Hi all.
This is my first post. I have inherited my fathers 1929 Singer Junior Tourer which has been stored for the last 10 years plus over in Perth Australia. I live in Melbourne and just had it freighted over. My first task has been to flush out the cooling system. While there was ethyl glycol in the system the water level was low and there was considerable rust. I was wondering if anyone has ever used Evaporust in the engine. I am not talking about the Thermo version which is designed for cooling systems as that requires a water pump and considerable driving. i am referring to the standard Evaporust liquid. It works very well on steel but i am not sure about cast iron. I would block off the coolant outlet and let it sit in the engine for about a week then flush it out. Any thoughts?
Regards
Mike
Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Hello Mike - Great to have another 1929 Junior Tourer on the Forum! Do you have any pictures of your car? Does it run? Do you know why it lost its coolant? Does the rad leak?
So far as rubbish in the block is concerned I have always just run a hose through the top hose connection until it comes out reasonably clear at the bottom. On my Land Rover I took out the core plugs which gave really good access but I just used the hose on my Junior and she doesn’t overheat.
Regards
Colin
So far as rubbish in the block is concerned I have always just run a hose through the top hose connection until it comes out reasonably clear at the bottom. On my Land Rover I took out the core plugs which gave really good access but I just used the hose on my Junior and she doesn’t overheat.
Regards
Colin
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Mike57
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Michael
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Hi Colin
The car is complete and mainly original except for the wiring and maybe a few other minor area like the battery box. The car was last started in 2015 and has not been on the road since about 2009. It was my fathers and was always garaged but he became ill around 2010 and the car was idle since then. He passed away in 2015 and I have just relocated it from Perth to Melbourne and have started the restoration to a running state. Since the coolant was never topped up it was low through evaporation I guess, there were no leaks. I have removed all the hoses and flushed it as you suggest. The radiator looks pretty good (inspection with an optic fibre camera) but there was a lot of corrosion in the block and the lower coolant outlet pipe is completely shot. It seems to have been a bit of a home made job being repaired using a different metal and it cannot be re-used.
I was wanting to do a thorough job on the block before refilling so that was the reason for asking about Evaporust. I use that on all the small parts with great success and intend to use it on the chrome bumpers when I can make up a container for them (maybe using PVC pipe).
There are many minor issues to be attended to like leaking rear axle seals, probably new brake linings and adjustments plus the front tie rod ball joints need attention. The radiator needs to be lifted so I need to get some more rubber spacers or make something up. I have removed the fuel tank because an inspection of that showed it was in a pretty bad state so I need to find a place to treat that and have it lined or use the POR15 treatment or something like that. Mainly a lot of small items that will take some time as I still work full time.
The body is in great condition as well as the hood and the interior. There are some minor areas of corrosion underneath and an oil leak from the back of the engine but I am told that is normal I just don't know how much is normal.
It looks like this forum does not host photos? I don't have a paid photobucket account so I am not sure how to share photos.
Thanks for responding
Mike
The car is complete and mainly original except for the wiring and maybe a few other minor area like the battery box. The car was last started in 2015 and has not been on the road since about 2009. It was my fathers and was always garaged but he became ill around 2010 and the car was idle since then. He passed away in 2015 and I have just relocated it from Perth to Melbourne and have started the restoration to a running state. Since the coolant was never topped up it was low through evaporation I guess, there were no leaks. I have removed all the hoses and flushed it as you suggest. The radiator looks pretty good (inspection with an optic fibre camera) but there was a lot of corrosion in the block and the lower coolant outlet pipe is completely shot. It seems to have been a bit of a home made job being repaired using a different metal and it cannot be re-used.
I was wanting to do a thorough job on the block before refilling so that was the reason for asking about Evaporust. I use that on all the small parts with great success and intend to use it on the chrome bumpers when I can make up a container for them (maybe using PVC pipe).
