New Project

[ColinB]

Yes indeed Peter, although my major problem is that I never sell anything! This may well be my last car as I will not have a spare shed for another.

[ColinB]

My Land Rover just fitted into the shed so unloading was pretty straightforward with the hoist. John Griffith confirmed that the clutch components are simply placed within the flywheel so it self-centres with it all held in place by the release mechanism. A dab or two on the clutch pedal will presumably allow the thrust plate to find the right place if it is at all unhappy. I discovered that the bolts holding it all together had to be tightened progressively all the way round to ensure that the whole assembly slides into the recess in the flywheel: they have to overcome the pressure of the release springs and over-tightening one side leads to the other being unable to fit. I have also fitted the gearbox as I think this is a lot easier to do on the bench and I should be able to slide the whole assembly under the scuttle OK if I take the gearstick off. I will clean the gearbox up a little more while it is out.

That is a job for tomorrow if I get the time. My stepson has backed his Vivaro van into a tree (again) and I'm scheduled to replace the lower door hinge plus the light cluster and the foglight. It looks straightforward and I have replaced the lights for him before but you never know how long these things will take .....

[ColinB]

Back in the chassis. It went quite well as I had removed the rear engine mounts when taking it out as they really got in the way. So I lowered the rear of the engine onto a jack and, having got the bolts in the front mounts to hold it all steady, jacked up the rear to the point where I could bolt the original mounts into place.

[ColinB]

Steady if unspectacular progress: head on and partly torqued up to 30 lb ft; gearbox reassembled with fresh oil; clutch and brake pedals reattached to the gearbox shafts; and all exposed primer painted in the last of my bright blue undercoat. No oil in the engine yet so I have put a note on the head just to remind me

I have placed the nice Singer door plates in position just to see how they look. Although made of brass they were originally painted and I plan to leave them as they are because I will try to use as much unrestored material from the interior as possible. Its interesting that the plates read from inside the car rather than from the outside - presumably if you were in the car you would know you were in a Singer while someone watching you alight might like to know what you have arrived in. Just to confirm they don't fit the other way round!

[Phillip]

Hey Colin,

Very interesting! The sill plates on my Senior are the other way around so do read from the outside!

Your clutch is similar in design also. Quite a contraption to sort out and makes for a massively heavy flywheel.

The project is really looking like a car now! Lovely to see it coming back to life.

[ColinB]

Thanks Phillip. Just for information at present, do the sill plates cover the edges of the carpet at the doors? This seems logical but logic doesn't always apply!

[Phillip]

Hey Colin,

Presently it does on my car, but the interior was redone in California in a horrible blue velour with blue carpets. Probably back in the '80's.

I've also been told the Seniors had lino originally, but I cannot verify that. All the cars I've seen had carpet.

[telco.2]

Hi Colin,
Looking good...'31 Junior I owned had similar plates but also brown lino floor covering.
My starter motor is due back tomorrow...yippee
Bill

[ColinB]

Good news on the starter Bill. The Light Six had carpet fitted from new according to the original advert I bought on eBay, probably dark blue on mine although none it has survived. I plan to use this colour when I finally finish the outside and move on to the interior.

[ColinB]

A bit of a groundhog day today! I seem to have been here a few weeks ago, although the difference is that while the engine feels tight on the handle it is smooth and has lost the notchy feel it had at times. Cooling should be fine now although I still have to connect the bottom hose as well as the fuel pipe and oil pressure pipe before I can try to start her up.

The oil on the floor comes from over-filling the gearbox rather than anything drastic.

According to the handbook the spark occurs at 1/2" after TDC on the flywheel which seems awfully retarded but the auto-advance on the distributor may kick in quite quickly. Mel tested it for me and confirms that it works OK. I'll just check with John Griffiths before setting it, as generally a retarded ignition creates a lot more heat and I don't want a repeat of previous problems.

[telco.2]

Looks good Colin; you'll be pleased to hear that mine started up OK after a few puzzling moments. Then I discovered the choke wouldn't pull out to maximum! Ok after that though with good oil pressure & fan cutting in and out on thermostat. I still have a few electrical issues to solve, but it's great to hear it running after all this time (about 53 years we reckon!!)
keep at it!
Bill

[ColinB]

Great stuff Bill - you will be on the road for Drive it Day after all!

[telco.2]

Hi Colin,
I doubt it; as with your project, it's only now that other problems begin to show themselves! Nothing insurmountable, but annoying non-the-less. The charging circuit is causing the biggest problem - but we'll get there!
Bill

[ColinB]

Engine plumbed in except for the fuel line. Water seems to staying in the right place and on taking the plugs out and running the starter the oil pressure came up very quickly. I filled the carburettor bowl with fuel and she coughed into life for a couple of seconds. So all looks hopeful.

[Phillip]

To quote Victor Frankenstein, "It's alive! It's ALIVE!"

Look forward to news of her running smoothly soon. Congratulations!