Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Spent about an hour this morning re-doing various covers outside, after a very windy spell overnight that saw the power tripped out when we awoke this morning.

RJ
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Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
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[alastairq]

My tent is still intact...but managed to bust a couple of the wee straps....so spent some time seeking out something to replace them with...[rather than going out & spending money on new items!!!]
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[Rootes75]

Spent a couple hours rubbing in leather feed to the rear sests of our 37 Hillman 80. I am trying to feed them regularly now and we are starting to notice the difference. They were so dry and cracking before we started, they are all original and although the front seats have a few rips in them I plan to keep them original.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Longstroke]

I need to do the leather feeding too. Just had one of my Riley seats conserved (rips repaired and beading replaced), pleased with how that blended in, so now having other front seat done. Then my plan is to rub in some Lord Sheraton Leather Balsam on all seats. My wife used the stuff to good effect on the settee.

[Rootes75]

I would like to have a couple of the larger rips re-sewn, I was thinking of taking the front seat base to the local trimmers and seeing if they could conserve it.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Longstroke]

I'm using South West Auto Trimmers in Calne, Wiltshire. They did a nice job of blending on first seat, new springs etc, so have now got second seat. They let in a new or other bit of leather to the seat base where it was ripped and very worn. Fingers crossed do same for not so bad second one!

[Rootes75]

I use a company called Stanley Trimmers based near Wells, Somerset. They are only small but the work they did on re-covering my Lorry seats was superb.

I think first job in the New Year is to take the seat up there to let them take a look at it.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Vulgalour]

For leather feeding the Lord Sheraton stuff is okay but very expensive for what it is. More affordable and/or better quality products are available from tack shops since a big part of owning a horse is of course caring for all the leather straps and saddles and whatnot.

If you've a mind to, you can make your own leather feed, some recipes use a combination of paraffin wax and beeswax, others use linseed or olive oil as a base with white vinegar, and it really isn't expensive to make the quantities you need and far cheaper than some of the shop-bought alternatives.

This is one of the most concise posts I've found on the subject and offers a few alternatives. Wider reading, and no doubt exploring antique publications on leather care, will likely yield other recipes.

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-leather-conditioner/

[alanb]

Back in the 70s when I had my Rover P4 100 I used Johnson's baby oil and my wife's hand cream to revive the edges of the drivers seat that were cracked and dry and it worked fine.
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old tourer


Morris 8 two seater

[Longstroke]

Thank you. Useful stuff. About twenty years ago a pal of mine asked me if we could use my oily rag Riley for her wedding. While I was around at my parents place my Mum rubbed floor polish into the rear seat and it came up a treat, so it does make me wonder how critical all this is. By the way, surprisingly, the bride's dress stayed white!

[Rootes75]

Today we started the very difficult task of rebuilding a completely stripped Gardner 5LW diesel engine, the task is made so much more difficult as we did not strip it down and nothing at all is labelled!

I have the engine manuals from the 1940's and some very good exploded view diagrams to work from.

It will be a long job.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Penman]

Hi Rootes
Looking at the SCT61 site there were a lot of buses using the 5LW, if you have any bus restoration/collections in your area you might well find some one with experience of that engine who may be able to give you guidance about possible problems.

i.e.
https://www.quantockheritage.com/
Of Wiveliscombe who don't currently have a Gardner in their operational fleet but may have someone who knows it.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[MikeEdwards]

Tried to improve the starting issue on the hatch. If it's left for more than a week or two between starts, it becomes very difficult to get it going - it'll crank over a lot, but it's ages before it starts. There is fuel getting to the carbs, the spark is good, the timing is good, it's strange.

A year or two back I bought a new set of plug leads for it, which I've never fitted because they are a kit that needs cutting to length and new ends putting on. I've been putting it off, but I finally bit the bullet yesterday.

Came back after lunch to give it a test start and ... nothing. It's just the same. It finally caught after a lot of cranking and a few squirts of easy start.

I am wondering now if the carbs are clogged up somewhere internally.

[peter scott]

Hi Mike,

Have you tried pouring petrol down its throat?

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

[alanb]

Have you checked the compression? If left for any time the bores can become dry and this results in insufficient vacuum on the down stroke of th pistons to draw in the fuel.
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old tourer


Morris 8 two seater