Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Whilst its quiet

Yes. I know I've had an annoying little issue with the MG ring hijacking my site, but I think I've cured it now.
So, since no-one has made any comments for ages a few words of encouragement would not go amiss, so please add comments just to let me know there are people out there in cyberspace reading. Donations of hard cash are also gratefully accepted, after all the kids need new shoes.

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

spring thing and more work

Well, the front suspension is finally finished, discs purchased and fitted and the car lowered to the ground at long last.
The fitting of the disc was easier than I thought. I did have reservations regarding the hub to disc bolts. They were a swine to remove. I had to drill the bolts out since the back face did not allow for a spanner or my socket access. In the end I found a long forgotten box spanner of 14 mm that did the job just fine with accompanying 1/2" socket.
Also the oil seal to hub was tricky to remove but replaced with a brand new pair, using a nice new flat section of 1" x 3"x 6" timber, liberal grease and lump hammer.

The only blot on the landscape was the final ride height. It looks too high, even thought I've replaced the spring with one over 1-1/2" shorter.
Also, since the two wheels/tyres had been used as makeweights for the car cover, when fitted and lowered back to earth one was flat as a fart.
That's when the faffing started.
I visited three filling stations ( all with the same type of inflator) only to find out the business end of the inflator does not fit my valve. Strange that, since I've inflated them before ( albeit years ago) and did not have an Issue.
The economy run continues so I've decided to replace only one brake cylinder but both side's caliper seals in full, re-use the existing hoses and buy standard pads,clips and re-use the rear brake shoes.
I've even fitted the bump strap bolts since I can now jack up the rear end.

Son also helped me push the car to turn it round on the drive ( again).
After inspecting the RH rear hub/back plate I discovered the back plate was slightly oily/cruddy and some slight play in the drive/hub/spline. I'll do what I normally do for this rather expensive repair, Ignore it for now. At the least it is just pinion crown wheel spacer wear and worse half shaft spline wear with weeping oil seal. Thank god for the wonderful John Twist of University motors. I urge you all to visit youtube to see his wisdom and  educational dedication to the marque for would be restorers.

So next on the list is more sanding (wether [ and weather] permitting) since I should buy the caliper and pads plus fluid ,but that looks like its going to be a Christmas present  due to some ongoing financial embarrassment ( No job as of yet).


Above  is the RH hub. Sorry as it a little blurred ( I was cold, wet and fed up )

Sunday, October 09, 2011

The romance of sandpaper and filler is over

How long did it last you ask. Well not very long. A few years ago when I started I managed to fill and sand the odd "ding" around the car. This was very satisfying and I was in love instantly. A few deft and lingering strokes from the plastic spatula, some gentle stroking of the lovely curves with 80 grit and a gentle caress of 120 grit  left my heart and spirits leaping with joy. How wonderful the world is.

Next up was the welding of new lower sections to the front wings. It needed a lot of filler and even more sanding. It needed several " attempts" to get a smooth curve. I got a little tired and it was beginning to be hard work, if not difficult. To keep things moving I looked elsewhere ( engine bay) and I began to feel a little guilty leaving the filler and sandpaper forlorn in the boot space. At least they were with all their other friends like " Red Lead", "Stopper Filler" and "Cork sanding Block". After what seemed ages I was ready to renew the romance. But alas filler had become cold and hard with time and 80 grit was torn, wrinkly and in shreds. I was skint and unable to frequent the haunts of similar acquaintances for a long time ( Halfords).

It was mid summer some years later when a breeze of opportunity ( some spare shifts in pub) came along  we had the opportunity to become very familiar again. But  where could we be together, alone and doing what were were made for. The Front Lower Valance of course. This was an Item long forgotten and abandoned in the depths of the shed, ignored and replaced in my dreams, head and heart by a ST spoiler.
How fortunate fate can be. Just when I was at my lowest ebb and resigned to re-using as many original as possible parts ( due to being unemployed ) we became entwined once more.

After several coatings of filler in strategic areas and sanding with 80 grit I again became a little weary of the elbow and wrist  work required to be well satisfied. I again looked elsewhere. The RH door skin was the obvious choice. Coated in a heavy layer of "Red lead" with a dusting of primer, it had been in my vision every time I lifted the car cover. I always thought it would be a big ask to get it something like ready for final paint prep but the challenge was there let alone serious temptation !  what else can a man do  ? So I did .

