33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Oct 23, 2009 21:13:54 GMT
Nothing to report on the long running saga of my 33 of late, but next weekend Matt and Dan are visiting with a spare engine should any more parts be required and we'll try to get the job finished for once and all. One thing that Matt noticed is that the engine looks a little twisted. Now that's not to say it has a Dr. Evil laugh when we crank it over, neither does it ask me to tell it about my mother. However the rear offside mount looks like it's under some stress (aren't we all these days!!) like the rubber is peeling away from the metal at the clutch housing. Certainly when I put the engine in, there was trouble with the mounts. The front nearside wasn't lining up with the slot (it was too high) so I levered it into the chanel. The rear nearside was a total pig and had to be persuaded to line up. I don't believe there were any problems with the mounts before I removed the engine. Matt thinks the engine has twisted somehow in the installation and I have to agree with him but for the life of me I cannot think why. The prop is fully on at the vario end, so surely if the engine was twisted then the vario would somehow be out of alignment? I haven't actually touched that end other than to replace the rubber hoses. The engine cannot be twisted at the prop surely it would line up or not, and the splines are fully engaged. I can't take a photo as I would need to open the garage door and that would block the strip light. Doh!! Any ideas? Worth noting I have only started her thus far in neutral as I haven't wanted to risk any damage should something be seriously astray. Cheers, Pete. P.S. Mrs. G found a website of girls names (I'm fed up with calling her Gavin) as what could I do with GAV926N namewise. Apparently there is a Scottish name 'Gavina' meaning 'white hawk', sorted!!
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Oct 23, 2009 21:25:25 GMT
Oops, when I said I was fed up with calling her Gavin, I did mean the 33 and not Mrs. G. ;D
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Oct 24, 2009 6:58:17 GMT
Did think it was a unusual name for mrs G when i first read it but then realised you ment the car ;D
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Oct 24, 2009 11:12:54 GMT
I can't see any way the engine would have gone back in if it was badly misaligned, Pete. Betty's o/s rear engine mount is also separating a little but still holds everything in place.
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Oct 24, 2009 11:18:59 GMT
That's a relief, thanks Joe. I'll try to get a photo on here so you can see it.
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 1, 2009 20:53:12 GMT
Saturday afternoon turned out to be a great day Daffing. Matt and Dan visited in Animal to see if the Gavina's problems could be finally rectified. First up was tea all round, always an essential. Then Matt had a look at the rear offside engine mount, which had niggled him from the last visit when he saw it. All the engine mounts were slackened off, and I had tighted one FT which we think was causing it to stress. Then Matt gave the engine some careful persuasion into a more suitable position before the mounts were tightened up. The engine mounts were then carefully and evenly tightened up and problem sorted. Then attention was turned to the impellor. Matt brought a spare with him which also had only two spacers. An extra spacer was added to mine and problem sorted. There was then some general tinkering to the choke and throttle cables. Then Gavina was pushed out onto the drive way before initial start up to save the garage getting smoked out. This was the first time she has left the garage for about two years! ;D Gavina meets Animal for the first time whilst Matt erm, ahem, adjusts his nuts. Sorry Matt, it's the only photo of the two Dafs together that I took. Actually Matt was about to answer his mobile 'phone. We fired her up and some tinkering ensued. We couldn't get the tickover low enough. She seems to be sucking in air and the manifold was looking suspect. I have a spare manifold courtesy of Matt to fit along with new gaskets. A new anti-run on valve was fitted to the carb' but it was noted that some of the linkages were a little stiff and the choke spring was badly worn. Matt rued not bringng these spares but mate, you can't think of everything! So, we decided to drive her with switching off the engine and letting the clutch drum stop prior to changing gear. I gave Matt first honours in appreciation of the spares and assistance he has offered me thus far. Then it was my turn A quick trip round my very quiet road (ahem, sorry officer) before turning the engine off, letting all settle and changing gear