Posted up for Robin....


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Wanted ARR Ruby / Pearl rear drop glass as a pattern to get 2 cut, the condition is not important, or has anyone one got one out of a car they could draw around on paper as a pattern?

Some months ago I asked a question about light flywheels and Terry G posted some useful pictures that got my mind humming.
Many light flywheel approaches use modern clutches but I wanted to stick with an Austin clutch. I therefore lightened a late flywheel to a disc and set off to make an extended, light clutch cover.

The net result was that I bought a hefty lump of 6082 aluminium and started making swarf. This " picture essay" shows how I did it.

First thing was mark out the centre and work out how I was going to mount it on a lathe faceplate

   


Next was to drill and counterbore it and bolt it to the faceplate. The eagle eyed amongst you may notice a layer of cornflake packet cardboard on the faceplate, allowing me to machine fully without grazing the faceplate. You may also notice that I had to shave off the corners to get it to turn over the lathe saddle

      

There was a lot of swarf created in this process. Bins full. Once again people may wonder about the boss in the middle - all will become clear....


   

When I'd finished making things round, I then went to the mill. However I kept the aluminium lump on the faceplate and bolted that to the mill table - so I could carry on turning later if needed without losing concentricity.

   

Now the boss in the middle becomes clear. I turned it to snugly fit an original cover plate, allowing me to position all the spring and other holes using it as a jig.

   

When I was sure that all the details were spot milled into place and that the holes for the clutch toggle pillars were in the correct positions I then turned down the boss in the middle and used the age old "chain drilling" process to remove the centre

     

 Next stage was to pick up on all the spotted points for spring positions and mill them to the correct depth.

   

After this back to the lathe and the OD for the starter ring gear was turned

   

Next post coming...(8 picture limit!)

List of A7 Road Test / Reviews.  Also includes some period travel reports.  Probably not complete but a starting point.  Add others if you know of them ....

Updated list for all additional articles listed in replies up to 28/11/2018, showing which books the articles are in. If you know the day the article came out let me know and I will amend.  Order corrected 30/11/2018

