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My 1957 A35 "Black Pig"
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Nic Jarman



Joined: 05 Oct 2008
Posts: 1031
Location: Stoke by Clare, Suffolk

PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 11:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Richard H wrote:
Rick wrote:
Richard H wrote:
Sounds good Rick, as I had no passenger to hold the camera I sellotaped it to the rear view mirror - not very professional but it does the trick!

Here are the action shots Wink

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVv_bkzW-BE


It came out really well, I'll have to give that idea a try Smile

RJ


Thanks Rick, one tip though, don't stick the sellotape onto the reflective part of the mirror as it takes the reflective surface off! I'd only just fitted a NOS mirror glass as well Sad

That will teach you for using a cat to clean your car.
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Richard H



Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 2148
Location: Lincolnshire, UK

PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2010 11:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Some recent pictures of the progress with 990 BKN. I decided to take it off the road to do the long-awaited top end overhaul.

Draining the radiator.



Off with its head. Bores seem OK, there is a slight wear ridge and a bit of piston slop but not enough to warrant work.





Bits removed:



This is what I found when I removed the head.





Although really badly in need of a decoke, the valves and seats were actually in very good condition. There is also no valve seat recession and as I have done nearly 3000 miles in it so far on normal unleaded that is a good sign.

So...after refacing the valves, seats and cleaning up the ports:



Halfway through refitting the valves with new valve stem oil seals. The valve guides were a little bit worn, but again not enough to warrant replacing. The oil seals, on the other hand, were non existant!



Finally decided to change the thermostat - it's just as well I did. When I finally got the corroded old housing off I found the cause of the overheating - this old thermostat was completely seized up and had actually started to break up with the rust Rolling Eyes

Would you trust this to cool your car?





There was a small amount of sludge in here, not too bad though.



And this is where we finished yesterday, the head is ready to go back on:



Still waiting for some bits from Bull Motif Spares, going to change the water pump as the bypass hose outlet has corroded away, got a new one sitting here so thought why not? Also got to flush out the radiator, change the thermostat and housing (new one ready to go on) then an oil change before the Owners Club Rally in Gloucestershire Confused . All being well, it should be back on the road this week Very Happy
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Richard Hughes
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2010 11:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

good stuff! it should be a bit perkier to drive after the decoke. No more news yet on the other A35?

R
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Richard H



Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 2148
Location: Lincolnshire, UK

PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2010 11:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick wrote:
good stuff! it should be a bit perkier to drive after the decoke. No more news yet on the other A35?

R


Not yet, the owner said give him a few days to sort out the recovery (there is one of those security bollards in front of the garage door (seized) which compicates things). I'm going to leave it until the weekend then I'll phone him and offer to help.

Hopefully this work should stop the overheating, make it nippier (it wasn't that bad before) and cut the oil consumption drastically Smile
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2010 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Richard,

I see it's painted BMC green. Is it the original engine? What miles?

Peter
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Richard H



Joined: 03 Apr 2009
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Location: Lincolnshire, UK

PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2010 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

peter scott wrote:
Hi Richard,

I see it's painted BMC green. Is it the original engine? What miles?

Peter


Hi Peter,

It is indeed the original engine, with the engine number that corresponds to the chassis number. Mileage showing is currently about 64,300, The only history I have to back this up is an old MOT from 1983 showing 56,000 miles, so it's not doing too badly! I get the impression this is an engine that has not had very much work done in the past.
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bob2



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 1727
Location: Malta

PostPosted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

good work rich, you refreshed my memory to the time when I had just sold my cooper, my green mini was engine less and I had only the blue mini to get me to work and what happened on the only saturday I had to do overtime in a whole year but the head gasket lets go!!! Twisted Evil

Got a lift to work and had a full day from 7.30 to 18.00 and when back home had something to eat and retreated in the garage to change the gasket etc!!
Was a long day that day but managed to do it all, was ready by midnight but had to change the oil and put water in yet so that was duely done on sunday morning and the car back on the road!!

ehh good memories!!
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Richard H



Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 2148
Location: Lincolnshire, UK

PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Having got me to Frampton-on-Severn and back with only a couple of very minor problems, upon arrival home the A35 was dumped in the drive as the MoT only had a couple of days left to run. I knew it wouldn't pass as there were several issues I knew about, rust in the passenger side sill and drivers side spring hanger, a dodgy handbrake and smoky engine (still). So I didn't do any preperation.

Anyway I took it over this morning, then three hours later I had the phone call, yes it had failed and here is the failure sheet in all its glory:



"1: Parking brake lever releases when knocked.
2: (Offside and nearside) Headlamp aim too low.
3: Offside front upper brake pipe excessively corroded.
4: (pipe from filter) Fuel pipe leaking.
5: Nearside axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering.
6: Nearside front lower (trunnion) Front suspension has excessive movement at a wishbone pin or bush.
7: Nearside rear (sill) Suspension spring mounting prescibed area is excessively corroded.
8: (rear of offside and nearside rear) Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded."

And the advisories:



"9: Parking brake mechanism/associated mounting prescribed area is corrode but not considered excessive.
10: Nearside rear body has slight corrosion.
11: Offside front lower brake pipe slightly corroded.
12: Offside axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush.
13: Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration.
14: Nearside front sill and wing corroded."

This is on a car that passed the last MOT (with the previous owner) with flying colours!

It's not all that bad though, all the failure points were fair and I have a brand new (old stock) pair of kingpins ready to go on. The problems with the handbrake were caused by a worn ratchet and pawl. I had a new ratchet "in stock" and have ordered a new pawl and all the other bits needed from Bull Motif Spares.

I also fitted the straight and rust-free bootlid that I bought from the National rally spares auction - no interest was shown so I bought it for £1.




Should be back on the road soon Smile
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Richard,

I'm afraid you are right. BKN has gone in the huff due to all your good works on 5187NO. I don't really believe in this sort of thing but I have to admit that I've experienced similar behaviour with several cars in the past.

Peter
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Richard H



Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 2148
Location: Lincolnshire, UK

PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got cracking with the welding today.

What's under there?



Doesn't look too bad....


Oh dear.





Out it comes



Not too much left now Smile




What are you looking at?



Another piece goes in:



And the final piece:











Just got to find a piece of rubber to close the sill (the original strip disintegrated) then it's a couple of small patches at the rear spring hangers then it's the welding finished. The above shows that old cars really are like icebergs - if there is any rust showing it is about a tenth of what is actually there Rolling Eyes
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john-saab



Joined: 06 Dec 2007
Posts: 341
Location: West Dorset

PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice pants Laughing
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Richard H



Joined: 03 Apr 2009
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

john-saab wrote:
Nice pants Laughing


Not mine! (no, really!)
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Richard Hughes
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Nic Jarman



Joined: 05 Oct 2008
Posts: 1031
Location: Stoke by Clare, Suffolk

PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

3 rules of photography;
1 keep the sun behind you (not aplicable in this country)
2 frame your subject (take up woodwork?)
3 CHECK YOUR BACKGROUND - RICHARD. Wink
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Richard H



Joined: 03 Apr 2009
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Location: Lincolnshire, UK

PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nic Jarman wrote:
3 rules of photography;
1 keep the sun behind you (not aplicable in this country)
2 frame your subject (take up woodwork?)
3 CHECK YOUR BACKGROUND - RICHARD. Wink


Alternatively, grab a phone camera and spend five minutes trying to take pics that aren't blurred...
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Richard H



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PostPosted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got a long trip ahead of me tomorrow - up to Norwich, staying over then down to Maidstone on Tuesday then home again. I've renewed my RAC membership in preperation! Just in case anyone spots me:


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