Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[peter scott]

Sounds good but I didn't see much. Sorry, distracted by the nice girl in the adjacent advert.

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

[Roger-hatchy]

Many a road accident happened that way

[Roger-hatchy]

One 'o' them days

Just make and fit the wiring loom today, get all the ignition wiring fitted so we can start it without hot wiring, the light are all that will be left to fit later, the body and light can be walked on to the chassis as a unit,

Wrong!

Fitted a new float chamber top the other day, old one was cracked.
Turn on the ignition,electric fuel pump, Petrol pouring out one carb air intake.
When the float chamber top is removed there is no fuel in that carbs float chamber??, should the float chamber be almost empty after flooding the the intake, or could this be a case of syphoning out the chamber.

Disconnect fuel pump, flooded engine, plugs out spin it over to clear excess.
Plugs back in try to start, hick-ups now and again, check points intermittent sparking.
Hot wire again one kick and it's running.

Check regulator, draining too much current and not letting enough through to the ignition.
More thorough check, regulator U/S.

PS. What I thought was an identical float chamber top, as ordered, is slightly less domed, the float fork and cut off look identical but closer look show slight difference.
This can be adjusted by the hight, or drop of the fork as apposed to the spacing adjustment using a drill as a gauge.

Now awaiting the battery to recharge.


BTW 1.25 twin SU carbs.



PPS. still can't find the steering wheel, had a call from mota-lita and they sugest the 7/8 and 48 spline count could be Jaguar, Aston Martin or Austin Healey, but they can back engineer for the hub if need be.

Roger

[Roger-hatchy]

Hi

I am trying to wood veneer my dashboard on the DLM

I have a few packs of veneers, white oak, I think,
They were being thrown out a few years ago at the time I was doing a lot of woodworking hobby.

I have about 10 @ 6" x 4' sheets.
And about the same of what looks like mahogany


So far.

Part one
I thought it would be advisable to move a coupld of sheets indoors to dry out, and the dashboard as well to warm up, WRONG!

I used evostick contact to fix the veneer to the aluminium dashboard, this is only 5 1/2" by 35 1/2 inches and a flat panel.

Looked fine, took it back into the garage to varnish, next morning was more like a sea front in a storm, all ripples and cracks.


Part two.
Abviously the difference in the temperature and humidity was the problem.
Scraped off the old veneer, cleaned of the dash panel, bonded a second sheet to the dash panel, 24hr later looked fine again, so started to varninh with yauht varnish at 3 to 1 thined to soak through the veneer for, I hope, a good weatherproofing.
Three coats later, three days later, with a mat back of each coat, looked fine.
So I matted back with 1500 w&d, one last coat of thinned then I would varnish full strenght.
The last thined coat seemed to not want to dry, so like a fool I took it indoors and layed on the kitchen table overnight.
You've guessed it, the veneer was now about a 1/8" shy of all edges, plenty of shrink cracks.
And it looked so good

So now it is back to square one, and a bit more patiance.
And shares in evostick

Just hope the next week is warmer.
Untill the dash is done everything is at a standstill as we need to finish the wiring to the dash before we start on the bodywork.
Thinks!! must update my photos

[Roger-hatchy]

A fun week
And the cats learnt some new words

Had to re-do all the brake pipes, they all leaked, not at first, had a lot of trouble trying to bleed the system, would hold pressure but only after pumping the pedal
All the symptoms of air in the system, but we eventually ran a litre of fluid through with a couple of days static, no luck.
Then the next morning I notice a wet stain on one of the tyres and notice one of the pipe on a cylinder was wet, checked all the other joints, wet, tweaked them up a notch till the last one and it emptied all the fluid, luckily, into a container.

My fault should have googled how to first..

seems to be holding fast, having bled the fluid through, but not fully bled yet.
Can get pressure, and after 48hr still dry all round.

I had to change one of the Carb. float chamber covers. twin 1.25 SU carbs.
Hairline crack became evident with a small wet patch along the edge of the cover.

Got a new cover from the firm that has taken on the SU castings.

Could not get the pair to run properly, was running fine with the old top.
So removed both covers to check both set as per.
The new casting are not the same, float needle valve lever mounting pillars are longer, the lever mounts over and not under the arm.

But the setting up should be the same, this I did, back on the carbs, one flooded and poured out of the air intake.

So I removed the new cover, bent the arm down a fraction, still flooding.
I think I must have bent the arm, bit by bit, to the point of touching the float on assembly, still floods.
This was with both needles, as I thought the new needle might be suspect.

Forgot to mention, I also tried another means of checking the float levels
Had both caps of, floats out, a couple of, sacrilege, whisky classes as the float were a close fit inside, taped to covers to the glasses, a short hose connected to the covers a small funnel, they both held fine at the same level.

Another thing that became apparent was the new top is softer.
Another way to check the levels is to check the fuel level is equal at the needle valve entry.
Had both the piston and covers off to check float level, both good, but when I tightened the new cove down the fuel was over the top, loosen the top and you could see the fuel raise and lower.
So trial and error saw them level.
Switched on the pump, and fuel everywhere again.