Here it is just after starting


A close up will show that the red lead looks like it had been applied with a very stiff bristle brush. This outlandish sight ( done by me years ago in the first flush of Restoration youth) is what had been teasing me for years almost saying " come on and tackle me if yer dare, I'm deep and streaky and cover a huge curved area". The grey primer acting as a guide coat, it took ages and ages. Almost 2 hours in fact and my shoulder was aching, fingers were sore and hands stiff.
Look done ! I was well spent though and I'm sure I heard the door ask me what I was thinking !


Just about 90% of the red lead had to be removed. What was I thinking all those years ago. Still it had been protected from the ravages of the dreaded tin worm and needed very little filler. The romance was already fading for the filler at least and the sandpaper and I needed a break too !.

We (The front Valance and I ) were all re-united through a rather unwelcome but now oft frequent bout of skintness and restlessness.The door had to be left abused and part naked due to the fact I had only a little grey primer (and no money to buy more) the hammerite KuRust was almost all gone but lasted to serve one more time.
The Valance, originally abandoned due to many small but heavy impacts low down and lots of rust patches deeply ingrained. Fortunately I did give it a coating of heavy grey primer all those years ago, but oh the filling and sanding. I so far have had about 5 attempts of filling and sanding and its still not perfect. I don't want perfection I just want it all to end because I'm thoroughly fed up with it all. And the romance is dead in its tracks..........for now at least.
I could not even be bothered to take a photo. Maybe I will next time..if I can afford some primer.


Sunday, October 02, 2011

Taps, dies and poverty

Well. we'll start with the poverty bit first.
Since I've qualified as a Radiographer, guess what ?  there's bugger all jobs about. So the household is really living on reduced means, Heinz beans, shouts and screams and shattered dreams. So the MG fund is at minus lots and lots. The front suspension is assembled and waiting for cash to buy split pins ( of the correct size MGOC !!!)  Two new pistons for the brake calipers, seal kit for both calipers, pads, pins and brake disc+ bolts/nuts, inner bearing seals, shim kit and brake/clutch fluid.
The fund is so low that I'm going to have to re-use the rear brake shoes I removed years ago ( still plenty of material on them though) and not replace the rear brake adjuster/cylinder, just clean up and re-fit. That should see the car back on four wheels and mobile-ish !

See the suspension looking new and wanton for discs and wheels.

Taps and dies bit I referred to relates to the front wings where they attach to the bonnet gutter, front valance and inner footwell mountings. The front valance mounting points on both wings is a mish mash of removed bolts ( leaving perfect but rusty 1/4" UNF tapped holes)  large 3/8" hole where captive nuts have been ground away ( done years ago in deep mid-winter ) and broken 1/4" UNF bolt stuck in-situ ( I must have given up or got too cold and frustrated). Either way ,not having any cash and plenty of time I decided to tackle the RH wing first as its not attached properly ( One bonnet gutter bolt and a mole grip on the front sill). A wander into town on market day, Thursday, saw me trawling the flea market for the tools stalls. Normally they sell all manner of cheap imported crap tools, however I use them lots and know where to go to get the oft used/broke last time type of things like 1/8" dia drills ( 5 for a £1) flappy grinding wheels (£1.50) and 5 sizes of boxed mm drills ( also £1). They had taps and dies too... all new and metric and expensive for me.
I knew that there are other stalls offering used engineering tools like micrometers, wood turning chisels (lots) vices, planes, end mills and other stuff generally that belonged to some long dead proud engineer. Trouble is its all usually rusty, very rusty.  But I knew there would be taps and dies on at least two stalls somewhere. I just had to root around amongst the masses of other "stuff ". "Stuff" being what I don't want. Myriads of 1/4" BSW taps and dies. Same for 3/8" BSW and UNC for that matter. I must have spent a whole hour rooting in rusty boxes and trying to read long since stamped ID markers or "etched" markers ( even harder).
Persistence paid off and I think I got the only 1/4" and 5/16" UNF taps in the entire country. I also got the dies too !  for a grand total of £ 4 ( from two different stalls though ). A good day was had as I usually spent a full ten minutes with wifey looking round the market Thursdays.
These purchases allowed me to open up the RH bonnet gutter threads ( 5/16" UNF ) and with some really expert drilling remove the three broken 1/4" UNF bolts at the lower valence. I also did the four inner footwell mounting holes and the two wing top/scuttle threads.

Before I forget, above is a photo of the front slam panel with both in primer, promised from last entry.

