What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[Hedd_Jones]

Ivor, I was tempted, theres about 30 L/C heads in the shed to choose from, but the car has always had a H/C head in it in my lifetime, I bet I'd miss the extra pep too. This car is the heaviest of the fleet, and usually driven 3 up. 

The H/C head is currently upside down with the manifold bunged up festering as its full of oxalic acid

[Bob Culver]

Fully endorse Ivor's observation. 'When the modified engine was out of my car due broken crank I ran a good l.c. Car was much more pleasant but as used for main road running and long hills could not maintain. The cars with very long lived cranks are coincidentally usually l.c. Austin could have raised the cr if they saw fit before the 3 bearing.

[Hedd_Jones]

Bob, there are 2 roadworthy L/C cars here. Nowt wrong with them, but the cars they power are 6 inches lighter. The car this head is going in already has an engine with a H/C head on it, and its had it 40+ years. I'm quite used to how it runs!.

Austins simply improved power as they needed to as the cars got heavier. The heaviest 7 produced was probably the ARR ruby, so developed an engine to keep performance adequate in it.

This is going in a RP. With its current engine the performance is on a par with my RL with its L/C head and higher back axle ratio. Mybchummy of course wipes the floor with both. I dare say if I put a L/C head on this one the RP would be left by the RL. Im hoping a decent engine will make it go even better, so will stay with a H/C head.

This engine is a ebay chance job. Looks tidy enough, certainly refreshed before laying up, but its far from as new. It came from near skegness on an engine frame with gearbox, coil and oil gauge. I think some old boy had passed away and this came from the family. The old engine will return with its phoenix crank in due course, either with a different block and pistons, or with the existing one honed and re rung. We shall see what i find when it comes appart. I might swap the guts into a proper period case too. This is just a short term engine. That said, with only one arse and 3 roadworthy cars now, the mileage they do isnt big individually. Thats why Ive put up with the bad starting, low compression, oil in the water and monster oil leaks in the current lump!.But I dont like having engines in bits long so will get stuck into the proper engine. Theres a rebuilt block here greased up ready to go.

[Steve kay]

The weather is very mild and dry, but gritters have been out up and down the length of Wales. So I will not be parking the Ruby outside the chippie in Porthmadog whist I whizz in for the seasonal treat

(No amount of poking with sticks or saying rude words will get the menu to spin 45 degrees)

attachment=16259]

[Hedd_Jones]

We were so peeved with life last Christmas we had chippy fish and chips for Christmas dinner last year. Complete with curry sauce.

Beef this year however.

[andrew34ruby]

   

[Duncan Grimmond]

I'm not sure I could cope with a battered mince pie...

[JonE]

all right with lots of custard, perhaps with the cream too?
No one ever seems to batter chips.

[Reckless Rat]

Well not for breakfast anyways. Ye big jessie! Get it doon yer neck!

[Stephen Barker]

My wife who comes from "up north" remembers chip shop in Tideswell that sold  slices of potatoes in batter called scallops.