1300 Update time (Very Pic Heavy)

[james_r_lucas]

Thought you all like to know what I've been up to recently (some of you already know I've done a lot over the past month)

A while ago I was running into gearbox problems, (Would never change into 3rd from 4th), so after getting hold of another box from Justyn, I took a couple of weeks off over easter (making full use of all those bank holidays!!!) to get everything sorted

it started on the first weekend by cleaning up the old gearbox, giving it a clean and a paint

From This





To this







To this



Then to this after spending a couple of hours with a wire brush in the leccy drill, plus a dremel to get in the small areas





And Finally a coat of paint I didn't get any close up pics after I'd finished painting





While I was repainting it, I decided to fit the switch required for reverse lights, using the diagram in one of the Dolly Mixtures (Can't remember which one). Rather than using the official plunger part, I just cut the smooth section out from a 6mm bolt, drilled the hole (with the backplate off, so there was no risk of getting swarf in the box), then fitted the homemade plunger through the hole. and the switch fitted. First fitment showed the the plunger was too long, so I just kept cutting bits of till it was the right length with the switch screwed fully home

While I was changing the box, I decided to drop the subframe, and rebuild the front suspension

Started with this



Goodbye Bonnet





Dropped the subframe



And over goes the body



Putting everything awway for the night





More in the next post...

[james_r_lucas]

the next couple of days I had other things on, then I came back to it with the help of Oli (between us, we though it was possible to lift the engine & gearbox off the subframe )

So we settled down to stripping all the suspension, suprisingly not a single not or bolt was siezed, which made our life a lot easier. Attempted lifting the engine off the box, but failed at that too



So that afternoon, I finished taking all the suspension parts off, pressing out the bushes etc ready to clean them up and paint them.

The next few days involved spending hours cleaning all the parts with a wire brush wheel stuck in my pillar drill on the highest speed. Worked much better than the leccy drill Only problem was that the pillar drill woudl get a bit hot if used for more than about 40 min continuously

So I'd clean a few parts, then paint them, do a couple of other bits then come back to it.

Once the parents had come home from their short holiday, I burdened Dad with the task of going to pick up Oli's engine crane. 1 1/2 hours later (too much time gassing ) We were back with the crane , but it was too dark to do anything with it

Next day, this happened



The engine at this time didn't get anything done to it, except a wipe over with a few paraffin soaked rags to clean it up, and removal of the sump gasket. Big mistake (you'll see why later )

A nice piccy of the inside of the engine



Over the next few days, the pile of new looking parts increased to look like this



I bought superflex polybushes for all the suspension, except shocks (cos I couldn't be bothered, as I'm hoping to get new shocks and springs anyway), and the lower wishbone one, as I couldn't find them on the superflex site

The subframe took the best part of two days to clean up (And I've now joined the knotted wire brush wheel crowd!!!), and ended up looking like this



I had already ordered a new engine mounts, and some of you may be able to see the solid steering rack mounts I bought from Jigsaw

So the assembly started with this using new nuts and bolts for nearly everything



To this



The result a couple of days later









CVs were replaced (well, one of them, as the second one I bought from Mick Dolphin turned out to be used, so another is on the way), as well as boots. I couldn't resist having red brake callipers, despite the fact they can't be seen behind the steel wheels...
Also bought a new rocker cover, as mine was warped, and leaking where it wasn't sitting flat. So I decided to get a shiney Alloy one

And getting ready to lift the car over the engine



After that, I didn't take any more pics unfortunately

It all went back together, and was back in running condition by the next day. The day after, I decided to take my car to the Lambourne vintage machinery show, which highlighted a few problems - see the next post

[james_r_lucas]

Since getting the car back together, I then drove around a bit for the next week, with the show I mentioned, I saw a friend in Southampton twice, and a course I had to go on at work, I did about 270 miles. Over this time, a few issues were found.

The new gearbox, whilst better than mine in the sense I could actually use all the gears as intended, does have it's moment where it won't go into or come out of gear.

