Ready to roll??

Wheels on

Clutch and brake master cylinders overhauled

Servo removed and bypass pipe fitted (deliberate policy)

Heater box de-rusted and painted

Engine bay readied for re-installation

Problems with the valve guides in the cylinder head mean that more work is required. The head should be back at Lakeside later this week ready for the engine to be reassembled and then installed. 

The engine will be fired up as a test and the car will then go for bodywork repairs and respray. Two quotes so far, should get a third next week. Eye-watering numbers...............

Engine capacity

Measured at 1688cc. 78mm stroke, 83mm bore.

The original capacity was 1558cc, 72.75mm stroke and 82.55 bore.

An 8.3% increase in volume.

16th May

Work continuing in a number of areas:
- tyres on wheels
- front suspension fitted
- underside of the wheel arches spray painted black
- cylinder head valves ground in
- engine bay cleaning and sanding in preparation for painting

Decision made to remove brake servo to improve pedal response. The pipework will remain so that it can be fitted later if required.

Looking to get 3 quotes for fibreglass repairs + respray.

Progress

Rear suspension and hubs back on

















Wheels refurbished  

Cylinder head reassembled















Corroded window glass frame repaired. The other frame (on the left) will be overhauled.













Radiator refurbished











Next
- finish cleaning and then paint the engine bay.
- refit window frames
- fit front suspension and hubs
- wheels and tyres on
- reassemble and install engine
- quotes for respray

Dismantling

More dismantling today.


Bumpers removed, lights disconnected and checked - some can be reused, others will need to be replaced.

One of the window frames is badly rusted - in fact rotten - and will need to be repaired.





Badges and numberplate also removed.

Basically, the car is now a kit of parts - pretty much as a kit would have been delivered from the factory 46 years ago.

The key difference is that lots of the components are 46 years old!

A problem with the cylinder head - mismatched valve guides - so new, consistent size guides have been ordered and will need to be machined.

The good news is that the suspension, brake, and hub units are being reassembled and should be refitted next week.

We now know, pretty much, what's required - loads of new parts and refurbishment kits.....

It will be quiet for a few days as I'm away, but next week I'll be hoping to get the engine bay tidied up and painted ready for the engine to go back in.... in a few weeks.





The order of events has changed a bit. The first phase is now to get the engine back in and refit the suspension etc. and wheels - basically get it into a "rolling" state. Then get the car resprayed.

The final phase will be to refit the screens, dashboard, electrics, all the trim and get everything working. We'll probably convert the car from positive to negative earth along the way.