Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

I reported in "Seen Anything Interesting" on Sunday about the annual run of classic and other Fords in support of the Air Ambulance Service.

My cousin's husband, Tony, took part in his newly restored 1986 Ford Capri 1600 Laser. He's been restoring it over the last two years and has created an excellent example. He is an able self taught mechanic and has done everything himself except for solving an annoying electrical problem which turned out to be
a split in the circuit track in the speedometer.

The Capri has had several "shake down " runs without incident but last Sunday was the first eighty mile journey.
The Capri performed faultlessly for thirty miles but on passing a lay by he heard grinding noises from the rear. He quickly pulled in and on coasting to a stop, the rear wheels locked up. Oil and steam were coming from the diff and it was so hot he could not touch it.

It took four hours for the recovery truck to arrive during which time things had cooled and the car could be moved backwards and forwards.

Post Mortem time. With the car at home he jacked it up in his well appointed workshop and removed the diff pan cover. Held up to a light there were several large pinholes in the cover and not a drop of oil in the diff itself. He had drained and renewed the oil before the journey.

What had happened was that a build of heat and possibly condensation led to a high pressure within the diff casing. The previously unknown of pinholes grew larger and all the oil disappeared unseen.

The crown wheel and pinion are now scrap but an (expensive) replacement is available.

Was that unforeseen or what?
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[Rick]

Bad luck indeed, one of my more memorable "failures to proceed" was the Devon throwing off its timing chain unexpectedly, as I was attempting to leave the Tatton Park show many years ago. That was a little annoying, especially as it hadn't given any notice of impending disaster.

RJ
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[Ray White]

I remember having the gearbox output shaft flange sheer clean off leaving the car powerless and stranded.

I didn't fore see that.

[Ellis]

What I forgot to mention in my post was that nearly every car following stopped to offer assistance but the most interesting was one of the actual mechanics who worked on the Car SOS programme itself.
He drove a Mark 2 Ford Escort Mexico running a 2.0 litre Ford Zetec engine breathing through twin Weber DCOE 40 carbs.

Tony told me that he and his companion were most helpful and because the incident took place in a non mobile phone signal area, he phoned the recovery service as soon as he had reached a place where he could use a phone.
He admitted that there was little he could do of practical assistance but suggested that it was the failure of the main diff oil seal or, correctly as it turned out, a weakened diff pan cover.

"The parts are over thirty years old after all...................."
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[Farmer John]

Hi Ellis. Have you had a report on the rear axle breather?
John

[peter scott]

Some years back I was traveling in the west of Scotland and there was a road rally event at the time and we came across an Escort with a team of distressed people around it. It was competing in the event and its diff had failed and the support team flagged down a Capri that had nothing to do with the event and asked the driver if they could steal his diff.

To my astonishment he agreed with the previso of appropriate compensation.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Kenham]

Many years ago, got in the Hillman Hunter and turned the key only to find the engine had seized , after a tow home and the engine removed found the starter ring had come off and jammed up between the flywheel and starter pinion. I ran this car for a few years and it was one of the most reliable I have ever owned, it had over 180 thousand miles on the clock when I bought it having been a taxi for a lot of its life, and this was the only time it let me down.

[Keith D]

Peter, that exact thing happened on the first London to Sydney Rally back in 1968.

The Ford Cortina driven by Roger Clark that was leading a day or so before the finish, blew up it's diff in Lakes Entrance. A Cortina parked close by had it diff 'pinched' and Roger Clark continued, although his loss of 80 minutes denied him a win.

Keith
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1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[peter scott]

Keith, It sounds like in your example the parked Cortina owner wasn't consulted!

Peter.
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Keith D]

Peter,
I understand the owner was approached but was at first very disinclined to assist, but eventually gave his OK. Whether it was from a financial reward or a loyalty to Ford I do not know, but it certainly hit the papers over here at the time.

Keith
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1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[consul 57]

i had a crank snap the day before my holiday on my 57 consul back in 82, only 6 months after a rebuild by previous owner.
wiped out the block, gearbox and clutch.

[ukdave2002]

I has the Quill shaft shear on the Stag (its between the prop and the diff)





So as well as having no drive, the broken shaft causes the radius arms to shift which in turn pulls the handbrake cables and sets the handbrake on!

Dave

[Mog]

On a two speed Morgan 3 - wheeler , end of the prop shaft broke off . Wrecked both bevel gears as well as the prop shaft . Lucky not far from home . Was with a second 3-wheeler , he went and got his Austin and towed me home . Got some s/hand parts and fixed it all up in a few weeks . Fair bit of work , engine out and a rebuild of the bevel box .

[Ellis]

[alanb]

Hitting a pothole and breaking a spring, fortunately close to home so able to limp home a little lopsided.
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old tourer


Morris 8 two seater