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CWhaley1
Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 61 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2022 3:19 pm Post subject: Any Singer Gazelle owners? |
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Hi all,
Long time since I’ve been on this site. Just wondered if there are any other Singer Gazelle owners on here? I am the proud owner of a 1964 Series V. Will post a picture or two over the weekend, but basically I’ve had her just over a year (previously I owned two Super Minxes). She was pressed into daily service when my Peugeot 406 was waiting on a coolant pipe and did a 25 mile commute every day fine. Used regularly.
I have done a little bit of work including replacing the rear cylinders and pipework, replacing the hub seals and fabricating new gaskets for where the half shaft meets the brake drum backing plate and rebuilding the dynamo. Rest of the work has been general servicing. She’s all original including seats, rear carpets and headlining (was actually off the road from 1974 to 1992) and I even managed to track down the original owner’s living son just down the road from me.
I think I buck the trend being a 31-year-old owner, but I’m a big fan of British family saloons of the ‘50s and ‘60s so had to have it. |
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consul 57
Joined: 09 Nov 2017 Posts: 488 Location: somerset
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2022 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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sounds great
keep it up |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6337 Location: Derby
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2022 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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Now the MkV is interesting. If I recall it has front discs... and the "wrap around" rear window has been straightened out. I always thought they were a good car and worked on them when they were horribly undervalued back in the 1970s.
Look forward to seeing the photos. |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7122 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2022 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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I have friend with a very nice Minx of the same vintage that had previously belonged to his father in law. Unscripted we appear to like taking photos at the same locations up north.
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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CWhaley1
Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 61 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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Ray White wrote: | Now the MkV is interesting. If I recall it has front discs... and the "wrap around" rear window has been straightened out. I always thought they were a good car and worked on them when they were horribly undervalued back in the 1970s.
Look forward to seeing the photos. |
Sorry for the late reply. Didn't get any notification of these posts and assumed nobody was interested!
Yes the brakes are surprisingly sharp! I spent too much money before my son was born amassing spare cylinder seals, callipers, shoes and associated parts. I have also just sourced three NOS doors in excellent condition. I cannot get into my shed for Singer spares!
I read a lot of newspaper archives as part of my interest in genealogy and often look for mid-range family cars in the adverts. In the early '70s when these weren't that old (well, by today's standards) they were commonly selling for between £20 and £150! |
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CWhaley1
Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 61 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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This was on my deferred wedding day earlier this year. Drove it down myself then back the next day.
Currently it has been getting me to work and back while the modern (Pug 406) is having work done on the brakes. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6337 Location: Derby
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Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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Now that Singer is what I call a "proper" car. No nonsense mechanics that means it can be kept on the road without needing a 'Masters' in computing!! |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22455 Location: UK
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013 Posts: 3828 Location: The Somerset Levels
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Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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We had one exactly the same colour a few years back, lovely cars. _________________ Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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CWhaley1
Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 61 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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I love it. Next job is to re-set the timing (using a timing gun from the '70s).
I thought the engine had timing chain rattle, as there's a noisy rattily/scraping noise when the engine is idling. I think I've tracked it down to the distributor, as when I place my finger on the cap I can feel something rattling around inside and if I press on it, the noise changes slightly.
It may be this is just normal rotor arm movement, but I've never actually felt the cap while the engine is running so I'm unsure. It is a replacement Distributor Doctor cap and arm. Too scared to take the whole distributor out to check for wear!
At the moment, it's only me who will go out in her -- need to fit seatbelts so that the wife will also travel, but it'll be some time before my son goes in it, too as he is only six months old. |
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alastairq
Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1956 Location: East Yorkshire
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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Is there wear in he distributor drive? {Bearings?] _________________ 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. |
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CWhaley1
Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 61 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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alastairq wrote: | Is there wear in he distributor drive? {Bearings?] |
I'm not sure as I've not dared remove the distributor itself through fear of replacing it incorrectly!
The chap at Distributor Doctor did suggest a worn gear.
If I am going to do the timing (need to consult the workshop manual for this), then I think it is worth removing it to check. I think the diaphragm for the vacuum advance is broken as I can't feel any suction on the carb end of the pipe, so removal is inevitable. |
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bjacko
Joined: 28 Oct 2013 Posts: 364 Location: Melbourne Australia
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2022 6:15 am Post subject: Singer |
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If the distributor diaphragm has failed you would probably have poor acceleration and rough running.
The noise is probably a worn bushing or bearing allowing the main shaft to "wobble" in the dizzy. |
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CWhaley1
Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 61 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:57 am Post subject: Re: Singer |
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bjacko wrote: | If the distributor diaphragm has failed you would probably have poor acceleration and rough running.
The noise is probably a worn bushing or bearing allowing the main shaft to "wobble" in the dizzy. |
It's only my diagnosis based on nothing felt at the carb-end of the tube with the engine running. I need to test it to confirm, but there are certainly no running problems. The new Weber 34ICH I fitted is proving a good upgrade on the Zenith 30VN.
I think it's a 'distributor out' job once I have the knowledge on removing them and setting the timing correctly. |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7122 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2022 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: Singer |
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CWhaley1 wrote: |
It's only my diagnosis based on nothing felt at the carb-end of the tube with the engine running. |
I'm rather confused by your test of the vacuum system. If you disconnected the tube from the carb I wouldn't expect to detect anything from the tube although I guess if you were able to suck down the tube it would theoretically allow you to advance the ignition timing (which would increase the revs).
You might be able to detect the suction from the connection on the carb possibly by observing the effect of shutting it off with your finger but often the throttle butterfly is arranged to close off the vacuum pipe at tick over.
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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