1922 Jul. 28 The Autocar The Austin Seven
1922 Aug 5 The Sphere The Austin Seven
1922 Dec. 15 Light Car The Austin Seven On The Road
1923 Jul 27 Autocar The Paces of the Austin Seven
1923 Sept. 4 Motor The Dinghy of the Road Brooklands A7 Book
1925 Jan. 27 Motor The Austin Seven Sports Model Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1925 Feb. Motorsports Magazine GE Brooklands
1925 Light Car Austin Sven Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1926 Mar. Motorsports Magazine GE Brooklands
1927 June 14 Motor Getting the Best out of an Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1928 Apr. 13 Autocar Gordon England Sunshine Roof
1928 June 6 The Tatler Car Cameo Austin Seven
1928 Sep. 21 Light Car Interesting Developments for 1929
1928 Dec. Light Car The Ever Popular Austin Seven
1929 Mar. 1 Light Car An Austin Seven in France & Spain I Brooklands A7 Book
1929 Mar. 8 Light Car An Austin Seven in France & Spain II Brooklands A7 Book
1929 Jun. 28 Light Car Distinctive Body for a Popular Classis
1929 Sep. 27 Light Car The Austin Range in Detail
1930 Jan. 24 Light Car The Austin Seven Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1930 June 6 Light Car The Austin Seven Tuning & Maintenance Brooklands A7 Book
1930 June 10 The Motor Austin Swallow 2 Seater
1930 June 27 Light Car The French Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1930 July 4 Light Car Just Right for Two Brooklands A7 Book
1930 Jul. Motorsports Magazine Austin Seven Ulster
1930 July 8 Motor A Roomier Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1930 July 22 Motor The Austin Seven Sports Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1930 Sept. 26 Light Car The Austin Seven Hawk Brooklands A7 Book
1930 Sep. Motor sports Magazine Austin BC
1930 Oct. 10 Autocar The 500 Miles Race Brooklands A7 Book
1930 Autocar New Austin Seven Unique Motor Books 1990
1930 Light Car B.C. Austin Seven Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1930 Light Car Austin Seven With Sunshine Roof Unique Motor Books 1990
1931 Feb. 10 Motor Specialized Bodies Brooklands A7 Book
1931 Mar. 27 Autocar Austin Seven Sunshine Saloon
1931 Apr. 3 Light Car A New Austin Racer
1931 May 29 Light Car The Austin Seven Sports Model Brooklands A7 Book & Unique Motor Books 1990
1931 June 26 Light Car A New Arrow Austin Brooklands A7 Book
1931 Nov. 13 Light Car Austin Seven now only £118 Unique Motor Books 2000
1931 Nov. 17 Motor A New Long Wheelbase Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1931 Nov. 24 Motor America's Latest Sales Plan Brooklands A7 Book
1931 Light Car Austin Seven Using Mobiloil Unique Motor Books 1990
1932 March 16 The Tatler London to Budapest in “A Baby”
1932 Unknown 1932 Autocar A New Austin Seven
1932 July 1 Light Car The Austin Seven De Luxe Saloon Brooklands A7 Book & Unique Motor Books 1990
1932 Light Car The Austin Seven De Luxe Saloon Seven Horses Unique Motor Books 1990
1932 Dec 1 Britannia and Eve The New Baby Austin
1932 Dec 28 Bystander The Austin Seven De Luxe Saloon
1932 The Light Car Austin Seven with four speed ‘Twin-Top’ Unique Motor Books 1990
1933 Jun 10 Light Car The Austin Seven 2 Seater Unique Motor Books 1990
1933 June 16 Light Car 600 Economical Miles in the Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1933 June 23 Light Car The Austin Seven "65" Brooklands A7 Book
1933 June 27 Motor A New Sports Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1933 July Austin Magazine Two New Sports Cars
1933 Aug.4 Light Car The Wright Austin Sports Unique Motor Books 2000
1933 Dec.15 Light Car Hints for Austin Owners Brooklands A7 Book
1933 Unknown Road Test of An Austin 7 car reg UX655
1934 Jan. Motorsports Magazine The Austin 65 Arrow
1934 Mar. 27 Motor Austin Seven Record at 122.74 m.p.h. Brooklands A7 Book
1934 July 6 Light Car The Austin Seven Road Test Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 2000
1934 Dec. 28 Light Car The Austin Seven Ruby Saloon Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1934 Light Car Austins for the new season, new models Colin Pitt’s Unique Motor Books 1990
1935 Mar. 8 Autocar Austin Seven Ruby Saloon Unique Motor Books 1990
1935 Aug. 31 Practical Motorist The Austin Range for 1936
1935 Dec. 21 Practical Motorist The Austin Range Review for 1936
1935 Light Car Austin Seven Ruby Saloon Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1936 Mar. 7 Practical Motorist Overhauling the Austin Seven
1936 Mar. 14 Practical Motorist Overhauling the Austin Seven
1936 Mar. 20 Autocar A Remarkable Austin Racing
1936 Mar 27 Motor Austin Seven Record Unique Motor Books 1990
1936 Apr. Motor Sport Austin Seven Double – Camshaft Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 Apr. 4 Practical Motorist New OHV Austin "7" Racer Brooklands A7 Book
1936 Apr. 17 Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News The Development of the Austin Seven
1936 May 2 Practical Motorist A7 Rumbling Noises from the engine
1936 Jun. 27 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 July 8 The Bystander The 1936 Austin Seven
1936  Unknown The Austin Seven Ruby Saloon
1936 Aug. 22 Practical Motorist Austin Changes for 1937
1936 Nov. 6 Autocar Austin Seven Ruby Saloon Road Test Brooklands A7 Book & Unique  Motor Books 1990
1936 The Motor Trader Magazine Austin Seven Servicing data Unique Motor Books 1990
1936 Oct. 9 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance II Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 Oct. 16 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance III Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 Oct. 30 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance IV Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 Nov. 13 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance V Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1937 Jan. 22 Light Car New Austin Cabriolets Brooklands A7 Book
1937 Mar. 27 Practical Motorist Austin "Seven Ruby" Saloon Brooklands A7 Book
1937 May 21 Light Car Austin Seven under the Microscope I Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 May 28 Light Car Austin Seven under the Microscope II Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 June 4 Light Car Austin Seven under the Microscope III Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1937 June 11 Light Car Austin Seven under the Microscope IV Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1937 July 16 Light Car Austin Introduce a "Big Seven" Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 2000
1937 cir Austin Magazine On the Road with the Austin Seven Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 Austin Magazine Around Australia Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 Aug.3 Motor The New Austin Big Seven Saloon Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 Sphere Austin Seven Ruby Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1938 Jan. 7 Light Car The Austin Big Seven Road Test Brooklands A7 Book & Unique Motor Books 1990
1938 July 16 Practical Motorist Austin "Big Seven Forlite" Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1938 Aug 2 Motor Austin Big Seven Forlite Saloon
1938 Aug. 5 Light Car Real Running Costs Brooklands A7 Book
1938 Light Car Austin Forlite Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1938 Light Car Austin Tuning and Maintenance Unique Motor Books 1990
1938 Sphere Tuning the Austin Seven Unique Motor Books 1990
1939 Sept. 8 Light Car Building to Personal Requirements Brooklands A7 Book
1944 July 19 Motor Working on Sports Cars, the Austin Seven I Brooklands A7 Book
1944 July 26 Motor Working on Sports Cars, the Austin Seven II Brooklands A7 Book
1945 Jan. 19 Autocar Supercharged Austin Brooklands A7 Book
1945 Sept. 28 Autocar Ulster Austins Brooklands A7 Book
1953 The Motor Manual Austin Seven Special Specification Unique Motor Books 1990
1954 The Motor Manual Austin Seven Specification Unique Motor Books 1990
1955 Jul 5 Motor 1923 Austin Seven Rebuild
1958 Cars Illustrated Austin Seven Plucky Seven 1936 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance Unique Motor Books 1990
1982 Nov.27 Autocar 1930 Austin 7 Ulster Brooklands A7 Book
1982 June Practical Classics John O'Groats to Lands End Brooklands A7 Book
1983 March Motor Sport Magazine Austin 7 Comparisons
2011 March 3 Autocar Austin Seven (Ruby) Video on YouTube