etc. Gears released and no grinding!! Matt believes it is all sorted now in that department. Then she was driven back to the garage before being pushed in as the garage is very tight. Sorry some photos are not the best as the camera was having an off-day. So, a little more tinkering required and Gavina should be driving nicely. Then onto the brakes and, dare I say it, MOT time? We then embarked on a little road trip to try and find the elusive Mr. M. mentioned in Practical Classics in their 'barn find' article. Apparently Southend's premier Daf collector and five minutes walk from the town centre. Well, I live about four miles from Southend and know the town centre fairly well enough to know that a five minute walk would not get anywhere rural enough to find a barn. However, Dan remembers having sold some parts to Mr. M and it was in the Thundersly area about 7 or 8 years ago and he might remember where his barn is if we could find a road that he recognised. We went the route that he remembered but the A130 had changed from back then. So, we drove around in ever decreasing circles. We then ended up going the route I would take to Thundersly and low and behold, we passed a pub that Dan remembered passing all those years ago. Hats off to him, my memory is atrocious and I have trouble remembering what I had for dinner last night, let alone where I was 8 years ago!! So, we then found a path with a locked gate and I stayed with Animal as we had my son Jonathan with us. Matt and Dan went to explore and found the barn!! The Dafs was there and a note was written and left for the owner. It rained overnight so I hope the note made it!! On the way back we found, to much surprise and merriment, that the barn was only a five minute drive from the grinder residence! I will try to pop back next weekend in the hope the elusive Mr. M is there! That's all for now, and future developments both with Gavina and Mr. M will follow. Cheese, 33G.
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Nov 1, 2009 23:34:54 GMT
Well done 33G! I take it that means that the clubhouse is being locked up and the keys put away for safekeeping? ;D
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 1, 2009 23:36:27 GMT
Thanks John! In celebration I even changed my avatar (the last one showed the front of Gavina with the bonet up and her engine on the floor.
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 1, 2009 23:38:28 GMT
Thanks Joe.
The acid test will be changing gears when the engine is running, having got the tickover down low enough, but Matt is confident it is sorted as am I.
So I think the grinding club house is now available to let by other members! ;D
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Nov 2, 2009 0:09:49 GMT
Im sure there will be new grinders before long. Congratulations on getting her working get an MOT and get daffing I want to see you at Newbury show!!
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Nov 2, 2009 6:54:07 GMT
Mr M is on retro rides goes by the name flannelracing I have exchanged postings with him a few times, the Dafs are his girlfriends .
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Nov 2, 2009 12:50:35 GMT
Mr M is on retro rides goes by the name flannelracing I have exchanged postings with him a few times, the Dafs are his girlfriends . In the words of Iliria.... Ewwww!! There was a program a while ago about Americans like that. Best not go there
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 2, 2009 13:11:06 GMT
Good old Channel 4. I saw that one too Joe. Shocking stuff! We all love our Dafs but that is a step too far! ;D
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Nov 2, 2009 13:21:43 GMT
Im intrigued anyone got a link
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 2, 2009 14:03:31 GMT
I'll see what I can find Paul. It was a good couple of years ago I recall, when Channel 4 ran a series about sexual taboos. Strangely whilst the subject matter was very off-putting and you didn't want to watch, it was strangely compelling. This is probably why myself, Joe and many others probably watched it when we knew that we shouldn't be! ;D
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Nov 2, 2009 14:08:33 GMT
Can't help wondering if such people could use the excuse "Yes Occifer, I have been drinking but it's my girlfriend's turn to drive home tonight!
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Nov 2, 2009 14:10:58 GMT
Haha. I dont think so somehow
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 2, 2009 15:03:24 GMT
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Nov 2, 2009 15:06:54 GMT
well done that man. Reminder I want to hear the sound of another DAF twin at the january DAF do at the very latest. You have a deadline!!