Below is a close up of the slight "oversight" I had with the oil cooler pipe meeting and getting intimate with the alternator fan,



When I get fed up with bodywork I'll re-fit the old hose which was in fairly good nick as it came attached to the oil coller which I bought on E-bay three years ago. I'm gald I saved it now.

Since I'd got the wing at least ready to be fitted I had to dug out the wing attaching bolts from the shed. I was going to buy a new set like I did for the LH side from the MGOC, but I remember the lower sill bolts not being long enough, or at least a struggle to get the nut and washer on the back so I only fitted two.
Strangely enough I found the wing bolts first time and bagged up and labelled ( for both sides).
So 3 hours later I'd ran the die down the gutter bolts, cleaned up the washers and split washers and was ready to do a test fit.

One major issue was that of the RH door, or where the door and wing rear edge meet. Every time I opened the door it caught on the wing roughly in the middle of the edge. It had done it since I re-skinned the door ( another purchase from E-bay) and bearing in mind I'd also welded a repair panel to the base of the wing I expected major alignment issues. I still have alignment issues. The base of the door is outwards a little particularly towards its rear lower edge.
But what i did do was fit the fiddly under scuttle bolt to wing to get an idea of how much to trim the wing rear edge.


See. I'm dead chuffed with it. The gap is nice and even. Still need filler on the mid wing section where the weld is though. But not bad for a beginner and it cost next to nothing to do, only time and a little frustration. I have to do the LH wing too but thats a longer job as all the (new) bolts are in and have been sice I fitted it a few years ago.
I also fettled the top scuttle a little. This must be the 7th attempt at filling, sanding and primer done long long ago. If left long enough you can attack it with new vim and vigour. Its just what i did.
Must go now as Sunday tea is almost ready and a wine bottle is calling.

Thursday, September 01, 2011

More progress

Since I'm now officially qualified ( almost, but as yet jobless) I've got a little spare time and a small amount of cash so I tackled the front suspension rebuild.
Last week saw me drive to Mechspec to get the suspension bushes and new oil pipe to complete the long drawn out overhaul.
Trouble was a few days later when I'd set the day aside to do the job I was several small items missing.
Namely the lower fulcrum rubber bush/washer set and two low profile castellated nuts and misc split pins.
A quick call to the MGOC and more parts ordered.
They arrived the following day and the job was back on. It took all day and not without frustration.
Firstly the extra bits from MGOC ( split pins and castellated nuts) were too big. I should day the nuts were too long and the split pins too bigger a diameter. What a balls ache I had to undergo before reaching this conclusion. Lots of hard and tedious spannering in awkward positions on the hard and uneven floor. Come 7pm-ish I was shattered, arms,shoulders and knees all aching. Twas then I discovered a strange fact. The RH stub axle was different from the left ?? Where was the lower grease nipple or hole ?
I had found an excellent You-tube video from Brewer58 showing how the jobs done and which way round to assemble the lower fulcrum bushes/washers. He did say in his vid the earlier done RH side had been done incorrectly whilst showing how its done on the LH side, and he'd have to re-do the RH side which meant jacking up the spring pan, removing fulcrum pins etc.
Well guess what, after some checking and mild panic re said stub axle I found I'd assembled the RH side with the top and bottom fulcrums inwards not outward ( or out and not in, forgot now) !!!
So, with tired arms and legs, and  fading light I had to do the same. However I managed it in double quick time and did not have to separate too much, I even left the steering ball joint attached.
         Initially I was very apprehensive since it meant jacking up the A arm with spring in and lots of potential energy waiting to go "ping" when the jack collapsed or slipped. But it was a doddle with the jack correctly placed and sandwiched with a block of wood.

The following morning I set too aligning the nuts and split pin holes I'd left the night before and turned my attention to the engine and oil pipe gauge/engine connection. This again was relatively easy with access a little restricted but job done.
That meant I could fire up the engine....Yay !!!

Faffed around with the lower water hose as there seemed to be a slight leak ( cured by cutting 5mm off the end of the hose at radiator end) It now seats correctly but is still very close to the steering rack mounting bolt end.
Filled up with water, checked oil level, then panic !!
The oil cooler hoses were not routed properly and oil cooler resting on the side firewall.
So, after some oil spillages from said hoses it was all ready to roll.

