Front J type Indicators.

I don't know about you but I hate large orange indicators on the front of a J type. To me however they are done they always look like they are an after thought.

Like a lot of late 1950's vehicles, as they lost their semaphore arms and started to fit flashing indicators various systems were used.

One of the systems on Morris Minors 1959/62 was to up-grade the single side lamp, fit a twin filament lamp and a larger lens. So now you would have at the front a 5 Watt side lamp and a 21 Watt flashing white indicator.

While at the rear for a short time they split the brake lamp circuit and so you could flash "the stop lamp" so they became the indicator lamps, as and when required.

Most confusing seen from the back but the front arrangement is quite neat.

I had suggested this modification to a fellow J owner as from the front nothing changes, it all looks the same.

So what do you need? You can get two types of Lucas twin Filament bulb holders, to suit either the domed or flat type of rear lens.

Using the flat type lens (recessed) lamp holders, you can replaced the existing single filament side lamp holder, the rubber boots are the same diameter just longer.

Once the new recessed lamp holders are fitted and wired up you can refit the original lens. To tidy it up you just need to trim off the now redundant outer lip, this is for a chrome trim ring and is not required.

The next slight problem was that this was an early van fitted with the larger combined fuse box and regulator unit. I had originally said (in an e-mail) to take the feed off of one of the terminals, thinking it was a later type.

So here is a small part of the wiring diagram, showing the two fuses, one being for accessories wired through the ammeter and the other for accessories via the ignition switch. Horn and lights go via the first, things like wipers, indicators and heater fan should be on the second.

I also had a J type pop in and see me on Sunday. Details to follow on next blog posting.

A chance for film work and the bikes progress.

I was sent this picture of a beautiful Bedford being used in the filming of Only fools and Horses, the prequel is about the young versions of the well known characters. This was being filmed in Southeast London and is set in the late 1950's.

Well I cheekily asked the sender of the picture to put my J type forward for any other street shots, well you got to try haven't you.
Back to the bike.
Well it took only about ten minutes to fit the new tyre and tube to the wheel rim earlier this week. For the cost of this rear tyre I could have bought two J type ones...As you can see there is no chain cog on a Royal Enfield rear wheel, it has instead the four slots in the hub which are cushioned rubber lined.
So when you remove the rear wheel from the frame the chain, cog and brake drum with linkage stays in place.
View of the rear drive coupling that engages with the rear wheel rim. Well its all back together again but while I have been using the J type to and from work this week I thought I would also service the bike, new sparking plug, oil and filter.

So its back to biking next week.

For sale on e-bay Australia.

For sale in Australia, and he's willing to post to the UK is a nice early 2ND edition workshop manual, in fair condition.

When you convert the AU$ to pounds its not so expensive.

(In reply to one e-mail complaining about small pictures/images remember as with most blog/web sites, just double click on a picture to make it bigger).

Another New J type blog.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the JB tipper (HBF263) has found a good home. Restoration is well underway already and the the owner in South East London has given me permission to do a blog site for him.
He is very keen to meet with other local J owners for help and advise on his new project. Please e-mail Robert directly with encouragement.
http://jtype-tipper-hbf263.blogspot.com/

The J type van, a very useful vehicle!

Yes you can fit a motorcycle in the back of a J Type, many people over the years have done this including many professional riders.
I had to call on J type recovery services on Friday night.
I came out of work, I unlocked the motorbike, started the engine and push it off the centre stand only to find I had a flat rear tyre.
Having put the bike back on to its stand I inspected the rear wheel to find a nice large "chipboard" screw sticking out of the tyre. I tried pumping up the tyre without much luck, I was hoping to make it to the nearest garage to use an air line but it was just not going to happen.
So who do you call? After police, fire and ambulance, its just got to be J type services, the forth emergency service.
All I had to do was remove the rear view mirrors and push the bike up a plank in the dark and not hit my head on the rear of the van body.
I failed on most items. The plank was not a problem, I was after all on a Trading Estate, lots of firms about, plenty of wood/pallets etc about, also helping hands in the shape of some lorry drivers who work for "Mars" the chocolate people were about, they do after all work 24/7 making all those sweets. So with three of us a quick push up the plank, the bike was soon in the back of the van and I smashed my head on the rear door frame.
I unloaded the bike on my own, I needed an empty van for Saturday morning as yet again it was being used to shift some more furniture..
Saturday afternoon I took the tyre off the bike rim, the tube was ripped as expected and the screw had damaged the inside of the tyre so even fitting a new tube the rough tyre would soon wear a hole in tube again.
A new tyre and tube are on order so the J van will be used for going to and from work this coming week, not a hardship now is it?