So another inspection of the old and new top, were the shut of needle housing fits on the new one it looks like a step down to the thread, the old one has no step.
So I though fuel is getting past via the threads, small fibre washer fitted.
Connected the cap to the fuel line, inverted with almost just the weight of the lever no fuel leek.
Great I thought, b(*&^ thing still pumps fuel everywhere.
A few expletives, I decided I was going to contact the seller tell them what I thought of there replacement.

My mate arrived, I thought I'd show him what I meant. ???????????
Worked fine

All back together and running fine.
Just got to bleed the brakes, give them time to do their worst, will pump them a few times over the next couple of days.

Tune and balance the carbs.
All the wiring is done, ready for the lights when the body is on

The Dashboard came up fine by the way, as can be seen here

[Rick]

Sounds like a very busy week!! do repro parts ever do the job of an original properly, and fit as they should without aggravation??!?

R
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[Roger-hatchy]

Repro part??

Not very often Rick

Woudn't mind but it seems I did nothing all week, well no real progress or so it seems

All parr for the course though

Still havn't found my steering wheel yet

Won't make Blackpool, or Thorney Island without it

[Roger-hatchy]

Just an update
Carbs tuned and balanced
Engine running fine.
All wiring done, well almost, just got to connect the lighting when ready.

Dropped the body on to check fuel tank clearance for the tank sender unit under the body.
Didn't have a fuel guage before.
Slight mod needed, not enough room.
Will have to move the tank back half inch so it can be dropped a touch.

Body looks like it could do with a bit of polish


A bit of panel beating to do and a few repairs


the string is holding the flexible brake pipes out of the way


My mate Rob, given a lot of help done 90% of the wiring, and supplied a lot of bits.






Wheels to be powder coated yet




Place look empty now. body ready to start finishing, scraping rubbing down, etch prime and painting etc.


rolling chassis hidden in the corner, to be covered over, old garage garage doors can be closed and sealed off to reduce the dust.


This was the original colour, be back to original colour this time

[pigtin]

Great project Roger, fantastic little car. The pictures are making me want to go out in to the garage and start working on mine. Keep the piccies coming.

Don.
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[peter scott]

Getting exciting now! The road is in sight.

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

[Roger-hatchy]

Thanks gents
Shame the front brake pipes have to be disconected to dro the body on, also the steering arm.
They both pass through bodywork

Could have fired it up and taken it to the end of the close and back

Got a few inches of paint at the front to remove now.
That will be done tomorrow, then a few small dents, one can be seen to the near side of the intake, that is the worst dent.

There are a few fatigue cracks to sort, and one break in the near side just above the shock mounting.
Both sides at these points are the weakest part of the body. because the alluminium is so thin at this point a lenght of 3/16 ally plate will be flush rivited behind the break and ditto on the other side.
Mind you once the body is back on this week area wont be an issue.

Then it will be down to 'making a mess' don't think it will be too much as most of the rubbing down will be removing dirt and grime from years of sitting outside.

Rob the helper, had his motor bike MOT'd today, they do a few classics as well at that station, he told the tester we will be in for MOT at the end of next month

Must start looking for the steering wheel in ernest soon

We shall see, be nice if it is through the test next month

Roger

[Roger-hatchy]

Since becoming a full time carer I have not got around as much as I used to.
Didn't realise I had lost complete touch

My Mate yesterday said he knows some one who has a spray shop with oven, with the likely hood of a long wait for the right weather he was going to ask how much to do the finishing coats in the oven.
All preps to be done here then the body would be taken to him for the finishing paint job

The body is light enough to lift onto the top of my Volvo, I did it on my own a few years back onto the roof of a BMW I had at the time.
It is 10 foot long and about 3 to 3 1/2 foot wide,
the rear track is 48 inches.

Am I realy that far out of touch £550 seems steep to me.
Hate to think how much if I had asked for the complete prep as well.

Roger

PS will be ready to start painting next week, if a dry and warmish day comes along.
Humidity in the garage is high 80% to 90+ over the past week.

Might have to think about hiring a heater for a couple of days

[Roger-hatchy]

Paint brushes out this weekend

Next couple of day final prep for respray
Friday we do a few coats of primer, then all the black panels will be moved out of the way into the old garage.
Still have the old up and over door in the middle of what is now a 60+ foot garage.

The main bodywork will be sprayed with the top coat then left till Saturday.

Then on Saturday
The main body, bonnet and boot will be moved outside.
This can be done with just one person in the cockpit area
Have made some wooden blocks that are cramped to the frame tubes to keep the body off the ground

Then the black work will be done Saturday morning
Afternoon evening all will be back in the garage and left for the week.


That is IF the paint turns up.

Roger

[Roger-hatchy]

Just bought a couple of 550x16 tyres
Avon Tourmasters, new/old stock, from a reputable tyre dealer in east London.
They look fine, never been on a wheel. and for £30 the pair I'm happy
He said he'd have a word around to see if he can find any 450x17 for the fronts.

Things are at a standstill at the moment, awaiting the paint.
HSE make things so easy these days to do your own work

Mind you at least the weather has started to improve, it would do I now have a heater

Oh yes BTW, have now got another steering wheel, so the old one will now turn up

[Roger-hatchy]

Can't say you missed me

Wings and upholstery will be black, as are the wheels



The bonnet is a closer match to the actual colour