spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Oct 18, 2010 19:13:28 GMT
No, it wasn't a 2 month rest, just haven't got around to updating the thread here for a while. Before the Frolic I found myself replacing a seal in one of the new rear brake cylinders after the one in there literally turned itself inside out. Imagine the distorted bit in this photo bent right back over inside the bore (it had had plenty of "recovery" time when I took this pic): The bore and piston were both 100% in tolerance (it was less than 1000 miles old!) and there's no sign of weakness in the seal itself. Just how hard do you have to push a pedal to do that? Anyway, because we were going away and the car was needed for someone to get to work, I did the unthinkable and replaced it with a carefully checked and cleaned seal from one of the old, dead, cylinders as a strictly emergency measure. The car finally came back here this weekend for a new cylinder to be fitted So got the new cylinder in and bled but noticed that the car was a pig to start and sounded a little tank-like. The starting was soon sorted by giving the (overdue - haven't had the car available till now) service but there's a seriously major flat-spot (like, the engine dies) as you pull away unless you use a little choke. All vacuum pipes are present & correct, no sign of a diaphragm leak, and she idles fine with a nice little rise in revs on the hill button. So that will need more investigation : As for the noisiness, the exhaust pipe was fracured into two separate pieces about half-way back. This had left the front end completely unsupported, which had cracked the front silencer at the top and bottom of the support thingy where the pipe comes out. The odd bit was, it all seemed to be fractured rather than rusted through. So, muttering quite a lot, I got the silencer off to weld it all back up again: That's when I found the disconnected (again, fractured not rusted) o/s inlet pipe, the large dent in the front of it, and the corresponding smaller one in the back where it had hit something and been smacked back against the floor. The owner swears that she hasn't grounded out on anything or heard any big bangs!!!! Anyway, the nasty little thing is back on road tonight (still needing choke to pull away from stopped for now) and one step closer to becoming a parts car as far as I'm concerned!
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Oct 18, 2010 20:07:32 GMT
Yes, I think it's the right time to sow that thought seed in her head that perhaps, maybe, a decent replacement 33 might be a more viable proposition both in terms of staying on the road and saving you from major back trauma or early coronary! ;D Who knows she might even look after it better?! Well done though for endeavours and long may they continue.
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Oct 18, 2010 20:57:45 GMT
If only it was that simple! She claims to adore that specific car and has refused suggestion so far to replace with a better one, yet hasn't washed it once since getting it and had the oil off the bottom of the dipstick when it arrived for the weekend!
I think the only way things might change is when the car either kills its engine or fails an MOT to the point that I'm not willing to stick it together again.
Such is life!
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Post by bettyskeeper on Nov 12, 2010 16:57:56 GMT
Isabel now has her new lens fitted thanks to Pete and Joe and is now off on a trip to Leicestershire (I hope she has recovery cos Mum's taxi is not collecting )
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Post by iliria on Dec 18, 2010 17:49:48 GMT
If only it was that simple! She claims to adore that specific car and has refused suggestion so far to replace with a better one, yet hasn't washed it once since getting it and had the oil off the bottom of the dipstick when it arrived for the weekend! I think the only way things might change is when the car either kills its engine or fails an MOT to the point that I'm not willing to stick it together again. Such is life! actually i think you will find it has been washed several times including last week, before shows and when it gets manky
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Dec 18, 2010 19:10:02 GMT
No, covering it in shaving foam does NOT count as "washing" it ;D ;D ;D
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Post by dafdaffer on Dec 18, 2010 21:14:10 GMT
;D
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Dec 28, 2010 16:47:06 GMT
Isabel got her annual "you can have her for a bit but I need her by....." ispection today to put right all the things that have been allowed to build up since the last one. So she now has: A vario that actually changes up (the control rod for the vac valve was broken so Matilda's lost hers) An idle mixture screw that isn't hanging on by it's last thread cos someone's adjusted it way rich to make up for the permanent air bleed caused by (1) above. Wasn't me - I would have sorted the rod - but no doubt "no one else has touched it" if I ask her A hot-air intake pipe to the carb to at least go some way to making up for no hot-spot pipes (Matilda's going to have nothing left at this rate!!!) Less than the previous 3 1/2 INCHES of play at the steering wheel - she'd commented a while back that it was "a bit loose" but never made time for me to look at it Headlights that don't go out briefly when you change from low to high beam cos the highs are taking about 1/2 second to warm up - that's what happens when 6v bulbs get fed 4.1v cos of bad connections at the fuse box, ignition switch and main lights switch. Apparently they were "just fine, haven't noticed a problem". I'm still a little concerned about a tendency to wander a little (have increased toe-in a little which has improved it a little and a fairly pronounced pull to the left when braking. But she needs it for work tomorrow so time's up till next time. Wibble.
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Dec 28, 2010 22:03:29 GMT
miss adjusted brakes can cause it to swerve i found. If iliria is the kind who relies on them a lot I think I would have played with the adjusters as well.
