Project Dollywobbler's Foxy little number

[Supernaut]

[Eddie Honda]

Wasn't too bad with two people, but I suspect we'll both be feeling it tomorrow.

 Why does that sound like crane abandoned and plan A pole resorted to?

[dollywobbler]

As in one to wiggle and one to operate the hoist and find bolts. Still requires a horrendous amount of stretching to get to a jiggle position.

[AndySnapper]

Have you considered digging a pit in your garage with all the car fettling jobbies you are doing?

 

Maybe in a collaboration with a Welsh mining company?

 

The digging and construction of it would also make for some interesting videos.

 

Andy

[dollywobbler]

I suspect the local bedrock would soon make that plan undesirable.

[MorrisItalSLX]

And a pit would be less than desirable for Invacar repairs.

[dollywobbler]

Some video.

 

Could have gone worse I s'pose.

[LightBulbFun]

Woo

 

currently have a bad case of man flu (which also completely wrecks my fine motor skills)

 

so a project fox video is exactly what I need, something I can vegetate in my chair to for 20 minutes

[dozeydustman]

"I shall have to buy a Morris now."

 

"That's not how it works!"

[RayMK]

Even with some of the struggles edited out, it brought back memories of my single handed removal and replacement of a Volvo 66 engine many moons ago.  Access was superb but I first had to construct, using old fence posts, a gantry which straddled the car.  Lifting was by chain and a scissor jack on top of the gantry cross beam, pegging the chain with a bar whilst the jack was worked up and down to achieve the necessary lift distance.  An engine hoist would have been so much easier, though the Fox engine looked extremely awkward to fit even with one.  Provided that one has much tea and a resident clear thinking assistant you have shown that the nearly impossible can be done at home.  Well done. Let's hope that the engine and gearbox are good enough to stay there now. 

[dozeydustman]

I thought I'd posted on here the similarities between the Scimitar Engine bay and that of the Fox, but seems I didn't. Wonder how much parts commonality there are between the two.

 

Another quite awkward bay to get an engine in or out.

[Christine]

You did

[dollywobbler]

Not got much done today due to various distractions. Did get the clutch connected up. Very light pedal. I'm hoping that's how they are and that the clutch is actually doing something... I have to return the hoist tomorrow, so if something is amiss, it'll be gearbox out this time.

 

Did try getting the exhaust connected up, but I seem to be missing the right bolts. Being imperial, I have nothing in my random assortment that will fit. I think I must return to foreign cars after this, with their sensible metric systems.

[red5]

TR7 next then - you'd love the fastener /engine/body combo..

 

 

Good effor that man's wife !

[Joey spud]

These little coil spring clutches are indeed nice and light.

 

Why don't you while it has a back wheel off the ground put it in gear and try turning the wheel with the clutch depressed and then released that'll tell you if the clutch has joined the party.

[dollywobbler]

I may well give that a go. But not tonight. I seem to have come down with a major case of can't be arsed.

[Eddie Honda]

Those 6 spring clutches aren't too heavy. It's the 9 spring ones (early Spitfire?) that are.

[Mrcento]

When i did a seicento clutch properly for the first time, i genuinely thought i'd done it wrong because the pedal was probably the lightest pedal i've ever felt, after months of straining and feeling like i was going to snap something every time i pressed the clutch, i damn near put the pedal through the bulkhead even giving it half effort!

 

Congrats on getting the engine in DW.

[Zelandeth]

When i did a seicento clutch properly for the first time, i genuinely thought i'd done it wrong because the pedal was probably the lightest pedal i've ever felt, after months of straining and feeling like i was going to snap something every time i pressed the clutch, i damn near put the pedal through the bulkhead even giving it half effort!

 

Congrats on getting the engine in DW.

I have that reaction virtually every time I get back into either the Xantia or the van and go for the clutch after driving the Lada for any real distance...

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Same for the new clutch in my Golf.  Got back in it after its surgery and it feels like a completely different car...!

[dozeydustman]

You did

 

Browser cookie cleanout and it's shows up. Not the first time this has happened.

 

Sorry for duplicate DW

[Remspoor]

Browser cookie cleanout and it's shows up. Not the first time this has happened.

 

Sorry for duplicate DW

You do not need to look at browser history. Your profile stores everything you have posted. Look at Content | Follow

[dollywobbler]

I decided to do a little test to make sure the clutch is disengaging. It isn't...

 

ARSE!

[RayMK]

I decided to do a little test to make sure the clutch is disengaging. It isn't...

 

ARSE!

 

Reliant clutches are generally quite fierce by modern standards, more akin to an ON/OFF switch for drive, and need to be adjusted properly for the best action.  Did you conduct the disengagement test at the bell housing lever or was it via the pedal?  Connecting the pedal will give the best feel for what is or is not going on.  Mine is ancient and rod operated.  It is very sensitive to wear in the various pivots, rigidity of brackets or bent rods. Presumably later Reliants have a cable operated clutch.  I can't recall my Rialto's clutch layout. I cannot imagine that Reliant went all sophisticated and hydraulic for the Fox.  No doubt further fiddling will enable you to come to a diagnosis which can be cured with the engine in-situ. 

[dollywobbler]

It is a cable. Chatting to the club, it seems likely I just haven't adjusted it enough, though there's a warning that too much will damage the clutch. Best tested with engine running apparently.

[louiepj]

"I shall have to buy a Morris now."

 

"That's not how it works!"

Soon as I heard that on the video I snorted out loud and got some funny looks from the other half.

Then I pondered the potential hilarity of us all sending dollywobbler Morris parts in the post as all it takes is 'Hubnut' and a stamp apparently. Then I realised we would all probably send him random Morris parts and not stay model specific.....

[GrumpiusMaximus]

It could be in the form of a gift box, where he gets a couple of bits a week.

 

Eventually he'll have enough to build his own Morris Oxford.

[dollywobbler]

I adjusted up the clutch. No joy as yet, but I have got a pedal that is starting to feel more like a pedal, so that's progress.

 

I had started trying to wire up the engine for a trial run, albeit still with no cooling system, but after a brief cough of starter, I'm just getting the clack of the solenoid now. Might be a lack of juice in the battery, so it's on charge while I have some dinner.

[dollywobbler]

No, something is very, very wrong. Solenoid is clacking because the engine won't sodding turn. I can back it up a bit by hand, but it makes some unpleasant noises from the bellhousing area. FFS!

[dozeydustman]

Bother.

 

In a way I hope it's the gearbox and not the engine that's causing the problem. How free does the engine feel when you turn it by hand?

 

Stating the bleedin' obvious, earths & neutral? I'd be more inclined to say the gearbox is the fault as the engine was fine when it went in.