An Introduction: Chris Collins and Morris Tilly Project

[jack neville]

I then scrapped up a simple die to form the small pressings.

[jack neville]

They didn't come out too bad.

[jack neville]

I used welding rods to get the correct size round to make the small keepers for the seat cushion straps.
small tabs were added to the seat back and holes drilled to attach. Apart from adding the handbook pocket to the rear of the drivers seat these seats are complete.

[jack neville]

Sandblasting and painting will have to wait for the new year.

[Chris Collins]

I've been away in the old country for 5 weeks or so, had a grand time, met Rampant_rivet at Caldicott Castle and saw his brilliant Bedford MW, and amongst other things sent my steering wheel frames to Steering wheel Restorations in Kent. They were basket cases the resin castings completely gone, though thankfully the frames were sound.



I striped off the old resin, careful use of a dremel patience and thoughtful application of a screwdriver and hammer!

When cutting into the resin, I noticed they were an odd shade of "pea/Toy soldier Green" they weren't the Bakelite I thought they might have been. A suprisingly soft material despite its age, very good at clogging up dremel bits!

We sandblasted and primed the frames, and that's where things stalled, it was a low priority at that stage and the shipping to the UK would be rather steep. My trip to the UK meant I could save a few dollars on postage so i boxed them up stuffed them into my suitcase, and when the opportunity arrived I sent them, and hoped for the best.

after hearing nothing for a few days I rang them, fearing they were lost in the post, "yeah, we recieved them a few days ago, I've just pulled the first one out of the mould, and the second one should be done monday" Wow, I was expecting months. That was just before bank holiday weekend,. I recieved them Wednesday evening, and i couldn't be happier and at the first opportunity I took them down to Johns place and popped them on the Tilly! They even did a reasonable job matching the green!

[Chris Collins]

Hello all,

appologies for a lack of activity, There has been progress but its slowed somewhat. We had been waiting for a loom for some time, but eventually got it from a local supplier of Vintage looms. Engine and gearbox mounts were few and far between so we contacted Old Era services who fabricated new dies and refurbished our old mounts, and did an amazing job.

Mean while our friend and Morris Register of Victoria Techo Rod Smith, assessed our engine collection, three Tilly engines and two Morris 10 engines, and began work. on our first tilly we will use the SU carby as used on the morris 10 as we only have one Tilly carburettor (SOLEX 30 HBFDO). i do wonder if the Solex will be a weakness, as the SU has such a good name for reliability. No matter thats what they had, and I'd like to get a second one day, but there will be plenty of time for that.

sadly only one Original Tilly block was usable, so we've settled on using a car block modified to Tilly spec using bits ratted from the Tilly engines to build the second engine, sadly there aren't a lot of detailed photos other than a general impression of progress. See below.

[Chris Collins]

More pics of engine progress