Having now (almost) sorted out my ignition auto advance issues I would like to try to more accurately set up the 1 1/4 SU carburetor.

It looks like for both timing and carburetor adjustment it would be beneficial to have an accurate idea of the engine revs and I have seen on ebay relatively cheap inductive tachometers which appear to be battery powered and pick up the revs from an inductive loop around a plug lead.

Has anyone tried these and are they any good?   I'm a bit concerned that they may be wildly inaccurate or vulnerable to all the electrical interference created by an Austin engine.

John.

I have a 1 1/8 flywheel which has been lightened and is in all round good condition.  Is there any good reason why this should not be machined to fit an 1 5/16 crankshaft

Yesterday I was cleaning up a couple of crankcases to assess which one would be best to use for my next engine build.  I spent a couple of hours on the better one but it was only today that I realised that it was different to other cases I have worked on.
The case is number 164859 and has the date 7.9.32 cast onto it, also a part number 1A558.   It is different around the front timing gear casing and also around the base.  
Photos below and of case 167201 for comparison.                     
The casting has a number of small holes that look like woodworm but these are on the surface only and appear to have occurred during the casting process.

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I have just embarked on scanning an important new collection of photos acquired by the Archive. I have a set just dated as 'Beaulieu early 60s' I wonder whether anyone would be able to narrow it down from the illustration on the entry booklet cover? Is that the Forrest? Would Austin or Henry care to hazard a guess?

many thanks in advance..


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Hi 

I am trying to get in contact with Robert Martin (RPM), I'm not sure if he is still active on the forum.

I was just wondering if anyone on the forum has his contact details?

Thanks

Matthew

Good afternoon everyone. I have a friend who would like to replace his chummy type petrol tank with a brand new one. His present tank is forever causing him grief with his car stopping at the most dangerous places (on the A57 at the bends near Ladybower reservoir as one example.) So much so that he is reluctant to use the car.
Would anyone have experience of a good supplier please?

Sad to report that Roger French passed away on Sunday. I worked with him in Paris and Houston for 5 or 6 years in the 1990s; always a charming and knowledgeable man. A credit to his father.

Hi Everyone 

I have just made start today on dismantling the front axle on my Nippy for a full refurb.

I have been trying to work out if my bowed axle beam is original, or a standard one that has been bowed at a later date. I have yet to find any definitive sports markings but I'm intrigued by the 'SC' mark after the standard 1A4060 number. I'd be interested to know your thoughts on that.

I also seem to remember there is a defining feature on sports axles, relating to the radius arm eyes chamfer/no chamfer but I can't recall which way round it is. There seems to be a small chamfer on my axle.

Thanks

Matthew

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Hi all. I have had to make new reinforcement plates for the B Pillar triple joint junction on the wood frame of the Van. The original plate was for the standard chummy - not the van. So my issue is this:

I need to drill holes in the plate to attach it to the frame with as few screws as possible so as not to compromise the wood and possibly cause splits. Where would you suggest drilling the holes and how many?
Thanks,
Stephen

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Hi!

I have been asked to loan a Speedy (not the Le Mans car) to the "Starter Motor" Charity, based at Bicester Heritage. I think I will.

They are going to be featured at the VSCC 90th Anniversary this week. (Ten plus years' short of Austin 7 production, of course!).

Has anyone a view on them? They seem o.k., they visited a couple of weeks ago, and we reciprocated. The Bicester site is impressive, well worth a visit, the whole site is Listed, and extremely well maintained. No wonder the VSCC have meetings there! It was the first Aerodrome used by Royal Flying Corps - it is vast.

As ever,

Peter Butler.