Also with the new oil in the engine, the oil pressure as dropped a fair amount. It barely reaches 20psi once warm at 50 mph, and I get the oil light on at idle

So I decided to investigate further, and spent last saturday afternoon taking the engine out again. This time I opted to split the engine and box, and just lift out the engine. So out it came, no issues there (except I found that one of the new front mounts I bought had split already)



off came the bearing caps, to see what they were like, and measure them. The result -



No white metal left, and quite badly scored. So a new set of shells it is. That one is a main bearing one, the big ends were the same

Whilst there, i also checked the tolerances on the oil pump, which showed that it was badly worn

Also, Oil has been leaking from the timing cover oil seal, so that will be replaced at the same time.

Due to the state of this engine (Ideally the crank needs a regrind, etc etc), I'm simply going to replace the shells and oil pump in this one, then get hold of another engine, and rebuild that completely, ready to swap over next spring hopefully. Also the old gearbox will get done at the same time, so I can swap them both over as a complete unit. The new engine will probably get a bit of extra tuning (cam, porting, maybe (If I can afford it) an unleaded conversion with uprated valves and the like)

I am also debating whether to replace the timing chain whilst I have the engine out, but If I'm replacing the engine next year, is it really worth it?

Regarding the bearing shells, the 1300 MK3 spitty engine is indentical isn't it? - Just want to be sure before I order the bits from Canleys. If I had a parts manual I'd check myself, but as I don't, can anyone check the part numbers of the main bearings, timing cover oil seal, timing cover gasket please?
Mick Dolphin thinks he has big ends in stock, and maybe an oil pump, but not much else, so I'll be looking elsewhere once Mick has confirmed what stock he has

That's It for now, I'll keep you all updated

[DoloWIGHTY]

Woah! Been a bit busy aint ya?

[james_r_lucas]

Woah! Been a bit busy aint ya?

I just wish i had as much enthusiasm for the bodywork... I'll get it done eventually - It'll be nice once it's all once colour again...

[fastblatt]

You've been busy. Nice update and good work.

[Spunkymonkey]

Nice work, James! If you fancy a holiday to North Wales any time, Sheila will be coming off road in the next couple of days for a while so you could always come and practice a bit on her

[james_r_lucas]

Nice work, James! If you fancy a holiday to North Wales any time, Sheila will be coming off road in the next couple of days for a while so you could always come and practice a bit on her

Tempting, but NO!!!

[JPB]

Most excellent! Keep up the good work and please keep feeding us the pictures.

We like pictures.

[1300dolly]

I take it you dont want the power coated subframe now?

good work keep it up.

[james_r_lucas]

I take it you dont want the power coated subframe now?

I'm afraid not Justyn, I should have let you know earlier, sorry.

I just ran out of time to come and pick it up, and of course the times I was around you weren't etc

[1300dolly]

Not a problem James, its just going to sit around gathering dust.

[james_r_lucas]

Right, I've managed to get a bit more done.

New bearing shells, oil pump, timing cover oil seal, timing chain and tensioner are all here, so I've made a start with changing the bearing shells. All the big ends are done, but I still need to torque them up. Then I was going to start with the main bearings, and remove the starter ring to get to the timing cover oil seal and the bearing at that end. Only one slight problem. I can't remove the starter ring - I've got a bearing puller on there, as tight as I can get it, tried hanging it by the ring and tapping down (again with the puller on it) and no joy so far. After spending quite some time tapping it off from behind using a length of brass bar (and still having it hanging by the starter ring AND a puller on it, It looks like it may have moved a very small amount. Only I now ache a bit, so need a break

Has anyone got any other tips as to how to remove the thing?

[Triumph1300]

1300 front crank pulley removal? Beg, steal, or borrow the proper puller, on a tapered nose crank, it's the only thing!

Where are you in the country James?

[Spunkymonkey]

Failing the proper pulley, normal 3-leg one, do it up tight and leave it 24 hours, Then go back and hit the hell out of it with a lump hammer (hitting on the nut of the puller) until it gives up. Use a cheap puller cos you won't get a socket on it afterwards