1982 Morris Ital Estate 1.3L to BLOWN 6.0L (Yellow Peril)

[braithwaite]

This is Ralph.Wrecked.It 's fault. This is going to be a long term thread as this project is waiting for the '32 Kia Model B Sorento to get finished. 

Yellow Peril is a 1982 Morris Ital Estate, 1.3 A+ Series, 4 Speed Manual and finished in British Telecom Yellow because she's the last known example and also incredibly f**ked. 

I'll let the pictures do the talking... 




That's the remains of a spring hanger... how the axle hasn't dropped out yet I'll never know! 












To try and slow the rust a little I've stripped the interior, which revealed a bit more of the extent of the rust. Now I've no fear when it comes to rust, I've rebuilt a beetle that wasn't worth doing and gave me plenty of welding practise so I'm not phased but I do wonder what is actually holding this thing together... 







I've got a plan and it's another not giving a sh*t build that is fully inspired by Australia and their car scene. 

Braithwaite. 

[igor]

"Morris Ital Estate, 1.3 A+ Series"

I have never understood was these were ever a thing. Were there tax advantages to having ridiculously underpowered vehicles that probably hogged the juice more than the bigger engined ones that weren't having to work so hard?

[Ralph.Wrecked.It]

Wahey!!! Ah man that is a lot of rust! I think there are just hopes and dreams holding that thing together currently.

Can't wait to see this evolve.

[Waxoyling Lyrical]

Looks like quite a project! What is the round protrusion to the right of the throttle pedal?

[nickwheeler]

Dec 24, 2021 7:01:22 GMT igor said:

"Morris Ital Estate, 1.3 A+ Series"

I have never understood was these were ever a thing. Were there tax advantages to having ridiculously underpowered vehicles that probably hogged the juice more than the bigger engined ones that weren't having to work so hard?

Ever tried an 1800 Marina? It's enough to make you wonder why they put such a powerful(I know, but it's all relative) engine in such a ridiculously terrible chassis.

[duggers]

I worked at an Austin Rover dealer in the very early 80's and we had a number of Ital saloons come in from a lease contract, all 1.3's.
They had about 40-45k on them and were utterly hateful things showing their early 70's roots.Slow rattly and a dreadful gearbox. We could hardly sell the buggers and the only people who bought them were those who couldn't afford a Lada from the dealer up the road.

I'd say they have a curiosity value now as they no longer have to be compared against the competition of the day.
That will be one serious renovation so I will follow just for the schadenfraude.

Good luck!

[igor]

Dec 24, 2021 14:21:38 GMT nickwheeler said:

Dec 24, 2021 7:01:22 GMT igor said:

"Morris Ital Estate, 1.3 A+ Series"

I have never understood was these were ever a thing. Were there tax advantages to having ridiculously underpowered vehicles that probably hogged the juice more than the bigger engined ones that weren't having to work so hard?

Ever tried an 1800 Marina? It's enough to make you wonder why they put such a powerful(I know, but it's all relative) engine in such a ridiculously terrible chassis.

Yes, well 1750 at least. Loved it. Twenty years later I'm still mad at my uncle for selling Grandpa's immaculate New Zealand new '75 Marina saloon outside the family when the old boy passed. I really wanted that car. 

[Kelvinator]

Dec 24, 2021 7:01:22 GMT igor said:

"Morris Ital Estate, 1.3 A+ Series"

I have never understood was these were ever a thing. Were there tax advantages to having ridiculously underpowered vehicles that probably hogged the juice more than the bigger engined ones that weren't having to work so hard?

60 odd HP in a car that weighs (even in Estate form) sub 1 Ton cant be that bad. According to the brochure 1.3 is about 50kg lighter than a 1.8 too.

Glad to see another Marina/Ital being saved, even if the rust on that one is shockingly bad. Always astounds me the rust you guys are prepared to fix, that would've been scrapped well before that point over here.

[norfolkshire]

Dec 24, 2021 7:01:22 GMT igor said:

"Morris Ital Estate, 1.3 A+ Series"

I have never understood was these were ever a thing. Were there tax advantages to having ridiculously underpowered vehicles that probably hogged the juice more than the bigger engined ones that weren't having to work so hard?

I think that you may well find that, where they were purchased for use by Companies/Organisations, the purchase was driven by accountants.

