Tommy's A-series Misery - Resuming normal programming

[juular]

42 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

This is epic.

I've lived in Scotland my whole life and still haven't gone up the roads in the North West!

I shall endeavour to do that soon.

 

Get it done, man!

[beko1987]

9 minutes ago, juular said:

 

Get it done, man!

What beautiful roads to loose a wheel bearing on ❤️❤️😍

[Supernaut]

24 minutes ago, juular said:

 

Get it done, man!

I have been half-thinking about getting a wee drone to do some photography.

 I even studied the CAA regulations around them in my postgrad. I also have the perfect GT car for it now. A tall-geared, straight-6, leather-lined coupe.

[Eyersey1234]

Chodtastic news it is home, I hope you can sort it

[Tommyboy12]

Its an easy enough fix. Ive done plenty of wheel bearings before! I know theres some reasonable quality bearings available but the design changed in 86 from a two piece to the more common one piece bearing. If mine is the two piece im at the mercy of NOS.

[Rusty_Rocket]

Knowing ARG at that time, I'm guessing the bearing originated from a Morris Minor, was then modified to fit a Land Rover, had its part number changed six times, then had a spacer added to fit an Allegro (for 6 months only), then made NLA, then specified for the Montego with an oil seal from an Ital, with production changing to a different supplier after two weeks.  Currently on back order since 1991 😄

[High Jetter]

Ital, oil seal? Does not compute. (Amstrad 1512 says NO)

[mitsisigma01]

Missed this... just reading the whole thread, page 1,got me hooked already👍

[tooSavvy]

10 hours ago, Rusty_Rocket said:

Knowing ARG at that time, I'm guessing the bearing originated from a Morris Minor, was then modified to fit a Land Rover, had its part number changed six times, then had a spacer added to fit an Allegro (for 6 months only), then made NLA, then specified for the Montego with an oil seal from an Ital, with production changing to a different supplier after two weeks.  Currently on back order since 1991 😄

Metro fwb were made at R.H.P. , Consett.

*as many went out the carpark (after a Nightshift...) as paletted on BL delivery lorries 🤫

[Tigerfox]

21 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Its an easy enough fix. Ive done plenty of wheel bearings before! I know theres some reasonable quality bearings available but the design changed in 86 from a two piece to the more common one piece bearing. If mine is the two piece im at the mercy of NOS.

Quite often if you use the bearing number rather than application it can work out alot cheaper

[Tommyboy12]

If I can find a part number I may just do that but there seems to be reasonable NOS around for the two part bearing. FAI, Unipart, QH, a few other brands. You can still buy them new too.

[tooSavvy]

1986....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-Front-Wheel-Bearing-Kit-Austin-MG-Maestro-Montego-1983-86-/265317593245?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

[Tommyboy12]

So I got the hubs off on both sides. I have the one piece bearing which is good news because there's much more availability. It was definitely knackered on the drivers side. There was a roller facing the wrong way and it basically fell apart. However, that circlip is a problem...

 

[tooSavvy]

..... Lots Of FIRE (+ squeegee bottle of COLD water)

*Rinse & Repeat 👍

[Tommyboy12]

So these circlips were a bit of a pig to get out. Rusted in but they're all out now thanks to some gentle persuasion and lots of heat as mentioned. The company I've bought the bearings off has kindly been in touch to check dimensions and application (apparently this bearing is pretty prolific). Should hopefully have them in a couple of days then I can get a garage to press them out and new ones in.

[Dobloseven]

Are the outer races two separate  pieces? With each part going in from opposite ends, held in with a circlip?You might be able to drift them out and press the new ones in with a vice. 

[Tommyboy12]

48 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

Are the outer races two separate  pieces? With each part going in from opposite ends, held in with a circlip?You might be able to drift them out and press the new ones in with a vice. 

Outer race is a double angled roller bearing like most modern designs. Press fit. The early Montegos had a two piece ball bearing arrangement with a machined spacer between them similar to the classic Mini which was apparently more prone to failure. The Haynes I have describes knocking them in and out with a punch and the old race like a Mini too. Mine is the crossover year between two piece and one piece (and the VIN is near the crossover too) so I had to take them off first to be sure. Some replacement bearings are double roller but I've deliberately sourced double angled tapered which can support more load for the MAAAADDD power I'm putting down.

[Tommyboy12]

Bearings are at the garage being pressed in so in the meantime I spent lunch time clocking my NOS Speedo ready for fitting. Will be nice not to hear the incessant ticking of the Speedo. Not sure if I mentioned it but the odometer also packed up on the trip too just as it was turning over to 283k so I've added the distance between odometer failure and wheel bearing collapse. I wouldn't want to miss out on that mileage of such a trip!

[Datsuncog]

Not common to see someone deliberately winding a clock forward to add miles to it... but then, this is no ordinary car!

[High Jetter]

Is that known as unclocking? Nice that you got the rings to line up though.

[BorniteIdentity]

Confusion intensifies 

[Tommyboy12]

I just thought it would be a shame to whack a brand new clock in and hide it's epic mileage!

[Sham]

Every old, battered car tells a story - this one wears it's miles with pride, long may it do so.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

9 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

I just thought it would be a shame to whack a brand new clock in and hide it's epic mileage!

