A40 - saggy bottom firmed

[Matty]

I did the shackle bushes while the car was in the air. I did these only 18 month or so ago with spares from the club but these were already knackered.

Replaced with midget poly items it already feels better. Not that I could hear any noise but it felt fidgety. Probably all in the mind though.

That last photo looks like it isn't buttoned up yet but the manufacturer suggests tightening up when the cars on the deck to avoid preloading the bushes so thatss what I did. 

[Mr Pastry]

9 minutes ago, Matty said:

Crossflow head, large bores, short stroke. Not wrong. Much as I'm a confirmed BMC fetishist, yes a crossflow Kent is a better lump.

Even in 1951, the Mk 1 Consul 1508 was a very modern design, oversquare,  good power/weight ratio, and quite tuneable, as was the equivalent Vauxhall.  The B series was out of date almost before it started.  Much as we love BMC, they really should have kept their eye on the ball.

 

[Matty]

Evening all.

Finally using this as a car again. I'm up in kendal to watch the Undertones (brilliant gig as ever!). Its a good test as I've put 500 mile on this now since putting the new engine in but only in fits and starts over a couple of month.

Next Friday I'm off on a round trip of Scotland in convoy with my Dad, Uncle and my Dad's pal. We are going Burnley to Ayr day one, Ayr to Skye day two, Skye to Seahouses day three then back home day four. So big miles. A 120 mile round trip to Kendal at least gives me a chance to prove the works over a distance and at good speeds. Made it here no bother! Hopefully get home as well 😁. Have a picture of the old heap parked behind the pub we are staying at.

[High Jetter]

Car looks pleased with itself!

[Matty]

Yeah I know. Its got one of them faces 🤣

[Matty]

Made it home too. Which is a bit of a bonus. Car ran well. New diffs giving me about 65 at 3700 rpm (speedos under reading now and GPS doesn't work so well in the car hence about 65) which is a massive improvement.

Did last job before next weekend when I got home. Replacing my top hose lash up with a length of silicone with a 45 deg angle. The Midget stat housing doesn't line up with the top hose stub on the rad you see.

Before

After.

Alright it isn't going to win any design council awards but it'll do. Works fine so sound.

So this week leading up to Friday I'll have an evening in the garage, go round everything I've had in bits (most of the running gear) and make sure everything's nipped. Do the grease points and check fluids while I'm at it. Then there's nothing else for it but to chuck a bag in Friday morning, meet up with the convoy and set off. First legs Burnley to Aire. About 270 miles 😭

Everyone feel free to offer up a prayer for me 😂 

[JMotor]

20 hours ago, Matty said:

We are going Burnley to Ayr day one,

Yay for more A40 action and oh 😢.

Because you may be passing my way. But I'll be at work...

Which is In the completely wrong direction 😭 .

[Matty]

22 minutes ago, JMotor said:

Yay for more A40 action and oh 😢.

Because you may be passing my way. But I'll be at work...

Which is In the completely wrong direction 😭 .

That'd have been quite cool actually. Never mind. I still think at some point in the future some have soul (not me) should organise a west coast version of the northern twixfest. Something for the Scots, lancs and Cumbria lads. Could have it somewhere like Carlisle say and split the differance.

[Tommyboy12]

Good to see it getting a run. Seahouses should be fine if you made it that far without trouble!

How's it doing on fuel?

[Matty]

2 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Good to see it getting a run. Seahouses should be fine if you made it that far without trouble!

How's it doing on fuel?

Pretty good tbf. I mean I've not actually gone as far as doing maths but roughly 40 to the gallon. I will work it out properly when I get round to it.

I still need to experiment with the damper oil. It's on the SU oil at the moment as it was to hand. Coming back onto the throttle it can be a little hesitant at first. Nothing major and it did it on the old engine and fueling setup too so I'm guessing the piston is rising too quick. Like you said Tom, thicker oil!

[Rustybullethole]

Great to see it getting the miles in sure it'll appreciate a good old stretch of the legs. 40 to the gallon sounds bloody good too.

[Matty]

It begins

First leg to Burnley to meet my Dad, Uncle and dad's mate.

