A "new" 1949 van located and progress on Magpie.

Owner Rob tells us a bit about this van which is his daily drive.

He is a new member of the MCJTV group, if you have a J type or an interest in J's I can recommend this very active and interesting group.

"The headlights are aftermarket ones for hot-rods and take a standard 7" light. I have the stock lights in the shed, they are in excellent shape but hopeless for seeing where your going in the dark and I drive regularly at night time so the halogens are a blessing. The Mini van style tail lights were already fitted and although they are a drastic change from standard, again they are nice and bright and at a good height for today's "drivers" so I don't plan on changing them while I'm using the van daily. The chrome grill surround and center bar are original and probably look a bit better in the photos than they really are. I actually don't mind the front bar and it is a step up from the bit of railway sleeper that was on it when I got it and it's handy to hang the number plate off. I don't think I'd be using it like I do if was still a side valve, three speed, poorly braked and badly lit original. " Cheers Rob.

So here is the 3rd oldest, currently running van, still moving and being enjoyed 60 years later.
Moving on to my "Magpie" van. It was collected at 10.40 am yesterday morning and was transported 200 miles down the road to the body-shop of MTR restorations.
Well it arrived all safe and sound at 4.30 pm and was driven into the workshop straight away. They have already started work on the van and are chasing me for the rest of the repair panels that are on order with "Fairmile".
I need these urgently now.
One of the reasons for the hurry for the repair of the "Magpie" van was that it was to be a star at a "Dr Who" convention in June, this has now been cancelled, another victim of this recession I suppose. So that does take the pressure off me some what but I doubt MTR will want a J type in their workshop for longer than necessary.

OBL 432 has been collected to go to the bodyshop.

Wednesday 29Th April at 10.40 am loading started.


As you can see I used Torquary motors to transport my van to MTR restorations in Devon. Torquary motors were the transport company that moved the "ESSO" van from Wiltshire up to Edinburgh so he is getting use to these J types.
Richard is self employed and is semi-retired so is very flexible and very reasonable priced. Distance trips are not a problem. He has been doing this kind of work for 30 years so I knew my van was in safe hands.


The van disappearing in the distance, when will I see "him" again?

A few more little jobs done on ROD525.

The spare wheel retaining clamp found last week in the garage tidy up has now been fitted. It will need a coat or two of paint but that is a small detail.
I also found a Morris Commercial badge from a PV van, I had bought this many years ago and as it was a bit battered, mounting lugs missing I thought it would look rather nice on the rear of ROD.

The other little job carried out was to finish making the battery retaining clamp from some "U" section and some threaded rod.

Each little job is another finishing touch.

Latest news.

Here are a few pictures of latest web finds, J type wise.The Monocle 1960 (a french film) filmed in Hong Kong?
The Singing Street (1952)
Hell is a City (1960)
ROD will be out and about this Saturday, it's time he had a second "shake down" road run.

Two new links have been added on the right hand side, one to MTR restorations who are going to be doing bodywork on the Magpie van shortly. They have promised to do a step by step photographic restoration which I will share with you.

The second link is for MYH238, a long term restoration of a 1952 van. At long last the van is to move out of the very cramped garage, its so small the van will not fit on its own wheels, has to be on casters to be able to squeeze in, I kid you not.

ROD is now insured.

Charlie of "Victoria" van fame sent me a link to a very interesting vehicle site in Canada. Here are a couple of Morris commercial pictures taken from the site. I have put a link to this site on the right hand side. www.bcluv.austingipsy.net/ enjoy.

1950 Morris Commercial van.

Model: J

Owner: Steve Harris

Location: Parksville, BC

ROD is insured or is it me that is insured to drive ROD?

I have not been playing with ROD but for a change working on OBL to get him ready to go off to the body shop.

I have put what repair panels I have (still waiting for some more) and he is due to be collected on Wednesday 29Th April.

Apart from checking over the lights, wipers and tyres he has had a full grease up and all oil levels checked and topped up, yes even the rear axle with "EP 80" oil, that stuff has a strange odour and it's still with me 3 days later.

