I promised an update and so here it is!
Last time I posted anything the gearbox bush had just disintegrated, and on removal of the stick we found that the bush (acorn?) on the end of the stick was gone too.
I ordered a new spherical seat, and after speaking to my parents neighbour, he turned up a new acorn for me - or a very good approximation of one, neither of us having seen one in the flesh:
This was a press fit on the end of the shaft, but was glued on too with some engineering adhesive.
I then refitted the centre console.
The carbs had never been quite right, so I gave it a third go at getting done. I took the piston and damper assemblies off and then slackened all the linkages and stop screws. I then set both stop screws so that they were just touching the stop without picking up either butterfly. Then I tweaked and retweaked the connecting linkage until both carbs opened at the same time, or as close as possible anyway. Finally I adjusted the jet to the same height on each using a set of verniers, dropped the tops back on and then leaned both out equal amounts. It then sounded like a true v8 again!
I replaced all the coolant hoses with new ones, and new stainless clips, and wire brushed some spots of rust and chucked some red oxide on here and there:
At this point when idling for extended periods it would lift the rad cap and drop coolant on switchoff.The temp gauge would be in the green but at the top end of it.
I had already done a quick flush, and also washed the fins through as they had quite a lot of cobweb-like material on them, but this only helped a little. I decided to go for it properly, I removed the rad, and flushed it through before chucking these in. Moving does have it benefits as you do find stuff at the back of cupboards (No brand loyalty here!):
Rad out:
Pickling with vinegar for a few hours:
Then thoroughly washed through and quite a lot of crud and limescale came out! I should have done it longer but didnt want to push it as things are a little crusty along the bottom anyway.
With rad back in I also put on a new cap and this seems to have solved the issue.
So then it was onto the subject of wheels. I had these SD1 nuts:
So I ordered a few Ford studs off ebay, just a handful until I was sure it would all work. These fitted the hub fine (thanks to Quattro's thread I was sure they would already). But ended up being too long and so were bottom out in the nut before the wheel was clamped up.
Again my parents neighbour Chris came to the rescue, and he turned them down for me. They were retested and we now have studs that clamp up the wheels and dont bottom out 8)
Now I just need to get my new tyres fitted to the SD1 rims and put them on the car!
Then onto the interior. I hoovered it out again and then removed the seats and cleaned and fed them. Here is the passenger side front:
Then onto today, and I foolishly asked my Dad to book an MOT for me as I fancied a day off and needed something to do. This morning I zoomed over there and with my brother (gearstick breaker) we started feverishly cleaning everything in sight:
the smasher at work
Then it was off to the MOT station!
Where it passed
It was their first P6 and they were very enthusiatic about it, loved it in fact. He tapped away with his hammer but could not find anything and he was shocked at how solid it was. He said I had got quote unquote "a minter".
So then I went straight to the post office and we spent the afternoon cruising about:
Before coming home:
.
so all in all a good day. And even with the hot weather it didnt overheat or drop any water
Just need to fix the fuel gauge now as it shows empty the entire time! Gauge works, so sender must be stuck/sunk/dead.
Watch this space...