Project Rusty Triumphs in Scotland - Actually doing things with shit cars - 03/07/25

[captain_70s]

Longer days at work mean less motivation to weld in the evenings...

Cleaned up the manifolds. (Left side done, right side untouched).

There is a flap in the exhaust manifold to direct exhaust gasses up against the bottom of the inlet manifold. Seemingly to improve cold starts/running/economy. Naturally this was seized solid and it took a couple of hours with the MAPP gas torch and big hammer to get it to free up.

Conventional wisdom seems to suggest wiring it closed causes no ill effect. It being stuck open can cause vapour lock. Under the little cover on the right is a coil spring which I think actuates the flap as it expands/contracts. Or it would, had it not crumbled to dust in my hand.

Downpipe stud has also seen better days...

Dragged the water pump out the boot and wire wheeled it. There are a couple of threaded inlet/outlets that are badly corroded and will need replaced.

Spins freely but chances of it pissing coolant out are probably very high. Not sure of the logistics of having it serviced.

Tested out my expensive paint removing discs on the angle grinder. Very satisfying. 

Chucked bits loosely on the engine to keep them out of the way. 

[Matty]

Is the pump not shared with the later straight sixes like the Ventoras? If you could get a new un it's probably better for peace of mind?

[captain_70s]

1 hour ago, Matty said:

Is the pump not shared with the later straight sixes like the Ventoras? If you could get a new un it's probably better for peace of mind?

Similar but different.

I don't think you can actually get new water pumps for any variation of the 6 pot. There is something to be said for the parts supply of BLMC stuff, even if most of it is junk!

A browse of the owner's club mag and Google has shown that there are a few places doing refurb pumps on an exchange basis. So a solution is at hand if it proves leaky.

Obviously they can be rebuilt by DIY, but it sounds like one of those jobs that's a bit of a faff and potentially ends with a pump that lasts 50 miles because you misaligned something...

[Dyslexic Viking]

I had a look at the water pumps for 6-cylinder Opel now and new ones are available but they look different unfortunately.

[Matty]

1 hour ago, captain_70s said:

Similar but different.

I don't think you can actually get new water pumps for any variation of the 6 pot. There is something to be said for the parts supply of BLMC stuff, even if most of it is junk!

A browse of the owner's club mag and Google has shown that there are a few places doing refurb pumps on an exchange basis. So a solution is at hand if it proves leaky.

Obviously they can be rebuilt by DIY, but it sounds like one of those jobs that's a bit of a faff and potentially ends with a pump that lasts 50 miles because you misaligned something...

Still a result. If you can get a refurb exchange it's like having new anyway. Great to see you cracking on with this 👏 

[Dyslexic Viking]

This is a 6 and 4 cylinder 50s and 60s Opel water pump.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/388284958055?fits=Make%3AOpel&_skw=opel+blitz+water&itmmeta=01JZA7ZW0K1EH28Y581GWBT1BH&hash=item5a67964567:g:OAQAAOSw35NagCkC&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dqtP%2FQupZEUm%2FEcDsOWSerELbRcyEFHOpRoZjwPi5PN1EwcIMB9RY7awARwKJ86BpWKwqePzDU%2BAhWPK49sB6qgRahIYenN9AOr10tzhAZ%2BWiWRmehlAJCHZDK4tsfqaIRyAsKwarQkfcEL0zGOjoeedvHDQdKL6%2FWS6swicMEgi3YAaDF%2Fsj2Wy51fd2nMlDF1iemX3To4ITCkE55txdSZ6zg79I6I4dKDX0CAgmlW2n8Ph6UMLcj5hcdbCSTqXg%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR7zA_8f6ZQ