There are many minor issues to be attended to like leaking rear axle seals, probably new brake linings and adjustments plus the front tie rod ball joints need attention. The radiator needs to be lifted so I need to get some more rubber spacers or make something up. I have removed the fuel tank because an inspection of that showed it was in a pretty bad state so I need to find a place to treat that and have it lined or use the POR15 treatment or something like that. Mainly a lot of small items that will take some time as I still work full time.
The body is in great condition as well as the hood and the interior. There are some minor areas of corrosion underneath and an oil leak from the back of the engine but I am told that is normal I just don't know how much is normal.
It looks like this forum does not host photos? I don't have a paid photobucket account so I am not sure how to share photos.
Thanks for responding
Mike
Regards
Mike
Mike
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Peter McKercher
- Posts: 1074
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 4:26 am
- First Name: Peter
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Mike
You can post photos. Just hit the tab that says attachments when you are drafting your message. The "add files" button will appear and you can browse your PC for photos you wish to add.
You can post photos. Just hit the tab that says attachments when you are drafting your message. The "add files" button will appear and you can browse your PC for photos you wish to add.
Peter McKercher
Vice President - NASOC
Pre war Singer Specialist and Collector
Automotive Historian
Author of "Racing Roadsters"
Vice President - NASOC
Pre war Singer Specialist and Collector
Automotive Historian
Author of "Racing Roadsters"
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Mike57
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Michael
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Hi all
Here are some photos.
In the pdf file is what it looked like back in 2009.
Then what it looks like now. Pics taken as it was leaving Perth. Sorry none of the interior or engine bay and parts have now removed from the engine anyway but it is fairly original. Forgot to mention that the radiator is not original (not the core anyway) and neither is the radiator surround so if anyone knows where I can find an original surround let me know. BTW the brass is now all polished.
Here are some photos.
In the pdf file is what it looked like back in 2009.
Then what it looks like now. Pics taken as it was leaving Perth. Sorry none of the interior or engine bay and parts have now removed from the engine anyway but it is fairly original. Forgot to mention that the radiator is not original (not the core anyway) and neither is the radiator surround so if anyone knows where I can find an original surround let me know. BTW the brass is now all polished.
Regards
Mike
Mike
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Very nice car Mike, which seems to be pretty complete. I think your radiator surround is the original part which just needs to be re-nickle plated. She should come together into a really nice car without too much work by the looks of it. 
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Mike57
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Michael
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Hi Colin et al
i checked out another Junior in the club last evening and my radiator surround seems to be a very close hand made copy. It is missing some of the detail on the rear edges that the original has and the singer badge has been cut off the original and very nicely attached to the copy.
Other things I noticed is that the radiator core is not original but the construction except for the cooling fins is the same. That is largish diameter vertical cooling pipes of about the same number and spacing as the original. It looks to have an original top and bottom tank which explains why the original core which I also have is missing these. It looks like my dad may have commissioned someone to build a replica.
I am missing the plaque with the engine number from the firewall and also the original electrical termination block on the LHS near the generator.
My wooden dash seems to be a replica. Was the original from Mahogany? I also have wooden sections attaching the hood irons to the car but that might be from the local manufacturing of the body in Australia. I see that some have tubular steel as the UK registrar pointed out to me when I sent him the photos and details.
That is all that I have spotted so far. Mainly small items that I can attend to over time to make it as original as possible. The club member who inspected mine thought it was all very original except for some of these smaller items. Curiously enough his Junior has an original radiator core which was astounding.
i checked out another Junior in the club last evening and my radiator surround seems to be a very close hand made copy. It is missing some of the detail on the rear edges that the original has and the singer badge has been cut off the original and very nicely attached to the copy.
Other things I noticed is that the radiator core is not original but the construction except for the cooling fins is the same. That is largish diameter vertical cooling pipes of about the same number and spacing as the original. It looks to have an original top and bottom tank which explains why the original core which I also have is missing these. It looks like my dad may have commissioned someone to build a replica.
