THE GOLDENFROG SERVICING LIST
by Jean-Frederic Frot and Lorne Goldman

The list below is intended as a practical check list to facilitate you or your mechanic to keep your Morgan running and avoid the reputation of unreliability the marque has built up. It is intended as a guide to an annual servicing but will reap benefits whenever it is done. It should be adapted to reflect each particular car and model. It is a work-in-progress and will soon be fully interactive with detailed explanations of each task. Any contribution of anything you feel is missing will be welcome.

The GoMoG Manual sections will help as well, especially with specific issues to be repaired rather than maintenance per se. This effort is preventative medicine that is too often not done. Its intention is to change the car's reputation which has developed more from a lack of owner effort and knowledge than any other reason.

The list goes from the front of the car to the rear where possible to facilitate and speed up the work.

We remind you of the safety aspect when carrying out this work and would recommend that you read the Safety First in this manual if you are not familiar with the good practice required to avoid any injury.  In addition, to these recommendations, whilst working around the car, one should also inspect the condition of the chassis and bodywork for damage and corrosion. We work with a set of spanners and screw drivers and test bolts and screws as we go.

No list is exhaustive, but long experience shows this one has an excellent chance of keeping you far more trouble free than other owners. If you do not choose to do it every year, get a price from your mechanic to do so. It should take a capable professional the better part of day to complete. We suggest you print these pages and check off each task as it is done. If you have a question, have yourself or your mechanic click the task where you have a question.
 

Work in Progress
WHEELS AND TYRES Done
Check tyre pressure (check your manual for the correct pressure) x
Check condition of tyres – cracked surface, tears or hernias on tyre walls, expiration date x
Check wheels – damaged rims, corrosion, lost balance weights x
Check play at front wheel bearings and adjust if necessary xx
Wire Wheels Check tension of spokes, condition and play of Rudge splines  .
Wire Wheels Clean and re-pack Rudge splines on hubs and wheels .
Alloy wheels – apply Copperslip (anti-seize) to inner face of wheel resting on the hub  .
FRONT BRAKES
Check brake pads for wear .
Check Brake Rotors
Check brake hose (twist, scuff, and cracked rubber) .
Check disc (thickness/runout, scoring). Remove lip. .
Check caliper bolt wires .
Bleed front brakes .
FRONT SUSPENSION AREA
Check play in bushes. .
Clean bottom part – check for rust on kingpin  .
Check bottom nyloc nut and base plate bolts .
Check lube bolt – brush clean and lube (WD40) one shot union  .
Check one shot pipe (pre-2002) .
Check the sidelight nut for tightness .
Clear vent hole at bottom of top tube of slider  .
Grease bushes .
Lift and grease underside of damper plates or grease (pre-2008) .
Change damper blade shims – turn damper blades over – grease (pre-2008) .
Disconnect shocks at their bottom – check correct function.  .
Check front indicator lights
Check front parking lights or sidelights
Check wing lights
Check horn
STEERING
Check column end float – Lube top bush (All cars except Rack & Pinion) .
Check oil level  (All cars except Rack & Pinion) .
Check oil seal on steering box (All cars except Rack & Pinion) .
Adjust nut or peg  (All cars except rack and pinion) .
Check split pin on drag link clamp (All cars except Rack and Pinion) .
Check play and lub ball joints on drop arm, drag link and coupling bars .
Check steering play  .
Check and lub U-Js on steering column .
Check all gaiters for damage and/or leakage. .
Check 4 bolts at center plate. mark them (Rack & Pinion) .
Check for play at center plate when steering is turned (Rack & Pinion) .
Check bolts and spacers holding rack to cross frame (Rack & Pinion) .
Remove and fill end gaiter (Rack & Pinion) .
COOLANT SYSTEM
Check hoses for cracks or rubbing .
Check rad for leaks or rubbing .
Check coolant level  .
Check coolant quality with coolant analyzer .
Change coolant every two years (see engine flushing) .
Check rad cap .
ENGINE AREA
Drain oil – replace oil filter – Fill up (All cars save Plus 8s) .
Fill new oil filter - replace old oil filter - Drain and fill up. (Plus 8s only) .
Replace spark plugs – check and adjust gap .
Examine old plugs for condition .
Check spark plug leads and connectors .
Check heater valve cable .
Check fan belt tension and wear .
Check dynamo or alternator wiring (heat from exhaust manifold) .
Check regulator and fuse box for corrosion (if applicable) .
Check engine mountings bolt tightness and crack in the rubber sections .
Check and lub and adjust clutch linkage and cable (fraying) if your manual requires this .
Check slave cylinder leaks and clutch master cylinder fluid level (if hydraulic) (change every two years) .
Check brake fluid level (change every 2 years) .
Check engine earth (s) VERY carefully (both sides of the strap) for broken strands or a bad contact .
Clean and grease earth strap(s) contact on chassis .
Pre-EFI ENGINES
Change contact breaker – adjust points .
Check dwell angle .
Adjust tappet clearance (Push rod engines) .
Check throttle and choke cable – adjust tension. if necessary .
Check carb linkages for wear  (Especially twin SUs) .
Check wear in butterfly spindles to body .
Check mixture and idle speed- Check balance (twin carbs) .
S.U: check dash pots oil level .
ALL DISTRIBUTOR ENGINES
Check distributor cap – contact points and for cracked Bakelite .
Check condition of rotor .
Check wear on distributor shaft.  (especially Kent engine) .
Check condition of vacuum auto advance pipe .
Check function of vacuum advance .
Check dynamic advance .
Check throttle cable – adjust tension if necessary .
Change (or clean  with K&Ns) the air filter (s) .
L-JETRONIC (1984-1990) PLUS 4 & PLUS 8
Check the CO2 level of the exhaust gas .

