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Bob T
Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 128 Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:04 pm Post subject: Austin A50 Barn find !! |
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Hi,
My Morris 8 is nearly finished and so I decided to look for another project for the winter. Someone told me about an old car that had been rotting away in a barn on a farm near where I live. So I went to look.
I must be mad but decided to buy the car, it had been in the barn since 1972, and had been the home of many mice as well as a tramp who ripped out the headlining to put on his fire. The resident barn owl had used it for target practice too !
AS you can see it is not in the best condition, I think an MOT is some way off.
First things first, up on stands to have a good poke around underneath with a large screwdriver and hammer.
Some good news, some not so good. Sills and front corner outriggers need replacing along with repairs to the fron floors.
Rear floors, and the main chassis rail where the spring hangers are fixed are very sound.
It has been converted to a floor change. There are no brakes, clutch is seized, but the engine turns over it has a spark and most electrics seem to be working, And I can't turn the window wipers off!!
More to follow soon. |
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Nic Jarman
Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 1031 Location: Stoke by Clare, Suffolk
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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Bob, you have lost the plot. But you are not the only one! _________________ 1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush |
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alan 869
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 388 Location: Linköping Sweden
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:35 am Post subject: |
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Fantastic, this is what it´s all about |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22454 Location: UK
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Riley Blue
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1750 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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I would have left that 'as found' but mechanically together - guaranteed to get the most stares at any show! |
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Nic Jarman
Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 1031 Location: Stoke by Clare, Suffolk
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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riley541 wrote: | I would have left that 'as found' but mechanically together - guaranteed to get the most stares at any show! |
What, including the smell? _________________ 1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush |
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Riley Blue
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1750 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Nic Jarman wrote: | riley541 wrote: | I would have left that 'as found' but mechanically together - guaranteed to get the most stares at any show! |
What, including the smell? |
Nothing a Magic Tree won't sort.... |
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Bob T
Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 128 Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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riley541 wrote: | I would have left that 'as found' but mechanically together - guaranteed to get the most stares at any show! |
Hi,
I am seriously thinking of doing as you suggest. Just do the welding for the MOT and then sort out brakes etc.
Cheers
Bob |
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Richard H
Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2148 Location: Lincolnshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:28 am Post subject: |
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Excellent, really jealous! Looks a lot more original and unmolested than mine. Your front wings look particularly good, well the whole car does really, and it's still got its original registration number!
I'd get some leather cream on those front seats as I reckon they're savable, unless you are going for the full retrim?
The inner wings look decent from what I can see of them as well. Mine are absolutely peppered, mainly from the two small inspection holes having lost their grommets, meaning all the mud and road salt gets thrown into the box section there. If this area is still sound on yours you need to get some wax in there and cover up the holes pronto!
Overall, it looks like a great project and it's a thumbs up from me! |
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JC T ONE
Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 1139 Location: Denmark
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Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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Amazing car, these barnfinds, are soo cool
Good luck with the project.
Jens Christian _________________ http://www.eurods.eu/wp/index.html |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22454 Location: UK
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22454 Location: UK
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Bob T
Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 128 Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the link.
I have spent some time trying to start the car now. I have renewed plugs, leads, condenser, dizzy cap, coil etc and do have a spark albeit a bit on the weak side. I have repaired the petrol pump with new diaphram and valves etc and the engine has reasonable compression.............but even with a new battery it won't come any where near to firing.
With a spark, fuel and compreesion I am now at a loss as to what to try next.....any bright ideas, anyone????? |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22454 Location: UK
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Bob T
Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 128 Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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Plugs smell of petrol, and ther is a spark at the points and at the plug.
The timing may be out, but if it was you would expect some sign of ignition even if it misfired/backfired, but I am getting no suggestion that it is even thinking about firing.
Bob |
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