spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Nov 15, 2009 2:40:24 GMT
Following a small amount of rain last night, there was no chance of getting any work done on the cars today, so I took Sheila for her annual bath instead. Quality ain't great because I didn't think of taking a camera and my phone was set to low quality - but I wasn't risking going back through just for a video Sheila meets a Ford
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Nov 28, 2009 21:36:34 GMT
Just in case any of you lot have been smitten by Sheila, I thought I'd mention that her sister has just appeared on EBay from the same guy I got her off. This one belonged to one of the experienced mechanics where he works and, by all accounts, has been looked after a lot better than Sheila was: cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130348040708
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Nov 28, 2009 21:55:14 GMT
looks nice I do like the cream interior oh and the same bloke is also selling a bright yellow accident damaged 1500.
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Post by dafdaffer on Nov 29, 2009 23:47:04 GMT
looks nice...... tempting..... i am looking for an 1800 now
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Nov 30, 2009 9:00:43 GMT
Go on ... you know you'd love that wood veneered luxury Plus, rear lap belt mounts are already there for child seats and 3-points easy enough to fit
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Post by dafdaffer on Nov 30, 2009 10:26:20 GMT
i used to have a morris 1800 and loved it. i just missed out on one on ebay sold for £150 in cheshire
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Post by dafdaffer on Nov 30, 2009 21:53:12 GMT
sorry ;D
morris Austin Wolsley 1800. i had a brown metaic one with 44000 miles i can see it most days rotting away as owner is a mess aroundwit and has left it parked where i sold it to him. it had a yellowy interiour not quite cream with gold carpets and a slide out cassette player....nice
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Nov 30, 2009 22:17:16 GMT
Love them Landcrabs
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Jan 4, 2010 1:14:09 GMT
May have a favour to ask of the Derbyshire Daf Center in the next few weeks. One of the bits of Sheila that I really want to do something about is the badly rusty rear bumper corner. There's a bloke on the Dolomite site who's got a good bumper but won't split a single section (they're 3-piece).
He's in Ollerton and postage on the whole thing might be a little nasty so I thought I'd see if any of the DDC find themselves in that area ever and could collect then bring to Henblas or Lichfield (or hold on to it indefinately till we find ourselve over that way)?
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Post by dafdaffer on Jan 4, 2010 9:49:22 GMT
hi Joe no problem, just give me the details
Paul
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Jan 4, 2010 13:24:13 GMT
Cheers, DD. I'll get a price off him and start some post-christmas saving ;D
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Feb 21, 2010 23:25:59 GMT
Having aquired a bumper corner for free courtesy of a TDC member on holiday up this way, I've been dying to get started on some Sheila bits and been blocked at every turn by Isabel snags. So, today, I finally had a chance to dive in and investigate a few of the niggles with the old girl. One is very difficult setting of the rockers - easy enough job normally except that she was very sensitive on finding the "fully open" point. Literally 5 degrees or so either way would start to close them up. That meant head off to look at the cam followers. Oops! : I guess whoever put the 20 thou oversize pistons in at some point didn't replace them during the rebuild! Luckily, I'd anticipated some wear (not quite that much!) and have a new set ready to go in. Just a little worried now about what the camshaft might be like - will suck it & see for now though. The next niggle is the impossibility of stopping her pinking completely (even with the ignition retarded about 4 degrees and using 97 octane fuel). I suspected that she might have a Spitfire cylinder head fitted because she has double valve springs, which aren't standard. They run 9:1 compression instead of 8.5:1 and have different fuelling and ignition advance as a result. With the head off I could clean up and read the stamping numbers which confirmed it's a Mk III spitty head. Only, measuring the combustion chamber volumes show that it's been skimmed to give a CR of 9.9:1. That leads to all sorts of problems in getting it fuelled and timed right unless I pay for rolling road time, which I won't be. It also may be too high to avoid some pinking no matter what I do because it's nearly a full ratio higher that this engine ever went to in production. Still, if I can get her set up right, it should give fairly perky performance. Finally, for some reason she has standard inlet valves but oversize (by about 12% diameter) exhausts - I always thought the general idea was to get inlets as big as possible? The bigger valves seem to be feeding into standard size ports, manifold (which, as usual on these, misaligns to the ports by about 1/16 inch) and pipe so I can't really see what benefit they're meant to give? Matching the ports should help some there (like an extra 15% or so on area and a lot less turbulence) but there's not much else that can be done - you can get 4-2-1 manifolds for spittys / heralds but they won't go past the subframe on these. There's also a mis-match of about 3mm between the size of inlet port and the inlet manifold (manifold holes 29mm, ports in head 33mm) which I suspect isn't going to help her breathing very much, and the usual really poor quality machining with big steps and ridges in the airflow. So, with new cam followers, valve grind, stem seals and a little light Dremel work, hopefully she'll be quieter and a little more pokey. But it looks like she'll still be pinking under loadunless I can liberate some Avgas from RAF Valley .