I am missing the plaque with the engine number from the firewall and also the original electrical termination block on the LHS near the generator.
My wooden dash seems to be a replica. Was the original from Mahogany? I also have wooden sections attaching the hood irons to the car but that might be from the local manufacturing of the body in Australia. I see that some have tubular steel as the UK registrar pointed out to me when I sent him the photos and details.
That is all that I have spotted so far. Mainly small items that I can attend to over time to make it as original as possible. The club member who inspected mine thought it was all very original except for some of these smaller items. Curiously enough his Junior has an original radiator core which was astounding.
Regards
Mike
Mike
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Hello Mike,
My dash looks to be original and is made of quite chunky mahogany. My radiator is also original so far as I can tell - it doesn't leak possibly as a result of the car sitting in a shed from around 1960 with only 21k miles on the clock! It took me 3 years to find a decent radiator surround which included losing one in transit from Australia! There were some in various stages of completeness discussed on the Australian Singer Club Facebook page. May be worth getting in touch with them. Yes hood frames in the UK are all steel. Mine was made for me by the very skilful Dick Preston based on a similar car in his village.
My dash looks to be original and is made of quite chunky mahogany. My radiator is also original so far as I can tell - it doesn't leak possibly as a result of the car sitting in a shed from around 1960 with only 21k miles on the clock! It took me 3 years to find a decent radiator surround which included losing one in transit from Australia! There were some in various stages of completeness discussed on the Australian Singer Club Facebook page. May be worth getting in touch with them. Yes hood frames in the UK are all steel. Mine was made for me by the very skilful Dick Preston based on a similar car in his village.
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Mike57
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Michael
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Thanks Colin. Your photo also reminded me that I don't have the original battery box either. Sounds like I may have to sign up to Facebook.
Regards
Mike
Mike
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Its just a lid/cover from Lucas in my case Mike rather than a box - the battery itself (from Lincon in the UK) forms the rest of the box-like shape and is held on by a little steel angle bolted on to the running board, plus the long restraint bolts. You can find the covers on eBay from time to time. The picture shows the angle on my car with a home made cover and before the long bolts were installed. I replaced the home made cover when the real thing turned up!
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Mike57
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Michael
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
Thanks for the photos Colin. I realise I am also missing the dash illuminator after seeing the photo of your dash. I wonder if this copy would be a close replica.
https://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/produ ... p-pull-out
Anyway back on topic I have been speaking to an Australian small business called liquid intelligence about de-rusting the block. They have a number of products and one called 239 looked promising but after some discussion it needs heat and a water pump to circulate it but he has a variant called 240 which is not on his web site which can be aerated using an aquarium pump and seems to be the right product for the application. It seems to be similar to Evaporust in the way it works but of course the chemicals and never listed. I am going to give this one a go.
http://liquidintelligence.com.au/produc ... eaning-kit
He also sells a coolant which is a soluble oil which will prevent any corrosion and is the best coolant for a thermo siphon engine according to the proprietor. That is called 600.
http://liquidintelligence.com.au/produc ... or-coolant
Mike
https://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/produ ... p-pull-out
Anyway back on topic I have been speaking to an Australian small business called liquid intelligence about de-rusting the block. They have a number of products and one called 239 looked promising but after some discussion it needs heat and a water pump to circulate it but he has a variant called 240 which is not on his web site which can be aerated using an aquarium pump and seems to be the right product for the application. It seems to be similar to Evaporust in the way it works but of course the chemicals and never listed. I am going to give this one a go.
http://liquidintelligence.com.au/produc ... eaning-kit
He also sells a coolant which is a soluble oil which will prevent any corrosion and is the best coolant for a thermo siphon engine according to the proprietor. That is called 600.
http://liquidintelligence.com.au/produc ... or-coolant
Mike
Regards
Mike
Mike
Re: Evaporust in a cast iron block?
The dash light is not standard Mike and is not listed in my contemporary spare parts book. If you want to fit one you can just choose one you like the look of.