A40 - New boots

[Matty]

In other news my brand new gearbox jumps out of 2nd on the over run. 

In fairness to Claire, one phone call and she is immediatly building me another 1098 box without any argument. She is bringing it up next Saturday and taking the current one away to investigate.

Much as I'm gutted, I do mechanical work for a living so understand even the best can miss something sometimes. And you can't argue with that level of customer service. Keep everything crossed for a good outcome lads 😁

[N Dentressangle]

  On 22/03/2025 at 17:11, Matty said:

 How the fuck is it supposed to act as a breather if its full of grease??

Expand  

No point in packing it with grease anyway, although I think people used to, didn't they? Not as if it was doing anything useful there.

Undoing other people's shit workmanship seems to be part of owning an old car, mind. Eh @SiC? 😉

[Matty]

Gearbox Mk2 seems sound. Put 120 mile on it so far so (touches wood) i think we are sorted.

Had to work today but no bosses in. A good time to use up the lanoguard I had left. Well it saves making a mess of my floor. And on double time. It's no wonder the economy is going to hell in a handcart 😁

[Scrubworks]

How are you finding the Lanoguard? It's a product I've been meaning to try for ages, and was going to use it on my Pajero after stripping and repainting the chassis.

[Tommyboy12]

I've got a bottle of lanoguard waiting for me to get around to doing it. I hope it's worth the effort

[chadders]

I've found Ramsoil to be a better product and have used it for over 10 years.

I did buy some Lanogard but went back to Ramsoil so it's at the back of one of the carports.

[comfortablynumb]

The underside of my MK3 escort looks pretty crusty, although it's sound. I've been considering lanoguard too, if it's any good @Matty?

[Matty]

  On 18/04/2025 at 16:24, Scrubworks said:

How are you finding the Lanoguard? It's a product I've been meaning to try for ages, and was going to use it on my Pajero after stripping and repainting the chassis.

Expand  

 

  On 18/04/2025 at 16:30, Tommyboy12 said:

I've got a bottle of lanoguard waiting for me to get around to doing it. I hope it's worth the effort

Expand  

I've literally no clue in the long term. In the short term it's an absolute piece of piss to apply. Comes in 2.5 or 5 litre bottles. Take the lid off, fit the dip tube and pipe that comes with it. Throw some bags over the brakes and exhaust and literally spray it everywhere else. No lying or standing under the car. No getting covered in it like the old days of waxoil. As its relatively thin it gets everywhere you want it to go. Makes a right mess though hence the sheets of corrugated. 2.5 litres saturated both the Fiesta and the Austin. 

Best thing is it makes your car smell like linseed window putty 👍

[Matty]

  On 18/04/2025 at 16:37, chadders said:

I've found Ramsoil to be a better product and have used it for over 10 years.

I did buy some Lanogard but went back to Ramsoil so it's at the back of one of the carports.

Expand  

Technically it's not Lanogard (tm?) that i used. It's a marine one called Lanoshield that's a wee bit cheaper. I figured i haven't met a pound i didn't want to keep and if it's good enough for the boat boys...

[Matty]

  On 18/04/2025 at 16:49, comfortablynumb said:

The underside of my MK3 escort looks pretty crusty, although it's sound. I've been considering lanoguard too, if it's any good @Matty?

Expand  

This is the one I bought. At that money it's worth a squirt 😏 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116314722630?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=vH2vKhH3R2G&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=svwv9r4orxa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

What's the worst that could happen (apart from your most prized possession rotting horrifically whilst you rest on your laurels).

Anyhow, Mk3 Escort? Why no thread pal?

[Scrubworks]

The part of Lanolin-based treatments that appeals to me is that it's non-toxic and biodegradable; as you hint it's made of boiled wool. Therefore you are at liberty to make an absolute horlicks of applying it and get it basically everywhere (I've read you can get it on the exhaust as well and it won't actually burn off?). For actually coating the chassis you need a good primer and paint, as usual, and for proper cavity waxing I don't think that Bilt Hamber S50 can be beat, but if you can then go over the top with another, lower-duty and cheaper product that is not a harmful chemical, so much the better.

Oh, and if you think Lanoguard makes a mess, try Dinitrol 😁.