Tebay achieved! I went a roads from Burnley to Kirby Lonsdale and Crooklands. Then a stint on the M6 to Gretna. I knew my speedo was over reading so I led in order to get a general concensus on what speed I'm doing. I was doing 55 mph at 3500 rpm with the car quite happy. Apparently I was doing 65 to 70 so it's quite a way out! But what a result on that diff!

After Gretna we went a roads all the way Dumfries, Girvan etc etc.

Motorway!

Sea!

Ferries to Northern Ireland!

Ayr. We have arrived! (About half an hour ago)

Not one to count chickens, my stated aim was Ayr.so I've achieved so far.  The big A series and 3.7 diff have transformed it. The greatest compliment I could pay it is that for long periods of today I've genuinely forgotten I'm in an old car (noise and smell not withstanding).

Tomorow Ayr to the Ilse of Skye. Thoughts and prayers please lads 🤣

[Tommyboy12]

You'll make it no problem! Have fun!

[EyesWeldedShut]

Well if Sawney Bean *never got you between Cairnryan and Girvan then you've done well. 
*the 'new' A77 by-passes where his cave is meant to be - that and the legendary* Elivis rock graffiti

[N Dentressangle]

That looks brilliant. Proper gearing just transforms an old car, doesn't it? Fuck knows why they made them so low in them days, but they all did it.

[Matty]

45 minutes ago, N Dentressangle said:

That looks brilliant. Proper gearing just transforms an old car, doesn't it? Fuck knows why they made them so low in them days, but they all did it.

I mean, 5 gears would still be a blessing but where do you stop 😄

[JMotor]

Again, I love this car.

Also glad you've taken it on a good long run and it's been spot on so far and the changes you've made have made the thing better.

I'm just annoyed I couldn't see it in person! But that's not a big deal.

[320touring]

Excellent adventures!

 

Ayr to Skye in 1 day will be a long old stint.

Luss on the west shore of Loch Lomond is a reasonable stop for coffee/ tea and quite picturesque. It'll also likely be bloody busy.

Be aware that the a82 can be sketchy for overtakes (impatient drivers) and can also be really busy for traffic as it's the main route North.

Where are you headed on Skye?

If you want to make it longer take the Corran Ferry (just below Ft William) and come up the single track road (a681) on the other side of the Loch. Then hang a right onto the a830 and head back towards ft William to pick the a82 back up.

If you go left at the top of the a681 onto the a830 towards Mallaig you can see the "harry potter bridge" (Glenfinnan Viaduct). Good fish N chips in Mallaig, and a ferry over to Skye is available.

 

Alternatively , i'd be keen to do the Glenelg Ferry - last manual turntable ferry operating in the world

https://skyeferry.co.uk/

 

Have a great trip !

[Matty]

1 hour ago, 320touring said:

Excellent adventures!

 

Ayr to Skye in 1 day will be a long old stint.

Luss on the west shore of Loch Lomond is a reasonable stop for coffee/ tea and quite picturesque. It'll also likely be bloody busy.

Be aware that the a82 can be sketchy for overtakes (impatient drivers) and can also be really busy for traffic as it's the main route North.

Where are you headed on Skye?

If you want to make it longer take the Corran Ferry (just below Ft William) and come up the single track road (a681) on the other side of the Loch. Then hang a right onto the a830 and head back towards ft William to pick the a82 back up.

If you go left at the top of the a681 onto the a830 towards Mallaig you can see the "harry potter bridge" (Glenfinnan Viaduct). Good fish N chips in Mallaig, and a ferry over to Skye is available.

 

Alternatively , i'd be keen to do the Glenelg Ferry - last manual turntable ferry operating in the world

https://skyeferry.co.uk/

 

Have a great trip !

I think day 3 is longest. Skye to Seahouses.  Not looking forward that so much! It works out about the same miles a day give or take 50 60. It just takes so much longer once it's all smaller roads and slower speeds!

[320touring]

3 minutes ago, Matty said:

I think day 3 is longest. Skye to Seahouses.  Not looking forward that so much!

Aye but it's all downhill 😂

[Matty]

@320touring. You weren't wrong. Just got here left ayr at 10! Big accident road shit 50 miles off Fort William and had to go all the way round! Extra 160 mile.