Paul
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 4, 2009 13:06:04 GMT
Joe, I checked out Mr. M on retro-rides. I don't think he is a mechaphile, he just doesn't like his apostrophes, so his "girlfriends dafs" are in fact his "girlfriend's dafs"! Phew! ;D
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Nov 4, 2009 17:45:38 GMT
Marginally better than "his girlfriends Daf's" I suppose - would have to start wondering exactly what her Daf is then
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 11, 2009 0:28:36 GMT
Well, it's been fairly quiet here at late, not much time for Daffing this weekend, but the opportunity came to work on my other project car, no, not the van, something not Daf! You may have heard me mention my Renault 5 GT Turbo project? I got this car in a semi stripped state, the interior had all been removed to prepare it for welding which the previous owner then didn't get around to doing. So, it's had a new set of sills and windscreen surround, both common rot areas on these cars and it also had a couple of small plates in the floorpan and one wheel arch. Most of the interior was a jumbled mess stored in garden bags in the car. This has always been a project car to work on with my mate when time permits and after lots of inactivity and much nagging on my behalf, an opportunity to work on it arose this weekend. We had previously resintalled the carpet, plastic trims, seats etc all bar a couple of bolts much mainly there. We were dreading the dashboard as it needed installing and the bulkhead was just a jumble of wires. We're pretty much there now with most items wired up, just fuses and relays to locate and a fuse box cover to instal. It's all been so very gallic and there's some quirky bits to it. Anyway, here's a photo of the completed dash (note, no windscreen!!) Time did not permit the cleaning process, it's a bit grubby but a little too flimsy to clean outside of the car: And, ahem, that's the only picture of it I have, but if anyone is interested I'll get round to taking more photos and start a thread on her, let me know. And back to Gavina. Well, I've removed the poorly inlet manifold and cleaned the replacement I got from Matt (thanks mate ). I don't know about you guys but as Gavina is not a daily driver, I just can't be doing with putting in a replacement part if it's dirty and covered with grease. Whilst the maifold was out I got to clean some more bits of the engine. I'm not being an old fishwife, it's nothing concourse but 5 minutes of cleaning really does make a difference! And here's a picture mid installation of the replacement barry with the carb and linkages etc. So, now is when I own up to having been a numpty. When I got the replacement heat exchanger from Matt, it had an intact hot spot pipe, but knowing I would have nothing to attach it to I got a mate to weld it up. He did so by inserting a thick metal sleeve and piling in the weld, then grinding it down. Now I have the replacement barry (what my mates call it, barry mannilow, barry manifold, don't ask ;D) it has a hot spot pipe too. Hmm. So to get it to fit flush I would need to get an angle (33)grinder in their to grind down the weld and get it flush. Then the two pipes can be bolted together. I also noticed an absence of the metal washers when I removed the old one. Maybe that would explain why it was sucking in so much air. What numpty would put it together without gaskets I don't know. So, after a bit of grinding , two gaskets, four nuts and a bolt holding barry to engine and then we'll see if it's made a difference. I will need to change some carb components though, she's running really rich as the choke spring is very weak and not allowing the choke to come off fully. Hey ho, will see what the weekend brings then! ;D
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Nov 13, 2009 7:54:18 GMT
most dafs over here do not have hot spot pipes on as they have all rusted away and the holes have been blocked, the 46 van only has one pipe and I know of alot with out any at all.
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 13, 2009 13:22:44 GMT
Well, in an ideal world I would have the hotspot pipes.
As it turned out my original item was shot, it didn't have any pipes at all, just a rusty hole where the pipes would have exited. When I changed one of my heat exchangers it had its part of the hotspot pipe remaining, but I had nothing to attach to, so a friend welded a collar inside and overfilled with weld.
Then I got the replacement manifold from Matt and it had one hotspot pipe. Someone had left the connection to the heat exchanger but cut the pipe and capped that instead (you'll see the little bit of pipe in the picture of the two manifolds if you squint).
Now, here's the rub. To connect up the replacement manifold, the weld is now stopping me from joining the two pipes snuggly. So, I need to get my angle grinder in there and grind back the weld. What's in the pipe is fine, it's just getting the clearance around the edges so that I can join the manifold to the exchanger, at the moment it is 2-3mm proud round the edges.
My main concern though is it's all a little tight in there for messing about with the angle grinder. I think I may remove the battery tray to give myself more access.
