My First 7

["Slack Alice" Simon]

Even though I have owned Sevens for over 40 years, I am finding that more regular use on modern roads takes some getting used to.

My cycling experience helps - on bikes, we avoid busy roads at the expense of greater distance.

Even local trips to the shops in the Seven, I use minor roads.    And because I have changed my approach to getting from A to B - it is now "slowly, and enjoy it. There is no need to rush" - I am no longer too bothered that the cor won't do more than 45 on the straight and level.

And this approach helps with a nervous passenger,also.

Simon

[WJPez]

Even though I have owned Sevens for over 40 years, I am finding that more regular use on modern roads takes some getting used to.

My cycling experience helps - on bikes, we avoid busy roads at the expense of greater distance.

Even local trips to the shops in the Seven, I use minor roads.    And because I have changed my approach to getting from A to B - it is now "slowly, and enjoy it. There is no need to rush" - I am no longer too bothered that the cor won't do more than 45 on the straight and level.

And this approach helps with a nervous passenger,also.

Simon

I think that is the mindset I need to adopt.

Wayne

[Chris Garner]

Wayne. Mindset is the word. In the '80s I owned a Porsche 911. After a fast trip back from London to the East Midlands, I jumped straight into my '29 saloon to attend a local Club meeting. I'll say no more!!

[robert regan]

wayne have what you want now and if modern drivers worry you to much you can always pass the car on,over the years I have driven everything from xk jaguars a Rolls Royce silver Ghost that was a real powerhouse having 7 and 1/2 litres at your disposal , and like my modern car it does not matter how fast I am going. there was always some nutter who wanted to go faster. enjoy it when you can my best wishes Rob.

[GK5268]

After a few emails back and forth with Nigel to work out a few things I finally purchased the Ruby last night. Hopefully it should be with me by the end of the week.

Thank you to everybody who answered my questions and gave me advice.

Wayne

Well done Wayne, I think you will enjoy the car, mine is a Mk I Ruby and it has been back on the road since 2015 and I have done a few modifications to make it a bit more powerful and able to go up hills without praying! It is hilly here, Brighton, and there is a lot of traffic and there are a lot of fast roads because a lot of people live here! Loads more come to visit... So having a car that I am not intimidated by others or afraid to use is important, whilst there are quieter roads I still have to use fast roads to get onto them when starting out, so anything that provides more performance is welcomed!

I fitted a high compression head (I think yours is a Mk II which had the hc head anyway), that helped, i always had a SU carburetor in place of the Zenith, so I don't know what difference that made, BUT, what I did recently, was fit flatter tappet blocks, this means that the valves open & close quicker, which means that they are open for longer, so more gas in and better exhaust out, and that made a really noticeable difference to the cars performance, it can stonk up the local steep hills I use to test the car out on in 3rd gear (have managed a change up to 4th a couple of times), previously, the engine was screaming and down into 2nd and getting slower & slower, you get the picture.

Also, once in 4th gear, the engine is quieter, the revs are down. Too soon to see what the effect is on fuel consumption, but the car is much more drivable and I am getting much closer to my goal of having the car as my daily driver.

The car is so much liviler, it is like an excited puppy dog than some old labrador that is overweight and only interested in eating & sleeping!

So, if your car has a standard set-up and you feel you would like a bit more from it, there are things that you can reasonably do to improve matters, nothing new, just tried and tested (what is new, is electronic ignition that gives a reliable spark every time consistently).

Good luck with your new car!

[WJPez]

wayne have what you want now and if modern drivers worry you to much you can always pass the car on,over the years I have driven everything from xk jaguars a Rolls Royce silver Ghost that was a real powerhouse having 7 and 1/2 litres at your disposal , and like my modern car it does not matter how fast I am going. there was always some nutter who wanted to go faster. enjoy it when you can my best wishes Rob.

Thank you Rob, i'm looking forward to the car being delivered.

Wayne

---

After a few emails back and forth with Nigel to work out a few things I finally purchased the Ruby last night. Hopefully it should be with me by the end of the week.

Thank you to everybody who answered my questions and gave me advice.

Wayne

Well done Wayne, I think you will enjoy the car, mine is a Mk I Ruby and it has been back on the road since 2015 and I have done a few modifications to make it a bit more powerful and able to go up hills without praying! It is hilly here, Brighton, and there is a lot of traffic and there are a lot of fast roads because a lot of people live here! Loads more come to visit... So having a car that I am not intimidated by others or afraid to use is important, whilst there are quieter roads I still have to use fast roads to get onto them when starting out, so anything that provides more performance is welcomed!

I fitted a high compression head (I think yours is a Mk II which had the hc head anyway), that helped, i always had a SU carburetor in place of the Zenith, so I don't know what difference that made, BUT, what I did recently, was fit flatter tappet blocks, this means that the valves open & close quicker, which means that they are open for longer, so more gas in and better exhaust out, and that made a really noticeable difference to the cars performance, it can stonk up the local steep hills I use to test the car out on in 3rd gear (have managed a change up to 4th a couple of times), previously, the engine was screaming and down into 2nd and getting slower & slower, you get the picture.

Also, once in 4th gear, the engine is quieter, the revs are down. Too soon to see what the effect is on fuel consumption, but the car is much more drivable and I am getting much closer to my goal of having the car as my daily driver.

The car is so much liviler, it is like an excited puppy dog than some old labrador that is overweight and only interested in eating & sleeping!

So, if your car has a standard set-up and you feel you would like a bit more from it, there are things that you can reasonably do to improve matters, nothing new, just tried and tested (what is new, is electronic ignition that gives a reliable spark every time consistently).

Good luck with your new car!

Thank you Gary. I'm also on the South coast, between Portsmouth and Southampton. The engine fitted in a 2 bearing engine, I am not aware that it has a high compression head.

Wayne

[Tony Press]

High compression head has 14mm plugs instead of 18mm plugs.

[Jeff Taylor]

I'm pretty certain this is your engine Wayne? - the photo's from the Austin 7 Specialist ad featured on the Cars and Classic website. If so, that's a High Compression head fitted between 1936 and 1939 - the style and fixing of the top water outlet confirms.


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[WJPez]

I'm pretty certain this is your engine Wayne? - the photo's from the Austin 7 Specialist ad featured on the Cars and Classic website. If so, that's a High Compression head fitted between 1936 and 1939 - the style and fixing of the top water outlet confirms.

Thanks for that, I would not have known the difference.

Wayne

[JonE]

well done. the cogitation has been worthwhile - enjoy the car!