Project Rusty Triumphs in Scotland - To gas or not to gas(less MIG) - 09/11/24

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Cap - it's testing your patience for sure - but you'll get it sorted dude. Keep on keeping on...…….

You're one step further along than I - as almost the entire fleet has decided to shit the bed on the same weekend. I can't face even looking at them if I'm honest. At least you're taking it on full pelt and going at it.

As a side thought - tell me I'm a twat if you like - but if only 8 miles…… how about cycling it in the decent weather to help save some pennies? Would that perhaps help on multiple fronts - health, wellbeing and money saving all covered? Could be an option...…..

[captain_70s]

5 hours ago, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer said:

As a side thought - tell me I'm a twat if you like - but if only 8 miles…… how about cycling it in the decent weather to help save some pennies? Would that perhaps help on multiple fronts - health, wellbeing and money saving all covered? Could be an option...…..

One issue is that bicycles worth having are expensive, the other being I'd have to keep it in the flat somewhere. Also due to working shifts it'll mean having to wake up at 4:30am for the early shift and cycling home through questionable areas at midnight for the backshift.

 

In Acclaim news I bled the brakes today. They're maybe better? They certainly stop the car sharpish in a straight line but I feel there is too much free play in the pedal. We shall see come the MOT on Thursday...

I also took the front splash guards off the investigate some wheel arch rust and check for nasties. Structure is good, O/S/F wing is scrap. Largely as expected.

Found a hole down near the headlights and have cunningly covered it up with an oily rag from above and the splash guards hide it from above. So logically it no longer exists.

I then instigated some high quality repairs to the front arch and generally waved a rattle can at the worst of the rust blebs

 

Fuck it.

[SiC]

Dude, stop picking at scabs!

[captain_70s]

17 minutes ago, SiC said:

Dude, stop picking at scabs!

I didn't this time. Smacking the caliper with a hammer caused bits to fall off of their own accord!

I'm not going to waste good money on filler when new wings are available. I'm also not going to spend good money on wings for a car that is so grotty. For now painted tape is the future...

[LightBulbFun]

10 minutes ago, SiC said:

Dude, stop picking at scabs!

*looks at 1100* Your one to talk!

[Dave_Q]

Painted tape is underselling yourself there captain, I would call that an advanced cold welded composite repair method.

[purplebargeken]

I laugh at your teeny rust issues.......

 

 

[big_al_granvia]

classic 70's bodywork repair techniques there, great to see in this modern age the old skills havent died off

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

15 hours ago, captain_70s said:

One issue is that bicycles worth having are expensive, the other being I'd have to keep it in the flat somewhere. Also due to working shifts it'll mean having to wake up at 4:30am for the early shift and cycling home through questionable areas at midnight for the backshift.

Gotcha fella - I don't think I'd fancy rolling through dodgy areas at the dead of night either……..

14 hours ago, captain_70s said:

I didn't this time. Smacking the caliper with a hammer caused bits to fall off of their own accord!

I'm not going to waste good money on filler when new wings are available. I'm also not going to spend good money on wings for a car that is so grotty. For now painted tape is the future...

We've DEFINITELY all been there fella.

As I said - you're getting a shitload more achieved than I can. Keep on kicking its ass.

[captain_70s]

Today was MOT day.

Lovely. Steering suspension and brakes are all bob on, it'll need some work to the rear of the sills before the next one.

Then swung by DodgyFOADKnight's place for a chat about shit old cars and to nosy at some of the newer additions to the fleet. Also had a wee drive of the Mk2 Polo Saloon. It's a bit rapid.

As a bonus there was a Mk2 Honda Ballade there belonging to Nisfan. So we had a rare sighting of a Mk1 and Mk2 Ballade.

 

[SiC]

I guess that was pretty pleasing and relieving result to get a clean pass first time. 

[captain_70s]

13 minutes ago, SiC said:

I guess that was pretty pleasing and relieving to get a clean pass first time. 

I was hoping but not expecting tbh. Although in all fairness the car is really in better condition overall than when it last got MOT'd aside from bits of cosmetic grot. My only real concern was the travel on the brake, but it doesn't actually affect the braking power, it'll still lock the wheels up.

But aye, it is a major relief nonetheless! 

[vulgalour]

Great joy!

[bigstraight6]

Great news Captain...

[dave j]

Result! Always a relief when it's a pass.

[LightBulbFun]

Awesome stuff! im happy to see it passed especially given the recent issues etc!

[Amishtat]

Congratulations! 

