Lotus Elan, range rover, TR7, Streetka, mx5, minor,

Which part of Cyprus did you go? I went there with the family for this years summer holidays. Had a great time. Didn't see many oldtimers either. Had expected to see more...

We too were in Pafos. Was a first for us and we were very glad the accommodations were as described and in fact better. We'd consider going again, that's how nice of a time we had.

Wheel bearing kit from ECP cost a whole £4.60, apparantly they are part of their obsolete parts clearance, probably means I'll be doing it again next year but 7she needs it next week and it was all I could get, only takes 1/2 hour to change anyway.

Also took a look at the front suspension arm again, the bush had started to walk out, comparing it with the old one the problem was obvious.




The new OE ford part on the left the one I took out on the right, obviously a pattern part and the bottom is a different shape and upon checking the arm it is also to this form with a taper in the bottom of the cavity. This all prevents the bush from going fully home. 10 minutes on the lathe did this to the Ford one.




Pressed it in with bearing lock and 3 tack welds on the top flange, it's not moving again!


Much better to drive now in fact  It's a hoot to drive, torque steer it's always had has all but dissapeared, the pattern bush must have been far to flexible even when it was new.

Re-test in the morning.

Also been using the TR for the last few days, with a good clean up and a polish it's going to look pretty tidy, even entered it in a show in a couple of weeks time. Would be nice if Autoglass can find a windscreen before then too.

Thanks for that, lets hope they can't find a std one!

Not a bad price at £240 either, Ford want £900 for one for the street ka.

They do one for the elan as well, might be easier than getting the heater to work effectively.

My understanding for Hazards was one telltale light but it has to flash, indicator telltale can be audible or visual (or both)

Been using the TR for my 1 day a week in the office, today the heater and radio still worked fine but todays suprise and delight was the main and dipped beam didn't work. Lights popped up and the main beam flashed though. A look at the wiring diagram (always carry one of these in a 70's BL car!) determined it could only be the common feed to the dip switch on the column, sure enough unplugging the inline connector under the dash and closing the female part of the connector up fixed it. (The switch was replaced recently should have tweaked them all then)

Also found the link wire for the headlamp flash which actuates the lift motor fouled on the shroud and had been pulled off, bending that to clear and re-fitting it means I now also have fully functioning healamp flash for the first time in years.

Oh and for some reason after many years of not working the coolant level sensor has decided to start working too!

Only other thing which has happened is the mx5 has developed a coolant drip, doesent seem to use any when driving and the level hasn't noticibly dropped but definitely a drip of coolant from the undertray drain hole. Need to get the undertray off to be sure but it looks like it's coming out of the o ring where a steel coolant pipe goes in the back of the waterpump, might be a while before I fix that, looks like at least the pas pump and possibly the exhaust manifold has to come off to get to it.
At the moment I am up to my neck in diy and decorating, fittng new oak doors(12 of the damn things!) and building a hot greenhouse with home made wood fired underfloor heating for my wife.

Started on the minor today, first thing was the crank position sensor, it was misfiring at around 4000rpm and the pip light on the megajolt started dropping out at the same time, I'm pretty sure it is a crank sensor issue.
Sure enough when I got a look at it the sensor has moved backwards and away from the trigger wheel.





The bracket is a aftermarket part meant for a mini, but it had to be moved up to fit a minor, it uses quite oversize slots which mean the sensor can move around, it has to be spaced forward which reduces it's stiffness and it's very close to the fan belt. (About 5mm not as bad as the picture looks).





So I removed the whole lot.




Made a new bracket and test fitted it, this time with only a hole for the sensor and a slot in the bottom mounting bolt for adjutment.

Test fit.




Welded a web in the bottom for stifness and painted it.









Will put it all back together tomorrow and hopefully have a look at the valve stem seals.

Any one need a triggerwheels.com sensor bracket for a mini?

Got some time on the minor today, firstly ran some sealer between the new screen seal and body, all went easily enough.

Next was the valve stem seals, when I fitted thd valve guides I fitted the A+ones which carry a seal but didn't realise they need to sit 2.5mm lower than minor ones, this has meant with the higher lift cams  the seals have been hitting the spring cap and pumping oil down them.

So using my home made tool and a length of soft rope I popped the springs off.


8

Tapped the guide down 2.5 mm using an old guide and copper mallet, then fitted the new seal.



Popped the spring back on and after 40 minutes they were all done.

You can see the opened up old seal here against a new one.




My sons gone out in it and no phone call so I assume all is OK.

Been busy building a greenhouse, so cars have been restricted to driving them.

The minor broke down, strange one, when the oil in the carb dashpot drops it becomes virtually undriveable, topping it up resumes normal performance, Basically the carb is worn out, the piston actualty rattles in the carb body at idle, good reason to get on with fitting the twin carbs and LCB exhaust, probably have to wait until after Andrew's exams though.


Finaly got the windscreen fitted to the TR7, no problems, only thing is the rear view mirror dipping doesen't work anymore but I haven't driven it in the dark for a long time so it may not be related to the screen change.

On the Range Rover it's being used a fair bit, we spent a week touring Norfolk in it with no dramas, there is a slight knock from the back, could be the A frame ball joint or perhaps the exhaust knocking on something, needs it's MOT straight after xmas don't think it will need much though, I'll give the obvious a once over change the steering damper bushes that were an advisory last year take it and see what comes back.

Lotus hasn't been used for the last 6 weeks as I have been doing the greenhouse woodwork under it (it's on the ramp), moved it today though and it started easily, hopefully I'll use it over xmas.