Project PFJ (French Blue Sprint)

[KWM338R]

Nice to see all these restos taking place, nice idea with the frame there Mart. I also braved the cold, about 12 degrees F today so felt quite warm after the last few days. As an update I got the cage out using Marts idea of the bolt pulling out the cage (see link on page before) worked really well, no effort was required to pull out the cage. Now just need to drill out the sheared cover bolt then can reassemble.

Cheers
Mark

[Mad Mart]

I stripped the front suspension/subframe this morning. Then spent a couple of hours getting some of the small bits of paint off the shell with a wire brush attachment on my drill. Then I painted the engine block.

[trackerjack]

Erm when do you sleep Mart? or are you a robot? I wish I could do a fraction of what you do (thanks for the .99 p bid BTW)

[Mad Mart]

Spent a few hours this weekend removing as much of the remaining paint on the bodywork as possible ready for it's trip to the welders next weekend. Mary has now stripped the paint from 7 doors, a bonnet, a boot and the new roof, besides most of the main shell (I did help...honest! )

Not sure about the bonnet, I may need another. I will also need one of the struts that hold the headlining in place, as the one below the sunroof was obviously missing.

[tinweevil]

I will also need one of the struts that hold the headlining in place

I can help you there bit not 'till mid feb. Cab booked for 04:30 to take me to the airport, off for another stay at my favoutite Algerian club 18:30.

[Mad Mart]

I will also need one of the struts that hold the headlining in place

I can help you there bit not 'till mid feb. Cab booked for 04:30 to take me to the airport, off for another stay at my favoutite Algerian club 18:30.

Thanks Julian. The car won't be back 'til the end of March at the earliest. Stoneleigh?


A fond farewell to PFJ. Now I can get on with the bits I like doing.

[Lee Flintoft]

Next stop spray booth then Mart?

[Mad Mart]

Next stop spray booth then Mart?

Yep, but there's quite a bit of welding to be done first. I think they're starting with the roof on Monday.


So today I used my new parts washer that I had for Christmas:-




Took a couple of hours to get the subframe cleaned up, it was caked in oily shite.



But I got there in the end. I bought some Hammerite smoothe in a spray can to do the subframe, it doesn't last very long.




Then I started stripping, cleaning & painting the front suspension components:-

[MalcGE]

I trust that clothes horse is 'workshop equipment' and not something you've borrowed for Mary in doors or you'll be for the high jump when you get it covered in Hamerite

What is the plan for the roof Mart, looking forward to seeing the pictures of how they tackle that

[xvivalve]

You'll know he is a man in control when some undies appear next to the suspension arms

[Mad Mart]

Started to reassemble the engine block today. Put in the new main bearings & thrust bearings. Checked the end float which was 0.007" iirc. The book states between 0.003" - 0.011" so that's OK.




Bought some new standard Deves rings from Ebay. Unfortunatley I found out that my pistons are +0.020". Ah! well.

You can see the different gap sizes, the new standard ring is on the right.



As I was cleaning up the crankshaft, I noticed the big end journals had two holes/oilways in them. One of the holes has a ball bearing in it presumably to act as a non-return valve? I couldn't remember seeing that before so I compared it to another crank I have & sure enough that only has the one hole. Can anyone shed any light on this?

[Autonet7]

Nice one Mart. Still a way off stripping my engine, let alone rebuilding it.

If you fancy finding a new home for those std rings, let me know.

[DF]

Has it just been cross drilled and blanked

[Mad Mart]

Hmm. dunno. I'll have a poke around tomorrow.

[tonybsa]

hi mart,from reading an earlier thread on the forum,the crossdrilled cranks are possibly toughened as well(although if its been reground itll need re hardening)these may be early sprint cranks,as my original engine had one of these also.ive now got a single hole crank which may be from a tr7 or1850,as the part no is the same as the sprint,hope this is of help.