All good fun. ;D
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Post by littlebelter on Nov 13, 2009 17:55:20 GMT
". . . . As you can see from the photo that one goes directly into the cross exhaust muffler creating extra vacuum for the gasoline to flow properly to each cylinder and the other being an overflow. . . . ."
Hello John. The above has me mystified. I thought the pipes were just to heat the manifols up a bit ?
Pete H.
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Nov 13, 2009 18:04:29 GMT
mine seems to run perfectly well without them.
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daf44
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Post by daf44 on Nov 13, 2009 21:09:11 GMT
hi.
get one of the dremel type tools.
they make very short work of something like this and start at about £15-20 in diy stores.
VERY useful tool to have about.
paul44
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 15, 2009 18:39:15 GMT
More Daffing ensued this weekend at Chez Grinder's. Dan wasn't able to make it this weekend so we decided to convene at mine next weekend. Of course in the meantime anything I could do to progress Gavina this weekend would mean less for the lads to help with on their next visit. So, I decided to get on with some (33)grinding, namely Gavina's hot spot pipe on her heat exchanger which a friend had previously plugged and welded for me. Trouble is, that was before I got my replacement manifold which has a hotspot pipe. Something had to go. Here's the offending weld: Just enough room to get the grinder in there (without the handle though : and here's the end result: Then everything could be bolted back together and new copper ring gaskets from Danny were fitted. The hotspot pipes were simply nut and bolted together, not that they will do anything but at least they won't be wobbling around knocking against each other. You may question why not just remove the heat exchanger and grind the weld outside of the car? Well, when I put the exchanger in, one of the studs wasn't a happy bunny. I got it in eventually and it's in there good and firm, but I really didn't fancy like disturbing it unless I had to as, knowing my luck, it would end up being a cylinder head job and engine out, which would be where I was not so long ago! Anyway, I then fitted the grill back on and swore several times at the bumper. Why is the last nut and bolt always Satan's spawn from hell? ;D That done, I was able to drive her out of the garage and give her a quick wash, albeit the light was fading and by the time I leathered her down the sky was an inky black. I then reversed her into the garage. I really do need to sort out the choke and tickover (or rather ask Matt and Dan's assistance with this!) as she really struggled to reverse up my drive way without stalling. I parked up and noticed I had backed her in too far, so I found this strange little lever which I ignored in the past because it made grinding noises, and quickly pushed it forward, accelerated and she crept forward. NO MORE GRINDING!!! YAY! ;D I did call Matt a couple of times today whilst I was doing all of this, so that he could have a look at his 33 as a reference point. Bit of a tight squeeze to get to and his 55 marathon kept pinching his backside! Sorry mate. As we weren't meeting up this weekend, Matt got to work on Goldie, his 46 saloon. He'll send me a photo to post but I believe it's on the North meets South thread, it had the engine out at the time awaiting new clutch shoes to go in. Well, Matt was going great guns but was beset with various problems throughout the day including a bad earth on the starter, fettling to choke cable etc and the fun of fitting the bonnet back by himself. I really didn't imagine he would be finishing it today and when I texted him the good news about Gavina, I quickly received a text back telling me he was about to set off home in Goldie!! So, a double Daf success today! Next up the brakes. That's all for now. Cheese, 33G.
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Nov 15, 2009 19:20:00 GMT
Good news indeed there. Does that mean some of you can join me on Sunday its Newbury show and it would be very nice to not be flying the DAF flag alone. Plus you can help me with my tickover problems if youve sorted yours which to be honest sound far worse. Mine are liveable with probably why I haven't bothered to investigate very thourighly.
Paul
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Nov 15, 2009 19:41:14 GMT
Hi Paul, Thanks. I very much doubt she will be on the road in time. I have still got the brakes and that is an unknown at the moment, don't know what's there until we start looking. Then there's the MOT (which my mate will do so it will pass of course ) and the cost of insuring and taxing her just before Christmas. I'll remind Matt and Dan about it and if they are able to go then I'll tag along with them.
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