 
COCKPIT DONE
Check all fuses and relays
Check wiper blades – 1 drop of Vaseline oil on spindles .
Grease wipers rack and pinions .
Grease thrust bearing sleeve (Series I, early Plus 4 and Moss box Plus 8s) .
Grease pedal set and throttle pedal .
Check pedal rubbers .
Grease hand brake ratchet and cable .
Check gearbox level (change every 10,000 miles) .
Check play and grease zirks on front propshaft U-J and propshaft (except 4/4 Kent engine)  .
Check spline on prop shaft (early cars) .
Check propshaft to gearbox nuts for tightness
Lube seat sliders .
Clean and recondition leather .
Check all electrics and gauges are functioning correctly .
Lube bonnet hinge and catches (Vaseline oil) .
Lube door hinges and catches .
REAR COMPARTMENT
Check and clean battery terminals  .
Apply petroleum jelly or grease to terminals .
Check battery acid level (if applicable) .
Check battery earth VERY carefully (both sides) for broken strands or a bad contact .
Clean and grease earth strap contact on chassis .
Grease hand brake cable and linkage. .
Check play and grease rear zirk on prop shaft U-J .
REAR BRAKES
Remove brake drums – check shoe wear  .
Check slave cylinders for leakage and/or gaiter/seal cracks .
Clean and grease hand brake mechanism .
Clean and free hand brake adjuster (pre-June 1993) .
Check half shaft oil seal  .
Grease and re-pack half shaft bearings .
Check brake drum. Clean and refit .
Adjust brake shoes (pre-June 1993) .
Adjust hand brake cable  (pre-June 1993) ,
Check brake hoses and lines .
Bleed rear brakes .
REAR AXLE
Grease Salisbury Axle (pre-1995) (it is unnecessary to grease BTR axles)  .
Drain and replace oil (Salisbury every 3000 miles, BTR every 20,000 miles) .
Grease rear propshaft U-J .
Check propshaft to axle nuts for tightness .
REAR SUSPENSION
Check leaf springs for breaks  .
Chain lube leafs .
Re-tighten U-bolts nyloc nuts or stoffers .
Check shock absorbers – check for leaks (and oil level on Armstrongs) .
VERY REAR
Check fuel tank for leaks .
Check rear wiring harness (WD 40 or dilectric grease on bullet connector bundle on R.H side)  .
Check spare wheel and tyre for cracks and wear .
Check rear valance bottom rail bolts and rear panel bottom rail for wood rot .
Check tyre pressures including spare .
Check brake lights
Check running lights
Check reverse light
Check registration plate light (2)
Check rear indicator lights
EXHAUST
Check exhaust and manifolds for leaks .
Check exhaust rubber mountings .
Test drive......and enjoy!