A40 - saggy bottom firmed

[Matty]

I reckon both @NorfolkNWeighand @Doblosevenhave answered @SiCs question perfectly. Too long a gestation period meant that by the time it was released on an unwitting public it was old hat already. Imagine it with a 1725 e(?)series. Its no ball of fire with a 3 litre Essex!

[LightBulbFun]

4 hours ago, SiC said:

Nice Invacar M8 😂

One of those cars that I didn't even know existed to be honest! Looks pretty darn smart and surprising it never became a big seller.

What dampened the enthusism for them on the market at the time?

you joke, but I have heard that the Thames Ditton ones where gel-coated *that* shade of blue under the paint, I have never been able to verify that, but I would love it to be true  

4 hours ago, Matty said:

From memory they only made 200 odd. Most a Thames Ditton then the rest in Scotland (Bathgate?) My dad's being a Scottish car. AC going bump half way through the production run probs didn't help. Typical small run bitsa (I've spent the last few weeks buying vauxhall victor ball joints on ebay), Essex v6 transverse, ACs own box built by Hewland. The box gives me  the fears.  Chain drive from engine to box 😬

 interesting to hear about the chain drive! the Model 70 also has an AC designed and made gearbox, with final drive sent to the differential by triplex chain, someone at AC liked their chain drive! to be fair, I have never heard of the gearbox/chain drive in a Model 70 giving issue (its usually the Salsbury CVT pulleys that let it all down) so it cant be that bad on the 3000ME surely?  (and yeah Model 70 production ending basically spelled the end for AC sadly)

4 hours ago, Dobloseven said:

Wasn't the original plan to use the 1750 Maxi engine and 5 speed box? Started life as the Diablo, designed by Robin Staples. Read somewhere that BL refused to supply them, imagining they'd need them all for themselves. Production was repeatedly put back for so long that by the time it entered production, price had risen massively and demand fallen. Remember seeing it at the 1973 Motor Show. 

as I understand it one of the big things that delayed the 3000ME was it failing the 30Mph crash test required for type approval at the time, which required a fairly major/costly front end chassis redesign 

(amusingly, at least for me, is the Model 70 passed that same crash test with little issue!)

[Dobloseven]

Think it took 6 years from the 3000ME appearing at Earls Court, to the first cars being supplied. Thats four Prime Ministers! Remember repeatedly reading in Motor magazine that production cars would "soon be available". A fascinating bit of motoring history and a reminder of a time when there was a lot of specialist car makers in the UK. Often limping along between takeovers and closure. Reliant, TVR, Gilbern, Jensen, Bristol, Ginetta etc. etc. 

[Matty]

5 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

you joke, but I have heard that the Thames Ditton ones where gel-coated *that* shade of blue under the paint, I have never been able to verify that, but I would love it to be true

Having chipped the paint on an arch doing the wishbone bushes earlier in the week I can confirm this isn't true for the Scottish ones 😳

[Matty]

Happy with that

[Matty]

Another live ftp 🙄

Pretty much certain I've snapped a half shaft, which they are known for in fairness. In a way im suprised it hasnt happened before given this has a bit more poke than standard and i do tend to drive it hard.

got a pal coming with a trailer. Can't face another 5 hour RAC experience 😄

[Matty]

Little shit

[Rustybullethole]

Ah well at least its pretty to look at whilst you wait. Fingers crossed for a quick fix.

[bezzabsa]

just read this from start to finish, I liked how the Bodge exhaust sounded LOL... I also had a Large valve mini head for about 5 years and never fitted it to anything, mate ended up throwing it on his 1440 van - jeez that thing was evil, had been reshelled about 5 times kept ripping them to bits..

are these bigger than a mini on the inside???? 

I'm also a fan of the 'bus' steering wheels they came with as standard..

reckon a MG MetroTurbo lump needs to be fitted 

[Matty]

40 minutes ago, bezzabsa said:

just read this from start to finish, I liked how the Bodge exhaust sounded LOL... I also had a Large valve mini head for about 5 years and never fitted it to anything, mate ended up throwing it on his 1440 van - jeez that thing was evil, had been reshelled about 5 times kept ripping them to bits..

are these bigger than a mini on the inside???? 

