NWL – Project Concours Carmine Sprint

[James467]

I'm at a stage where I am waiting for things to be done or arrive in the post. Garage roof, Graphogen to arrive before getting on with the engine and I'm waiting for the cylinder head to be finished. So I decided to get on with putting the carbs back together and mounting to the inlet manifold ready for reassembly on the head.

They have been re-bushed by Burlen and the spindles fitted so I removed them for safety whilst I finish cleaning them. I have run them through the sand blaster at a low pressure with some fine aluminium oxide to provide a uniform finish to the castings. I masked off the insides of the dashpots as these are a machined part matched to the piston and didn't want to damage them.

The main aim is to end up with a factory fresh appearance, so do I go for polished dashpots or not?









Then I changed to some glass bead and gave the rear carb a light going over to see how much work was involved.





Not too bad, it needs another going over I think to finish it off but as far as I can see thats probably how they looked when they left the factory.

The inlet manifold has had the same treatment, a light going over with some Aluminium Oxide and then will be finished with some glass bead.







As you know some of the linkages have been yellow passivated to preserve their original appearance, others have been zinc plated and where economically viable replaced as required.

I'll be cracking on with the glass bead blasting tomorrow if the weathers up to it!

[DaltonBarham]

Loving the progress! I wish I had they stuff to do some light blasting- maybe that's my next investment... I'll add it to the list.

EDIT: Personally I like the look of polished dashpots!

Dalton

[James467]

Thanks!!

I can't find a good pictures of an original factory car to get an idea of what the dashpots should look like. I think if they're polished, they should be properly polished otherwise I'll run the risk of making them look a bit like they have those cheap dashpot covers on (which I hate!!).

Sandbasting kits are the way forward if you're doing a lot of cleaning. They're relatively cheap now and if you have a good compressor and you plan on getting loads of bit plated I think it can save you a bit of cash not to mention how rewarding it is to see some really clean parts. It is messy and noisy though, I have a manky garage and no neighbours that matter (a shop) so I don't care at the moment, until I finish the garage! The Series 1 is next to be done (after the Sprint) and by the looks of it the blast cabinet's going to be in overdrive for that!!

[Jon Tilson]

Nice work. Bad luck on the pump impellor. I broke one last year too. They dont seem to get easier to get off
with the passing of time.

I also had a recalcitrant lower bush to get out, and the grease method failed me. In the end I just destroyed it with a suitable chisel and punch. It came out pretty easily like that after wasting ages with the grease.
The expanding collet slide hammer attachment seems a very useful idea.
Where do you come by them?

Worth shopping round for the right seal on the new pump...stag boys use a ceramic insert now I hear.

Jonners

[James467]

Thanks John, Wins quoted me £178 outright for a reconditioned one so I may wait for a good used one to turn up so I can send it off to be refurbished by Tony Hart who I am told will put one of those ceramic inserts in, haven't decided yet.

You can pick up a blind bearing collet kit off of eBay, not sure of the quality though. Mine is from Machine Mart https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/prod ... %20bearing.

I had a look through the various brochures I have and have decided that I'm not going for polished dashpots, they'll just be standard satin silver. I believe this is the way they left the factory?

[Flyfisherman]

James

Try S&S Preparation for a 12 vane water pump - when I had to buy one the other year, they were more reasonable than other supplier's

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j ... CLLAJFdYIA


and fitchetts

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j ... 1109,d.ZWU


Paul

[tony g]

This is the puller set I have http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/18066538 ... 108&ff19=0

[Pippin]

I had a look through the various brochures I have and have decided that I'm not going for polished dashpots, they'll just be standard satin silver. I believe this is the way they left the factory?

Although I don't know, I can't believe that BL would have gone to the time, trouble or expense of polishing the dashpots, especially as they'd have only tarnished or got grubby in use. I feel the satin silver look you've achieved looks about right.

[James467]

Thanks Paul, I'm ordering one from Fitchetts, well, as soon as PayPal and Capital One stop arguing with each other and authorise the payment!!

Nice puller set Tony, looks like a re-branded Sealey one.

Although I don't know, I can't believe that BL would have gone to the time, trouble or expense of polishing the dashpots, especially as they'd have only tarnished or got grubby in use. I feel the satin silver look you've achieved looks about right.

I'm inclined to agree although wouldn't the carbs have come straight in from Skitters (SU) and be stockpiled ready for use? I cant imagine the unions allowing BL to use JIT production in the 70s!! I had a look at some E-Type photos and is to be expected they look a lot more high end although not mirror finish, sort of gloss silver so I'd like to get as close to that as I can.

The benefit of glass beading them is that it does close the pores up and makes them easier to clean.

[James467]

I notice Fitchetts don't offer a club discount or am I wrong?

[Toledo Man]

Their prices are quite competitive and as far as I'm aware, they don't offer any discount.

[James467]

Water pump ordered!

Their prices are quite competitive and as far as I'm aware, they don't offer any discount.

If you don't ask, you don't get! That's my motto!!

Their prices are very good though, plus I'm only down the £25 surcharge as well so I'm a happy bunny!

[James467]

Feeling a bit tired today, my other hobby is endurance mountain biking and I was out for a training session last night on the north downs. I'll be doing the South Downs Way again in August and want to beat my time from last year, glad it's a rest day today!!

https://www.polarpersonaltrainer.com/sh ... 8cb4f2222a

Anyway back to business, all of my deliveries turned up at once today which is funny because the DHL and TNT delivery drivers really don't like each other!! Mind you I don't like the TNT driver much!

So I now have some Graphogen some replacement butterfly screws for the carbs and the replacement water pump from Fitchetts (good delivery on that!).



Pleased with the water pump, the bonus here is that I now have a spare genuine brass cage and repair kit.





Replacement garage roof arrived today as well, 1.5mm EDPM rubber membrane, the deck, joists etc... should arrive on Tuesday ready for the weather to change and start raining.



I'll have to finish beading the carbs this weekend so I can put the cabinet away ready to clear the garage out next week.

[Jon Tilson]

Was the Ficthetts pump a recon or NOS? Either way that's a result.

Fitchetts seal kits I have always had good results with, so even if that's a recon chances are it will
have the internal seal and just a rubber lip against the 12 vane rotor.

I would take it off for fitting purposes as per the wiki guide though. Its too big a risk breaking the seal to get the
pump in the block

Jonners

[James467]

The pump was a recon Jonners, glad you said that I was just reading the Wiki and was going to ask if I needed to take it off.

I'm very pleased with the price especially as a new reproduction one is £233 from Rimmers and and £178 from Wins, I'm just down the £25 surcharge.

Note everyone, I'm not moaning about Rimmers price here, just pleased that I was able to source better and cheaper!!