But I'm here!

Ill do a bit of a write up later. Im fucked 🤣

[320touring]

7 minutes ago, Matty said:

@320touring. You weren't wrong. Just got here left ayr at 10! Big accident road shit 50 miles off Fort William and had to go all the way round! Extra 160 mile.

But I'm here!

Ill do a bit of a write up later. Im fucked 🤣

Glad you made it!

 

Look forward to the update😁

[Matty]

What a fuck about. Day started well. Ayr to Troon, Greenock, Args and so on upto Loch Lomond. Roads and scenery just got nicer.

big hills

beautiful views

literally seaside

Oban

funky bridges

cafe at Glen Coe

About 5 mins after this it all went tits. Roughly 50 mile from Fort William road shut, major accident. So we had to about turn, go all the way back down the hill and get to Fort William via Oban. An extra 150 or so miles. So we should have been here about teatime but got here at 9. I've done shorter shifts on shut work in the Mills 🤣.

Still though

got here!

Cars going like stink, but for my money its not in the bag till its back at my house in Haslingden monday night!

600 miles not out. Seahouses tomorow. If any of you lot have been offering a prayer don't let up now!

Thanks all.

[High Jetter]

No FTP? Get in.

[Matty]

1 minute ago, High Jetter said:

No FTP? Get in.

Now you've bloody done it. This is only half way 🤣.

Only kidding pal. We will see. Tbf my aim is to see each day out. But then I really liked Seahouses when me and her went for the night and I'd love to take my dad and uncle to the Ship for a pint so tomorrow's pressure on really. 

[delux]

That TVR seems to be doing well keeping up with you!

Safe journey back!

[Tommyboy12]

Great pictures. I need to get up to that part of the world soon

[Rocket88]

On 21/06/2024 at 17:36, Matty said:

It begins

First leg to Burnley to meet my Dad, Uncle and dad's mate.

Tebay achieved! I went a roads from Burnley to Kirby Lonsdale and Crooklands. Then a stint on the M6 to Gretna. I knew my speedo was over reading so I led in order to get a general concensus on what speed I'm doing. I was doing 55 mph at 3500 rpm with the car quite happy. Apparently I was doing 65 to 70 so it's quite a way out! But what a result on that diff!

After Gretna we went a roads all the way Dumfries, Girvan etc etc.

Motorway!

Sea!

Ferries to Northern Ireland!

Ayr. We have arrived! (About half an hour ago)

Not one to count chickens, my stated aim was Ayr.so I've achieved so far.  The big A series and 3.7 diff have transformed it. The greatest compliment I could pay it is that for long periods of today I've genuinely forgotten I'm in an old car (noise and smell not withstanding).

Tomorow Ayr to the Ilse of Skye. Thoughts and prayers please lads 🤣

If you use Waze it gives an accurate gps speedo run on the screen 

[Matty]

I'm in Seahouses now!

Car isn't. It's been abandoned outside Edinburgh. Luckily my dad's mate has moved there so it's at his house.

Long story short (I'll do a proper write up when I can) it made it all the way back from Skye to just near Perth. We pulled off to get a brew and the clutch suddenly wasn't there! Pipes fractured on the flare at the slave cylinder. 

So I had to drive the fucking thing all the way to just outside (English side 🙃) of Edinburgh with no clutch. Which is fine once you're in top. What's not so mint is the Scottish preoccupation with interspersing their motorways with roundabouts. Them were interesting in a not good way.

Pipes off and dad's mate is taking it to his mechanic in the morning to have it reflared (hopefully). So back I go in the morning to refit refill and bleed. Ah well it's part of the crack. And I got to drive a Griffith 500 for a bit 🤣

Have a picture of my best side

Thanks all

[tooSavvy]

Hmm.... Ran up, today (... after a wonderful Sundays lunch), by Boulmer and 'Coastal Route' towards Seahouses/Bambrough...

Turned back towards the A1, short of Seahouses, and had to take the 'deviation' because chippings/dressing....

What a fab day [even without a clutch 😵‍💫]...

Vroooom 🧐 ... 👍🔧

🚙💨