New Project

For now, I lumped all the pre-war cars together, I would LOVE for there to be enough demand to split it into groups (hint...hint, post here about your pre-war Singer)
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ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

I took the dynamo and distributor into Mel's workshop in Boston Lincolnshire today (there is a memorial to the Pilgrim Fathers nearby). He spun the dynamo up on his test rig and it initially showed nothing, but after he flashed some current through it, it came to life and pumped out an excess of volts and amps. He will replace the bearings which are very noisy and adjust the output down to 10 amps after which is will be fine. He will also check over the distributor which seems to be OK. One thing he noted was that the plug caps were insulated which reduces the spark and is anyway no longer required to prevent radio interference, so I will change those.

His test rig is a rare survivor and looks like it should from a 1950s sci-fi film!

I also seem to be dogged by lovely Rileys. Mel has a 1947 RM which he bought many years ago from a friend. After he bought it he discovered that it was a Monte Carlo car which had been driven on the rally by two service men after the war. It is gorgeous and I have offered to clean it for him next time I visit, an offer that he has accepted!
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ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

I'm still doing the various bits and pieces I can get on with while I wait for the suspension bolts that Jim is making for me and the return of the distributor from Mel. I saw Jim in the week and he is getting on really well and is only waiting for a die so he can cut the threads.

I have torqued up the new head nuts to 25 ft lbs and I'm leaving the head to settle into the new gasket. I'll probably take it to 30 ft lb before running a compression test. I have also cleaned and fitted the second part of the exhaust system and fitted the lovely round suspension pads from Hardwicks. Carburettor fitted and connected to the strange lever on the back of the block. Prop shaft also cleaned and painted and I couldn't resist cleaning off the inside of one of the front mudguards and painting it. I used modern paint as it should be more resistant to chipping but the visible parts will be sprayed with cellulose. I have trial fitted the very damaged dash panel which I have repaired as well as I could with solder - the clock is an eBay find which keeps really good time! I'm waiting for Mike Flannery to get back to me about the repair of the speedo and (hopefully) replacing the cracked glass in the ammeter.
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ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

I'm just taking stock of the jobs I need to do before looking at bodywork. Two major ones are brake cable runs and wiring. I need new brake cables and I am puzzled by the connectors at the wheel end: the cable seems to be integral with the connector although they must have been made separately. As I need new cables throughout I wonder either whether anyone knows how to remove the cable and insert new, or where I can get new cable/connector combos made to this design?
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ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

Just thought I would give it a blast with the propane torch and to my delight all the solder ran out. So problem solved: the cable is slightly distorted and then soft soldered into place at both ends. This is good news as I can replace all the cables myself which is far more fun than paying someone else to do it! :D
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cdk84
Posts: 254
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:00 am
First Name: David

Re: New Project

Post by cdk84 »

Lovely to learn that the cables can be made 'to home' as my mechanical mentor said in his rather sing-song Vermont accent.

Crack on, Colin!
ColinB
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Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

Yes indeed David! I have ordered some 5mm stainless 7x19 cable so I'll let you know how I get on.

I have trial-fitted the steering system and pedals ready for the cables arriving. The bolts are all tweaked up as everything seems to fit so she is beginning to look a bit like a car!
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ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

I have split the front bumpers as I mean to get some chrome under way. So I'm cleaning off the outer parts and will take them to a chrome specialist Ashford Chroming down the A1 at Arlesey. The rears are proving harder to split but I will get there. The light bar and the windscreen surround will join them.

I have also been reproducing the sleeve which protects the brake cable actuating the front brake shoes. The original (in the picture) was spiral wound with a black coating which I couldn't find on the net. So I bought some stainless 6mm ID flexible conduit and covered it in shrink wrap. It isn't far off. So far as I can tell its just a push fit - I'll do my best to fill it with grease when the cable is ready to be fitted.

