Customs Morris Minor wheels: help me decide

I have a engine and bed less truck. Not a good selection of wheels here in the states. Hell, I can't even get Billet Specialties to drill me a set of wheels i the Morris/Sprite pattern.

I have been trying to find a 2 door for my wife, usually they are too far away or do not have a ***le which is needed in OH.

 

Glad to see you went with the "big block".

 

Is that a Kiwi AA badge on the front right hand side?

 

Welp, my brother has about a million hours and no $$$ in these cheapo aluminum slots. He rounded all the sharp edges and sanded his *** off...then used co**** steel wool and WD-40 until they looked like this.

 

I'd like to see this one Dawie! You're welcome to give me a shout if you're looking for any help with the sheetmetal/moving the wheel openings.

As for the wheels I'd second Spoggie's suggestion on the sombrero type.

Barry

 

Thanks Barry - I'll certainly take you up on that, though truth be told I don't see myself even getting to setting out a ch***is this year!

 

On the stock bolt pattern, see if you can find some Vega/Monza etc. wheels.

 

Stock tyres are 5.20x14, or commercial 5.60x14. The common metric equivalent is 155/70R14, which stands about 22½" high. Typical higher-performance fitments in that sort of diameter are 185/60R14 and 195/50R15.

I'm taking my DD VW Golf Mk1 on 195/50R15s as a lower-limit handling benchmark, so less tyre than that won't do the job. Moreover, the decision to play around with the wheelbase and proportions prompted a rethink of the size the wheels present in profile, going to a somewhat larger overall diameter. I'm not bound by gearing considerations; I'll source driveline components according to the diameters I settle on. The height of the stock front wheel well is still a constraint, though. The result is shown in the sketch: that's a 16" rim, and the tyres are about an inch taller than stock (perhaps 205/45R16, or 225/40R16).

My quandary is how to run those sorts of sizes without the result looking tunerish. And, my slightly maniacal driving style doesn't really suit a pure custom approach, which is why I'm a bit wary of full-wheel caps. The car has to look and feel right not only when sat at the kerb, but also going through all its various moves - which I just can't see in a full-blown custom.

I'm warming to Spoggie's suggestion, though. The knock-off in the centre sort of suggests a wire wheel behind the cover, which changes your whole perception.

 

minilites and go for the road race look........

 

Here's an update, and incidentally my first attempt at rendering in Photoshop:

I don't think I'll be getting rid of the drawing board just yet ...

 

Iwould have to vote for the mini lites and no skirts...

 

I think the Vega/Monza has the same pattern as the MGB which is slightly larger than the Morris/Spridget pattern.

 

knock off wires all the way....MG Midget axle will fit and I do belive it's a bolt on swap, go for one with wires anyway them OK they are 13s but cheap as chips, the same goes for the front end, Midget hubs and discs with MG Metro 4 pot calipers....engine..2litre Fiat Twincam and 5 speed is a real easy fit and you used to be able to buy a fitting kit here in the UK for a couple of hundred quid.....personally i'd go for chrome wires..
Body wise i would 2 door it for better proportions and poss hard top and chop it too

 

I think this is one of those situations where it's hard to make the right choice because most of those wheels will look good. At the same time.. I'm leaning toward the knock-off wires.

That's your brother!?

I read all about his trip to Speed Week in Rod & Custom. That Morris Minor is one bad mother!! I like it!


iPhone - TJJ App

 

The Monza/Vega uses a 4 on 4" bolt pattern, same as the Minor/Sprite/Metropolitan. There are a few front drag 15" wheels out there, but I highly doubt there's anything out there in that bolt pattern in a 16" diameter. If you're dreaming about redrilling the hubs for 100 mm or larger wheels, forget about it. There is no meat available. The good news is that Midget/Sprite disc brakes are a direct bolt-in replacement, as are the wire wheel front hubs and rear axles.

The MGB uses a 4 on 4 1/2" pattern, which is the same as early Datsun "Z" cars, Mustang 6 cyl. cars etc.

I've got a set of stock Minor wheels and caps that I thought about using on my Metropolitan, but they're only 3 1/2" wide. The rotten radials mounted on them were 145R14. Not very confidence-inspiring.

Mike

 

If I ever get a ***le for my Morris (UTE) I have been thinking of getting a complete setup from a MGB for front suspension. This will give me a better/stronger setup in the front than stock, disc brakes and the better bolt pattern. I still have to take the measurements to see if it will work. No ***le for the truck so I am not in a big hurry to put any time or money into it at the moment.

 

I like both of these wheels.

I understand what you are trying to do however a few observations. Moving the front axle centreline forward 5" is a lot, particularly on a small car like this. That coupled with the 16" wheels you are proposing is going to make thing tight up the front. I like that idea but you would need to execute that carefully for it to work.

Having observed a number of Morry customs over the years they to me always look like the poor relation or a cheap subs***ute, something you see at a sideshow.

I like the idea of enhancing them but not turning them into a pretender. I think your onto something with those Alfa rims or the D-type look alike. They were top of the racing ladder when the Morris Minor was a working mans commuter. Both are British and a blending of the two would be an interesting theme to pickup on.

Just for interest here is a pic of a neat little Morry that appears to be giving some Alfas a run for their money. Appears to be running fairly small Minilites.13-14".

Good luck with your project.

 

Looking over your choices, guess it depends what you're after. With the skirts, I could see those wires w/3-pointers giving it an old Jag look.
But a set of smoothies with full old caps or baby moons would give a nice custom look. Wide whites w/ Morris caps is another thought.
Hey, we'll all chime in with considerations but in the end...you come back and tell us which way it's going to go. And then let's see pic's! Ever go to minormania.com and their '*******ized Morris club?'