What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[AllAlloyCup]

Hi Ruairidh
Is that a RR Merlin engine from a crashed
Spitfire or a Lancaster?

Bill G

[Ruairidh Dunford]

It is.

[Steve kay]

   

Come along little Ruby, no hiding in the workshop. An event organiser just has to set off into the snow. Despite the weather,  Hereford Speed Trials attracted no less than sixteen very brave participants, the weather making everyone very cheerful and pleased to have got there. Sevens were the largest turnout, and of the five at least two are forum contributors, hopefully they took some snaps to show in due course.  Thanks to all who took part, and thanks to forum contributors who answered some historical questions and raised some other interesting ones.

[Biddlecombe]

Love that AA box. Takes me back to the 60,s. I've still got my key.

[jansens]

What's the general thought around using exhaust wraps? I know some people say not to use them, especially on mild steel exhausts, as supposedly it promotes faster rusting. I suspect on an A7 engine any power gains from hotter exhaust temps are negligible. They can definitely approve the appearance I find, A7 pipes always look so tiny! Is the wrap effective alongside the body where a passenger is likely to brush against the pipe? I guess there it just stops them burning themselves against the hot steel if they do touch it?

Simon

[Chris KC]

What I can say Simon is that when I eventually unwound the asbestos wool from my Ulster tailpipe the exhaust was rotten underneath, but still sound where it was not wrapped. I'd always thought the heat would drive moisture off but apparently not. I had also painted it over with radiator paint to help prevent fibre shedding. Lasted 30-odd years though.

On the other hand, you could touch the wrapped section with the engine hot without real risk of harm. I only once placed an elbow on a bare Ulster exhaust pipe and will not be doing it again - never seen a blister so big and amazed I wasn't scarred for life.

Never tried it in the engine bay and I think the whole set of arguments is different.

[jansens]

Thanks Chris, I was hoping to get comments from people who have tried it. Greig's picture reminded me to ask. As you mentioned even if it does cause rust if it takes 30 years to rust through does it matter?

Were any cars wrapped from the factory?

Hot exhausts are definitely a thing to avoid. Most people will know the story about a burn from a hot exhaust possibly being a factor in Tim Birkins death.

The exhaust on my special is straight out and along the side so I am trying to work out how to make it safe around people.

Simon

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Like Chris I wrapped mine about 1990 after a nasty burn when a passenger got out.

It has lasted about 100’000 miles of use so far but does get saturated and there is rusting, it’s also starting to come apart slightly.


   

[jansens]

"It has lasted about 100’000 miles of use so far but does get saturated and there is rusting, it’s also starting to come apart slightly."

I think the technical term for that is patina!

It's good to know the wrap does actually help.I would rather have to deal with rusty steel than burnt flesh!

Simon

[Greig Smith]

From my experience the wrap saves you from burns but it definitely promotes rust on mild steel piping.

In the case of Gino's Ulster rep, the stuff on the manifold was very brittle and powdery, so we didn't put it back, the stuff on the full length pipe is in good condition and until he or we modify the straight pipe to something more resembling Ruairidh's Ulster exhaust above, we won't know the condition of the pipe.

On my single seater special the exhaust is alarmingly close to the driver's left elbow and falls easily to hand when getting out, guess how I know this..., so Dad came out with a roll of asbestos string, (yes the genuine stuff), which he's had since slightly after the earth cooled down. 

We debated this one long and hard, but in the end, we applied it - Face masks and having the pipe on 2 stands so it could be rolled to apply the string under steady tension. Remarkably there was no dust and no little bits. Asbestos is nasty stuff, but only if inhaled in fine powdered form. When in roof sheets, guttering and or this string, it's about as inert as you can get, but we still wore masks.

Here I'm on the grid at the Historic reenactment of the 1934 Grand Prix in East London, South Africa - this was just before the parade lap of the original circuit, we could drive 11 miles of the original circuit, hence the casual clothes. The string looks very 'period correct' and has stayed neatly & tightly wrapped. I do keep an eye on it.

Aye
Greig