The resurrection of KSF404T - 1978 Sprint

[1300dolly]

Glad to hear that you finally have a pass.

[NickMorgan]

Howard,
Your car is looking lovely in the picture showing the new roof. Great to hear that it is now on the road and going as well as it looks.

[Howard81]

Thank you! The roof is looking great, and will look even better once I get the rear trim on. I'm having the little "feet" rechromed as they were in rather poor condition

KSF has been running well lately, but I seem to have developed a slightly concerning oil leak from somewhere in the engine. It always used to drop the odd drip or two, but it's actually getting rather bad. Modded Toldeo had a look at it over Easter weekend and reckons it's from the engine-to-gearbox bolts not being tight enough. I will investigate this ASAP, but any advice would be welcome!

I also had a chance to fit the secondhand prop I picked up from Tinweevil. The grinding noise turned out to be due to the rubber seal on the centre joint being torn and all the grease had come out. Not impressed as the prop was brand new! It shall be sent back.

Sadly, the grinding noise is still there, although much, much less than before. I think it is being caused by a large amount of play in the rear axle. It only seems to do it when warm, though!

[triple tango]

I cant see how loose gearbox bellhousing bolts can cause an oil leak. Anyway they certainly were done up tight.

[Mad Mart]

with Roy. If oil is coming from this area then it's probably either the crankshaft rear oil seal or the gearbox front oil seal. Is it engine oil or gearbox oil?

[Howard81]

It's engine oil... and leaking quite badly. I've had to top it up twice since the MoT!

I'm guessing this is an 'engine out' job to fix?

[Howard81]

I've decided to put a black interior in KSF. For more than two years I've been searching out a decent biscuit interior to replace the shabby original, but with no luck. I do have one brand new seat cover and a very good front backrest, but nothing else. With the rest of the car looking fresh after the resto last year, the interior really did let it down. However, I am keeping the biscuit interior in storage and will swap back if I ever find enough bits to build up a decent set! Black is probably a more practical colour for London too

Only problem I have is the driver's seat has a small hole in it. If anyone has a really good driver's seat, please let me know







I finally found the missing wire from the handbrake, so now the warning light works! Woohoo!

Also the tunnel carpet is different, and won't fit. I am guessing it is from a 1500 or Toledo? Can I simply cut a larger hole in it, or are the tunnels a different shape?



Door panels are in the process of being cleaned up.

[Jon Tilson]

It will either be the rear crank oil seal or the O rings on the oil pump.
Neither is a nice job but the oil pump sealks can be done with the engin in place. IIRC you need to loosen the rack clamps and move the rack out of the way a bit. Also be careful of the dizzy drive.

Bur before taking anythng off I'd find a friendly garage with a lift, give it a good old clean everywhere around the lower engine/box area and then see if you can actually identify the leak.
Could even be the rocker cover and running down the back behind the starter. Sprint oil leaks are a right PITA.

If you need to swing it all out I can help in about 2 weeks when Ive finshed yellow.


Jonners

[DoloWIGHTY]

Are you going to swap over the trim on the inside of the B posts (where the seat belts hang) to black?

Very easy job to do (I believe they're stuck on with impact adhesive) and do make a difference as you will be forever noticing the light tan you have there now against an entirely black interior .

[Howard81]

It will either be the rear crank oil seal or the O rings on the oil pump.
Neither is a nice job but the oil pump sealks can be done with the engin in place. IIRC you need to loosen the rack clamps and move the rack out of the way a bit. Also be careful of the dizzy drive.

Bur before taking anythng off I'd find a friendly garage with a lift, give it a good old clean everywhere around the lower engine/box area and then see if you can actually identify the leak.
Could even be the rocker cover and running down the back behind the starter. Sprint oil leaks are a right PITA.

If you need to swing it all out I can help in about 2 weeks when Ive finshed yellow.

Jonners

Thanks Jonners, I'll get the engine cleaned up. It certainly seems "lower" in the engine bay, as there is no evidence of oil higher up. I'll get it cleaned up and report back!

Fingers crossed it's the oil pump...

Wouldn't the crank oil seal contaminate the clutch plate? The clutch seems as good as ever.

Are you going to swap over the trim on the inside of the B posts (where the seat belts hang) to black?

Very easy job to do (I believe they're stuck on with impact adhesive) and do make a difference as you will be forever noticing the light tan you have there now against an entirely black interior .

I have the B-pillar covers, just lacking the contact adhesive to install them on the car at the moment! Once I've done the complete swap, the only tell-tale will be the strip under the rear window, but that's too much hassle to change

[alolympic]

I think you have made the right decision about the interior Howard, the black looks really good against the paint colour. Door cards are coming up really well too.

[JPB]

Wouldn't the crank oil seal contaminate the clutch plate? The clutch seems as good as ever.

Not unless there was an enormous amount of oil splashing about in there, I'm talking in terms of a sumpful per week, though one of my old Volvo 144s used to leak that much until I fitted an oil seal from a later engine. Throughout its leaky spell it still had a lovely clutch action. When that car started leaking from the front of its gearbox however, then the clutch made its protest known, easily solved by filling the bellhousing with cheap cola though. .....

[Garfin]

There's a 'good' beige interior being advertised for sale in this month's Triumph World.

[Howard81]

Typical!!!

Well now I've changed over to black, I am will only change back if I find an immaculate interior, or more new old stock covers

I have to say, the black is looking very smart. I have sourced a Sprint tunnel carpet, plus a decent driver's footwell section, so I am all set! I need to find a way to straighten out the back cardboard parts of the parcel shelf, as it seems to have twisted inwards a bit. Also, the card-covered panels to the left and right of the footwell need screwing in properly, and the holes are in different places to KSF's originals. I can't get the drill to the car (no power) so that will have to wait until I am down in Poole next week. I also have both the B-pillar covers in place and all the furflex seals.

Whoops, just realised I forgot to thank David6214 for the carpet, interior and door panels in my last post, so thanks David

I fitted the seatbelts back in today, it's a new (to me) set, as the old ones were mis-matched.

Also sorted out the over-drive wiring while access is good, the wiring in the stick was replaced last year, but there was a section below that that some moron had scotch-locked into place. That would explain why my overdrive always went nuts in the rain! All sorted out.

Remember the recon prop I fitted? Now I've lugged it upstairs I can take some photos of it. Not good for a top-priced "high quality" recon, look at the brackets!!

[MalcGE]

The rear parcel shelf (do people really carry parcels on that shelf ?) is an easy sort. It is a piece of hardbaord covered in vinyl and clipped into place. A piece of black vinyl and you can soon have that soerted

IMHO, Black is the best trim colour for Tahiti and Pageant althougfh Beige is the msot common.