Connected jump leads to Renault and after about 1 minute....couch, rumble ROAR !!
AND............no oil or water leaks !!! The water was getting very hot but Oil pressure good at 75 psi

So,I fitted the fan and motor which impeded on the oil cooler pipe/ fan rotor so I pushed them a little way into the engine bay. Connected the fan to the (incorrect at the time) wires to see if the fan kicked in to cool the water and fired her up again.
She started on the button without the jump leads.
Then disaster, a cloud of oil mist and a flying spray of oil in a fan shape across the engine bay, up the wall and on the pantry window !!!!
After moving pretty quickly to turn off the engine the cause was very obvious.
By pushing the oil cooler pipes from the front oil cooler into the engine bay one had been bent slightly and was touching the alternator fan blades, which had eventually worn right through the pipe, and at 75 psi left a right ****ing mess to clean up.
So that was done with a heavy heart on a lovely sunny day using lots of wifeys kitchen roll and a nice coating of oil on some of the engines rustier places.
It was mid morning and I decided to call it a day, I still ached and felt tired and annoyed at my stupidity and the fact I have to buy another hose to make it leak free. I'm sure it has a master plan and enjoys thwarting me.
Next up ( after the hose replacement) is to buy and fit new front discs and hub ( needs sets of shims and inner grease seals) buy two cylinders for brake calipers and set of seals, pads and pins, fit then I can attach wheels and lower down to earth to see the actual ride height.
Then fit rear brakes/shoes fill with fluid, bleed and maybe go on a test run up the cul-de-sac.

p.s I will post pictures when errant daughter is back from hols as she's taken the camera.



 

Monday, July 18, 2011

two steps forward... etc

Where can I begin. The shortage of cash and other domestic/professional issues have slowed things down to a less than walking pace.
I purchased a new flat wheel/wire brush thingy for the grinder to finish off the last two wheels.
However, since there is no front suspension fitted I didn't feel like using the jack on the diff to totally raise the car from the ground. The way things have been of late I'd probably drop the car and be unable to raise it again. So that was out. It'll have to wait till the front suspension  is finished.
What else has been done then ?
Not much. Ground down the RH front bumper chassis front in readiness for the chrome bumper mounting.
The brake calipers got my attention next.
The RH side caliper was split and it was impossible to remove the cylinders. They were almost fully in.
A quick trip to the local filling station to use the air line to try and blow them out was a miserable failure. The air line end only accepts tyre valves.
Nearby was a local garage on a run down industrial estate. I'll try there I thought.
Big mistake. I only needed a quick blip of an airline on the brake hose and job done, but.
The reception was very swish. Round about there was evidence of high performance cars, Porsche, BMW, Jags and a very nice pristine MG midget. At least they might help.
The elderly snooty receptionist greeted me with a curt "Yes". I explained and she replied " are you a customer of ours ?".
Needless to say after 5 minutes of waiting I gave her a get out clause on her return " They're too busy ?" Yes she replied.
So I hot footed to my local repair man who was very obliging. I must add I'd just paid him £350 for the MOT and stuff on the Renault runaround ( Wifeys car).
The LH caliper/cylinders were in a much worse state. Crusty with rust and oily gunge. There was no way a blast of air was going to remove them.
Despite three soakings in penetrating fluid there was no movement, not even round ways let alone outwards.
I desperately ground a clean face onto the ends of the cylinders and welded a steel bar to them so I could apply some leverage.
Well after three attempts, all resulting with the steel breaking free of the weld I resorted to a more logical engineering solution.
I drilled and tapped an M6 hole in the centre of the cylinder and tried using a screw to force it out. Trouble was I wasn't sure if the threads were stripping or not. So, I drilled/tapped three more holes on the inside of the cylinder and tightened in a circular sequence. Bingo, out it came.


top left is the offending cylinder ( with prising out bolts still in situ. Just look at the rust and crud on it though. Bottom right is the same caliper. Rusty but not too bad and should clean up nicely.