Once the body work is finished they will MOT the van for me, I think they just want to drive round in the van for a few days, who can blame them? I will then take a train down there and have a nice drive back.

Remember he is booked in for the Dr Who convention at the end of June, so time is getting short. He will need a bit of a repaint when I take the R P Jones stickers off and then stick the "Magpie Electricals" logo's back on. Those "Whoies" are a strange bunch and they wont be happy unless he's correct.

I have collected a fair few spares now for the Victoria van, having got a courier price of £107 and a post price of about £56 I will have to start saving up my loose change to fund the shipment.

Anybody reading this going to Canada? want to take a small package with you, only about 7kgs ??

Remember as the great MYTH said "the only way is a J".

Another step to selling ROD.

Well a rather easy step to get full comprehensive insurance cover for ROD525 so I can take him for his first MOT in 30 years and then use him on a few journeys.

It made a change but I got full insurance cover with agreed vehicle valuation of 8K, just in case it is a total write off for the princely sum of £45.

One of the first things I have bought recently that was not a "rip off".

I feel like taking him for a spin right now..

Time to tidy the garage.

I have been in a bit of a muddle of late , my garage is a tip, nothing is in the correct place and no room to work.

So a tidy up was on the cards.I had to make some room so I could work on a steering column and binnacle.

Fairly rusty one purchased (I paid well over the odds for this !) and it needs cleaning up a bit and some better instruments fitted. This is one of the many parts I have been on the look out to help Charlie in Canada with his early customised van.
Plenty of cobwebs but all the main items are there except for an oil pressure gauge, so I had a look on good old e-bay and there are a few for sale.
It will need a new regulator box, reproduction items can be had for £20, but I have had two of these being faulty "out of the box".
Guess the mystery item. While having a tidy up I came across the above item, it had me guessing for a short time, it is of course a spare wheel clamp. A few J types are missing this item as the spare wheel carrier rots out very easily and then this bit gets lost. So a nice find and another bit to be fitted to ROD.

E-bay time for ROD is fast approaching, I must sell as "TIMES IS HARD" to quote my boss. I must sell it and cover my costs at the very least. Including  purchase, storage, transportation and spare parts so far fitted, ROD has set me back 4.5K.

He must be worth more, recent other projects that needed a lot of work went for 4.2k and 5K+ so a running road legal J that can be used and improved should be worth more. What do you think?

Maybe J types are getting common, the one below in Australia went for £127, thats all, even ROD is better than that.

What have I been up to of late?

Not a lot.

Even over our four day national holiday with three days being wet and I did my "back in" and trapped my sciatic nerve so have been spending the last week hobbling about. Oh the joys of getting old.

The only small job I did on ROD was to fit the new battery to the carrier and take measurement to make a new battery clamp.

I now have three people who has expressed an interest in ROD but I still have a few silly small jobs to do on him, like find some mirrors, interior and exterior. Finding something that looks "right", of the correct period and actual is of some use is rather a problem. 

I often think why have mirrors? Every time I look in mine on OBL432 I know what I'm going to see, a long line of cars all desperate to overtake and gain my 12 feet of road. This is always the case no matter what speed I'm going at.

I have had good news that the bodywork repairs will be started shortly on OBL432 by the specialist Morris Minor and J type body shop MTR Restorations. (07778 690783) ask for Maurice! He has promised to do a "blow by blow" photographic sill and van side bottom edge replacement, to be featured on his blogsite and also here.

A master class of MIG Magic.

On a different note I was asked what was going to happen to our number plates when the year goes into double figures. (I get lots of car questions fired at me as people seem to think I know about vehicles).

To me it was obvious, here is the official view.

