Recommissioning of 1500 SE - NGC 797V

[sprint95m]

Another possible source of the water leak is a poorly fitted windscreen wiper wheelbox.
I had this problem on my Dolomite.
The wiper wheelbox nuts are tricky to remove but if you have to as a last resort saw one, replacements are available from T2000 specialist Chris Witor for a little over £1 each.

On reassembly I used windscreen sealant.

[covcourier]

Thanks for advice.

Good old uncle is out there just now refitting clutch and gearbox.

David, If you have or can locate exhaust rear section that would be great. Centre section came from Canley classics. They have a few NOS left at £15.

I'll contact Alun regarding floor section and should hopefully be able to get that sorted also this week.


Stewart

[covcourier]

Clutch and gearbox in and we now have all gears and the car drove out of the garage in a civilised manner this time.

I need to change all the service items now and remove the old exhaust. I have the new centre section to go on while awaiting a back box. After doing this and with some fresh petrol, the SE should hopefully start to run a bit better.

Once all of the above is done , I need to get the car over to my friends place so that he can do the required welding. While the car has gone I will have the room in the garage to get on cleaning the seats and carpets.


Stewart

[covcourier]

Managed to collect footwell repair panel today and moved car over to Pauls so he can do the welding while I'm away for a couple of days. While car is on a ramp, the new centre exhaust section will also be fitted. Just need to find and fit a rear section which I can do at home.

Whilst I was there we got the car up on the ramp for a better look at the underside. Besides the footwell, the car is extremely solid. There is evidence of previous rust proofing which along with the many years of dry storage has kept anything nasty away. When I get back into the country on Friday, I should be able to collect the car and if I've had time to clean the interior it can go back in.

Other jobs to do now are:

Locate and fit exhaust rear section.
Refit transmission tunnel and under dash tray. (Left out for easier access while welding footwell.)
Refit carpets and seats.
Change service items and put some fresh petrol in.
Investigate condition of ball joints. Ball joints appear ok but rubbers split slightly. Will replace if neccessary.
Replace the tyres.
Replace or get existing radiator repaired.
Book an MOT for the end of the month to make sure we've got a target to work at.

The car also needs a good polish but that can wait if needed until after MOT time.

Should have pictures and updates up over the weekend.


Stewart

[covcourier]

Got the car back home today after I'd been away working for a few days.

While I was away, the car had been to my friends to have the new footwell put in. As the car was on the ramp, the underside of the car was rustproofed again and the new centre exhaust section was fitted, leaving me to just find and fit a new rear section.

It is now up on axle stands so that we can now get on with removing and inspecting the ball joint and changing the front subframe rear bushes.
I think that the ball joints are ok but the rubbers have split. We will also change the brake pipes, as although they all appear to be fine, we have the new pipes and tools to do new ones.

I will have the old tyres removed from the rims on Monday so that I can repaint them before having the new tyres fitted. Would anyone recommend fitting wider tyres (175/70-13) instead of the standard 155-13.

The service items were changed today and the car ran really smoothly until it got warm, when it began to misfire on number 1. There is a very healthy spark at the plug so we will investigate this more soon. I haven't tried starting it again since it has cooled down. Will do again tomorrow.

If the head has to come off, then I will get the unleaded conversion done at the same time so it isn't really a major problem.


Back home now..


And into the garage for the next round....


New nearside footwell in place






Bulkhead repair

[covcourier]

Took the wheels to my tyre man this morning to get tyres off the rims in readyness for tidying up.

All the brake drums were removed and cleaned as they were full of crap. Shoes are ok and adjusters were all free. No leaky cylinders either so lucky on that front. The fornt barakes were also stripped. The pads need replacing but the calipers appear to be in good order and only needed cleaning up. All the pistons were free so these calipers will stay on the car. I think they are Princess 4 pots but will post up a pic of the old pad. I'm sure someone on here will confirm it for me.

I had left my uncle playing with the ignition bits looking for the cause of the misfire on number 1. I only went out for 20 minutes but by the time I got back, he was taking the manifold off ready to get the head off. Within an hour of starting, the head was off, all the pieces were stripped, bagged, numbered and put away for safe keeping until the head has been converted for unleaded. We were both very surprised at how easy everythimg came apart. No difficult bolts and not even any knuckle damage like he suffers on most 'moderns'!

Unfortunately, still found nothimg obvious to explain misfire but it only occurs once car has warmed up. Start fine and tick over and revs ok until it gets warm then starts missing. Once the engine is back in, we will investigate further.

[MarkS1500se]

The calipers are indeed princess 4 pots, the originals were in the boot when it was sold to David.
If you keep these calipers then you my need to change the master cylinder for one from a Ford P100 as the pedel goes quite a long way down before anything happens (or so my father told me).

Not had chance to get around to my fathers to set his PC up yet, but he will soon be looking in to see how things are going

[MarkS1500se]

Something else that will need doing is the rear wheel bearing (N/S I think) as it was rumbleing the last time it was driven.
And the frunt right side light / indicator has a bad earth as they both flash.

Have a read of my early posts for some more info that I may have forgot, my daughter was going to have the SE but changed her mind, her loss your gain.

[1300dolly]

my daughter was going to have the SE but changed her mind, her loss your gain.

If she changes her mind again, im sure i could locate a 1500SE or two that may be for sale.

[MarkS1500se]

She has an L reg F**d Festa That's now been sat for a year as she still hasn't even had one lesson yet,
and the worst bit is it needs just as much welding as the SE she could of had

[covcourier]

As per other thread on Dolomite related chat, we have had a problem with the recon head.

One of the pushrods keeps popping out. Have checked rocker gear, which is all ok so head has had to be removed again and returned to the builder for him to have a look at it. Most likely cause will be a sticking valve.

I have had 4 new tyres fitted to replace the old ones. Was hoping to get the rims tidied up whilst tyres were off but due to needing the garage for something else, this never happened. Easily done at a later date.

Also ordered a set of 4 ball joints, the subframe bushes that I needed and all the bits to refurb the carbs. All these bits should arrive early next week and the head will be back with me on Monday.

Will hopefully be able to have the car up and running again by next weekend if time allows.


Stewart

[Purplebargeken]

That must be very frustrating after all of that effort. Hopefully it will be resolved without any hassle.

You have made great progress. Look forward to more installments.

Ken

[covcourier]

Ken,

I'm about to go and attack the seats. Been trying to find time for the last 2 weeks. Will take some before and after pics for you.

Never picked up your recommended stuff from Halfords, but will give them the once over with the big wet vac to get the bulk of the dirt off. I'll then assess what will happen next. The carpet will get done tonight aswell. Just the backseat will be left to do as its still in the car which is outside for tonight.


Stewart

[sprint95m]

All the brake drums were removed and cleaned as they were full of crap. Shoes are ok and adjusters were all free. No leaky cylinders either so lucky on that front. The fornt barakes were also stripped. The pads need replacing but the calipers appear to be in good order and only needed cleaning up. All the pistons were free so these calipers will stay on the car. I think they are Princess 4 pots but will post up a pic of the old pad. I'm sure someone on here will confirm it for me.

When you get your car back on the road, I suggest you recheck your brakes after you have driven it some because wheel cylinders that have stood unused for an extended period can start to weep.
Also, whilst you are preparing the car for its MOT, I suggest it is sensible to replace the brake flexible hoses. I do this as a matter of routine on any car I recommission irrespective of how they look.


It is good to see a 1500SE being returned to its rightful place on the road.

[straylight]

great work stewart, perseverance is the key and you are doing all the right things ! Thanks for the pics, very enjoyable to look through and to keep tabs on what you are doing. Interesting read !

stu