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MikeEdwards
Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2472 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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I have something similar for swapping wheel bearings. I've never used it for that (yet), but I have used it along with other bits and pieces for various other uses, like pulling suspension bushes out. _________________ 1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 3819 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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So, after plenty more head scratching we had another go at our Hillman engine today...
I wanted one more go at getting the pistons in before dropping the crankshaft so today we tried again.
I opted to feed the con rod up as far as I could from underneath, this was held in place by my Father squeezing his hand up past the crank. I heated number 1 piston and sat it in the bore as deep as the first ring, in this far the con rod top could be lined up by putting my little finger in the hole. Then I pushed in a cold gudgeon pin, and with a suitable sized drift I could tap it fully into place with a wooden mallet.
It worked, took about 20 minutes all told but it worked. So we gave the others a go and within the next hour or so all pistons were in and with no rings snapped!!
Very pleased we gave it another go but it's a pretty difficult job if that's the way it has to be done!! _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6319 Location: Derby
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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Well done with that Hillman engine. I thought you would manage it somehow! |
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1391 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2024 10:42 am Post subject: |
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Excellent! _________________ a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 3819 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2024 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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Just goes to show walking away from it when it's not going right is probably the best thing to do. Don't go too far when it appears to be going badly as its difficult to go back.
Step back, think it through. Have a good plan and patience.
We tried this way before and simply couldn't do it, we couldn't get the gudgeon pins in trying it before and I didn't want to damage any parts forcing them.
This time we worked out a method and tried it, after a couple efforts we found a way of making it work. We are very pleased we didn't have to drop the crankshaft!!
Next weekend out plan is to attach the con rods to the crank, we have new bearings and sump set so fingers crossed bottom end will be complete this time next week. _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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Bitumen Boy
Joined: 26 Jan 2012 Posts: 1735 Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire
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Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 11:54 am Post subject: |
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Time spent thinking about a problem is rarely wasted... and thinking often starts by locking up the garage and putting the kettle on. |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 3819 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2024 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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One further issue we have come across....we started looking through the box of stripped engine parts...there are only 15 cotter halves...should be 16 obviously... _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 3819 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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Been down the yard, more sorting of engine parts.
We are definitely missing a valve cotter half...and one piston circlip... _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 3819 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2024 11:55 am Post subject: |
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Well, more time spent rebuilding the Hillman engine. 3 pistons in but the fourth we managed to crack a ring even when using the ring tool.
After withdrawing the offending piston we found the top of the cylinder has a burr that you can feel with your fingers. Obviously the ring was getting caught on that. _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 3819 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2024 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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I am seriously losing my patience with this Hillman Minx engine, what a difficult little engine to work on. It also doesn't help rebuilding an engine that someone else stripped 20 or 30 years back!!! _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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MikeEdwards
Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2472 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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Tried again to get my tailgate to line up. I've spaced the hinges down as far as I can (the torsion spring will foul on the bodywork if I go any further) and it's pretty good, probably as good as it can be unless I can think of something else to do. _________________ 1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 3819 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 11:50 am Post subject: |
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Continued working on the Hillman engine. All pistons now in and connected. Everything torqued up ready for the sump to be refitted. _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 3819 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2024 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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Oil change on our Commer complete. _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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consul 57
Joined: 09 Nov 2017 Posts: 488 Location: somerset
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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finaly got around to changing the consul to neg earth so i can fit the electronic ign, alternator & elec windscreen wipers.
had to rewire a few things but it starts and runs for now.
sadly i now need new tail light bulbs as i fitted led ones about 3 years ago and of course they are neg or pos earth and cant be used on the other polarity!
been meaning to do this for about 6 years! first real work i have done on the old girl for about 6 months. |
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MikeEdwards
Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2472 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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Last year I fitted a USB socket to the Firenza, I did a lovely neat job putting in place of the old lighter socket. Trouble is, while it's a good place to put a lighter socket - easy to hand just to the left of the steering column - it's a terrible place for a USB socket because the wires trail across the bottom of the dash and the gear lever. So I removed it, put the old dash insert back in, and made a custom bracket so the socket can sit on the passenger side of the dash. Once I've sorted a new phone bracket, it'll make the cable runs much neater. Only trouble is that there's a dodgy connection somewhere, so I need to have it apart again to sort it. Also ran the car in anticipation of taking it to an event this morning which I abandoned due to rain. _________________ 1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT |
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