The seals were easy to remove and these will be renewed, but also the cylinders need replacing = more unexpected cost, plus the hoses could do with new ones + £ !!.
Eventually in a pit of despair I removed the bump stops. Not easy at all. They were thankfully in good nick so i painted them and the following day re-fitted. It took the best part of the afternoon to attach the 4 nuts per side. The access was fiddly and restricted and not easy with baggy latex gloves on. let alone trying to get the bracket in place and thread the nuts through. I eventually had to drill one of the mounting holes on the end of the cross member out to M10 from M8 to allow the bolts in and the angled top seat properly. I must say its a crap design and allowing bolts to pass through aluminium and steel had corroded the bolt un-spinnable, hence the need for drilling.
The painted Armstrong damper were fitted next. The LH side went on no probs, if a little fiddly with the two bolts nearest the inner wing. The access was again restricted and very little room to swing a spanner. The wifeys kamasa knuckle wrench helped though.
The RH side was a different matter. The inner bolts would not seat and "grab" the threads. I removed them several times and each time with little movement possible failed.
I left it for another day. This time with some gentle persuasion ( hammer) and only attempting one bolt at a time in it ( they, the two nearest the inner wing) went in. TFFT. It still took two hours though !.
Until more money comes my way I'll be concentrating on the bodywork. There are lots of little rubbing down/filling/sanding/wet/dry-ing to do and this is definitely cheap to do, but very boring.
Uni has a few more weeks to run on placement before the final one day assessment ( I failed the last one in unusual circumstances -  along story and very depressing ). I did have a job offer which made the episode bearable, but as of a few days ago this was withdrawn. Real bummer, and not much on the horizon either.
Still, I'm trying to remain positive. If I don't sink into a deep depression first.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

grinding out a result

The title refers not actually to grinding but the wire brush thingy. Same thing though, it spins very fast and can do serious damage to car and body.
Today saw me get to grips with another two road wheels, since its about the only thing I can do without some cash for the mass of front suspension parts needed.
I have two wire wheel brush thingies. a cup shaped wheel and a straight flat wheel for the grinder and another smaller cup wheel for the drill plus a good curved and flat handled wire brush.
I started with the flat wheeled brush in the grinder and after 2 hours one wheel cleaned both sides !
I was getting tougher on the second road wheel as most of the bristles had gone and it was very difficult to get inside the "join" of the Rostyle.
So, carried on with cup brush till disaster struck, the grinder just died. No amount of shaking and tapping would bring it back to life.
After lunch I sat down and took the grinder to bits. Couldn't see anything obvious, brushes o.k, switch o.k, power to, good. Then it dawned on me, the fuse !!.
What a wally, 30 mins wasted on what should have been the first thing I should have checked.
Doh........
Anyways, here is the scuttle in primer as promised last time


Not very exciting I know, however I've now done the lower section too. I don't look as good as access was tricky in some areas and its not visible when the grille is in. I'm sick of the black paint that's everywhere, this car in the past had one hell of a colour change from White to Black. Now I've decided its definitely going back to White. Which White though ?  Wifey likes Old English white, I prefer Glacier White. Anyone know what colour it would have been when made in 1977 ???
I have husbandly duties next few days so may get more time over the weekend to finish the wheels off (five seems a very big number thinking of the time spent grinding them, 2 and 3/4 done2 more to do !)
More soon...ish

Saturday, May 14, 2011

more to do too ( two) 2

So, on an overcast Sunday I did what I wanted, sort of !.
I tackled the front bumper mounting ready to fit a chrome bumper mounting ( eventually, when purchased- I have the chrome bumper, but not the fitting bracket)
The scary grinder made mincemeat of it. see above. I still have the top box section to remove ( the part behind the grill) but wont do that till I've decided what type of grill to buy.
Now I've had time to reflect and give some logical thought to it I think I've cut it back too far. It is level with the crossmember. The diagram and instructions I've seen from the NAMG register shows the original rubber bumper mounting end plate still in situ with only the top box section cut back. Oooh Errr !
So I moved on to something else as the neighbours were out and about outside and trying to enjoy their Sunday too. I wire brushed the rusty crappy back plates with the grinder and whire wheel cup brush thingy. I then painted with the Hammerite rust converter, left to dry and painted with Hammerite matt black. It was a pain to apply as its so thick, however doing this will save about £14 on a part thats not vital or is seen. I also painted the shorter springs I purchased a couple of years ago. This time I used a different matt black paint that was a lot thinner and they looked a treat ( they were an inexplicable light blue colour !). Then I collated all the suspension nuts, bolts, washers and things and labelled them LH or RH. I was afraid of mixing them up, the RH stuff was on drivers seat/rear tailgate/bucket and the LH stuff was in the passenger foot well.
That done, wire brushed the washers and bolt heads and painted matt black I put them away.
Then that's where I started to go backwards.
I spent ages trying to removed the LH nuts and bolts from the hub to disc. Last time I had to drill them out.
This time I had to also. Trouble was the 1/8" drill bit was blunt and dull. Then a brainwave. I clamped grinder into workmate and sharpened drill bit. It took me back 35 years as an apprentice toolmaker. I was then forever grinding drills back to a neat cutting point and it was a knack I'd not lost.
So, after one and half hours the two parts were separated. Long time ? yes, the trusty Bosch electric drill was overheating big time when it was time to use the 3/4" drill bit, so I interspersed this with trying to remove the LH kingpin spacer from the stub axle.
What a performance. The RH side slid in and out like an old sea boot, or even precision engineered part utilising a H7 - f7 sliding fit.
The LH side had been hammered in and would not budge. I had to use the bolt and the inside of an old rubber bush copper liner. Even the it was tough with lots of faffing. Look at the spacer tube once removed. Its been roughly (very) ground to be a hammered in fit !






