Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rootes75]

Spent yesterday morning working on our 1944 Commer. We're still trying to remove the engine, she's seized in place but after a few weekends of soaking everything we can we have finally got some movement. Another go at it next weekend should have the engine out so we can start it's rebuild over the winter.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Rootes75]

Well, all I can say is the Commer designers didn't make it at all easy. Everything is ready to go now, all freed off and we have movement!! But still we can't remove the engine, we cant lift the back end at all due to the cab floor! I've gone back to my manuals and finally found one that actually refers to engine removal...it says:

"To permit sufficient clearance to be obtained between clutch housing and the cab proceed as follows:-

(a) Release the nuts that secure the three cab silentbloc mountings (one at the rear and one either side) to brackets on the chassis frame.

(b) With jacks on either side, raise the cab 1 in. to 1 1/2 in. Do not exceed this amount, otherwise the front mounting will be subjected to excessive strain."

So now we have to lift the whole cab off!!
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[MikeEdwards]

Replaced the coolant in the Firenza yesterday as I'll need to use it at the end of the week. It's a bit difficult to drain properly, so I just undid the bottom radiator hose, let it run, then put it back. I then stuck 2l of anti-freeze in (as per the manual for 25% strength) and topped it up with water, then ran the engine for a bit. I should have driven the car around, but it was a bit too wet for that.
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1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT

[alastairq]

Dunno where else to put this...but for those whose cars a really, truly, jammed up........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ukpVWtQBNc
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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.

[Ray White]

[alastairq]

Thanks Ray..I knew your posts were somewhere....
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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]

Finally, we have the engine out of our Commer.

In the end I had to cut the head off one of the engine mounting studs but I can replace that. Even with clearance it still too quite a bit of work to free her from the splines but after so many weekends of trying we were all pretty pleased.

Now the seized engine is in the shed, in the dry, we can start the full strip down and rebuild over the winter months.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[MikeEdwards]

I've started the alterations to my overdrive gearbox to hopefully fit it in a car this winter. It's come from a different model where the gear lever is further forward, so it has to come backwards. I was kindly given some photos of how to do it, but they're photos of printouts of photos and not great quality. I've a bit more space to work in now the Sunbeam Alpine project has gone, so at least that's a bit easier.
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1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT

[Rootes75]

With it being a dry day last Sunday we had a good move round of the shed. We could drive one of the restored lorries out so we could then get the recently removed engine to the back of the shed ready to start it's strip down.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Rootes75]

Started the engine strip down in earnest now. So much better with it out the vehicle and accessible in the dry shed.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[MikeEdwards]

Took it out for a run to a local event. I've been running the fuel level down because I want to swap the hose that comes away from the tank for some new rubber stuff, and I was a bit concerned on the way back because I've also emptied my spare can into the daily driver. No need, though, it got back perfectly well.
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1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT

[Rootes75]

I'm actually enjoying decreasing and cleaning down our Commer engine. In doing so I've uncovered all the original engine paint and tbh I'm thinking about leaving the outside in that condition rather than repainting.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[MikeEdwards]

I made a mess of one of the mountings I was making for the overdrive conversion, drilling and fitting two captive nuts about 5mm too far back. I cut the section out and welded it 5mm further forward, then noticed they should also have been 15mm to the left. This afternoon I've cut the section out and cut a new piece of steel to go into the hole and I'll measure, drill and fit the captive nuts again. I was going to make a whole new mounting, but I haven't got much 2mm steel and it seemed wasteful when everything else is OK on it.

Not spending much time in the shed for now as it's a bit cold.
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1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT

[Vintage Fly Guy]

Fitted a battery cut out switch with fused bypass link, to provide just enough power to the keep the memory in the radio and the ECU. By trial and error, I found a 10a blow rated fuse was required to enable the central locking to work, any lower ampage rating and the fuse popped when locking/unlocking.

I feel this is much safer than leaving the battery connected on a classic car when parking it up when not in regular use, in case of electrical malfunction and a resultant fire, and now I shouldn't need to enter the radio code each time I want to use the car... providing I don't forget to screw the main connector down beforehand, and blow the 10a bypass fuse trying to start it!

[consul 57]

went to the wadys cider meet in somerset today with the consul and met again with roots 75 with his big hillman.
had a nice chat with him & others.
1st & 3rd sunday of the month.