Monday, August 27, 2012

A little progress at last

So the enthusiasm has returned, against all the odds at that. Why ? Well work has been tough of late. Lots to learn, lots to remember, lots of things not to do and many many patients.I feel I'm getting to grips with it all now but I'm still regarded as a "newbie" even though I'm one of the oldest there.
I've also been very tired each night and weekends. But, and a very big but wifey booked a holiday in Greece starting early Sept and gifted me £200 from her inheritance ( It also paid for the holiday) so I've had a spring in my step since and money to spend.

I've had the head skimmed ( and pressure tested, it passed) at a local shop and a fine job they did for £75. Got "Payen " gasket/set, cheapo 20/50 oil from B&Q ( Yes, good enough for me as I'll be replacing it soon after a good run and flush).

The head was collected on Sat morn and I devised a cunning device to replace the valves. It was a real struggle to remove them and managed to mangle up most of the trusty workmate lips.

 
I used one of the rubber bumper mounting brackets clamped in said workmate at just the right height ( this took a bit of trial and error) and used a Die wrench levered against underside and over spring cover. It worked a treat and did the job in no time.
I spent ages cleaning engine head and cylinder head before attaching the Payen gasket and making each other meet seamlessly and cleanly. I was going to paint the cylinder head but could not be arsed with all the degreasing, cleaning primering and painting as well as visiting the shops for a suitable engine paint. So on it went. I struggled to remember which studs went where but eventually worked it out and put the new torque wrench to good use by tightening to 30ft/lbs then to 48ft//lbs.
Next on with the exhaust manifold and inlet manifold, followed by the heat shield, new gaskets and very very fiddly carb nuts. The front lower LH nut was a swine and took about 40 mins of hard awkward spannering to complete. I'm sure I used the wrong nut, maybe. But its on and tight.
Still puzzling over the throttle lever mechanism and single spring. WTF does it attach to. Anyways, I left that for now and got on with other things. Fitted Heater valve and new gasket. What a struggle. Again the lower nut was hard to reach and little or no spannering room. In these situations I just sit and have a fag then get back to it, sometimes with a little swearing. Fitted carb/crankcase breather pipes and replaced the long oil cooler pipe ( see earlier post for meeting of alternator & pipe).
I also drained the engine oil into several plastic containers. I say oil, more like yellow/creamy stuff. I should add this was the first job of the latest round of enthusiasm. I managed to spill some under the car when the bottles overflowed. I consoled myself with the fact we'll be having the drive tarmacked anyway. Look !



 
Not included is the gearbox oil which is draining into a 4pt plastic milk bottle as we speak. It looks very old and more importantly BLACK. On day two I puzzled some more regarding the hoses and carb linkage and gave up again. Well, I did solve the pipe problem by viewing some old photos, then connected the servo vacuum pipe. Next up was the front end modification to chrome bumper. I have the bumper, mounting bracket but not the chrome attachment screws. Anyways I'm fitting a MG spoiler rather than the original lower valance which would need more welding and cutting. I had decided earlier on in the head gasket issue that I would remove the front chassis rails whilst the radiator and oil cooler was out. It was easier than I expected. A few slices with the cutting disc in scary grinder and some boring grinding of the chassis base spot welds and job done.
Then I got fed up of the intermittent but light drizzle and called it a day so I could do nothing for the rest of the bank holiday.
 
 
 
Next up is welding plates onto the end of the rails above, fitting of the coil, Alternator, Radiator and oil cooler/pipes. New valve for front tyre, buy some engine flush and coolant/inhibitor + diff oil and top up, fill with cheapo oil and water then ready for start up and test drive up/down cul-de sac ( after testing brakes and engine temp) I think I might temporarily fit the dash for this, dunno yet.
 First up though is a holiday in Greece ( all inclusive = yahhhaaay) with wifey and NO KIDS.