Did you get my message Highlander? I was having internet problems so it might not have got through.
The good news, It fired up and ran for a few seconds tonight, until I had to kill the ignition as oil was pouring out the camshaft lube pipe, I'd forgotton to tighten the bolt . I'm pretty certain it would have kept running though. It nearly ran several times after that, but not quite. I might try the 12v battery trick again on it tomorrow as the 6v battery we ordered hasn't turned up yet. I sorted the carb by smoothing the ali ring underneath the piston with a file and wet and dry, as it had split and the rough edges were rubbing on the shaft. Hopefully I'll come back with more good news tomorrow.
The bad news is that the radiator seems to leak. After some slight butchery i fitted some tempory (read as permanent until they fail!!!) hoses off a Ford escort which after some slight trimming fit fine. But there seems to be a leak from where the core joins onto the bit at the bottom (for want of a better description) It is only a tiny leak only dripping every few seconds. Would I be ok with rad weld for the short term or would this have a poor effect on an engine with no water pump.
Thanks
Andrew
Great news! I feel for the process you are going through - been there many times myself!
As for Radweld, it can't do any harm - it will either fix the leak or it won't. If the hole is big and at the base of the core, you might also want to patch it with some filler if the hole is on the rear face? What you need at this stage is a big dollop of perseverance and determination. You'll get there in the end if you don't give up, and it will feel SO GOOD when you get on top of things and can actually get it moving under its own steam!
If only other owners of cars that have stood in garaged foe decades would do what you are doing, we'd have many more Minor on the road.
Andrew - No I have not heard from you. The oil gague is no good - too far gone (The body of the guage has collapsed) I have some quite good (new old stock) fabric couplings. Is you car a side valve? I have new side water manifolds £10 each. Highlander.
Superb shots, thanks for posting them, Andrew. Very inspiring. Doesn't look like it will be a huge task to get it MoT'd. Looking at the tax disc, it was on the road and MoT'd in 2007?
The best thing will be to get it driving up and down the lane, then all the odd gremlins will come to the surface - and be fixed.
This is going to make a very nice, rare and fun Minor.
In years gone by, drivers would steam the label off Guinness bottles and stick them on their windscreens - looked just like a tax disc from a distance!
I remember nearly freezing my mother to death on a trip from Reading to Bexhill in my Morris 8 tourer which wasn't taxed - it was February and I folded the windscreen flat every time we came to a town so that the lack of disc wouldn't be noticed!
Andrew, My new 9.20 Humber was far, far worse to look at than your Minor. I am retired so I have time on my side but in one week I have the Humber looking almost new. Your seats will clean up very well. Soapy water (not too wet!) saddle soap, leather cleaner and food and bobs your uncle. The paint work looks not to bad, again a good wash and polish. The bright work also looks to me OK - just a good clean. As Ian says - when running take it round the block a few times just to see how it runs - I am sure it will be OK. Don't try and do everythin g at once and Please Do Not Take it Apart!!! Ring antime. Highlander.
. I'm pretty certain it would have kept running though. It nearly ran several times after that, but not quite. I might try the 12v battery trick again on it tomorrow as the 6v battery we ordered hasn't turned up yet. I sorted the carb by smoothing the ali ring underneath the piston with a file and wet and dry, as it had split and the rough edges were rubbing on the shaft. Hopefully I'll come back with more good news tomorrow.