This now explains why the steering was very heavy ( and why the LH side wishbone holes were Oval )
It also means I need a new kingpin and spacer to add to the growing list of unsuspected faulty parts.
    After some searching "Watford Classics" can supply the bottom half only + kingpin, second hand for £20 so its not as bad as replacing the whole hub assy at £60 ish.
And I thought I had only to remove the suspension parts, paint them, put on new lower spring and bushes and jobs done. Haa ! 9 months later and the cars still on the axle stands and immobile.
I did tackle the front scuttle with the hand held wire brush and it looks somewhat better.

This is the "before " shot. I'm still looking for the "after" photo.     more soon folks

Monday, May 02, 2011

A little more done means even more to do

Had a great end to my two weeks and a bit off.
Finished the dissertation for Uni ahead of hand in date and well before the extended Easter break so had it very easy, albeit with little or no cash. I packed in the Saturday night job to concentrate the final push at placement, exams and dissertation.
The weather has been glorious and not one day of rain, only sun, sun, sun and a little breeze.
It was doubly difficult since this time or year sees my birthday and inevitable cash for parts come my way. However, my b'day is on the last day of the hols hence the frustration at not having the money earlier, but plenty of time.
That said I have a small sum to spend wisely, but probably not on what I thought all through winter.
I did plan to re bush (Polybush) all the front suspension so its all removed and painted up from September last.( see a few posts ago RE all laid up for winter)
I made a list then and it comprised :-
Poly bushes + roll bar bushes
2 top damper nuts and bolts ( mine were welded on at the nuts !)
2 Brake discs ( well and truly rust bound and scored beyond belief)
4 Nuts + bolts to hold disc to hubs ( why not 8 I here you say, I'll explain later)
2 Inner grease bearing retainers
1 set of shims
1 set of brake pads + pins etc
2 back plates
2 or 4 bottom wishbone arms (see photos of painting/removal..viz oval hole. Is it wise to replace only one side ??)
Misc split pins
Grease...how much and what type ?
       I also needed other stuff that was left pending from other little flurries long forgotten about viz:-
Duck oil releasing fluid

Main Engine to oil cooler pipe ( yes I know I should have bought two but I thought the one on the oil cooler I bought from E-bay was o.k - I was wrong)
Flexible clutch pipe ( leaking badly- and in a awkward place too)
I'm sure there's more suspension parts I need but have forgotten, and there's lots more other stuff
such as :-
Inner wing splash panels
front spoiler + mounting bolts/nuts
seam sealer
One wing attaching bolt set
One door bolt set

Anyways, enough of lists, I seem to spend my entire life either making them or thinking of making them.
The last day of my hol saw me wend my way to Thoresby Hall for a classic car show.
And a very good show it was too. I went alone so as to have no distractions and enjoy myself at my own pace. I bought said clutch flex pipe there too for a bargain £4. Normally at least £8 to 10 from the usual suppliers. I was initially billed as a "Mini" east of England show but there was much much more.
Lots of vintage motorcycles and scooters, American 60's monsters with fins ( fantastic, god how much do they cost to respray ??) Triumphs TR2,250, 3,4,5,6,7,8. Many MG's of all types, Humbers, Datsun 240Z's, Fords from the 70 &80's, TVR ( some nice Tuscans) Lotus Esprit ( My dream car), Eclat, Elise, Europa, 7. Jags, Rovers and lots of pre war stuff . I particularly enjoyed the Lambretta/Vespa scooters too ( more maybe later on that topic). All in all a very enjoyable day and I got home around 2.30 in the afternoon.
Just time for a quick tinker then, to "get a bit more done".
I'll start by replacing the flex clutch pipe I've just bought, it should be easy enough now I have the "wonder duck oil". I bought this a few weeks ago on recommendation and it is good stuff, I released the oil cooler pipe nut from the aluminium oil cooler nut housing without any trouble ( unlike a few years ago when I destroyed the old oil cooler trying to undo said nuts using WD 40).

