Tommy's A-series Misery - More Austin 7 Work

[kevins]

I think it depends on the heater, if it has permanant water flow with no control valve you don't need a bypass.

[wuvvum]

On 04/06/2026 at 13:26, Tommyboy12 said:

The brakes are mediocre, the power is non-existant, and the steering is terrifying.

TADT,S.

[wuvvum]

On 04/06/2026 at 07:50, captain_70s said:

Newly purchased by @Jimblob!

Is that not Jimblob's orange Pignose as well?

[Mr Pastry]

5 hours ago, kevins said:

I think it depends on the heater, if it has permanant water flow with no control valve you don't need a bypass.

That is certainly a factor, as when the A series was designed not all cars had heaters, and those that did would have a water valve.   But a bleed hole in the thermostat might be enough to maintain the flow.   As seen on many other engines.  I can't think of another with a bypass.

[captain_70s]

8 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Is that not Jimblob's orange Pignose as well?

I thought it was but it's a different V reg, unless he has two!

[High Jetter]

On 10/05/2026 at 21:38, Tommyboy12 said:

My last photos of the Aggro below. It's performed admirably this weekend and has been a very comfortable, if thirsty cruiser. I've enjoyed owning it and as per the rest of the cars I've owned it's left my ownership in better condition than I bought it with new brakes, suspension pipes, a water pump and an electronic ignition.

I was amused by the (brief) report on EMWalhalla in PC - '...with other standouts being a (very) unrestored and highly patinated 1974 Vanden Plas 1500...' 

 

[Tommyboy12]

7 hours ago, captain_70s said:

I thought it was but it's a different V reg, unless he has two!

There are two yellow ones but @Jimblob only owns one. However he has owned both

[Tommyboy12]

6 hours ago, High Jetter said:

I was amused by the (brief) report on EMWalhalla in PC - '...with other standouts being a (very) unrestored and highly patinated 1974 Vanden Plas 1500...' 

 

It was a favourite of the writer 😅

There's due to be a 10+ pager in the next issue

[Tommyboy12]

I returned from my week in China last night so while the jetlag is vicious I thought it best to operate machinery today!

Firstly I fitted the bonnet webbing so the bonnet doesn't rub metal on metal with the body.

Next up I needed to repair the radiator stay. Apparently the bonnet is meant to slide into a loop at the rear and rest in a channel on the front. The front channel is there.

But the rear has snapped off

It's meant to look like this with a section of tube to slide the bonnet pin into

So I found an old bolt sleeve for a Mini lower radiator bracket and welded it on in place

Quick lick of black hammerite and it looks nearly new*

Then I did a bit of engine tuning and went on another test run round the village. Forgot the village carnival and parade was on so got stuck in a closed road section

It ran much better with a bit less timing. I think the head might still be leaking pressure into the cooling system but I can't get up to speed to find out because another problem has reared it's head.

My propshaft fabric doughnut is disintegrating...

It should not be splaying like it is and it's vibrating the propshaft and it's striking the prop tunnel.

I have made the choice to change to a later hardy Spicer driveshaft rather than replace the doughnut. The doughnut is available but a hardy Spicer will have more longevity and is an upgrade on the doughnut.

I also have an issue with the clutch pedal jamming against the firewall so I can't fully disengage the clutch. It's very much bodged in the foot well so I need to do some gentle massaging with a calibrated impact device.

But it's getting closer to being able to drive a bit further than a mile round the village!

I do need to change the oil as it mayo'd when the headgasket blew.

[Matty]

Tiny increments from here to LEJOGing it 😁

[N Dentressangle]

9 hours ago, Matty said:

Tiny increments from here to LEJOGing it 😁

That's the beauty of it though, isn't it?

No waiting for parts from China. No OMGhowmuch modules. Careful fettling, ingenuity and fabrication rather than replacement. No special tools or code readers needed.

Almost a shame things moved on. We could all do our local pottering in a 7 and leave longer journeys for the train.

[Tommyboy12]

10 hours ago, Matty said:

Tiny increments from here to LEJOGing it 😁

Well it's driving 800 miles to France and back in three weeks so I need to get a wiggle on sorting it 😅

[Matty]

5 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Well it's driving 800 miles to France and back in three weeks so I need to get a wiggle on sorting it 😅

By god ive misread the challenge this time Tom! Ill offer a prayer up next time im at mass kid 🤣

 

(You wont need it  mind. Does make you wonder how youll ever top it though).

[Tommyboy12]

Progress on the Austin 7!

My propshaft coupling was well and truly buggered when I took off the inspection cover.

When I took it off it was basically in pieces. Well past it's best before.

I then proceeded to remove the prop as I am swapping to a later propshaft with hardy Spicer joints.

And put with the old flanges as there's a different shape and bolt count

Old one

And the new one in it's place

And new prop in place! I had fabricate some D-head bolts by grinding down some M13 bolts.

Apparently it's normal that when this upgrade is done the prop clashes with the handbrake but it seems I have a pre adjusted handbrake cable and had no clashing. It's tight but no clashing.