[norfolkshire]

Dec 24, 2021 14:21:38 GMT nickwheeler said:

Dec 24, 2021 7:01:22 GMT igor said:

"Morris Ital Estate, 1.3 A+ Series"

I have never understood was these were ever a thing. Were there tax advantages to having ridiculously underpowered vehicles that probably hogged the juice more than the bigger engined ones that weren't having to work so hard?

Ever tried an 1800 Marina? It's enough to make you wonder why they put such a powerful(I know, but it's all relative) engine in such a ridiculously terrible chassis.

The 1.8l could certainly get a move on, when provoked.  They were used as 'Fast Response Vehicles' in West Mids; that was one level down from a 'Traffic Car', but double-crewed and manned by personnel from the appropriate Sub-Division.

Yes, you could hang the back out, if you wanted to.  But also if you were a competent driver they went where you wanted it to.  As always, drive according to the road-conditions, and make progress as necessary, as the manual said.  Good fun.

[braithwaite]

Dec 24, 2021 14:20:55 GMT Waxoyling Lyrical said:

Looks like quite a project! What is the round protrusion to the right of the throttle pedal?

I think it's meant to be a foot rest or something, I've not really been sure. 

[braithwaite]

Well I guess I should really elaborate on my 'plan' and the Australian inspiration...

The 1300cc is most definitely not staying, neither is the 4 speed manual, or the rear axle, or a majority of the original car...

In short, take 1300cc (79 cubic inches), multiply it a bit with the aid of this:



Yeah that's 5735cc of 'MERICA screaming Bald Eagles. 350cui Small Block Chevy, which I'll no doubt stroke out to 383 because why not haha.

There's going to be a lot of custom work involved which I'm looking forward to but I have the goal in my mind of something as clean and mean looking as this:
Torana Burnout Car ONIT (Take a look it's so clean!) 

A supporting video to show it's no trailer queen! 

 

I have a few things I want from this project which is:

• Monster Burnouts
• Room for 4, no point doing skids without your mates riding along.
• Road legal as well, which means it'll probably end up on a Q plate but that doesn't bother me. 

I've been collecting parts slowly and when the time comes I hope to have a lot more in place ready to just assemble the whole thing. 

That's all for now, Braithwaite. 

[Kelvinator]

"Burnout car" welp, that's me out then.

[Ralph.Wrecked.It]

I couldn't be happier about this build.

[kevins]

Whats the plan,keep marina underpinnings, new chassis, underbody off somethong else?

[glenanderson]

Dec 24, 2021 7:01:22 GMT igor said:

"Morris Ital Estate, 1.3 A+ Series"

I have never understood was these were ever a thing. Were there tax advantages to having ridiculously underpowered vehicles that probably hogged the juice more than the bigger engined ones that weren't having to work so hard?

I had a 1.3 Ital estate on an A plate, in 1993. It wasn't as underpowered as you'd think, at least not by the standards of the time. It would cruise at 75 on the motorway with five lads and a boot packed to the roof. Certainly there were much better cars out there, but when I had mine it was an eight year old 50,000 mile car that only cost me £400.

I have long fancied either an Ital or Marina estate with a T16 Turbo engine and some form of five speed gearbox. One with a SBC will be a weapon. 

Bookmarked.

[retrolegends]

Well this is gonna be very interesting……are you keeping it BT yellow with a Busby sticker on the side? 🥳

[jimspolicev8sd1]

No way! That’s a great project. My parents first car when I was tiny was an Ital estate. Think it was an X-reg. it was hearing aid beige with turd brown go faster stripes. It had red vinyl interior which I remember my skin sticking to in summers. I was fascinated by the handbrake button and the plastic hub cap centres. I also remember the whine of the flywheel as we turned into the road we lived on. It made me wake up from a doze in my child seat knowing we were nearly home. Funny the things you remember.

[Waxoyling Lyrical]

Dec 28, 2021 22:29:33 GMT glenanderson said:

I have long fancied either an Ital or Marina estate with a T16 Turbo engine and some form of five speed gearbox. One with a SBC will be a weapon. 

Bookmarked.

This guy did it, albeit with a saloon, as featured in September 2021 issue of Practical Classics:

drives.today/articles/165/tuning/210bhp-t16-turbo-1973-morris-marina/nigel-clark.html

All the technical details of parts used are at the foot of the article.

[braithwaite]

Plan is to keep torsion bars up front and modify the shock and top arm setup to increase room in the engine bay. It's staying BT yellow and I'll probably get stickers on the side that pay homage to its origins.