29-04-2021, 03:04 PM
You say that Chris. When I was 20 I spent my 'life savings' on a 1935 APD Opal. Chrome rad job. In bits but complete, bodywork akin to my currently for sale chummy. Solid but agricultural. Engine allegedly 'rebuilt'. I believe it was 2 grand.
I did the running gear, got stuck into the engine to find it so tight I could barely turn it. I took off the sump to find it had shells, but the caps had been filed, and it had clear gaps between the rod and cap!. I cant remember if it was a 3 bearing job, but I guess it must have been.
Loosening the big end nuts a little had it turning fine. So I used feeler gauges, measured the gap, made up some shims from fathers bestest shim steel. And reset it all tight on the shims, but used old school castellated nuts. It was still a little tight, but with it ratchet strapped upside down to the bench (with no head) and spun for 5 or 6 minutes using a gut buster drill, while pouring oil manually on everything, had it loosen off significantly.
I did briefly start it and ran the engine, and it sounded fine and didnt tighten up. But I then bought a steam roller, and therefore needed to convert the tourer to cash and so It went very soon after.
I have seen the car a number of times since, next time I shall perhaps ask the owner about the engine.
If its yours A Royal Blue APD 'Opal' 1935. ATT 772. Id love to know what you find when you take the sump off!. Or indeed if you have ever had any engine trouble....
I did the running gear, got stuck into the engine to find it so tight I could barely turn it. I took off the sump to find it had shells, but the caps had been filed, and it had clear gaps between the rod and cap!. I cant remember if it was a 3 bearing job, but I guess it must have been.
Loosening the big end nuts a little had it turning fine. So I used feeler gauges, measured the gap, made up some shims from fathers bestest shim steel. And reset it all tight on the shims, but used old school castellated nuts. It was still a little tight, but with it ratchet strapped upside down to the bench (with no head) and spun for 5 or 6 minutes using a gut buster drill, while pouring oil manually on everything, had it loosen off significantly.
I did briefly start it and ran the engine, and it sounded fine and didnt tighten up. But I then bought a steam roller, and therefore needed to convert the tourer to cash and so It went very soon after.
I have seen the car a number of times since, next time I shall perhaps ask the owner about the engine.
If its yours A Royal Blue APD 'Opal' 1935. ATT 772. Id love to know what you find when you take the sump off!. Or indeed if you have ever had any engine trouble....