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Post by dafdaffer on Feb 21, 2010 23:32:19 GMT
i take it that i don't need to collect the bumper then them followers look like they have been used as shells ;D
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Feb 22, 2010 9:39:10 GMT
i take it that i don't need to collect the bumper then them followers look like they have been used as shells ;D unless you want to collect it for me mines the same ;D
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Feb 23, 2010 18:05:17 GMT
It was Maestego on the TDC who had it available, Paul. But it was a full bumpre (not just the corner) and we never got to discussing a price because 1300Dolly came up with a free (and hand-delivered from Southampton!) corner for me.
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Post by dafdaffer on Feb 24, 2010 7:13:01 GMT
yesterday i saw a triumph dolomite in orange on an X plate, i didnt think that they made them that late as the acclaim came along at that time. it was sat on a drive looking unused with a moggy minor and beetle keeping it company, if only i had some spare cash ;D
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Feb 24, 2010 20:26:14 GMT
Pulled Sheila's valves this evening and the word toilet-cistern-valves springs to mind: That's the worst of 3, with the last one showing no signs at all. Thanks to the pointless oversize exhaust valves it's probably not going to be possible to fit seats to this head either so I'm left with more choices: (1) I can go ahead with the work I was planning on this head on the basis that I'll probably have to do it all again - but having got this far a practice run wouldn't be a bad thing and would keep me out of trouble for a few evenings. This would mean some fairly radical work on the chamber floors to blend out that step, which probably shouldn't really be done with a Dremel. On the other hand, thanks to the high CR I've got plenty of metal available to remove. It would also be the cheapest (which is never a bad thing) and entitle me to wear a smug smart-backside smile if it worked. If not it would be a lot of wasted effort and more work down the line, if not a scrapped head. (2) I can give them a quick clean up and see what happens. I'm pretty certain this hasn't happened while I've had her cos the valve clearances haven't changed at all in use and there's enough step there for them to have closed up to nothing. So there's a fair chance they won't get any worse. That would mean looking for a replacement head for the fun stuff but would also postpone things indefinately because, as my normal transport, she's used too much to disable her too often (it took a real effort of will to pull her apart this time!) (3) I can "do the right thing", accept she's off road, and find a replacement head. But that means having her off-road for longer, plus loses all the extra compression which I'd quite like to keep some of thanks. Plus it's not really a challenge that way, is it? Suggestions?
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Feb 24, 2010 23:08:30 GMT
If it were mine then I'd want to put a replacement head on it. Even then though it's a waste of the opened out manifold. I think you've already made the decision in that you need to keep mobile so if you go ahead, what's the worst that can happen? At the end of the day it might still need a replacement head, and you'll be back to square one, except you've kept her on the road. The fact you'll have to do the job again is, I suspect, quite appealing to you so go for it! ;D ;D
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Feb 24, 2010 23:51:17 GMT
... The fact you'll have to do the job again is, I suspect, quite appealing to you so go for it! ;D ;D You obviously know me too well, Pete ;D As you say, what's the worst that can happen (as long as I don't drink Dr Pepper while doing it)? I've had a close look at the valves and it certainly seems to have been a problem just after they were fitted rather than recently: Under that little bit of iron transfer it looks almost new so I'm guessing that it was fitted, recessed like crazy, and has been wearing the iron away ever since. If that's the case then I should have a fair shot at saving it. Pity the valves are oversize or I'd be sorely tempted to try for a DIY valve seat replacement (unleaded-ready seats are only about £4 each) and how hard can it be to machine out a recess for them*? One of the TDC lot who does some serious engine work reckons the machine shop he uses could re-seat them without a problem to whatever size is needed so I'm thinking the plan has to be: Do the work as planned, removing just enough around the recessed valves to make sure they seat properly. See how she runs with the extra compression, anti-asthmatic ports and water if needed. Watch valve clearances carefully to make sure it's not an on-going problem. If it's a worthwhile improvement, plan to have the seats re-done in unleaded spec next time the head's off. * Obviously I'd use a power drill rather than a Dremel for that - I'm not totally stupid
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Feb 25, 2010 19:47:42 GMT
Started on the grinding today (no, Pete, not thatsort - you can keep the clubhouse keys for now ;D ) with the inlet manifold. I'd forgotten just how hard aluminium is to work - whatever you attack it with clogs in about a millisecond. Still, with a little determination and a lot of swearing it's now poened up to match the ports and has lost a few nasty steps in the process. This was a smoke break after finishing the first branch (which only took an hour and a quarter!). They need to be opened up by a whopping 2.5mm to match the ports on the head so it's slow going but should be worth it in the end. The exhaust is a slightly different matter. The outer branches seem to have distorted over time, as this pic of them wearing a gasket shows: The small cut in the gasket was to see how far I'd have to open the port to match them - about 1/16 inch into the water jacket by the look of it so that ain't going to happen. Still, if I open the other side of the manifold to the gasket it won't be restricted even if there is a big step on one side. Meanwhile, I had a look at the workshop manual for valve info and it seems that it's perfectly acceptable to cut a receded valve seat back at 15 degrees. In fact, they only describe leaving it recrssed with a step as "undesirable" but don't say it mustn't be done. So now I just have to bodge together a 15 degree seat cutter
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Feb 25, 2010 20:28:16 GMT
Here's an idea Joe for when you want to reseat those valves. Instead of using that grinding stick (again, not that sort of grinding ) with the little suction cup on the end, a little shortcut I know of is to put the grinding paste on the valve and the seat, then put the valve stem in your power drill (like you would a drill bit), then very gentle pulling of the valve against the seat whilst the valve is spinning will do the job in a fraction of the time and if you're careful produce some good results. I've done this before and it worked well for me.
