1600 - getting ready for Billing

[mazzo]

What a long weekend. The weather has been so naff since everyone came down that this was the first proper opportunity to get on with the car. I got lots done, but I also came across more problems.

So the good news is:
Brakes, cleaned and bled, adjusted and appear to work fine.
Square panels behind front wheel arches sealed and painted
Passenger floor pan wire brushed, rust treated and painted.
Rear inside wheel arch (new panel Mike welded in) sealed and painted
All seams on all of the welds are sealed
NS front wing rebuilt from fibreglass at bottom.

Still to do:
OS front wing (rebuild bottom and arch
Frenching in of the new sill at top weld

Then the newly found bad stuff: (apart from ripping a large chunk out of one of my fingers!)
Radiator looks increasingly like it's a goner
Bottom hose completely gone (and HB 1600 does not fit) - so will track down one for HC 1800
Bad leak at rocker cover
Steering clunk...... see below
Water pump - inlet elbow - big chunk missing where hose connects.

It's getting there but I am under pressure to get it done as I only have about 3 days in total before Billing that aren't taken up with some other commitment. I'm trying to squeeze in the odd hour in an evening too.

The steering problem is odd. When the steering wheel is turned very gently and slowly, when it meets resistance, it suddenly jumps. Turn it the other way and it does the same. It's almost as if the head bolt isn't down tight enough - or that there's wear in the splines at the top of the column. I have tried to detect were it is, but haven't yet. I just hope it isn't the rack itself. The rubber connector is fine.

I will get there......

[mazzo]

Another day thwarted by the weather!

Changed the hoses on the radiator. Managed to get a small bit of filing done, then the rain came down really hard.

I hope I can do some more tomorrow or I really am going to run out of time. The engine was misfiring too. Checked the fourth plug (which I've noticed before) and it was oily. Cleaned it up and it was OK. Seems if I run the car infrequently it will eventually get one oily plug (No 4). Should I be concerned about this?

As the bonnet was open whilst it was pouring down (and I was trying to fix the hoses) the electrics got quite damp. So now it is running (just) on about 2 cylinders!

I can't seem to win at the moment.

[Clara]

You're doing better than I am Mazzo. Every time I lift the cover on the car it pees it down.

I'm beginning to wonder if this car has been cursed by the rain God.

[bulldog]

i work under a tarpoline(i cover the car) when the weathers bad its gets rather hot but hey you're dry and you can get on with what you want to do!mike

[bulldog]

like this........i shut it under the doors and bonnets where ever i can

mike

[mazzo]

Yes, Clara, I know what you mean! Same again today. Walk outside to get started and the Heavens open again.

Mike - good idea but I don't have a tarp that big. Will investigate getting one though as I MUST get the car MOT'd this week so that I have time to deal with any of the fails (unless by some miracle it gets trhough).

I also have to go to my local DVLA office and get the taxation class changed to historic. They've told me I just need to turn up with the V5 and the MOT and insurance and they will do it and issue the tax disc there and then. Hope they're right!

PLEASE STOP RAINING...........

[mazzo]

The rain eased off for an hour and a half. In that time I managed to fill the bottom of the front wings (not pretty but will be sufficient for MOT - no jagged edges). Then I set about the inside. Carpet and seats put back in.

The mysterious clonk on the steering wheel is sorted. It was the head bolt, so that's another thing ticked off. Seat belts re-secured to the bodywork. Windscreen wipers back on and set.

Now I only have a couple of things left to do before I can go to the MOT.

1. Get the engine running right again! Electrics soaked from yesterday.
2. There's a flap of metal that has lifted in the inner wing, seal and underseal
3. Radweld the radiator
4. Change the cam cover gasket

MOT!!!!

I am starting to feel a little relieved...

[mazzo]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention. It started raining again as I was doing the interior stuff. So when I finished that, I used the weather to my best advantage and wet and dried the front wings! Perfect job, didn't need to keep splashing the sanding with water!

[mazzo]

Engine running fine. Radiator sealed and leak stopped.

Cam cover gasket seems OK......hopefully.

Flap still there but too wet to do anything.

MOT is tomorrow at 4pm!!!

[psl]

fingers crossed son