I put my multimeter between the cable connector on the bottom of the steering box and the engine block. When I pressed the horn button in the middle of the steering wheel it made a connection. I have no idea how this works but it looks as if I connect the horn's earth to the connector and wire the positive to the battery I will have a working horn (when I find a period horn that is...).
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cdk84
Posts: 254
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:00 am
First Name: David

Re: New Project

Post by cdk84 »

Brilliant!

If I weren't so much in awe I might be jealous. It's really an inspiration to see you making such progress. You'll be driving this baby before the season's up, and having the enviable choice of which Singer to take on a given outing, to boot!

Muttering things like 'excellent, inspiring, wish I could do that...' again, with admiration.
ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

Thanks for your kind comments David. I'm very lucky that I can work on the car most days in between the usual domestic stuff of course!

Today I got the rear bumpers apart - it just needed a bigger hammer! So I am gradually amassing the parts for the chrome shop. I'll have to drill out the screws holding the screen as they are absolutely solid and I don't want to be heavy handed with the woodwork in that area. I have also disassembled the bonnet into its parts so I can think about its repair. It isn't too bad with the worst rot being in the separate panel attached to the bottom of the sides.

The best news is that Jim rang me this evening to let me know he has completed the bolts and bushes for the suspension which I can pick up on Thursday. So by the weekend I should have the axles assembled into a rolling chassis. :D
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ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

Almost there - I got the lovely bolts that Jim has made, and having got the front springs in place she is back on her front wheels. It is all only temporarily tweaked up as I have ordered some spring washers rather than use lock nuts which I don't use on old cars as they resist undoing when you need to adjust something. The rear springs are in position but I discovered that the new springs are slightly fatter than the old ones so the U bolts don't fit. Doh! I had really hoped to have a rolling chassis this weekend but it was not to be.
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ColinB
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Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

Having thought about it I decided to take a couple of leaves out of the rear springs; it will be very easy to put them back later if I have to. After that everything slid into place and she is mobile. I have to undo the hangers later to put in the spring washers and it all needs to be fully tightened after that, but this feels like progress. It also gives me the chance to tidy up some of the squalor that develops when I'm working, and especially to take away a piece of polythene I put down which proved to be more of a hindrance than a help!
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telco.2
Posts: 293
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 10:00 pm
First Name: Bill
Location: Kendal UK

Re: New Project

Post by telco.2 »

She looks fantastic! Well done
Bill
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Phillip
Posts: 996
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:19 am
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: New Project

Post by Phillip »

Agreed!
And wonderful to see these earlier cars getting some love. I very much enjoy my Senior!
Your Friendly Canadian Pre-War Singer Specialist, Collector & Historian,
Editor & Pre-War Registrar & Canadian Contact -NASOC
Singer Enthusiast for over 40 Years.
'28 Senior, '33 & '34 Sports, '36 Le Mans SS & Bantam
telco.2
Posts: 293
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2016 10:00 pm
First Name: Bill
Location: Kendal UK

Re: New Project

Post by telco.2 »

Do you have the pull handle of the sliding roof or was that not fitted to your car? I have one from a 31 saloon which may be of use; it is 5" overall and about 3" wide where you would put your fingers.
kind regards
Bill
ColinB
Posts: 1332
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:37 am
First Name: Colin
Location: Parson Drove UK

Re: New Project

Post by ColinB »

I am really enjoying working on this old girl and I definitely think she is worth the effort! My fabric roof is fixed Bill but thanks for the offer.

I test wired the dashboard with scraps of wire so I could make sense of the actually quite simple wiring and test the connections from power in to the lights and ignition. It all seems to work. Much of the original insulation had crumbled way so I re-clad the original wire in shrink wrap. The only gap in the system is the ammeter which is with a restorer whom I hope will be able to replace the broken glass and bent bezel. I'm also looking out for another of course in case he can't do it; it has a direct bolt-in connection to the switchboard so not many that I see on the net will actually fit. The restorer Mike Flannery tells me that he has got the speedo working which is good news.
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