Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rdover]

photos








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Richard

[Rdover]

I have, officially, given up on fixing the engine myself and, having sold the 4x4 toy, I have the cash to get it dismantled and checked out by a professional. Once we know what is wrong, I can afford to get everything sorted to the highest standard so it is sorted for a couple of generations.

The guy doing the work is the engineer for a old schoolmate's classic/vintage car business in Glasgow and with over 40 years experience in restoring vintage Rolls, E-types and the like he should have no problem in doing the Alldays.

The deal is max £400 to finish dismantling, measure and inspect the whole engine (pistons, cylinders cam etc etc) and get quotes for repair/replacement of parts. I am expecting the cam to be rebuildable (and possibly improved) and the same with the cam followers and this to be the main cause of power loss. The pots are coming off to examine the cylinders and it may benefit from a set of new piston rings and a re-hone.

Given that the big cost is the labour and I have a pot of cash to use, I am not willing to compromise for the sake of a couple of hundred pounds. Not only do I have full control of the budget (for once) I'm also expecting it to be done by mid/late June unless we find something catastrophic.

Frankly it is a relief to not be struggling with it any more and know that I will soon have a reliable and reasonably rapid car. The original article from SAVVA in 1994 mentions a sharp move off (as I remember before I relined the clutch) and a smooth drive to 4th gear where it rattled along up hill and down dale so I know that it can be like that again and also fix a few oil leaks, replace a seal or 2 and make a couple of modifications that will allow for easier maintenance in the future.

I have a few weeks of off road competition stuff intermixed with some travelling but I sense a few evenings of cleaning and polishing ready for the rebuilt engine to be fitted.
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Richard

[kevin2306]

sounds like you are relieved to have made the decision?
I am sure its going to be spectacular once done

Kev

[ukdave2002]

Saw this Alldays and Onions vehicle on ebay...it's the only other Alldays and Onions I have ever seen

Dave

[excels]

I spoke to Winston le Roux years ago after he got the car running in South Africa and he claimed a speed of 50 mph!
What is the tension of the valve springs used at the moment? Regards Tom
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1914, 1918, 1923 Ford "T"; 1928 Ford "A" Roadster + Phaeton, 1922 Maxwell, 1926 Chrysler, 1927 Velie, 1928 Chevrolet, 1928 Whippet 96, 1935 Armstrong Siddeley 17HP, 1950 Morris Tourer, 1951 Morris, 1953 Morris,1958 Morris (All Minors), 1957 Austin A95

[Rdover]

I always thought it was geared for 50mph but 37 is the most I've ever got to.

No idea what the valve spring rate is.
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Richard

[Rdover]

Interim update post VCC Dumfries Weekend

The engine is 75% dismantled and so far we have found the following:

Cam follower rollers are shagged but easily replaced, The followers themselves are scored but repairable.
The Cam is pitted but shows remarkably little wear. There is a noticeable seam of wear but the boundary between smooth and pitted is not measurable and can barely be felt when running your fingernail across.
The crank is 100% as are the white metal bearings.
Pistons, rings and bores are yet to be examined but new piston rings are expected to be required.

The cam & followers are with Newman Cams with a quote expected soon. I hope it will be reasonable given that the cam needs little work.

More when I have it.
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Richard

[kevin2306]

sounds promising for a reasonably reasonable(!) repair.

Good luck

Kev

[Rdover]

Indeed.

I forgot to mention that the main cause of the lack of power seems to be ...... my poor quality valve grind last year!

The exhaust valves are pitted enough to be causing poor sealing and I should have reprofiled them all! Still, I'll have a 100% sorted engine at the end of this.
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Richard

[roverdriver]

Good luck. Rdover. It sounds as if your engine is, on the whole, not too bad. I think that at the end of the exercise, you will have a very useable car and be the envy of all who see it.

I'll be looking forward to hearing more as time goes by, and thank you for continuing to report about your many problems and niggles.

Dane.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[Rdover]

As hoped, the prices are in:

Camshaft: The cam was determined to in good condition but needing reprofiled to suit the new follower rollers, so to design and reprofile with greater performance will cost me ..... £250!

The rollers are shagged and were certainly the cause of variable valve lift and loss of power (although my poor valve grind accounted for most of it). To make new pins and rollers will cost around £30 per follower, so around £250 again. It might be more involved but certainly no more than £350.

Assume piston rings at £50 and labour of £1,000 and the total cost will be about £1,750 inc vat which is less than half what I had feared and budgeted for and what's more I'll have an engine with more power and torque and reliability. It'll also be ready for the events in August and September.

I am delighted.
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Richard

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

That sounds great Richard. Like Roverdriver I am fascinated by your ongoing account. I shall, almost, be disappointed when it is all done!

Paul

[Rdover]

[Rdover]

Some photos of the cam and followers:








_________________
Richard

[kevin2306]

great result!
what sort of timescale are you looking at?

Kev