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Result and a half fella - if that doesn't give the mojo a kick up the arse - nothing will. The car wants to live...…. it's rare that they show us such gratitude

[big_al_granvia]

nice one mate, great result

[LightBulbFun]

heres a little something to celebrate the MOT pass and hopefully 12 more months of trouble free motoring  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[captain_70s]

It's good to know that Dolomite's were shit even when brand new and it's not just mine!

Is it any wonder BL ended it's days selling re-branded Hondas?

[SiC]

Any of these delightful motors coming to Shitefest this year? (Mostly the Acclaim I guess...)

[SiC]

With all this nice weather we've been having, managed to get any further on with putting an engine in your Dolly?

[captain_70s]

I've been road tripping around Scotland for the last fortnight!

 

I've managed to acquire two engines which should be landing in the next few weeks. Bank balance is nightmarish and RBS won't extend my overdraft. All good fun.

 

More details when I have time!

[LightBulbFun]

like for replacement engines!

any idea what sort of spec/shape they are in?

[davehedgehog31]

28 minutes ago, captain_70s said:

I've been road tripping around Scotland for the last fortnight!

 

I've managed to acquire two engines which should be landing in the next few weeks. Bank balance is nightmarish and RBS won't extend my overdraft. All good fun.

 

More details when I have time!

Be sure to safely store them in the cellar.

[captain_70s]

Right, update.

Engine situation 

I have two 1300 engines which need moving to my location, I'm currently arranging Shiply as it's cheaper than me collecting them in person.

Engine No.1 is a Mk4 Spitfire engine which was donated by JudicialGrunt. It turns over and he pulled the head and it all looks decent, currently drained of fluids and strapped to a pallet awaiting transport. With a light rebuild it'd drop straight in. Located near Bedford.

Engine No.2 is a 1300fwd engine/gearbox which Jikovron spotted for sale local to him. It was a quarter of the prices these engines usually fetch so I jumped on it. Its been sitting 30 odd years but turned over. Jikovron has stripped it and sent it to his local engineering place and has had the crank ground and had it rebored to 20thou. It'll need a bit of fiddling to fit a Dolly but it is a better pre-rationalisation engine. This engine is located near Chesterfield.

 

Big thanks to these two shitters for their massive help. I jumped on the second engine as JD was super busy for a few weeks and I'd not heard anything, the day after I agreed the purchase of engine no.2 via JK he messaged me to say the engine was drained and strapped on a pallet ready for moving! Hence why I now have two. I'm currently have 3 cars and 7 engines, which seems a decent ratio.
Big thanks to the multitude of shitters who offered help with engine transport as well. Given the distances involved it is cheaper to have them couriered than drive all the way there and back to collect them.

Acclaim News.

I bit the bullet and bought an exhaust. It's a mild steel example from IMASAF. Total cost inc delivery from Germany was £250 but I figure once it rots out I at least have a stock exhaust to have replicated in stainless. Fitting was painless and required no fettling, it is about half the weight of the old exhaust and sits perfectly, volume levels are probably also halved and rattles are eliminated...

My mate kindly lent me his driveway to make fitting easier...

I then took the car on a 1380 mile, fortnight long roadtrip around Scotland. More on that later... I now have to dash to work!

 

[SiC]

What about nicking the 1850 engine and putting it in the 1300? Or is that too big a job you would want to do?

[Yoss]

Fitting an 1850 might be easier than trying to fit a 1300 FWD. The FWD crank is different. The front end is tapered (unless it is a really, really, really early one), to take the front flywheel/starter ring. The other thing is that there is no dipstick hole as they have a dipstick coming out of the gearbox (the FWD gearbox/diff/sump is one massively heavy lump of cast iron (well done getting the whole thing in what, I think, is a Daihatsu Somethingorother). The casting for the RWD dipstick hole is there but it would need drilling out. No real problem. 

You certainly seem to have enough bits to make an engine anyway. If it's a proper Spitfire engine I'd be tempted to go with that. The engine in my 1300TC is mk3 Spitfire spec and it's lovely. Really likes being revved. Much nicer than a 1500.

[captain_70s]

1850 swap would require taking the whole drivetrain and axle out. Doable but nothing on the 1850 is in good enough nick to be worth the effort. The subframe is crusty, engine has done 90k and the diff whines.

The fwd motor is a weird wild card but worst case, if I can't convert for rwd use, I'll rebuild it for fun and sell it on. Or, the Shitter's Choice, buy a fwd to put it in...