I have an Austin Seven Van.  It may not have started life as a van but I have no history for it.  All the numbers below cannot be found on any Austin Seven web site (so far) hence this query.

Q.  Does anyone know anything about the history of this vehicle:

DVLA V5 shows the initial registration 01/November/1931,
First registered as a historic vehicle in the UK DVLA February 2015 as WSG 506

Chassis number 137480
Engine number M133031
Body number B3-8158
Colour Blue/Black

All help appreciated!

Hi all, can anyone recommend what grade steel I need to use to make a new brake rod? The rod from the pedal to the cross shaft

When I was putting the special together I put a H1 (1 1/8") SU on the engine that I found on my shelves with the intention of sorting it later.  I have now travelled about 500Km and it ran very strongly but for other reasons the engine is out again and as I am waiting for some parts, I thought it a good time to have a look at the SU.  First off it has a damper with a weight but also has a spring also it has a 3/16" hole on the top between the Damper and the butterfly I assume for a vacuum line ...but it was running with OK apart from the plugs being very black and lastly the needle is a GG also I have now blocked the hole.

The engine is standard other than a 37 head that somewhere in the past has had about 1/16" shaved off it and a set of extractors 4 into 2 into 1

Lastly I had a 18mm bung put in the exhaust so I can put my air fuel gauge in to get it right but I do need a starting point with needle and spring or no spring recommendations.

Having improved the performance and reduced the noise of the Ruby with an engine rebuild by Steve Flake, I decided to further enhance the quiet running with an Andy Bird gearbox. Engine out, old noisy gearbox despatched by courier, new gearbox offered up. A word of thanks here to those on the forum suggesting such an obvious and easy way of making gearbox/engine mating so much easier, temporary longer bolts instead of  the top two studs, why didn't I know that twenty years ago.

Gearbox in situ, turn  over to check OK. Oh dear, definitely not OK as there was a graunching sort of sound a couple of times each revolution. Gearbox off, noise still present. Difficult to believe that the sound was present before engine removal from the car, but a sound in a quiet workshop might have been hidden in the car. Discuss with a couple of stalwart motorists, all puzzled. Drag a passing Ruby owner into the workshop, said he'd never heard anything like it. Offer up feelers and cardboard whilst revolving to see if the flywheel teeth were rubbing but no evidence. Then decided to try another diagnosis, and turned the engine upside down. This time no sound, and whilst turning it back again turned it over whilst nose up in the air, no sound this way either. However nothing fell out whilst it was inverted suggesting that there had been a temporary fouling of flywheel or clutch, and when back the usual way up we have the slight graunching twice a turn again.

It would be wonderful if any forum folk were able to say, oh yes, happens dozens of times dead easy...... the again there might be a chorus of sorry old chap, flywheel off.

   
In case it is relevant, this picture shows the slight but noticeable chewed up teeth, a bit surprising on quite a new ring.

I am hoping to reuse my standard 1.5” white metalled rods in my sports engine rebuild (after balancing and renewing the white metal). The gudgeon pins are fully floating so there are no pinch bolts on the little ends to worry about. Doing some homework on availability of new / decent second hand rods the choice seems to be Phoenix, Hadley or original Austin.

A couple of people have warned me off Phoenix rods as they are not drilled so as to encourage the flow of oil across the big ends.

Clearly I can drill them myself if needed, but I'm confused as to why people may be selling rods for Austin Sevens that apparently are less than ideal?

Be grateful to hear people's experience and advice.

An interesting conundrum on Facebook. 

The hypothesis [suggested by Wyatt, essentially, supported by all the Austin literature presently on offer] is that the "Opal" was so named in August '34 as part of the Longbridge launch of the Jewel series, as the last vestige of the flat chrome rad in the range. £100. 

In Aug 35, the Ruby-type front APE car took over (after 735 APDs produced), with the name "Two-Seater". £102.10s

There is believed to be evidence for the later model name continuing as the "Opal" in more than just social useage, the latter of which is completely understandable. So if anyone has any named picture of the APE contained within original Austin factory material or advertising, with anything other than "Two-Seater", please shout!