New number plates change every six months to indicate the half year using a zero or a five before the year itself. For example, the first half of 2008 is shown as 08 and the second half as 58. QUESTION: What will happen when we move into double figures next year? Will number plates have an extra digit to indicate the year? The style of number plates changed in September 2001. The format since then has been two letters, known as 'local memory tags', two numbers to indicate the year of registration (first or second half) known as 'age identifiers', followed by three more letters known as the 'random element'.  From March 2010, the age identifier will be 10, changing to 60 in September 2010.  In March 2011, the age identifier will be 11, changing six months later to 61.  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) says this pattern will continue until all permutations are exhausted.   Local memory tags show in which part of the country a vehicle was first registered.   For example, London registrations start with the letter L, while West of England registrations, which include Exeter, Truro and Bristol local offices, start with a W. Since the new format was introduced it has been illegal for new or replacement plates to use anything other than the approved typeface which is easily read by speed cameras.   The letters I and Q are not used in the new format and the letter Z is used only in the random element.

another Side valve J type for sale..

The seller states!
HERE WE HAVE A SLIGHTLY WEATHERED
MORRIS J VAN
IT HAS A 4 CYLINDER SIDE VALVE ENGINE AND A 3 SPEED GEARBOX
THE CHASSIS IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BUT THE BODY IS QUITE RUSTY AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE
THERE A QUITE A FEW NEW PANELS THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD FABRICATED AND
WAS GOING TO USE IN A RESTORATION PROJECT THAT GROUND TO A HALT BEFORE I ACQUIRED IT.
ALSO NOT SHOWN IN THE PICTURE AND INCLUDED ARE THE REAR DOORS, SIDE DOORS PLUS NUMEROUS OTHER BITS AND PIECES.
IT WOULD NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR A REALLY KEEN ENTHUSIAST TO RESTORE, HOWEVER IT WOULD BE A BIG JOB INDEED!!
AS IS WHERE IS
HAPPY BIDDING!!

So type in item number 380116364591 into e-bay to have a look yourselves.

They do keep turning up these j types, maybe the local J owners can find out about this vehicles history, I would love to know more about it. It appears to be a 1953/54 model and chassis number is I'm told MR 22909.

Mondays Progress.

Well the only thing I did today on ROD was to spend £70 on a new battery. So ROD now has a nice brand new, 3 year warranty 380 Amp battery. It replaces the old Morris Minor one I had been using which was a bit small for the job. These are now rated at 280 Amp. Its the new way of rating batteries I was use to the old Amp Hour system.

Not much point in posting a picture of a battery, I'm sure you know what they look like.

Next little job if the rain holds off is too make a new retaining clamp.

Saturdays Progress.

Pictures added Sunday! Words will be added Monday at work!!Well ROD is turned round again, he's must be getting giddy, but compared to people like "Victoria" who has to travel for an hour just to start work on his van, mine parked next to a fence is a small obstacle.

So both wheels are off, suspension nuts checked, bushes pins and split pins checked.

Drums were removed and brake linings and wheel cylinders checked. There should be no problems with these item as all brake parts are new. I never "muck about" with brakes, I always fit new. I might try and make a petrol pump/dynamo/battery last a bit longer but brakes, never.

So apart from a small amount of welding to do to the driver side chassis out rigger I am happy with ROD. He is ready for the MOT.

So this week a new battery will be purchased and a new clamp made. The coming rain this week will hold me up but as soon as I can I will weld in the new out rigger and then take ROD out again. Its then make the phone call and book the MOT.. What will the "kids" at the test station make of him?

Had a very nice chat with "Canada Van Man" about ROD, MOT's, elderly relatives and the world in general. It was so nice to have that "chat".

Now the tricky job of putting a value on ROD, what do I ask for him? I have not a clue.

Prices on J type are pretty steady, not yet it would seem hit by the world depression. In the last year a few vehicles have changed hands,  e-bay sale have included 1x project van needing welding and a new engine £5k+ , 1x project van needing welding bodywork and engine/brakes rebuild £4k+,  A bread van that did not sell, a Cornish van fully restored, for sale at £12k. So I asked a few J type owners what they thought I should ask for ROD once he is road legal and becomes a vehicle to use and improve if need be, the average answer from four other owners is £6k or if I just want the money e-bay it for all the number plate thieves to out bid each other. Once I paid my e-bay fee's I might as well ask for a smaller price and make sure it goes to a good home. What do you think?????