I then set about changing the oil as I got some contamination with the headgasket blowing

Oil should look like this right??

It also leaks out the starting handle hole so I solved* that by jamming a cloth in the hole and tying it in place 😅

Fresh oil and then diff topped off (the diff oil is 140 weight and like glue!) and I took it for a longer drive!

I broke down... Fuel filter clogged up with gunk from the tank. I thankfully had a spare and chucked it on and carried on my merry way. Completing about 5 miles doing laps of the village.

I got papped again by another local who posted in one of the local FB groups

No more propshaft banging and it seemed to hold it's temp well enough with some timing tweaks. It's time to get some miles on it!

[Matty]

Ace 

[EightMegs]

Your roadtrip threads are always an annual highlight on the forum for me and I'm very excited to see if this little Austin makes it there and back again.

[Tommyboy12]

Time for a post mortem on the Mini from Poland.

First up a little switch around. The usual garage occupant has been evicted and replaced with the patient

I am stripping off the head for a skim, the rad for replacement with a thicker alloy unit, and replacing the timing cover which is hosing oil out of it and then being sucked directly into the rad, another reason for replacement.

First up rad out. Water pump too as it's in the way. Managed to get the pulley off with a pry bar.

Then off with his head (and the timing cover)!

Head is showing blowing between 2 and 3 so definitely needs a skim.

Onto the shiny new billet timing cover. The standard cover is tin and if you over tighten it or it's bent it hoses oil out between it and the back plate. This one is fully enclosed and combines the backplate and cover.

It's CNC art

I got as far as fitting the cover before calling it for the day

She's looking a bit sorry for herself...

[EightMegs]

Do you have international break down cover when you take chod abroad? I'm contemplating driving my old Toyota around Europe next year but I'd like a way of getting it recovered in the event of something going wrong that I wouldn't be able to fix at the side of the road.

[captain_70s]

The issue with international break down cover is you'll generally find the following in the small print:

 

[Tommyboy12]

8 hours ago, EightMegs said:

Do you have international break down cover when you take chod abroad? I'm contemplating driving my old Toyota around Europe next year but I'd like a way of getting it recovered in the event of something going wrong that I wouldn't be able to fix at the side of the road.

I do have european breakdown. There's limited cost as mentioned, and unlimited cost cover. I've got limited but the market value is high enough that I'm not concerned. Plus it's only limited until the port so limping as close to the port as possible is an option if needed. RAC do offer local repair options so if it's something repairable you shouldn't need towing home anyway.

[Tommyboy12]

The Moggy did a trip to a local steam rally today.

There was some lovely stuff at the show. A couple of bits below.

The bus was very cool with it's dual front axle. I'm not much into buses so I don't know anything 

On the way home we stopped by the garden centre. The Moggy is very practical but the suspension got quite firm when loaded up!

This evening I cracked on with the Mini. Got the timing gear reassembled.

And the cover for my new timing case installed.

Final steps were alternator and water pump back in then this part of the engine was reassembled.

I needed to remove the fan shroud from the old rad so I removed the bodged water hose from the trip.

And took the shroud off. This rad is a mess. It's missing fins. Has been struck by the fan and is full of oil from the oil leak from the timing cover. It's straight for recycling.

And fitted my shiny new thick alloy radiator. It'll sit closer to the engine when the top mount is fitted.

That's it for now. I need to drop the head off for skimming this week while I'm travelling with work.

[auntiemaryscanary]

That radiator looks a quality item. Good work too. 

[Westbay]

Duplex timing chain ...😍👍

[Tommyboy12]

8 minutes ago, Westbay said:

Duplex timing chain ...😍👍

Adjustable too!

[Westbay]

Just now, Tommyboy12 said:

Adjustable too!

😍😍😍....😂

[robt100]

10 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

 

That's it for now. I need to drop the head off for skimming this week while I'm travelling with work.

perfect time for a little porting work😉 or has that been done already?

[Tommyboy12]

2 hours ago, robt100 said:

perfect time for a little porting work😉 or has that been done already?

Its got an old Alexander Engineering cylinder head with good porting and bigger valves already. It makes a healthy 60hp which is pretty good from a 998.

[Tommyboy12]

Third test drive.

Third break down 😅

Blocked fuel line again. This time I came prepared with this safe* open jerry can and fuel line running out the window

It hit a whole 40mph today! Temperature seems fine. Oil pressure is good too. The Speedo and fuel gauge are broken which isn't useful.

[Tommyboy12]

An unfortunate update but I've had to cancel the planned LeMans Classic trip this week. We've had a bereavement in the family and the funeral has been scheduled right over the top of the race so the neither the 7 nor I will be making it to LeMans...

I'm gutted about both the bereavement and the lack of making the trip but all the hard work will pay off. There will be an alternative road trip later this year with it. Something equally stupid and long distance!

In the interim my cylinder head came back from the machine shop so I'll be getting on with that this week at some point.

[Westbay]

Condolences ...