So. Update.
Dolly:
Engine was in, car was painted. The core plug that blew out was replaced and the engine filled up with oil and ran up to temp. All good. This was handy as the car needed to leave due to lack of space and other car works massively overrunning due to project creep to the extreme (2000s Mustangs, not even once).
Following day we were reassembling various bits and while replacing the fuel pump I noticed the oil looked... Not good. More tea than oil. Dipstick was checked, massively overfull, pure milky brown. Fuck.
- 20220423_113704.jpg.9771cc76e34fcdda428fbcd40709c6c8.jpg (90.11 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
- 279248277_10229259920621757_6394538148599811904_n.jpg (348.52 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
The main fear was that the block had cracked. Being punched out 20thou the, already quite thin, cylinder walls can crack into the coolant passages. However with the rocker cover off we found the head nuts were all very slack. So more likely the freezing had lifted the head slightly and running up to temp had letting it cool had just exacerbated the problem.
A new head gasket was fucked on and it's held true since. Thank fuck. Small journal blocks are no longer mega cheap.
Then the fuel system started being an issue. The lines blocked. Upon being blown out with the air gun all the rubber joining sections blew to pieces. A new single piece copper line was run under the car.
The fuel tank was pulled out again and swilled out with acid as it wasn't obnoxiously rusty inside.
- 279496262_5018987074860324_2193788119052749674_n.jpg (984.39 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
With fuel coming through we then had an issue with fuel pissing out of the carb. Firstly we thought the pump was gubbed and somehow mechanically locking up and not ceasing to be overcome by the pressure of the float bowl being full.
We rigged up a 12v electric pump for testing purposes and this stayed on the car once it'd started behaving. This will be relevant later.
Brake pipe and hoses were replaced, electrical systems tested and the car was ready*.
I rocked up after work a few days later to see the car painted in daylight for the first time.
- 279364584_985852402298056_6477180247159627659_n.jpg.097d4c636d5be76dcb44fe2ee053fa21.jpg (312 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
The drive home was entertaining in that I'd not driven the car for 3 years and this was the first time it'd gone above walking pace in that time. It also had no door or window rubbers, no interior trim, no door handles, a single wiper and lights that
sometimes functioned.
- IMG20220503175004.jpg.359560e2aa89b2aeba8c0f17276e9eef.jpg (127.25 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
So the car was home and ready for reassembly as time allowed.
- DSC_8090.JPG (113.21 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
- DSC_8091.JPG (114.07 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
- 279768979_1186736391867279_1722808752500571311_n.jpg (180.71 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
Firstly the knackered dizzy was replaced with one salvaged from a 15,000 mile 1999 Reliant Robin.
- 281168340_311326561146517_4018740469229630940_n.jpg (526.45 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
Then the weather was shit and I was busy at work so I just polished some trims one evening.
- 280390650_1162907221177703_8698702770418527091_n.jpg (450.28 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
Then the new wiper arms and blades went on.
- 280614943_411733510957176_8412780295832818058_n.jpg (528.33 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
- 281138075_355594313218542_6688576865115764172_n.jpg (543.21 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
The driver's side door was also adjusted and the handle fitted so I could actually get in and out of the car without having to push open the quarterlight and open it from inside.
To celebrate I went to take it to 320Touring's unit one night and made it precisely two streets from my house before it broke down in the shadow of Scotland's tallest listed building.
- 281366973_1170617900165321_5176363815393093577_n.jpg (669.12 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
- 281586598_578460190188837_5012581034939558303_n.jpg (310.25 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
Some passersby helped push it off the double yellows and I soon diagnosed a lack of fuel. I initially thought it was blocked fuel lines again. Turns out the leccy pump had shat itself after 40 miles of living it's best life.
I had the mech pump in the boot so re-rigged that which got the car running. I took it home.
- 280791472_1688070838238120_2375824163659715701_n.jpg (321.02 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
- 281090977_260367382939572_2092325277154328323_n.jpg (567.54 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
A few days later I attempted a drive to the post office parcel depot to get a parcel.
- 284278560_10229452127146800_8469474632013573585_n.jpg (338.89 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
Pissing fuel out the carb again. Pulled the float bowl lid off and held the float closed with the engine running. No fuel getting through. Right, so the needle must be jamming open, likely from shite in the fuel system. Cleaned it up, reassembled, car ran fine. Drove home with a keen sense of smell looking for the tell tale of petrol pouring everywhere.
Then I quit my job and had a week off so I actually got some stuff done.
Door seals fitted (a shit job).
- 285861340_561335738698848_4627821129518632022_n.jpg (210.03 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
Re hung all the doors and fitted handles so everything no opens and closes properly.
- 284847893_1686141735068387_3916263030132045645_n.jpg (391.02 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
- 284232373_583416436408972_5291549154779943057_n.jpg (348.71 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
It is absolutely pissing oil out when hot. I think it's largely the rocker cover gasket and the fuel pump gasket.
- 285506544_504196438149703_7636256620364269420_n.jpg (903.85 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
Replaced the mixture of fuel hoses and pipes in the engine bay with a single length of hose. Future plan is to route a hard line along the front of the engine bay to keep it cool.
Also rigged up a DIY catch can for the rocker cover breather to make sure that's not leaking. It's supposed to vent to the carb, but this carb is from an A series and lacks the appropriate port.
- 286295387_1022662258375634_7694623465447790478_n.jpg (453.1 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
Another attempt at driving to 320Touring's unit was made and this time is actually made it. First off it was pinging like fuck so I pulled over and retarded the timing. Then it was bogging like fuck, so I pulled over and advanced it. It now seems fairly happy, I don't have a timing mark on the crank pulley so it'll be a case of fiddling by ear and test drives to see where it's happiest.
The carb may need a bit of tweaking as well but the plugs are, so far, a healthy biscuit colour so nothing is majorly amiss.
Then a DavidFowler2000 and InspectorMorose popped over and helped fit the front bumper (aka they did it and I watched).
- 285822724_500078591908231_4035818905149894843_n.jpg (707.19 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
- 285724095_1766731557009236_2070692721924313998_n.jpg (820.94 KiB) Viewed 1183 times
Looking a bit more car-like now.
About 100 miles has been covered since it's return with no signs of imminent major mechanical failure. An eye will be kept on the oil pressure and end float, to make sure it's not rapidly lunching itself. After 300 miles I'll change the oil and filter and have a look at the contents.
It also needs to go back for touch-ups and a polish now the paint has had a chance to harden. Then the stainless and badges can go back on.
