25-04-2020, 11:02 PM
Lockdown Projects……
Time for an update, I think.
Had to take a break from restoration to make up chassis extensions for the Chummy as the body had movement at the back, plus I invested in an “Andes” second gear set from Andy Bird, which necessitated a gearbox rebuild (again!). I can recommend this mod, makes second gear much more useable.
The engine rebuild had to be put on hold; I managed to get the block back the day before the lockdown started but the crankshaft/rods/flywheel/clutch assembly is marooned at the balancing shop. I hope I can get it back if and when they re-open…..
I did a quick inspection on the gearbox, innards looked very, very good but the old oil had solidified into a sort of gunge. I filled the box with Diesel, worked it in and around with a small paint brush, left it for a week or so and then connected the box to the lathe chuck and spun it over for half an hour before draining the resultant goo out. Now looks perfectly clean inside, no appreciable wear. I’ll change the oil several times in quick succession when it finally goes on the road.
Outside was cleaned appropriately but unfortunately, the comics who were involved with the “cosmetic” restoration in the ‘eighties had grit blasted the bottom of the box and then “painted” it. Took some cleaning and the box appearance is damaged from the grit in places….
Now I’m working on the body shell. The inner mounting points were all OK but the outer four were badly stress cracked and the rear ones had been amateurishly welded with a MiG.
Fortunately, no rust to contend with; salt was not used on roads in pre-war days I believe, plus a lot of people didn’t drive in the winter. All four cracked areas of floor have been cut out and new steel welded in properly but the rear mounts had cracks that went underneath the seat box rear rails, which had to be removed from the floor so that I could get at the damage.
These patches have taken ages, it's very difficult to fold myself inside the body to do some work, only to find I've left something on the bench and I've got to get out again and fetch it.... It then takes several walks round the garden to straighten my back out before folding myself up again inside the bodyshell....
However, I’ve got the rivets, so the next job is to rivet the seat box rails back in over the repaired floor.
I’m hoping to be able to get some paint before too much longer and do some painting this summer on the body. The paint finish is quite good but a non-original colour so I’m intending to rub down hard and then put the car back to original Oxford Blue and Black.
In the meantime, there’s the engine and chassis to finish…….
Time for an update, I think.
Had to take a break from restoration to make up chassis extensions for the Chummy as the body had movement at the back, plus I invested in an “Andes” second gear set from Andy Bird, which necessitated a gearbox rebuild (again!). I can recommend this mod, makes second gear much more useable.
The engine rebuild had to be put on hold; I managed to get the block back the day before the lockdown started but the crankshaft/rods/flywheel/clutch assembly is marooned at the balancing shop. I hope I can get it back if and when they re-open…..
I did a quick inspection on the gearbox, innards looked very, very good but the old oil had solidified into a sort of gunge. I filled the box with Diesel, worked it in and around with a small paint brush, left it for a week or so and then connected the box to the lathe chuck and spun it over for half an hour before draining the resultant goo out. Now looks perfectly clean inside, no appreciable wear. I’ll change the oil several times in quick succession when it finally goes on the road.
Outside was cleaned appropriately but unfortunately, the comics who were involved with the “cosmetic” restoration in the ‘eighties had grit blasted the bottom of the box and then “painted” it. Took some cleaning and the box appearance is damaged from the grit in places….
Now I’m working on the body shell. The inner mounting points were all OK but the outer four were badly stress cracked and the rear ones had been amateurishly welded with a MiG.
Fortunately, no rust to contend with; salt was not used on roads in pre-war days I believe, plus a lot of people didn’t drive in the winter. All four cracked areas of floor have been cut out and new steel welded in properly but the rear mounts had cracks that went underneath the seat box rear rails, which had to be removed from the floor so that I could get at the damage.
These patches have taken ages, it's very difficult to fold myself inside the body to do some work, only to find I've left something on the bench and I've got to get out again and fetch it.... It then takes several walks round the garden to straighten my back out before folding myself up again inside the bodyshell....
However, I’ve got the rivets, so the next job is to rivet the seat box rails back in over the repaired floor.
I’m hoping to be able to get some paint before too much longer and do some painting this summer on the body. The paint finish is quite good but a non-original colour so I’m intending to rub down hard and then put the car back to original Oxford Blue and Black.
In the meantime, there’s the engine and chassis to finish…….