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Post by dafdaffer on Feb 25, 2010 20:39:42 GMT
hey dont give away trick of the trade ;D yes it works very well
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daf44
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Post by daf44 on Feb 25, 2010 21:50:25 GMT
hi.
wrap some tape around the valve stem first. that way you will not get any marks from the drill chuck- especially if there is swarf inside the chuck. better to be safe.
paul44
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Feb 26, 2010 22:42:50 GMT
The seats themselves are so clean I don't need the leccy drill trick - they clean up with barely a wipe over. The recessing is another matter, of course, for which a (cordless) drill was just the job. The workshop manual says it's acceptable to relieve a recessed valve with a 15 degree cut which is great if you have a 15 degree valve cutter. If you don't have one then try the Blue Peter approach: Find something long, hard and brassy and turn so its end just fits in the valve guides: Take an odd arbour, grind a slot in it and fit some tool steel: Add a quick blob of weld: And mount the whole thing in your electric drill: Finally, relieve seat as required. There's a little bit of chatter but nothing that won't polish out :lol:
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 1, 2010 21:23:11 GMT
It's beginning to feel like I'm getting somewhere after several days of hassle like mini-drills melting, running out of grinding wheels and assorted other annoyances. Bottom line is the combustion chambers have gone from this: to this: I don't dare remove any more metal for fear of finding a thin bit, but that much (about 1.6cc removed) has dropped the CR back down to 9.6:1, balanced within .2cc across the chambers. The inlet ports have also lost most of a bloomin' stupid ridge where the head stud passes through between each pair. You can see where it was by the depression on the left wall near the face of the head. I've taken a good 3mm of metal off it and really don't dare go any further: So, tomorrow it's just a little light ( ) polishing, reassembly and some work on the exhaust pipe to try and stop the resonance, then I can find out if it's made any difference or been a complete watse of time :lol:
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Mar 1, 2010 21:42:00 GMT
Nice work that Joe
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Mar 2, 2010 13:15:21 GMT
Nah, it's never a waste of time if you've enjoyed doing it!
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Mar 2, 2010 16:38:01 GMT
^^^ that is so true ^^^^
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Mar 2, 2010 16:53:31 GMT
Joe if Shiela ends up faster than Bruce there will be trouble. Although saying that the only thing that goes fast in Bruce is petrol. £30 gon in 60 miles, wheres as Gladys will do 4 times that on £30. How much of a difference does driving like a bat out of hell cause you like the exhaust note when its on full throttle make in these?
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 2, 2010 18:53:03 GMT
There's no way you should be using that much fuel, Paul. I tend to sit around 60 in her and have averaged 32.7mpg over the past 4000 miles - that included the 700 mile round trip to Beaulieu towing a house. That's an average of about 190 miles on your £30 fuel at current prices. To be honest, I'm not sure these engines actually could drink that much without choking themselves to death - they simply couldn't breathe enough air to burn it in. Using that much fuel would give an air-fuel ratio of somewhere around 4:1 which is outside the limits of combustion (the excess fuel cools the combustion chamber faster than combustion can heat it and literally "puts the flame out") . On that basis, if you haven't made a mistake in your maths somewhere, I'd be looking for a pretty nasty leak somewhere! Edited to add: From what I remember doing this to my last one all those years ago, and from a couple of comments on the TDC forum, the chances are that she'll end up enough faster than Bruce that there really won't be any trouble - except for finding somewhere to send you a postcard from
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