Project Dollywobbler's Invacar - Ongoing

[dollywobbler]

Perhaps, but DVLA still regarded this car as scrapped until this week.

[Kiltox]

Was it missing from the vehicle enquiry service before last week?

 

If not, it has managed to escape the newest protocol for scrapping/CoD (try BU56LCV to see what now happens - it doesn’t exist any more)

[plasticvandan]

When I get a quiet day at work,I'll scan a few bits in,I've got about 10-15 pages just on the development and death of the model 70. Interestingly it lists the AC in the Glasgow museum as being the oldest known (c.2011) being the 20th built.

[dollywobbler]

Nope. It's been on there at least as long as I've known about the car, always with a 9999cc engine... (which seems to be a standard Invacar thing. I've no idea why).

[mat_the_cat]

Does that mean you could do a really extreme engine swap without having to notify the DVLA?

[DeeJay]

Fool people into thinking it's the modern version with these bad boys.

 

[andy18s]

Seems someone has one back on the road before you Ian.......

[st185cs]

There are several already back on the road.

 

I have MHJ 22P which was the first "test-case" with DVLA to become registered again following the 2003 withdrawal from service/their banning for use on the highway. I also have two registered rolling chassis awaiting new/donor fibreglass shells. One of which is in the middle of a full nut and bolt rebuild.

 

Learning much from DW/all your posts

[They_all_do_that_sir]

There are several already back on the road.

 

I have MHJ 22P which was the first "test-case" with DVLA to become registered again following the 2003 withdrawal from service/their banning for use on the highway. I also have two registered rolling chassis awaiting new/doner fibreglass shells. One of which is in the middle of a full nut and bolt rebuild.

 

Learning much from DW/all your posts

Get a thread on the go, pics of one being used in anger would be awesome!

 

Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk

[dollywobbler]

Indicator relay arrived.

 

It works! Though the flash rate was really high. Turns out the nearside rear lamp was trying to flash the wrong bulb. With a wiggle, it behaved correctly. 

 

Offside lamp has been rescued from its bath of cola, but I don't hold out high hopes. In fact, I'm increasingly heading towards just buying a new pair of lamps. After all, I recently discovered £375 of unpaid invoices which should be getting paid soon.

[Zelandeth]

I'd tend to agree. Given the cost vs. level of potential frustration from later electrical gremlins it's just worth replacing them I'd think.  Wish I'd done the same with my first Lada rather than persevering for months with tail light gremlin bingo.  Especially with lamp units being readily available for reasonable money.

[dollywobbler]

Have also ordered up a load of replacement connectors. Local agri merchant is going to see if they can order up the correct lamps from Sparex.

[320touring]

Was it my imagination, or did someone make reference to paint you can use to recolour lights? If so, whit Wiz it?

[Eddie Honda]

They used these on late DAF 33 Vans and combis too.

Now I'm back at my desktop...

 

DSCF3586.JPG by E Honda, on Flickr

 

DSCF3593.JPG by E Honda, on Flickr

[320touring]

Now I'm back at my desktop...

 

DSCF3586.JPG by E Honda, on Flickr

 

DSCF3593.JPG by E Honda, on Flickr

CLASSS

[dollywobbler]

Did some prep on the brakes. Can only get the rears off at the moment, but removed the drums, then the shoes (sodding brake springs scare me), put some penetrating oil on the brake pipe connectors and then made sure they will actually start to undo. The wheel cylinders are held to the backing plate by some weird clip things that I'm yet to get my head around. I might actually have a read of the manual to prepare for this job. Hoping the new cylinders will be here by the weekend.

 

Oil filter seals are on their way too.

 

Also, my local agri merchant sells the 'wrong' rear lights for about £12 each. That's a no brainer really. I'll just paint the clear bits red.

[jonny69]

Top tips for the brakes:

 

Take the spring loaded securing pins and cups out first with a pair of pliers, obvs.

 

At the adjuster end, use a big flat blade screwdriver to lift the end of one shoe out of the slot in the adjuster. Repeat with the other one. You can do the same at the bottom but this releases all the tension in the springs.

 

Re-assembly, put the springs in the shoes on the floor off the car. Then, wriggle it over the axle hub, wriggle the bottoms of the shoes onto the wheel cylinder, then use your big flat bladed screwdriver to the reverse of above to get the other ends into the adjuster slots.

 

Those spring clips you mentioned are U shaped and simply slide on and off from the bottom. They have a slight bend in them to apply some spring pressure to the back of the wheel cylinder and hold it in place. Make sure all this stuff is well greased up when you put it back together. Once it dries out and starts corroding it becomes a nightmare.

[Zelandeth]

Just thank your lucky stars that the Lucas bits in these things are relatively simple.  Be glad you're not trying to restore this thing...

 

 

Then all the bits that make it go would be Lucas too...wonder if any survive.

 

Video freeze frame circa 1981, location: our driveway when the place was first built.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks Mr 69. I shall give that a go. Annoyingly, the top spring doesn't seem to want to pass between adjuster and hub, but I reckon I can slide the spring through and connect it while the shoes are not on the adjuster.

 

I'm not much looking forward to tackling this job on the front wheel...

[plasticvandan]

I've used nail varnish with great results on lenses paint on the inside,obvs.

[twosmoke300]

Those fucking wheel cylinder clips ! One piece of advice - get the tool for fitting them . Save a fortune in Elastoplast and germolene trust me

[st185cs]

This red lens repair tape might be worth a shot at £1.99 as an alternative to paint or nail varnish -

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simply-2253-Lens-Repair-Tape/dp/B00LC0LNYY/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_bs_lp_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WAAW0SNFPRQZQ8NAQDFR

[PhilA]

Home-made stained glass lacquer might work- getting it even on all the little crenellations that form the lens may prove troublesome though.

 

I know Lucas had some orange and red glass domes that went over bulbs when multi color we required- MG Midget front indicators come to mind, and I've seen them in fifties rear light/reverse clusters as red.

 

Phil

[Fabergé Greggs]

Those fucking wheel cylinder clips ! One piece of advice - get the tool for fitting them . Save a fortune in Elastoplast and germolene trust me

 

 

This red lens repair tape might be worth a shot at £1.99 as an alternative to paint or nail varnish -

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simply-2253-Lens-Repair-Tape/dp/B00LC0LNYY/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_bs_lp_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WAAW0SNFPRQZQ8NAQDFR

 

Save money in wheel cylinder clip tools, Germolene, elastoplast and repair tape by colouring your lenses with the bloodshed caused by not buying the tool. 

[Felly Magic]

Red insulating tape on the inside of the lenses?

[Kiltox]

This red lens repair tape might be worth a shot at £1.99 as an alternative to paint or nail varnish -

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simply-2253-Lens-Repair-Tape/dp/B00LC0LNYY/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_bs_lp_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WAAW0SNFPRQZQ8NAQDFR

Whilst it’s GR9 for invisible* repairs

 

 

It does look a bit shit and fades really fast.

[Noel Tidybeard]

tamiya acrylic paint is available in clear red which will stick nice to plastic

[dollywobbler]

Thanks folks.

 

Oil seals have arrived today. The temptation to go and fit them and get the engine running again, on its new fuel system, is ENORMOUS. However, there's a magazine to sort out, and I only got out of bed at 10am, so work it is.

[dollywobbler]

I can haz lamps.

 

£24 the pair. Proves that internet prices aren't always the cheapest.

[SiC]

Ha!

 

I love the fact they've been so long on the shelf they've still got the 17.5% VAT rate on them (but crossed out).