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Dec 28, 2010 22:34:23 GMT
Unfortunately I tend to get a strict time allowance where Isabel's concerned. Going over deadline for problems that show up isn't generally an option
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 14, 2011 21:56:45 GMT
Probably time to get this one back up to date seeing as she's booked in for an MOT tomorrow. Got most of what was needed done a couple of weeks ago and yesterday was planning on a quick bit of welding to reattach the back ends of the sills after they'd suffered a little from salt and muck build up. Anyway, in true Isabel style, a quick reattach wasn't quick and wasn't just reattach: Not really wanting to spend a second more than I absolutely have to on this car she got cut back to "nearly sound" metal: and patched from there. She also needed some MAJOR filling behind the rear wheel arch where rust had been allowed to fester but the workshop's owner was kind enough to jump in with grinder and filler bucket and do that while I was welding. I'm not sure if it was the kindness of his heart or just wanting the pile of junk out of the way. No photos of the finished job I'm afraid, but it should be enough to keep Mr MOT happy for this year. Even done like that, it was almost 6 hours work to sort the two sides - more if you include the filler man's time! After half a floor-pan last year and this lot this year (the rest of the sill sounds a little crunchy but he shouldn't be able to hole it just yet) I really don't hold much hope of her lasting past 2012 without some serious time and money invested in her, neither of which are available. Meanwhile, Sian also lent a hand sorting out the sharp edges on the bonnet where filler had been cracked when she was walked over and then lifted as it was left for rust to develop underneath. Not exactly subtle repairs but should meet test requirements:
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 15, 2011 13:52:24 GMT
Daf down.
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Post by iliria on Mar 15, 2011 14:39:38 GMT
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 15, 2011 15:02:22 GMT
Well, there was enough warning that she was heading that way. Unfortunately rust doesn't wait till it's convenient to repair, it just keep eating away.
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pauldaf44
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Post by pauldaf44 on Mar 15, 2011 16:48:32 GMT
Does that mean she failed?
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 15, 2011 16:59:44 GMT
Permanently
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stefan
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If it isn't broken fix it till it is
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Post by stefan on Mar 15, 2011 17:21:48 GMT
Well lets have the list of fail points then
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 15, 2011 17:56:41 GMT
Without getting the sheets out of her (it's raining and she's down at the workshop) it was roughly:
Handbrake imbalance bad enough to be felt on a Tapley test - I checked on the way home and he was right! (everything's working so assume seals gone again in new cylinder / contaminated linings or drum problem)
Rear flexies both bulging under pressure
Rust in prescribed area round o/s/f suspension + rust just outside prescribed area where you might want to weld to
Advise rust in sills both sides (would realistically need full sills both sides within the year)
Rust in rear valance to the point of not supporting the exhaust
Play in suspension ball-joints n/s & o/s/f
Advise play in steering balljoints
Advise a couple of others that I can't remember.
So, there's nothing there that couldn't be patched up, but the sills are crunchy right the way along (which I'd noticed when welding to the "nearly sound" stuff at the back) and the secondaries are pitted to the point that, even after polishing, she eats belts for a past-time - second set in about 8k miles just about worn out now.
Add to that lots of bodywork problems that have developed from surface rust to holes-if-you-push in all the usual places (door skins, under rear windows, wing tops, wing bottoms .....) and it really isn't viable.
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Mar 15, 2011 20:18:27 GMT
Sorry to hear that Joe.
I take it she's in the workshop as the MOT was done on the last day and it expires today (rather than at the workshop for repairs)?
I'm sure there could be many mechanical parts that could save other 33s...
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 15, 2011 20:25:13 GMT
Yes - MOT's out as of midnight tonight and life support will be switched off in the next day or two. Then the organ donor process will start
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Mar 15, 2011 21:13:58 GMT
Fair dos, it's sad but some of the parts could be handy for Gavina. Let me know what you may be prepared to part out and if anything on your for sale list matches my needed list I'll be happy to make a deal with you.
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 15, 2011 21:25:09 GMT
You're right about sad - I've only ever scrapped 2 cars in the past 20+ years because I get illogically sentimental about the poor things. Anyway, PM on it's way re parts...
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Mar 15, 2011 22:03:11 GMT
Thanks Joe, received and replied to.
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Post by Patrick on Mar 15, 2011 22:54:43 GMT
Deepest sympathies Sir! It can never be easy even if you're (slightly) expecting it.
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Mar 15, 2011 23:13:17 GMT
Thanks, Patrick. Just having a quiet can in her honour and remembering the first time we met - driving back from Nottingham to Anglesey with no front suspension (both shocks seized) one heat exchanger disconnected from the silencer and gassing / deafening me, and belts that hung in loops underneath her and squealed like a banshee every time I had to accelerate. But she made it I guess it's like a lot of things in old age - her heart's still strong but her body's weak
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Oct 21, 2012 10:48:17 GMT
I'm not saying much because others are doing the do, but we had visitors from daan sarf arrive yesterday, and this morning Isabel headed off down the A55 on a dolly towards new adventures. This has given me a curious warm and fuzzy feeling inside
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33grinder
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Post by 33grinder on Oct 21, 2012 18:55:22 GMT
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Oct 21, 2012 19:21:22 GMT
Apparently she's arrived safely and already lost her spots. I don't think that was down to panels falling off along the way, at least I certainly hope it wasn't ;D
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mattsdafs
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Yolanda, 55 estate
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Post by mattsdafs on Oct 22, 2012 7:50:02 GMT
;D Can`t wait to see the end result
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spunkymonkey
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Post by spunkymonkey on Nov 2, 2012 22:34:38 GMT
I'm sure Lewis won't mind me sharing these here. Sorry about the photo sizes, but that's the size they've been posted to FB at. As she was, about 2 weeks ago, looking very sad indeed where she'd been abandoned in favour of a Rover 416: Spots off and rust coming out on the rear quarter: Metal going in in place of the rust: And filled / primed ready for paint: I think that's pretty amazing for a couple of weeks, fitted in round the day jobs! If anyone wants to keep up with progress, there's an album on facebook which is being updated as she's done: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.462906747095214.129330.163698673682691&type=1And it's all in a good cause as well - once done she's being raffled by Norfolk Classic Vehicle Club in aid of charity at their 2013 show
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