Help identifying coupe

[Phillip]

What a great start to the story, Colin. ELA has found a loving home. As you say, these are very rare cars.
The starting handle end should be the same as any Singer with the 972cc engine and I believe the 1074cc one would work also. The difference may be the length.

[ColinB]

Thanks Phillip, that's really helpful. I'm sure David Garn will have a spare. So far as the loving home is concerned I keep going out just to have a look at her - definitely my dream car!

[ColinB]

The engine bores have been soaking in diesel since she arrived but no movement so far. I also took the sump off today to have a look at the lower end. There was a bit of surface rust around the bearings but from below the bores look pretty clean, although there is no sign of the diesel getting through anywhere. The sump was full of goo as usual and the mesh filter was completely gummed up but at least there were no bits of metal in it. The pictures give some idea but they were taken with my iPhone under a very low car so the quality is not great.

[telco.2]

It all looks good to me Colin; let's hope the diesel does its work.
Bill

[ColinB]

I am cautiously optimistic Bill: it all looks better than I expected. I think the trick is to be patient and let it all soak for a couple of weeks. I understand that the white metal bearings on this engine have 'shoulders' where they fit the crank, and it looks as if these are in good condition in the pictures. Hopefully the bearings themselves are also in good condition. The car has done very few miles since the Gibsons restored her so I will see if John remembers whether they had the bearings renewed at the time.

[Phillip]

Hey Colin,

Yes, the side thrusts cast into the rod bearings are an important, as it the radius machined into the corners of the crank journals and on the rod white metal bearing. Many shops miss this as it requires them to dress their cutting stones to suit the job and this is time-consuming and costs them wear on the stone. If a sharp cut is made on the journals, it creates a high-stress area and the crank will ultimately crack.

Looks pretty good in there generally and patience, as you say, will be key to getting the engine to free up.

[mikeC]

I seem to recall the original auction listing said that the engine turned but then locked solid; it may not be 'seized', there may be something loose/detatched/broken ...

[ColinB]

The auction listing didn't mention the engine issue Mike and they only told me about it when I expressed interest. I had a long chat with Derek who owns the auction house who told me he thought it was just stuck through standing, and I don't think he had any reason to cover up a known issue; quite the opposite in fact as it can lead to a claim for compensation.
All the tappets are loosened right off so all valves are closed which seems a little odd unless this was to de-stress the springs while she was laid up. I will take the engine out in a week if nothing has moved.
One thing I have noticed is that I can't engage 2nd and 3rd gears so one possibility is that she was laid up in 1994 with gear box issues. The gear change mechanism is the same as the Le Mans due to the extended distance between the driver and the gearbox in the coupe configuration. I don't know if this is a known problem area?

Description
SOLD 1937 Singer Coupe
This attractive little coupe is finished in black over regency with stunning mulberry upholstery. Owned by the vendor since 2015 it comes with a history folder which includes the makers handbook, both buff and green log books, MOT's back to 1976 and a charming article in CCW dated March 17th 1993 picturing the very car! So pretty- it will appeal!
Now exempt MOT and free road tax.
We are open 7 days a week here at Thornton Le Dale for pre-sale viewing, although a quick phone call prior to travelling is advised.
Don't forget. We personally collect FREE of charge around 90% of all our auction vehicles.
So, if you have a vehicle which you would like us to re-home.... just make the call. 01751 474455
Thank you.
Specification
Lot Number: 1
Year: 1937
Make: Singer
Model: Coupe
Registration: ELA 634
Engine Size: 972
Estimate: £7,000 - £9,00

[darcy]

A thought, could the clutch be seized to the the fly wheel and coupled with the seized gears means nothing is turning, easily????

[ColinB]

Its definitely worth considering Darcy thanks. I notice the flywheel is a little rusty when viewed through the top hole in the bell housing so lots of options to consider. It may of course be more than one thing - gearbox problems in 1994 leading to the engine or clutch or both of them getting stuck up during the following 25 years.....

[jeans_old_man]

Hi Colin,

Don't forget the starter motor! A jammed pinion would give the symtoms you have. Is there any movement at all in the crankshaft? If you jack up a rear wheel and get someone to rock it back and forth in top gear I would expect to see some free play in the crank. This would indicate the problem is with the bores.

Backing off the tappets would ensure that there are no valves open to atmosphere and this would prevent corrosion of the seats (and bores). I wish I had thought of this when my car was laid up all those years ago. Sounds like someone knew how to look after this car!

Good luck. Can't wait to hear it has started.

Brian

[ColinB]

Thanks Brian, yes I realised the wisdom of backing off the tappets while driving to pick up the wheels for the Six. From what I can see the crank is solid so that might lead me back to the gearbox. The starter is free to revolve and the dog is not engaged so I don't think that can be the issue. The Six is back on its wheels releasing the axle stands so I can safely have a good look underneath.

[jeans_old_man]

It is possible that two gears are engaged at the same time. This happens when the little peg that sits in the cross drilling between the selector shafts is missing. Quite a common error by all accounts.

Brian

[ColinB]

I'm pretty sure I have eliminated the clutch and gearbox: I put her into first and tried to move her with no luck. Put my foot on the clutch and she moved. I think this may have brought second and third gears into play too. So the main focus is back on the engine. The bores are still full up with diesel with nothing soaking through so if there is no movement by the weekend out it will come.

[darcy]

You may also have done this but - put in gear, clutch out, and rock car backwards and forwards for as long as you have the energy - hoping to move the engine a fraction each time?