BUGLY Said,
English J-Vans seem to command a higher price than Aussie ones, but they are still very scarce over here. Many thought that I had paid too much for Bugly last year, but I took a punt on the price based on the photos that I had forwarded to me off-eBay. I am still happy that the price was justified.

With regard to your sale price, remember that the lower the price the more likely it is that a buyer will buy it for the wrong reasons, perhaps to modify it or (if you pardon the expression) to 'rod' it. That would bring tears to both your eyes and mine! If the average recommended price from four other J-Van owners is $6K, then that would seem to be a fair price. Hopefully Rod's new home will be with an owner prepared to become a dedicated J-Van enthusiast!

MAGPIE Said.

Thanks Bugly for you comment, still cannot come up with a price for ROD. As I'm a old vehicle nut, a good home is more important than money, in this day and age, I'm the odd one out, so many vehicle owners/traders are in it just to make money and as long as they make a few "bucks" they don't care, plenty more old vehicles out there "to rape and pillage". So saying I do have bills to pay and at the very least must cover what I have spent on him

Australian air cleaner modification.

In response to three e-mails about my air cleaner modification, to cut down induction noise, I have been asked what "the Australian modification" was like.

Well bearing in mind this was to be fitted to a JB van and mine is a J, their new air cleaner unit was more for the filtration aspect than noise. They do have very dusty roads out there. Enclosed are view of the new air cleaner unit fitted by BUGLYVAN (link to his blog on the right). Like him I'm a member of the MCJTV group, for J type owners around the world, a more technical and how to do it, kind of site than rally pictures.

If you have a J, it would be worth joining the group, all are welcome and you might just learn something.

The original JB air cleaner assembly.
The new unit fitted to the engine.
The new unit assembled on the bench.
The kit of parts, all the brackets are custom made!! nice job BUGLY!!

What have I been doing? Well as promised Thursday night and in the dark I turned ROD round to work on the off side. By torch light he got jacked up and and both front and rear wheels and drums have been removed.

I took pictures but flash in the dead of night did not produce good results to publish here.

Full details of the Modification...

Hi Magpie -The Aussie air filter modification is basically an off-the-shelf Donaldson air cleaner assembly, with a double paper element air filter inside. The white pre-screen on top is a 50mm waste vent screen, and the filter outlet couples directly to the cast aluminium carburettor inlet via 3 x 50mm x 90 degree rubber elbows and some 50mm pvc pipe to join them together.The whole lot sits nicely under the engine cover, with not a lot of room to spare. The mounting brackets were designed to act as a heat shield to protect the air assembly from the exhaust manifold.If any JB owner wants more information on the Aussie air cleaner modification, they can contact me at Buglyvan@gmail.com and I will answer all of their questions.Cheers - Bugly.

Carburettor noise modification.

On my first drive of ROD I thought the intake noise was rather loud, it was loud on my JB but I have since fitted an SU carburettor with paper air cleaner and the noise is much reduced.

Many people have made modifications to reduce the noise, after all, the air cleaner is a tin can with some wire wool stuff in it, not exactly high tec. So, what is fitted to later vehicles, why paper elements. Now the side valve air cleaner is rather small and apart from using some sort of motor bike air cleaner inside the original canister there had to be another way. I had seen pictures of a noise/dust filter assembly on the excellent MCJTV site.

It was fitted to a J type to over come their excessive dusty roads. So what I wanted was to do something that was easy to buy/make/fit and was also easily removable.

So cutting down a larger paper element, stapling and super-gluing it together, having made a small hole for the breather vent pipe my new filter slips over the top of the existing casing. It can be easily removed and does give some extra filtration as well as taking the sharpness out of the induction noise.

The other job I did last night was to refit the speedo head, with replacement insides, to the binnacle, No I did not paint the cluster casing, the new owner can do that if he wants and also it would show up just how "workaday" the rest of the cab is.

I must concentrate on the items for the MOT, I must get him road worthy and road legal as soon as possible