[Matty]

  On 18/04/2025 at 17:15, Scrubworks said:

The part of Lanolin-based treatments that appeals to me is that it's non-toxic and biodegradable; as you hint it's made of boiled wool. Therefore you are at liberty to make an absolute horlicks of applying it and get it basically everywhere (I've read you can get it on the exhaust as well and it won't actually burn off?). For actually coating the chassis you need a good primer and paint, as usual, and for proper cavity waxing I don't think that Bilt Hamber S50 can be beat, but if you can then go over the top with another, lower-duty and cheaper product that is not a harmful chemical, so much the better.

Oh, and if you think Lanoguard makes a mess, try Dinitrol 😁.

Expand  

That's what I liked about the idea as well. It can go on rubber components and everything else and it doesn't matter. The only reason I ragged the exhaust is it stinks for a bit (learnt that with the Fiesta). Obvs brake discs are a bad idea too. 

Is it bad form for the obligatory how's the moggy question bud? I do like the Pajero though. Good taste 👌 

[Scrubworks]

  On 18/04/2025 at 17:19, Matty said:

That's what I liked about the idea as well. It can go on rubber components and everything else and it doesn't matter. The only reason I ragged the exhaust is it stinks for a bit (learnt that with the Fiesta). Obvs brake discs are a bad idea too. 

Is it bad form for the obligatory how's the moggy question bud? I do like the Pajero though. Good taste 👌 

Expand  

I really should do an update post for the Moggy thread, it's on the road. Been busy procrastinating 😅.

[Dyslexic Viking]

I have some experience with Fluid Film, wich is similar?

It attracts dirt so I prefer not to use it underneath if I can as it makes a mess but if you don't care about that then it's fine. But it is possible to pressure wash it off and apply new.

It seems to slow down rust, on an old Yaris here it had surface rust underneath and this has not developed in 2 years and is stable, this has been pressure washed every spring and had fluid film reapplied. On another old Yaris, the sills had rough rust inside the sills and they were sprayed inside with fluid film and did not rust out for the next 5 years until the car was scrapped.

What Fluid Film is really good at is inside cavities like sills. It creeps and comes out wherever it can, even in unexpected places like spot welded plate joints.

If I can, I prefer Fluid Film inside the cavities and a wax/bitumen product I use on the underside that dries completely and provides an easy to clean and durable surface. 

But when there is a lot of surface rust, I use Fluid Film on the underside as well.

[Matty]

  On 18/04/2025 at 17:32, Dyslexic Viking said:

I have some experience with Fluid Film, wich is similar?

It attracts dirt so I prefer not to use it underneath if I can as it makes a mess but if you don't care about that then it's fine. But it is possible to pressure wash it off and apply new.

It seems to slow down rust, on an old Yaris here it had surface rust underneath and this has not developed in 2 years and is stable, this has been pressure washed every spring and had fluid film reapplied. On another old Yaris, the sills had rough rust inside the sills and they were sprayed inside with fluid film and did not rust out for the next 5 years until the car was scrapped.

What Fluid Film is really good at is inside cavities like sills. It creeps and comes out wherever it can, even in unexpected places like spot welded plate joints.

If I can, I prefer Fluid Film inside the cavities and a wax/bitumen product I use on the underside that dries completely and provides an easy to clean and durable surface. 

But when there is a lot of surface rust, I use Fluid Film on the underside as well.

Expand  

I'd take that as gospel considering where you live!

[Scrubworks]

  On 18/04/2025 at 17:32, Dyslexic Viking said:

I have some experience with Fluid Film, wich is similar?

Expand  

Yes, it is. Fluid Film, Lanoguard, and Ramsoil are all lanolin-based products. FF is the product that actually made me aware of lanolin undercoatings in the first place. It might even be the best one, but the problem in the UK is there's no proper distribution network, making getting hold of it very expensive. Rustbuster sell it but at their price point you may as well just buy another car.

[comfortablynumb]

  On 18/04/2025 at 17:14, Matty said:

Anyhow, Mk3 Escort? Why no thread

Expand  

I'd be horrifically bad at actually putting anything on it!

It's still buried in the garage after it's winter slumber, not that it's an immaculate example, more that the roof leaks really badly (cabrio) and I've not got chance to get it mot'd since last year, hell it even took me six months to do a cambelt, yeah on a cvh!