I'm also a fan of the 'bus' steering wheels they came with as standard..

reckon a MG MetroTurbo lump needs to be fitted 

They aren't much bigger than a mini outside and feel big car inside. Really clever piece of design. While I've had the fiesta off the road, this has been family car at weekends for a few week and ferries 4 of us round with loads of room, no bother.

Big steering wheel was nice but moto lita is so much nicer to hold and use 😄

[Matty]

Thank god I know people as mental as me 😄

[Scrubworks]

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/rear-suspension-axle-propshaft-c87/rear-axle-propshaft-rear-suspension-c88/halfshaft-competition-pair-p831319

 

You're welcome

[Matty]

39 minutes ago, Scrubworks said:

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/rear-suspension-axle-propshaft-c87/rear-axle-propshaft-rear-suspension-c88/halfshaft-competition-pair-p831319

 

You're welcome

Funnily enough, was going to ask. I am indeed welcome 🤣

[adw1977]

Being 4 inches wider than a Mini probably makes it feel like a bigger car, at least from the front seats.

I hope you get it working again soon.

[SiC]

Spridget racers are always snapping their half shafts. If you can get the other end out (magnet on stick), they're changeable by the road/trackside 😀

Wheel off, drum off, couple of screws and it'll withdraw. Jack it up on that side only if you don't want to loose all your diff oil. 

[Matty]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

Spridget racers are always snapping their half shafts. If you can get the other end out (magnet on stick), they're changeable by the road/trackside 😀

Wheel off, drum off, couple of screws and it'll withdraw. Jack it up on that side only if you don't want to loose all your diff oil. 

Already had drivers side out this morning. All OK. Other side is up against garage wall. I'll do it Tuesday night after work. Its youngests 10th birthday tomorow so can't do it then. I've stuff on this aft so it can sit and sulk a bit longer 😄

[SiC]

If you ever do need to remove them, remember the twisting action on them makes them handed. I.e. once used on the left then it needs to stay on the left if you don't want it to break again.

[Matty]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

If you ever do need to remove them, remember the twisting action on them makes them handed. I.e. once used on the left then it needs to stay on the left if you don't want it to break again.

Luckily an a fettler with an eye for detail has been before me. The drivers side had it written on the shaft in red pen. 😄

[Matty]

Right, assume the position again.

[Matty]

Aye, that'd do it

[Matty]

Swiftly progressing to prop dropped and diff out. The magnet on a stick was going to work this time @SiC 😄

[Matty]

Thank fuck I did. Diff can come into work for a proper blow, clean out and a turn through the parts wash. New half shaft, half shaft gaskets and diff gasket will get ordered tomorow. Then we ride again!

[Matty]

While I'm here, what's the recommend on gear oil for the diff? Just incase someone knows of something more modern in makeup but still with the properties needed for this age of equipment.

[SiC]

iirc it must only be GL-4, not GL-5 in the diff

[SiC]

You certainly did a good job in breaking that one!

[Mally]

I always used  ep 80/90.

Good enough for Pintos

[Matty]

34 minutes ago, SiC said:

You certainly did a good job in breaking that one!

I like to think I always try that little bit harder than most 😅 

[Matty]

9 hours ago, SiC said:

iirc it must only be GL-4, not GL-5 in the diff

Can't be more than a litre in an a40 diff surely?

[Scrubworks]

16 hours ago, Matty said:

While I'm here, what's the recommend on gear oil for the diff? Just incase someone knows of something more modern in makeup but still with the properties needed for this age of equipment.

Leyland Moggy Manual says EP90 GL-4. 80w90 is also suitable if straight 90 isn't available.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Currently on offer on Ebay at £7

AUSTIN A40 ORIGINAL LUBRICATION CHART | eBay

 

Todays equivalent is