An update on this estate I bought 15 years ago.
Has been my daily ever since - even though I thought it would be gone in a year or two...
Fairly recently I swapped to banded spitfire steels - was more in keeping with the general state of the beast. This thing had now covered 330,000k with the original valves, guides and springs - IMHO only the use of synthetic oil made this possible..
In all this time, I have not touched the engine.!
The auto was rebuilt because an o ring broke, and I have had to mess with carbs and distributor on several occasions.
Brakes, universals, shock absorbers, alternator - numerous things have worn out and been replaced.
After all this time, living outside, I now have to pull the motor.
There have been a few oil leaks that I knew would be difficult to get to, so I took to parking it where that wouldn't matter, and avoided taking any action.
Today however, it looks like this..
Believe me when I say I have not bothered doing anything under the bonnet that was not entirely necessary.
Every ounce of dirt and grime that could have added themselves to the general mix is still there, and even this pic is several years old..
Today I have started to remove all the ancillary stuff that fills half the engine bay, without actually being the motor.
Why so.?
What hideous calamity could possibly cause me to go where mortals fear to even contemplate.?
I can hardly bring myself to divulge what horror has now eventuated.
Those of you who are weak of stomach should look away now.
I'm warning you - it isn't pretty.!
Whats this then.?
I call it a frost plug.
You might call it a 'welsh' plug, because you don't like the welsh or something.
Oh - is that all you say.?
Well look again my friend.
There is a very small aperture between the rear of the engine block - where the plug escaped - and the backplate. There is no way to attend to this without removing the whole sodding unit.
Not only was the bulletproof and impenetrable Borg-Warner brought down by a 25 cent o ring - now the dang motor has been scuppered by a jolly 2 dollar 50 frost plug.!
As you can see - the dirt of ages - 15 years worth to be precise - has lodged in every nook and armpit available.
This will be a testing time for all.
15 years ago, I bored this motor to accept pistons that are 90 thou bigger than standard - and there are no oversizes available.
Hopefully, the synthetic oil has reduced the wear enough for me to get some more life from it.
The crankshaft and bearings are still standard - so maybe a new set of shells will allow the same.
Hopefully.!
The cylinder head is anyone's guess.
It may now be cracked due to the time it took for me to notice that the heater wasn't heating any more - and thence the discovery of the missing coolant.
One things for sure - it will be a very interesting strip, and considering the state of the bodywork, an escalating budget may herald the end of this car.
For anyone interested, I run it on what is labelled here in New Zealand as Mobil 1 V-Twin, a fully synthetic oil developed for motorcycles, but at 20/50, its the correct viscosity for this old B series BMC - and I am hoping, has saved its a**e from total extinction at this point by keeping wear to a minimum.
I shall see - and so will you lot, as I promise to take lotsa pics...
Cheers, and thanks for all the superb projects you all post here.
Has been my daily ever since - even though I thought it would be gone in a year or two...
Fairly recently I swapped to banded spitfire steels - was more in keeping with the general state of the beast. This thing had now covered 330,000k with the original valves, guides and springs - IMHO only the use of synthetic oil made this possible..
In all this time, I have not touched the engine.!
The auto was rebuilt because an o ring broke, and I have had to mess with carbs and distributor on several occasions.
Brakes, universals, shock absorbers, alternator - numerous things have worn out and been replaced.
After all this time, living outside, I now have to pull the motor.
There have been a few oil leaks that I knew would be difficult to get to, so I took to parking it where that wouldn't matter, and avoided taking any action.
Today however, it looks like this..
Believe me when I say I have not bothered doing anything under the bonnet that was not entirely necessary.
Every ounce of dirt and grime that could have added themselves to the general mix is still there, and even this pic is several years old..
Today I have started to remove all the ancillary stuff that fills half the engine bay, without actually being the motor.
Why so.?
What hideous calamity could possibly cause me to go where mortals fear to even contemplate.?
I can hardly bring myself to divulge what horror has now eventuated.
Those of you who are weak of stomach should look away now.
I'm warning you - it isn't pretty.!
Whats this then.?
I call it a frost plug.
You might call it a 'welsh' plug, because you don't like the welsh or something.
Oh - is that all you say.?
Well look again my friend.
There is a very small aperture between the rear of the engine block - where the plug escaped - and the backplate. There is no way to attend to this without removing the whole sodding unit.
Not only was the bulletproof and impenetrable Borg-Warner brought down by a 25 cent o ring - now the dang motor has been scuppered by a jolly 2 dollar 50 frost plug.!
As you can see - the dirt of ages - 15 years worth to be precise - has lodged in every nook and armpit available.
This will be a testing time for all.
15 years ago, I bored this motor to accept pistons that are 90 thou bigger than standard - and there are no oversizes available.
Hopefully, the synthetic oil has reduced the wear enough for me to get some more life from it.
The crankshaft and bearings are still standard - so maybe a new set of shells will allow the same.
Hopefully.!
The cylinder head is anyone's guess.
It may now be cracked due to the time it took for me to notice that the heater wasn't heating any more - and thence the discovery of the missing coolant.
One things for sure - it will be a very interesting strip, and considering the state of the bodywork, an escalating budget may herald the end of this car.
For anyone interested, I run it on what is labelled here in New Zealand as Mobil 1 V-Twin, a fully synthetic oil developed for motorcycles, but at 20/50, its the correct viscosity for this old B series BMC - and I am hoping, has saved its a**e from total extinction at this point by keeping wear to a minimum.
I shall see - and so will you lot, as I promise to take lotsa pics...
Cheers, and thanks for all the superb projects you all post here.
;D
Keep up the good work !
Only one complete car though, my dad would kill me if I brought home another one!
