years ago i acquired the remains of a series 1 missing drive train, wheels
and front brakes. the previous owner had intended to install a tr3
drivetrain but gave up the project after purchasing most of the components
with virtually no attempt at assembly. the frame had been replaced with
channel iron with flanges pointing to the outside. it was supposedly a 36
but there were no numbers to go by. when you study the books on changes made
to the series 1 it appears to be a very early one missing only the 3 wheeler
steering box from being the earliest version.
i thought about it for several years and then made a frame using the channel
iron affair as a jig. the drive train will use the ford 100E flathead engine
and a ford anglia rear. both of these have been acquired. there is a
problem with the trans in that the little engine needs a 4 speed and also to
get the shift lever more to the rear. side to side foot room is critical.
it would be possible to cut the bell housing from the 3 speed trans and mate
up another trans like the 4 speed early pinto or cortina. if the bell
housing stays in front of the firewall the space problem for foot room
should work. the english raced a lot of the 100E engines and supposedly
there is an aftermarket bell housing that fits the 4 speed trans if anyone
knows where to find one. any help would be appreciated. also engine rebuild
parts are pretty hard to find so far and any leads would be appreciated.
the main problem at the moment is the body. the car will be run with cycle
fenders. the former owner weworked the rear of the body to a 4 seat
configuration of his own design. he did not seem to have messed with
anything forward of the rear of the doors. i need patterns or drawings or
even an old body that has been replaced to use for patterns. the standard 2
seat version with twin spares is what i think it had. i am toying with
trying to use a tt replica or le mans replica body style if i had enough so
that it could be faithfully reproduced.
i do not feel any problem with changing what i have because it had all been
modified so much before and also because so much had to be improvised just to
get to this point. it should have been parted out but then it would have
been lost forever. only with a morgan do you start with a couple original
bolts and then build the car around them.
i would also be open to any alternative suggestions.
cassel adamson
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