Mog Rod

Really tore into the Morgan this Saturday. Pull all the loose body panels off the car and set them under th awning out back, and then spent the whole evening getting the ‘dash panel’ removed. That will make up the list of parts that are going to the body shop (eventually), with the remaining panels going to powdercoating only (most likely).

The dash panel proved to be quite a bit of work. Never mind that it actually wraps all the way down and halfways along under the door, but it’s wrapped over the edges of the wood frame and nailed and / or screwed to the frame as well. Most of the nails and screws came out relatively easily, usually just a slight bit of prying and then I could pull them the rest of the way out with a pair of pliers. Around the driver’s side door the frame is still in great condition, but the passenger side frame proved to be all but a lost cause. Pulling out a fist-sized wasps nest was only the begining, and you can see in some of the photos just how rotted the frame is around that section. The passenger side door hinges didn’t so much unscrew from the wood frame as just fall right out.

I managed to remove the passenger side wiper arm and disassemble the gearing easily enough, but the driver side one just wouldn’t come apart. I eventually gave up and cut and pried apart the mechanism enough to remove it, so that’s something else I’ll have to sort out replacing. Granted, I’m not likely to drive the thing in wet weather, but best to have a working setup anyways. The little nubs for holding down the tonneau cover proved stubborn but all came off eventually, however the bolts that hold the windshield frame proved too much trouble, so we’re picking up a nut-cutter to just break them off… that just sounds wrong.

Oh yeah, and you can see me sitting in the car in the few photos. Without any of the seat framework in there, I tried sitting down on the floorboards, which proved to be too damn low. Leg space is a bit cramped, but passable, especially after I get a smaller steering wheel. What I did find amusing is that sitting at about the ‘normal’ height (if the seat was still in) gives me just a few inches above my head to the roof frame, but this should be plenty. Honestly, I’d only be driving this thing in pleasant top-down weather anyways, but it’s nice to know that I can put the roof up if so desired.

Posting this two days late, but finally started really tearing into the Morgan on Sunday. I was originally planning on going to the Good Guys show in Pleasanton, but was so wiped out from airsoft on Saturday that I stayed home.

I started by removing the divider panel that goes between the roof storage area and the rest of the rear of the car, then proceeded to spend many hours (and bloody knuckles) getting the gas tank disconnected from the wood planks it was bolted to. Rather amazing to discover the tank still has fluid in it after this many years, though I doubt you could call it gasoline.. much less ‘fuel’.

Must say I was quite surprised to discover the chassis of the car is u-channel and not box tubing. This actually has me really concerned about how much damage the accident the car was originally in has done to the chassis. That being said, after talking with my father, at this point it’s almost garaunteed that I will use the Morgan’s original chassis as a template and build a new one. This will have two benefits: first, it will get rid of any potential damage that the accident caused; second, it will allow me to make the changes and customization necessary to support the Solstice’s drivetrain and suspension without having to modify the original chassis.

Saving the original chassis, as well as any of the wood frame, is going to result in a rather large box of parts, but I’ll worry about that when I get that far along. As it is, I think I’m gonna to have to order up a few of the “kit car how to” books I’ve been eyeing for a while…

The tear-down on the Morgan.. that is…

Started working my way on this thing last night, so out of it cause of this dang head cold that I seriously went through the day today wondering my post about last night’s work wasn’t showing up… mainly cause I hadn’t made a post about last night’s work.

First step was to remove the spare tire rack. This took a good while due to rust and general “if I hit that too hard, the whole damn car’s gonna fall apart”. Finally got it pulled out and set aside. With how I’m feeling, this was a major accomplishment. Considering how intertwined everything thing is, I’m gonna have to take a slow approach to disassembling the car just to not majorly screw anything up.