Ha, how wrong can you be.
I'd done the sensible thing and removed the starter motor to aid access. I also found out that I'd only put one bolt back in last time I had the starter motor out some time ago, so its a job well spotted. WTF is the other bolt though?
After lots of swearing, socket swapping, bruised knuckles, dropped tools, duck oil and more swearing I decided I may have to cut through the f****ng thing with a hacksaw. The gearbox end undid easily but could only move One turn due to the pipe twisting. The other end was held in a bracket level with the side of the sump and comprised of flared steel pipe/union connected to inside of flex pipe, large 7/8" loose nut on outside of flex pipe + 3/4" nut as part of flex pipe ( acting as lock nut) well rusted and trapped on bracket. There was very little room. And to make matters worse the 7/8" nut ran down about 3/4" of fine thread. The 1/2" union was impossible to budge due to its location and rust and fine thread.
I got the hacksaw out again and cut off below the pipe body below the bracket so I could get a socket on it. getting somewhere at last. Uunfortunately whilst trying to stop the top steel pipe and union turning, it just sheared the steel pipe above the union.
Just as well really, I was getting fed up and frustrated after such a good day.



Here's the offending items removed ( the Union has gone......somewhere !)
So that means another part adding to my list just so I can at least move the car on the drive.

Job hunting and interviews are next on the agenda then final qualification and hopefully proper paid employment. May just be able to save some money to complete the suspension. Otherwise its back to the old bind of power brush on grinder and de-rusting stuff and primer application ready for whenever. Keep meaning to do the Rostyle wheels but can't be arsed as its messy fiddly and noisy especially on a hot sunny day with neighbours all outside. ( did one last year and it looks good in primer though)

More soon folks. p.s I'm a day older but none the wiser. Time for a drink.  I'm in Theatre tomorrow and up for 6.30 a.m.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Shredded, we can put humpty together again !


It relates to my once super dooper car cover. When purchased for £15 from Argos it was great. Heavy duty polythene/vinyl with elasticated bottom and HUGE.
Time and the elements have done their worse and after two spells of high winds during the evenings has seen the silver cover turn into flotsam in many pieces, all held together by the slenderest of elasticated hems.
A few months ago prior to X-mas I did purchase a polypropylene spun undercover as additional protection as the outer cover was beginning to tear a little ( a lot really). The welded seams seemed to be letting go and had been stapled and silicone glued by me but not very successfully. But, good enough to keep out the snow and rain, mostly.
The first recent spell of wind tore the outer cover well and truly and I fought a losing battle with string and elasticated hook things in such a gale force wind. God knows how sailors go on.The following morning saw me in some despair and quite honestly I couldn't give a **it anymore. Any cash I had needed to go towards the suspension parts. Then the saga of the radiators happened ( household radiators not Automotive) so the MG plight was forgotten somewhat. That and the pressures of Uni and studying made my focus elsewhere.
It was only after another bout of weekend gale force wind was attention turned to the eerrant cover.
Was it recoverable ? ( I mean not literally, but figuratively ) viz could I salvage what was left of it or did I need another.Another was out of the question. Argos no longer sold the cover and similar ones were elsewhere were £45 +.
Another trip to Poundland  saw the purchase of 2 more hook/elastic thingies and some thick but small polypropylene covers, not bad for £3. Wilko's was next and 2 rolls of proper gaffer tape, the re-enforced type.
So one afternoon when wifey was out I removed the cover carefully, nay teased and coaxed it away from the crevices of the car and deposited it on the kitchen floor ( largest open space in the house )
It was a real puzzle.It was all in one piece ( around the elasticated bottom, just) but in several separate "flaps". I was worried about taping the edges and getting one flap or whole section twisted inside out.
The cover is huge and roughly car shaped, had staples in some areas and dry hard silicone glue in others interspersed with dirt and oil in one corner.
Anyways, after lots or kneeling and logical thought it was finally back together and mostly weatherproof.
As a further precaution I taped a thick polythene film in place of the windscreen and rear screen and re-fitted the cover.
If after the first spell of gales I would have had the hindsight to use the two spare wheels to hold the cover onto the car bonnet and roof maybe the damage wouldn't have been so bad. The cover is big and didn't half flap around in the wind.
Hindsight............................the tool of the foolish. Why is it experience is only something you get AFTER you need it !
Look a pretty picture of the current cover done. Just in time too. BBC say the next few weeks are more wind and snowy conditions.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

When dreams fade a little

Or , as has been said "the kids need new shoes".

