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Sept 5, 2018 21:10:25 GMT
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Changed the control arms on the street ka last night, a bit of a pig because one of the bolts had a rounded head so I had to remove the subframe to get to the nut, got it all back together at 10.00pm. Steering is much more posktive so worth doing,tracking still needs doing but that will be after the MOT next week. On the minor the rear bumper valance is all welded, new centre formed in 2 pieces and a few patches on each end which can be seen in the picture from the back, the ends also have surface corrosion again so I will stick it in the electrolysis tank again.   |
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Sept 11, 2018 14:15:05 GMT
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Found some time for the toys over the weekend, on the minor I changed the water pump which fixed the noises I thought were timing chain related, so happy with that, re torqued the head bolts, adjusted the tappets and filled with antifreeze ready for the winter. I also pulled the tyres off a couple of wheels and dipped them in the electrolysis dutsbin, I worked a treat and stripped all the thick rust off.  Still looks a bit rusty but most of it is just dust. Just need to do the other 2 and get them painted. On the range rover the bodge to the rear upper tailgate has already started to corrode but it doesn't matter as I have managed to get a near perfect alloy one with all the latches and a undamaged heated glass etc off ebay for £100, just need to find some bolts and fit it. The electronic air con temperature thermostat has also turned up, with it temporarily wired in everything now seems to work, just need to fit it permanently and try charging the system now, might get it ready for the winter! Street Ka has MOT tomorrow, don't foresee any major issues, did have to clean up a number plate and fog light bulb holder to get them to work though. |
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Last Edit: Sept 11, 2018 14:20:42 GMT by kevins
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Sept 12, 2018 13:56:47 GMT
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Street ka passed MOT but it has developed a knock, looks like one of the top mounts has gone but fortunately not bad enough to fail, I'll do it sometime over the winter while she is back at uni.
Also walked out the car park to find range rover has a flat tyre, get one job done and another appears... pumped it up and it doesent seem to be going down very quickly, hopefully it will be a simple £10 repair.
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Sept 17, 2018 21:13:27 GMT
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RR tyre still fully pumped up after a week, either the valve or someone letting it down I suppose. Fitted the new alloy tailgate tonight, had to drill out a couple of bolts otherwise it was easy enough but glad I didn't have to get the latches off the old one as all the bolts are rusted solid. It seems to sit a bit low, looking at the witness marks along the bottom It appears it was doing this on the previous car it was fitted to as well, I will try elongating the hinge holes. At least there are no chunks of rust falling out the bottom.   Also the radio works much better with a functioning rear heated screen ( it uses this as the aerial) |
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Last Edit: Sept 17, 2018 21:18:38 GMT by kevins
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Sept 19, 2018 19:10:21 GMT
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Today I finished fixing the obvious faults with the ac system on the range rover. The last issue was the ac thermostat. New ones are not available and second hand ones all 30 odd years old so I went for one of these  It won't fit in the original heater mechanism so I decided to mount it in one of the spare swicth positions using a small metal bracket.  Dash is now all back together.  Just need to make a knob and bezel, plan is to 3d print these with the help of my son. Everything now seems to work, just need to vac the ststem and see if it will hold a trisl charge of LPG. |
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Last Edit: Sept 19, 2018 19:17:37 GMT by kevins
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Sept 22, 2018 21:17:36 GMT
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Electrolysis tank did a good job of stripping the rust and paint off the wheels, so today they were primed with a couple of coats of epoxy primer.  Also painted the front bumper valance and range rover bumper end caps.  Unfortunately in the cold it hasn't hardened enough for top coat so that will have to wait, instead I sorted out a couple of minor issues on the minor, moved a exhaust hanger which was knocking on the spring shackle, added a seal to the locking fuel cap adaptor so it doesn't leak and finished the rear bumper valance. |
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Sept 23, 2018 16:21:49 GMT
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Painted the wheels today, used an old tin of old english white cellulose I had lying around, combination of cold weather, not very good paint, the difficulty of getting in the corners and rushing meant I ended up with quite a few runs, but I'm not to worried as you can't see any of it with the hubcaps and rimbelishers on. Also cleaned up the rear bumper valance for paint. Before:  After 24hrs in this  And a wire brushing I had this:  The only problem is it rusts again very quickly so i gave it a quick coat of converter for good measure and turned it over to do the other end now. Also the ka got a puncture and my daughter drove quite a distance on it so a new tyre is needed. Taking the wheel off it had a big shallow dent in the inside rim which I think is where it leaked from, There are still some fearsome pot holes around here from last winter god knows what it is going to be like by the spring. Good news is the dent knocked out suprisingly easy with a few relatively gentle taps from my hide hammer. |
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Last Edit: Sept 23, 2018 16:23:03 GMT by kevins
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Sept 23, 2018 21:10:33 GMT
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The painted wheels.  And what they will look like with the trims on.  |
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Last Edit: Sept 23, 2018 21:13:44 GMT by kevins
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Used the range rover for the first time in a couple of weeks today only to get home and find a puddle of oil underneath. It is leaking a quite a rate out of the input shaft to the steering box, fortunatelly it doesent look too difficult to change the seal, might have to pull the box out first though not what I need with winter aproaching.
