Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[bertie]

Back again! Firstly, a big thanks to bighealey (and his patience!) for helping me sort out my spaghetti post last time into a neat format and showing me how to post pics in the way I wanted them...lets see if Ive learnt anything!

Having had a few days fun with Bertie, I could resist no longer and donned my overalls. The old Champion plugs had to go, and this seemed a good, easy place to start.

Yep, they needed a change! Ive no idea how old they were-the engine had a full rebuild 6000 miles ago(1992) and I suspect they`re 17 years old.

I gapped them to 20 thou" and fired him up- oh so much better! Points and condensor next, points gapped to 15 thou". Now came a decision- the oil. What grade to use? I was tempted by a monograde non-detergent 40 or 50 grade as it`s good and thick, but would leave deposits internally where they were. Or should I go for a good 20/50, which is a detergent oil of course, with the danger that it would shift deposits and possibly start blocking oilways? I gambled that the rebuild in `92 had 20/50 put in, and I did the same with a can of Stop Tearing Past for good measure-with a mental note to change it very regularly as there is no oil filter. Next, brakes/steering/suspension...which I`d been putting off, as this was new territory to me. I neednt have worried- all grease points (I started to lose count!) were well used, the brakes had all been replaced and the adjusters were all free and only needed a click or so each. Having jacked(carefully) the front up, I steeled myself and checked the steering for free play-absolutely none! The trunnions had no lateral or vertical play and were well greased up, the steering box and all the single arm shocks were all full of oil with no leakage.The axle and gearbox were also full...I was beginning to think I was on you`ve been framed...all was about as mechanically perfect as it could ever be- job done! In the reams of paperwork i got with him I came across this

and this! Love the poetic license!

Ok, thats enough for the moment, thanks for reading, catch you soon...

[heathelect]

what a lovely ford looks great

[Richard H]

Very tidy looking car you've got there Looking foward to reading more about it!
_________________
Richard Hughes

[exbmc]

Very nice Bertie! I have always had a soft spot for the old "Pop", since buying one for my first car. Yours looks green to me, whereas mine was "Bristol Fawn", I think. Mine also had the "Teddy Bears Ears" indicators.
Very basic, with no heater, wooden floor,and one wiper. Also the "T" spanner thing to open the boot. It only let me down once, after coming back to Derby from a stock car meeting in Manchester. We stopped at a chippy, then the starter jammed. Walked home eating the chips and went back in the morning. Found a grommeted hole in the floor, through which the now boltless starter could be hit. Knocked it out and refitted after a good clean, never any more trouble. I was very sad some years later, to find FCH 811 on it's roof in a scrapyard!

[bertie]

aha! that explains the circular hole in the carpet! i was wondering what that was for!