The MG fund has hit rock bottom. Just when I was beginning to dream of summer skies and long uninterrupted weekends working on YooPoo ( The MG, her new name, involving the letter suffix of her registration plate).
Last post I commented that the cash fund was growing quite nicely.
Well now its down to nothing, nought, zero, null, nuffin, zilch.....even bugger all.
Why, well let me explain. You knew I would.
Just before Christmas, Christmas eve actually, wifey asked me to put washing( Towels) onto radiator in conservatory.
Being a good ole Lostsock, and in a good mood I obliged. Only to see a strange bubble in said radiator with a little brown streak running down below. Pushing said "bubble" lead to a very thin stream of water jetting out horizontally into room. Despite my best efforts with the epoxy glue and latterly Mig welder I could not stem the flow. So, after a quick look see from the plumber to empty the rad and cut it out of the circuit a Christmas was spent with one room freezing cold. A Rad would not be available till the first week in Jan , and so it was but with me £ 100 quid poorer. Trouble was that Jan is a very expensive time for us and most people, and Feb sees most of the accumulated Xmas debts paid off.
And it came to pass I felt rather smug at using my hard earned cash to buy the rad and pay the plumber without too much extra debt incurred and some light at the end of the festive financial burden.
As Feb emerged from the torpor of a belt tightening Jan and the light at the end of the tunnel distinctly visible I did the same kindly thing again, yes hung the washing on the radiator, this time in the front room.
Horror of horrors. A huge brown stain down the wall behind the rad and a soaking wet carpet with rusty wet water. It was a big radiator too ( 72" x 37") A quick call to the plumber, a date was set and a price obtained.
£170 fookin quid. And guess what, guess how much I had in my MG pot left ?

No......................... £160 quid, exactly !!   That's OK wifey said I'll lend you the rest, its the least I can do.
I quickly and politely reminded her that its "our" house, to which, made her look ready to rev up for a real argument, so I desisted and went back to feeling smug but a little wazzed off.

Just to make matters even worse, the great windy weekend saw my cover ripped to shreds and the clothes dryer ( The aluminium pole with washing line round ) went and snapped clean into two. A replacement is only £35. Since wifey is in charge of where the washed clothes are dried I kindly offered that she might buy this item. I wish it had been the other way round ( she pays for radiators,I buy rotary dryer) but ,Hey Ho.......it all comes out of the same bank account and does nothing to hide my guilt at having (or not, as of now) actual money to fritter away on a "hobby".
As the title says the kids forever need new shoes. I don't know why ? Son is 17 and spends all day in bed, rises at (usually after) lunch and wears JimJams till bedtime. The only expense he generates is food (Lots and lots, normally beans,cheese on toast, scrambled egg, pies and sausage rolls- I keep telling him I'll not perform the colonoscopy in 10 years time) and an electricity bill that could run a small city from leaving every light on possible and making his x-box so hot you could fry eggs on it. Daughter has a penchant for clothes she never wears, creams and emollients to decorate the bathroom, 45,0000 different hair products and again has the same effect as son for the electricity supply ( Namely leaving lights on) Good ole wifey spends, like me, bugger all but has more of a conscience.
At least she gets to spend the £80 or so quid a week on shopping, which was once a joy now denied me as she does it online.
At least I'll be qualified this summer and hopefully in a job within our good old NHS system.
Perhaps then I/we will then have money ? Methinks a holiday is well due first though, if only. A lottery win of modest proportions will do fine. Not much to ask is it ?

So, in a nutshell I'm well and truly skint. I've already told the landlady ( a couple of months ago) at the pub where I work Saturday evenings I'm quitting come March. So, I am well and truly stuffed, skint, wazzed off (MG wise) and not a little frustrated.
On top of which my health ain't been so good for the last 6 weeks and I'm on my 3rd set of antibiotics.
It could be worse though..........I could have bought a Triumph !!

More soon hopefully, if I've not slit my throat before.