Also the bulb for the speedo needle has gone again, time for a led.
Also the minor seems to be leaking brake fluid out of one of the rear drums, bloody pattern parts, all of 200 miles in 6 months on the car! I hate fixing things twice.
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I feel your pain, so many of the aftermarket parts are complete and utter rubbish, some of it should not even be sold as the quality is so poor
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Took the drum off tonight and the good news is it is dry inside, on close inspection the oil is coming out of the axle half shaft weep hole and running down the axle side of the backplate.
So not so urgent, probably a fault with the seal which is pretty easy to change.
I have also ordered a seal kit for the Range rover steering box, just need the time to pull it off and replace the seals, first though I will need to fix the parents leaking radiator, in-laws broken roof tile and daughters ka's clonking top mounts.
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Ignoring the major and more difficult to fix issue I messed around with the frivolities and fitted the bumper ends I have made, makes it a much better looking ornament.  I then shoved it in the lock up until I can get round to the steering, means I will have to use the TR and Lotus for the next couple of weeks, not a great hardship while the weather stays nice. Also fixed the parents radiator so one job off the list. |
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Last Edit: Oct 4, 2018 7:32:39 GMT by kevins
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Fitted the revamped wheels and new 165r13 tyres to the minor, they fill the arches much better than the 145's and are obvioudly rounder too, it is much smoother to drive now. The engine is much quiter with the new water pump and it feels like it is really coming together, did notice a couple of problems though, the ebay bought headlamps dip to the wrong side and under very heavy braking the rears lock up before the front, I thoght this might happen with discs, my current thought is to fit an inline servo in the front circuit.  |
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There are 2 different sizes of rear wheel cylinders fitted to Minors. I think the earlier (pre '63) cars had the larger diameter ones . Might be worth trying that first?
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1953 Minor (Long term project)
PT Cruiser
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Oct 14, 2018 12:05:14 GMT
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Replaced the input shaft seal on the range rover steering box, it was pretty easy to do in situ and all in only took an hour or so, A bit fiddly to see what you are doing with the circlip but no major issue. Pic of it all apart with the new inner seal in place.  Put it all back together and after a 20 mile drive all is still well. While I was at it I also took the A/C compressor off and drained the oil so I can refill it with R134a compatible oil, though I have decided I am going to try it on LPG first. Also changed the front brake pads one of which was far more worn than the rest, turns out they were not a matched set, 3 unmarked pads and the worn one was lockheed, fitted a mintex set now which feel much better. I have been using the minor all week until it broke down on Friday. I managed to get it going by blowing back down the fuel line, yesterday I had a look inside the tank with the endoscope, the pick up has filter similar to this on it.  This one is on a spare TR7 pick up, the minor one looks like it has partially disolved. As you can't get it out without cutting the tank open the plan is to fit a second pick up tube in the sender unit and blank the original off. I'll turn up a brass fitting which can be bolted in to do this. |
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Oct 17, 2018 11:05:53 GMT
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Fitted the new top mounts to the ka yesterday, very easy job, clamped the springs, undid the top nut, jacked it up and out they came.
Found a new problem though, just as I was putting it back together I noticed one of the bushes in the new LCAs seems to have walked out, looks like unless I can lever it back in in situ I will have to take the arm off again and press it back in with some loctite.
It was a Borg and Beck part but I am now hearing they are also just Chinese rubbish.....
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Oct 17, 2018 17:52:24 GMT
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It seems the ka control arm is just the way the pattern parts are manufactured, the depression it is pressed into is deeper on one side than the other.   |
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Oct 22, 2018 20:48:53 GMT
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Frustrating day, drove the ka after fitting the top mounts, and the knocking noise is exactly the same, I can't find anything which could cause it, I am now begining to think it could be the new control arm, the noise only started when I fitted it, so it looks like the only way to prove it will buy another new one and try it.
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Oct 22, 2018 21:39:11 GMT
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I fitted what were supposedly EO quality LCA's on my old Mk4 golf, went through the MOT. when I went to get tracking done the fitter called me over to the ramp and put a pry bar in and when he levered it appeared the bushes had been made of ......
I bought and fitted poly bushes in the old factory arms in the end. |
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Needs a bigger hammer mate.......
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These were supposed to be oe quality parts and I am suspicious something similar may be going on here and allowing the arm to hit the subframe under load. Ive ordered one from euro car parts (the first one came from ebay), their stuff seems to be generally fit for purpose and at least there is someone you can have a go at if it isn't.
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Last Edit: Oct 23, 2018 11:19:20 GMT by kevins
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