'It's only done 280K but it looks like it's done 400K!'

[Tommyboy12]

Despite all the time I spend on the Montego I actually have other cars to maintain and I thought I might start adding a few updates to this thread and making it somewhat of a fleet thread like others. The white Mini I own has appeared on this thread already with bearing collapse (sounds familiar 🤔) when I tried to get to FotU. I also own another mini which is a car I have had for 12 years. A 1989 Austin Mini with a biiiig turbo. It's rat look and scruffy but it's hiding 170hp.

It's always suffered from high temps and oil pressure that dips when it gets hot, although it does maintain a healthy 60psi at speed. So i clocked off early today and have fitted myself an oil temp gauge to try and understand a bit more what's going on. Unfortunately the A-series doesn't really lend itself well to measuring oil temps did to the way the oiling system works so I've had to settle for an in-line temperature sensor between the oil filter housing and the block. It's also after the oil cooler I already have fitted but unfortunately it's the best I can do.

Because I have a big front mound I have bracketry in the way so getting the oil filter off might be an issue. Think I'll have to reconsider my intercooler mounting and shorten it. You can see I already had to cut a chunk out. It's also going rusty.

Temp gauge is temporarily in place while I think about how I mount a fourth gauge. I like the gauge pod I have and you can buy a quad version so think that's the way I'll go.

No chance to run it up this evening but I'm now able to actually start to measure my oil temps rather than just pressure.

If you guys want a bit more on this car I'm happy to share. It's my baby and despite it looking ratty I lavish the mechanicals.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

8 minutes ago, Tommyboy12 said:

 

If you guys want a bit more on this car I'm happy to share. It's my baby and despite it looking ratty I lavish the mechanicals.

Yes. I love the way the Mini couldn't be any further removed from the Montego in any shape or form. I'm also a sucker for getting sentimental about cars- I've owned my MR2 for six years - a personal record by far - and it's staying forever. 

[hairnet]

when is the mini engine going in the tego (kidding)

 

[Tommyboy12]

49 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Yes. I love the way the Mini couldn't be any further removed from the Montego in any shape or form. I'm also a sucker for getting sentimental about cars- I've owned my MR2 for six years - a personal record by far - and it's staying forever. 

Definitely couldn't be much further removed from the Montego. Both quirky in their own way though. Much like yourself I couldn't possibly let it go of it!

11 minutes ago, hairnet said:

when is the mini engine going in the tego (kidding)

 

I did contemplate turbocharging the A-series in the Montego for a very short while but I actually like it being the most poverty of poverty!

 

[stuboy]

mini is cooler than a penguins ass

[Tommyboy12]

A bit more about it then! Essay incoming!

As mentioned I've had the car 12 years. It was my first classic and was my dream car and still is today. It helped me learn everything I know about working on cars and really got me into modifying cars too. It's been through a few iterations, paint jobs and engines to get to where it is today but honestly its never mattered what setup it is I just love it. I'll keep it forever and hopefully drive it until I can no longer drive myself.

The car itself:

 Its pretty heavily modified incase it wasn't entirely obvious! It's not for the purists... Which is actually the reason I keep my other one as I do. It's nice to have a period/standard Mini and this one looking ratty. Two ends of the spectrum.

Aside from running a turbo lump which I will get to its on coilovers all round, has a beam rear subframe and has had the boot floor partially flattened. The rear arches are fully tubbed too. Minis are low but this is really low. It's a good 2-3" lower than a Mini at normal ride height and about as low as you can get without serious work to the front subframe. Tubbed arches below. For those that don't know it basically involves cutting out the lip which is gets in the way on lowered minis and replacing it with flat steel. Best demonstrated from the inside.

Before tubbing. Note the big crevis which can rub on the tyre.

After.

Front end is fibreglass and fully removable. Was like that when I bought it and I've never felt inclined to return it to original. Makes doing engine work a doddle too.

I suppose the killer bit is the engine itself! It's a 1293cc overbore from a Metro Turbo. Forged pistons, standard rods and crank but running a modified centre bearing cap. Lightweight steel flywheel with a twin spring clutch to take the torque. Gearbox is a straight cut gear set but with helical drop gears. In simple terms it has classic straight cut whine in 1st, 2nd and 3rd but 4th gear is direct drive from the drop gears and therefore entirely helical and quiet. It's a compromise considering the power it runs but I do drive to a lot of shows and am already pretty deaf without making it worse.

It runs a Garrett T3 from the Metro, Montego/Maestro turbo plenum, turbo carburettor, and a Megajolt mappable ignition which uses a custom ECU to feed into a Ford EDIS ignition module and coil pack. The cylinder head came with the engine and is a work of art but it's a ticking time bomb. There is basically zero meat between the valves which is an absolute no-no in reality. The photos below should help you understand why! It runs at 7.5:1 compression ratio and 26lb of boost. I have pushed it to 30lb before but in all honesty it's too much. The compression tester readings are 85psi across the board 😂

I mostly built it myself.

The Dyno spat out 170hp at the crank when I tested it. It's quick! Dusting cars is easy when you weigh 600kg and I have had it bouncing off the limiter in 4th which is about 120mph (race track). It could pull more but I like to try not to eject the crank from the block!

So yeah! That's my turbo Mini!