Also I can't drive currently, no I'm not banned, health issue, but hopefully getting one of my sons to get it in for MOT in the next week or so.

That's if the battery isn't dead, and the tyres still hold air.....🙄

[Matty]

  On 18/04/2025 at 18:13, comfortablynumb said:

I'd be horrifically bad at actually putting anything on it!

It's still buried in the garage after it's winter slumber, not that it's an immaculate example, more that the roof leaks really badly (cabrio) and I've not got chance to get it mot'd since last year, hell it even took me six months to do a cambelt, yeah on a cvh!

Also I can't drive currently, no I'm not banned, health issue, but hopefully getting one of my sons to get it in for MOT in the next week or so.

That's if the battery isn't dead, and the tyres still hold air.....🙄

Expand  

If you get chance a few words and a picture or 2 is always better than nowt 👍

[UltraWomble]

Ive been using Lanolin type products for a few years and so far find them OK, and doing pretty much what it says on the tin.
I use a garden weed sprayer to apply it to pretty much everything underneath and where possible in any box sections/inside panels.

I think the key thing is you are slapping it on every year

[JMotor]

From my experience the Lanoguard has performed well for me.

As the pockets on the Altezza are still mint LAAAAD. 

But it does need a once in a while top up. 

@Scrubworks some got into the the exhaust after I done mine. It just stinks for a while and then slowly burns off. Smells of sheep if that makes sense 😆. Not a terrible smell, but you won't forget it either.

[Matty]

Not technically Austin related. However I'm doing the work and it's my thread so balls to you 🤣

As a family we bought wheels for the Spitfire for my Dads Xmas and birthday present. Well i bought them and everyone else paid me off. However this necessitated new studs all round as the standard length studs are not long enough to accommodate alloy wheels.

Front hubs were easy enough. Hubs off, discs off hubs. Knock the old ones out, press the new ones in in the vice.

The rear ones, well. Recieved wisdom is that Spitfire rear hubs cannot be removed without the correct Churchill puller. Can't even use my hydraulic 3 legs as they distort the hub.

The Old ones can be knocked out in situ, but there isn't enough clearance behind the hub to fish the new ones in as they are longer. So again the received wisdom is to drill a hole in the drum back plate to facilitate this. Which would need to be 16mm! So I arrived armed with step drills, a 16.5mm bit that I'd turned a blacksmiths shank on at work and 2 16mm closed grommets.

So after doing the fronts the back end went up and the drums and shoes came off. Oh, look at that wheel cylinder. I bet with that off we can fish em through there. Fuck drilling holes 🫡

Went surprisingly well. Aside from having to draw the new studs in with old nuts and a stack of washers. Bit nerve wracking as UNF but plenty of oil and patience and no damage done.

Worth it though. Bloody told him Revos would look the biz.

Fucking hilarious what a Spit looks like as you let it down to earth mind

Cheers everyone 👍

[Matty]

As requested @horriblemercedes.

Managed a quick baz about this aft after I'd been into work and all the jobs were done. Love this little thing still, goes like stink and handles miles better now I've finally grown a pair and wound the adjustable valves in on the front dampers (and put some actual pressure in the tires 🤣). I'd been considering a change after this year to something with more legs. Unfortunatly im about 8 grand shy of where I'd need to be for the dream car (Gilbern Invader mk2). So a good job I'm still getting on with this.

Finally managed a photo with the Spitfire too. Front trunnions are done. New wheels are on. Hardtop is finished and back on. Now the new rear screen seal is wrong 😑 

Never mind. Ive took it back out and Woolies are sending some samples of the right profile in differant sizes. We will get there. One day 🫡

[N Dentressangle]

Brilliant.

You're right about the Spit and the Revolutions.

[Matty]

  On 03/05/2025 at 20:50, N Dentressangle said:

Brilliant.

You're right about the Spit and the Revolutions.

Expand  

Me and my mate went to a sports six club meet over Preston way on Tuesday night with my Dad. There was an absolutely beautiful mk3 Spitfire there. Valencia blue with a cream roof, cream steels with hubcaps and the sports six twin exhaust. Stunning and i could see why he wanted the wheels like on mine but powdercoated cream. But they aren't available in that pcd anymore.

But then I wanted him to have the Revolutions and I'm a quietly manipulative bastard. 😁