What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[Ruairidh Dunford]

How many miles do you think you have driven the engine since 1982?

[Malcolm Parker]

Although it was built in 1982, the engine has probably only done between 15 and 20,000 miles.   Over the years I've always had two or at times three Austins on the road.    It is pleasing to look back at a job I did 43 years ago and not find any nasty bodges!  It was the first engine I ever built and I adhered to the advice given in Bill Williams' book Austin Seven Specials.  I remember that I got Chris Dalby at Kirby Wiske to fit the main bearings.  When he started I commented that I would watch him as I might learn something. "Yes", he said, how to use a big hammer!"  Somewhere I have a copy of his leaflet on how to build an Austin 7 engine.

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Bill Williams and Chris Dalby were good people to listen to.

The engine is in very good order - great job.

[Steve kay]

What I have done this morning is woinder why I have not received a Membership card for the PWA7C. Payment was made on 1st April. Some clubs seem to have come over all computer-modern, but signing on for events requires a membership card.

[Alan]

Come to think of it I’ve not had mine either

[Charles P]

Today I stripped down the old engine out of the Pytchley to establish the cause of the excessive oil consumption.  First job was to take off the Ricardo head which has been on the car for about three years.   This showed that a great deal of oil has been getting past the pistons and all four combustion chambers were caked up with carbon. The head was cleaned up for use on the new engine.
Next it was off with the cylinder block.   I expected to find the piston rings seized or broken and caked with carbon.  Surprisingly, all the pistons looked good and all the rings were free and apparently undamaged. The cylinder bores are unmarked but are highly polished.
This is the first time the block has been off since the engine was built in 1982.  I knew it had flattened cam followers but I was surprised how flat they are, they have been ground to quite a large radius.   What amazed me was that neither the cam nor the followers have any sign of wear after 42 years of use (with double valve springs).

Next to the sump, a deep Nippy type, again it has never been off.    I expected some oil to escape despite the oil having been drained but there was very little.   The bottom of the sump had a layer of black gloop with the consistency of thick custard.

Next to be removed was the filter gauze, I remember renewing this when the engine was built.   Amazingly there was no evidence of any metal swarf or debris on the gauze after over 40 years use.

The big ends feel good on first inspection but will be coming out in due course.
The oil pump base plate was removed and all looked okay within.
All in all quite encouraging!

Malcolm

What oil have you been using?

C

[Tony Griffiths]

I spent what I hope will be a profitable day making much thicker 350/400 Amp battery cables for the '30 Chummy. By the way, have you seen all the amazing new battery post clamps now available? They come with terminals to hold input and output wires without the need for spade ends and/or various types of terminals to wire in accessories. I don't know why one would need a quickly detachable type.

[Steve Jones]

What I have done this morning is woinder why I have not received a Membership card for the PWA7C. Payment was made on 1st April. Some clubs seem to have come over all computer-modern, but signing on for events requires a membership card.

PWA7C's membership year runs from 1st  April to 31st  March. Membership cards are normally sent with the May Magazine each year.

Steve

[Malcolm Parker]

Today I stripped down the old engine out of the Pytchley to establish the cause of the excessive oil consumption.  First job was to take off the Ricardo head which has been on the car for about three years.   This showed that a great deal of oil has been getting past the pistons and all four combustion chambers were caked up with carbon. The head was cleaned up for use on the new engine.
Next it was off with the cylinder block.   I expected to find the piston rings seized or broken and caked with carbon.  Surprisingly, all the pistons looked good and all the rings were free and apparently undamaged. The cylinder bores are unmarked but are highly polished.
This is the first time the block has been off since the engine was built in 1982.  I knew it had flattened cam followers but I was surprised how flat they are, they have been ground to quite a large radius.   What amazed me was that neither the cam nor the followers have any sign of wear after 42 years of use (with double valve springs).

Next to the sump, a deep Nippy type, again it has never been off.    I expected some oil to escape despite the oil having been drained but there was very little.   The bottom of the sump had a layer of black gloop with the consistency of thick custard.

Next to be removed was the filter gauze, I remember renewing this when the engine was built.   Amazingly there was no evidence of any metal swarf or debris on the gauze after over 40 years use.

The big ends feel good on first inspection but will be coming out in due course.
The oil pump base plate was removed and all looked okay within.
All in all quite encouraging!

Malcolm

What oil have you been using?

C

When I built the engine back in 1982 I would have used good old 'green' Duckhams 20/50 but to be honest I have used all sorts of oil in it, 20/50, 10/40 and of late straight 30 from Smith and Allen in Darlington.
Regarding the amount of oil that has been getting 'upstairs' past the pistons, I am wondering whether the cylinders have become glazed.   There is no appreciable movement on the pistons and all the rings look okay.   Would it be worthwhile having the cylinders honed and investing in a new set of rings?

[Steve kay]

Many thanks for that, Steve. Come along postie, hurry up now!