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With the chassis now in clear sight, I have to think about some kind of strategy around the rebuild. Starting a work like this without a good plan is plain madness. I risk to end up with a lot of wasted time because of the difficulty of finding parts or craftsman to do some specialized work for you is real. On the other hand, waiting is a part of the restoration process
First thing to decide is the way I will go with the chassis, concerning the engine. The original block is ready, but for the moment thats all. The cylinder head has been frost damaged, and had a bad repair in the past. Since it is a head specially made by Morgan, a OH conversion of this type of Standard engines, it is not simply a matter of buying another one. Also the aluminium oil pan, for as far as I know also unique for this MOG engines, is damaged by corrosion. It seems to be that the engine has been standing on moist ground next to the car, in the years before Jean found it. A badly corroded oil pan is the tragic result.
So as a possible solution, I bought about a year ago the engine and gearbox of an MK II Ford Escort. With little changes to the MOG chassis, that must be suitable to build in temporarily in the project. Just to speed things up a little, and to get the car earlier on the road. The correct engine can still be fitted afterwards, once it has been finished. But on the other hand, long-time experience learned me that such solutions mostly are crap. Once the car is running with the donor engine, the chance of being reunited with his correct engine is very little.
So after a bad night sleep I decided to go for the hard way, that is with the original engine and gearbox. I have the correct parts, so I strongly think thats the best solution, and because there is only one proper way to restore a car: Original, or as close as possible to that. It will probably set me more than a year back, but as I already wrote, I am not planning to die in the next years, so time is on my side.
My first concern then was the cracked cylinder head, who was going to repair that in Belgium in a proper and reliable way? I have no idea. But in England there must be specialists for such a job on every corner, that can be no problem
And because the biggest auto jumble is on the calendar for 11 and 12 September 2010, we go over there. Only for one day, because before I had no such plans, and finding a place to sleep on such a short notice can be forgotten. So on Tuesday we decided to go. Me my son a good friend, and my brother in law. The next Sunday morning at 04:00 am we were on the road. Beaulieu here we come!
http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/ipus/beaulieu/events-internationalautojumble
Huge, thats all I can say about the auto jumble at Beaulieu, all other words are too little, to small
You have to have a good plan, and about ten eyes to see a bit of all that is there. In that way you only miss the half, the other half you can keep for next year
But despite such massive supply of parts and services, finding someone to repair a cracked cylinder head like this in a proper way was not so easy as I thought.
 
After seen about the half of the field, I was getting a bit desperate. Until in the late afternoon a Belgian friend we stumbled on, tipped me about Nick Hood from Surelock casting repairs. We managed to find his trade stand, and I showed Nick some photos of the cracked head. After taking a good look at it, a simple smile and yes I can do that was the answer. What a relief... http://www.castingrepairs.com/ So we went quickly up to our car to get the damaged part, and left it with Nick to be stitch repaired. By Christmas he sayd it should be ready, and that was all fine by me
So my major mission of the day was accomplished, from now on I could browse relaxed around the field and dream a bit about the further order of the restoration. My next big concern would be the oil pan, but I hope that is not gonna be the worst part. Once those to two major parts are back in shape, I can reassemble the engine and start thinking about the carburettor and ignition. Also tricky parts, but they are all in my pile off boxes, and looking repairable. It surely will take some time to find the right replacement parts, but it must be possible. And in the meantime I can start working on the chassis.
And after a good pint or two, my straight plan took more and more shape: having a rolling chassis by the end of 2011. Do I grab to high, or is this wishful thinking? Only time will tell
In the following months, a lot of maintenance on my other cars kept me from start to work on the MOG chassis. But smaller things like disassemble the drive train, the rear axle, and repairing the support for the spare wheels, has succeeded.
And then around half December came a phone call from Nick: the cylinder head is ready, pressure tested and all! As he had promissed, in time for Christmas. The repair was not really cheap, but on the other hand, good work never is. And when it arrived, the quality of the job surprised me. The guarantee Nick gave me on the repair will be long gone before I start the engine for the first time. But I am strongely convinced that the guarantee wont be needed
 
Next step now is completing the cylinder head, by grinding the valves and seats, and putting it all together. That work will be done by my friend Eric. He has the skill, the tools, and the machinery to do so, that will be fine.
In the meanwhile I try to find out what colour the engine must be painted in to be correct (if you know, mail me!). Than trying to find a sound oil pan (mine is really bad, if you have one, mail me!) and off course to go on with the chassis. Because now I have a deadline to catch !
08-03-2011, 00:00
Geschreven door Jeff OdH 
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