Council web site research.

I mentioned some time ago that I have been looking at various council web sites and have been researching them to see if they have any "j type" vehicle records.

One of the best I have found is Gloucester Councils web site. These are the ones I have so far found.

KFH329 JR14117, EAST DEAN RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL,

KFH615 JR15204 GLOUCESTER NEWSPAPERS

MFH207 JR21562 GLOUCESTER DAIRY SUPPLY

NFH346 JR25614 S.J.TOWNSEND

NFH657 JR27230 L.H.FERRIS

OFH978 JR30237 GLOUCESTER CO-OP.

RFH737 JR35921 " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " ".

SFH919 JBMR37817 " " " " " " " " " " " " " " .

UFH883 JBMR 4150X R.A.LEOPOLD, CHELTENHAM, BAKERY.

VFH234 JBMR42246 PARAGON LAUNDRY,CHELTENHAM

YFH144 JBMR4045X GLOUCESTER, CO-OP.

2070FH JBAR46987 GLOUCESTER CO-OP.

2071FH JBAR47276 GLOUCESTER CO-OP.

The chassis numbers with an "X" in them have a digit missing, these vehicles date from 1952 right up 1960, covering the J, JB and 101 versions, I would think that there were many other J types sold in Gloucestershire in the twelve year production run of the J type, maybe other records will be added over time.

Do check out your local council site, you never know what might be lurking on there.

Jarrahdale Machinery Museum, found by super surfer GD.

Yes another J type in a yard full of rusty metal, this is a Machinery Museum in WA, Australia. No details yet on the best vehicle in the yard. Anybody passing by, could you please pop in and get the chassis number and some history?

On a different note I have been scanning local council web sites, some have posted on line some of their vehicle licencing details, this was at a time they issued registration numbers and administered vehicle excise duty (tax discs) before the DVLA took it all over. One of the best councils web sites I have found so far found is Gloucester and I have been doing a bit of research on our vans. There are many errors in the lists, mainly with chassis numbers, all typo's when copying over thousands of documents.

I will be posting a few of the gem's I have found shortly. Why not have a look at your local councils site, it can be surprising what's out there. Freedom of information and all that.

As reported on Tinworm's site the "Trumans" van has been sold, we understand this has gone to a friend of a guy that already has two J type van, one JB and one project Austin 101.

Local people call me the Morris Man.

So because of this I sometimes have strange people and vehicles turn up.

An ex-G.P.O. van, very customised in many ways. Wrong grill, wrong front bumper, wrong indicators, wrong engine/gearbox and the tyres are perished as well.

Air horns mounted underneath the rear end.

A nice hand grenade gear knob, wrong seats, wrong door handles, wrong handbrake lever etc etc.
The rear end is home made, made in fact from bench seats. The pictures do not do this vehicle justice, its far far worse in the "flesh".
I don't think it needs a guard dog in the rear, nobody in their right mind would nick this thing..
Anyway this guy Bernard popped round as he wanted a thermostat for this beast. I said "no problem" and walked into my garage, on the way he remarked it has to be a 40 not a 50?
I said "what" Morris Minors have a standard 88 degree thermostat, what do you mean 40/50, that's very low for a thermostat. he then said " the engine is a 1300cc Morris Marina" I said "still that's very low for a thermostat, are you sure?"
Anyway we had a chat, he asked questions and I ask questions, he avoided answering most of mine. As he left for home, the nice smell of slipping clutch and the sound of a blown exhaust met my ears and nose, he said " I have to take it easy, yes it does need a bit of work." The old guy has only just bought the wreck, they saw him coming and I smelt him leave.

A new van? (nice wheels)

The picture below has been brought to my attention by Mike Parry,Chairman of the 6/80 and Morris Oxford club who also cater for our vans. Check out their web site here.www.680mo.org.uk Many thanks Mike.

Now this picture is on a blog site here. http://jok-r.skynetblogs.be/post/7340865/morris--j--1951

05-10-2009 MORRIS "J" 1951 Je suis assez fan de Rods et Customs (pas le magazine) et je ne sais pour quelle raison, j'apprécie tout particulièrement les "utilitaires" de cette trempe !Cette réalisation est dans la droite lignée des jouets Jada toys. Je CRAQUE ! !

Cliquez sur l'image pour comparer avec le modèle d'origine !

I understand this translates as " I am quite a fan of Rods and Customs (not the magazine) and I do not know why I particularly appreciate utility vehicles of this kind! This restoration is in the same mould as "Boys Toys". I can not resist!!

As you can see it is a 1951 vintage van, (or earlier as it has the square side lights). I have left a message on the blog site, I wonder if I will get any more details.