another engine!!

 

12th February 2007 - The first report

 

I acquired JNP 439 on the 27th August 2006 from my cousin, who had owned it for approximately 30 years (he also acquired it in boxes!!).

 

My plan is very simple. I will reassemble the parts, put it back on the road, then find out what’s wrong with it, take it off the road and repair it. Simple really, and as I write this, it is quite clear it should not take more than a few days to achieve!!

 

In reality, many of the parts have either been lost or deteriorated over the many years it has been in boxes, and I am expecting it to take me between 5  to 10 years to get it back on the road. However, I have two problems. Firstly, Morgan has its centenary in 2009 and I would like to have it roadworthy for then. Secondly my daughter has said she wants to be taken to the church in it when she gets married (not currently planned, but she does have a boyfriend). I was planning to take things fairly slowly, but I will need to keep things moving (but I’m not working on it in the freezing weather, so things will be slow during the winter months).

 

My current aim is to have a rolling chassis (no engine, torque tube, steering or body parts) by mid summer 2007, and hopefully with the engine (not running), torque tube and most of the steering (not the column) in by the end of the summer. Lets see how we get on, I will try to update this site regularly.

 

 

30 Years In Boxes