Discussion
They are cracking cars, I have some!
The Austin 7 friends forum is quite busy, (but nothing like this.)
Well worth joining one of the clubs so you can get the magazines, cheap insurance etc etc. There is bound to be a local pub meet as well as there are Austin 7 owners everywhere.
Good luck with the restoration, there are plenty of people that will be happy to help and they aren't difficult things to work on.
The Austin 7 friends forum is quite busy, (but nothing like this.)
Well worth joining one of the clubs so you can get the magazines, cheap insurance etc etc. There is bound to be a local pub meet as well as there are Austin 7 owners everywhere.
Good luck with the restoration, there are plenty of people that will be happy to help and they aren't difficult things to work on.
Hi MH82,
I've got to echo what Austin said, go over to Austin Seven Friends,
http://pub25.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?us...
They were really helpful to me when I restored mine. There are also several parts suppliers around who can post almost anything you need to you, and carry a range of old and new parts. Additionally I bought a copy of the big read book (closest thing to a Haynes manual) available new for not as much as ht e2nd hand ones on ebay!
Lastly, they're pretty basic to work on, and entertaining to drive... I knew nothing about it when i started, and still know little about it, but made progress... here's mine:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Ask if you have any questions, there's always help around,
Good luck,
Ru
I've got to echo what Austin said, go over to Austin Seven Friends,
http://pub25.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?us...
They were really helpful to me when I restored mine. There are also several parts suppliers around who can post almost anything you need to you, and carry a range of old and new parts. Additionally I bought a copy of the big read book (closest thing to a Haynes manual) available new for not as much as ht e2nd hand ones on ebay!
Lastly, they're pretty basic to work on, and entertaining to drive... I knew nothing about it when i started, and still know little about it, but made progress... here's mine:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Ask if you have any questions, there's always help around,
Good luck,
Ru
You lucky s*d, welcome to the wonderful world of Austin 7,s
go to www.bantamtrailers.co.uk and see a couple of mine, bought the Ruby nearly 25 years ago, may get round to doing it
some time !!!! I don,t think.
go to www.bantamtrailers.co.uk and see a couple of mine, bought the Ruby nearly 25 years ago, may get round to doing it
some time !!!! I don,t think.
Having just looked at your profile I saw the picture of it. Looks in pretty good nick actually, nothing seems to rusty and great to have the hood & sidescreens in fairly decent condition. I had one very similar to that.
If it was mine I would be looking to do as little to it as possible to get it going and take it from there, it seems a shame to go for a massive restoration and end up with another very shiny car.
They are surprisingly practical cars to use as well, and everyone smiles and lets you out at junctions etc.
If it was mine I would be looking to do as little to it as possible to get it going and take it from there, it seems a shame to go for a massive restoration and end up with another very shiny car.
They are surprisingly practical cars to use as well, and everyone smiles and lets you out at junctions etc.
Ru78 said:
I bought a copy of the big read book (closest thing to a Haynes manual), available new...
Big RED manual - Doug Woodrow.Also helpful is the 750 Club Companion, which is a collection of old articles, sometimes has details not given in the Woodrow.
Most stuff is available and is light weight. Have fun.
Don't forget the 750MC, now more well known for racing, but in origin an Austin 7 club.
Which they don't forget!
See: http://www.750mc.co.uk/austin7.htm
Mentors, Centres (local branches) and links to other clubs, inclusind this list:
http://www.nazard.co.uk/7links.html
John
Which they don't forget!
See: http://www.750mc.co.uk/austin7.htm
Mentors, Centres (local branches) and links to other clubs, inclusind this list:
http://www.nazard.co.uk/7links.html
John
A little bit of progress on the seven. I am told that it was last started 25 years ago which ties in with the tax disk on the screen (1989). Armed with a new battery and my tools I set about getting the old girl started.
Of course I chanced my hand and connected the battery, filled the tank with a little bit of fuel and attempted to start. It turned over well (I had already checked the engine was free by turning over with the handle) but no attempt to start.
I then checked for fuel - yep but spark - nope!
Got the volt meter out and all the earths were looking a little dodgy so cleaned every single one up starting from the battery, no point doing half a job. Had power to the coil now so looked at the distributor, sure enough, the cap was all corroded so that was duly cleaned. Next was the points and this was all cleaned up too and when flicked, now had a spark. With number 2 spark plug out and checking for a spark, I attempted to start and it attempted to catch.
Spark plug re-fitted and sure enough, purred like a kitten. Really pleased, so next is, well I don't know. Didn't expect to get to this stage so quick!
Of course I chanced my hand and connected the battery, filled the tank with a little bit of fuel and attempted to start. It turned over well (I had already checked the engine was free by turning over with the handle) but no attempt to start.
I then checked for fuel - yep but spark - nope!
Got the volt meter out and all the earths were looking a little dodgy so cleaned every single one up starting from the battery, no point doing half a job. Had power to the coil now so looked at the distributor, sure enough, the cap was all corroded so that was duly cleaned. Next was the points and this was all cleaned up too and when flicked, now had a spark. With number 2 spark plug out and checking for a spark, I attempted to start and it attempted to catch.
Spark plug re-fitted and sure enough, purred like a kitten. Really pleased, so next is, well I don't know. Didn't expect to get to this stage so quick!
She is just so beautiful as she is and is still your grandfather's car. Please, please don't lose all that patina. Refurb what is necessary, but the condition as is speaks volumes. You are such a lucky fellow.
ETA And you are in fine company too. Tony Dron has one, drives it from Essex to London and has done over 3,000 in her this summer.
ETA And you are in fine company too. Tony Dron has one, drives it from Essex to London and has done over 3,000 in her this summer.
One of our cars is in very similar condition to that;
YD 2184 by austin7, on Flickr
Get on the phone and get it insured, don't need an MOT and tax is £0
Might be worth fitting an inline fuel filter to catch any gunk.
If it was me, (and I wish it was, I sadly sold my chummy earlier this year) I would tidy it up as little as possible, make it safe. Get the lights sorted well, check the brakes, clean the glass and side screens and give the rest a clean and wipe with a mix of engine oil and parafin and then let it dry off in the sun.
It will come up a treat!
YD 2184 by austin7, on FlickrGet on the phone and get it insured, don't need an MOT and tax is £0
Might be worth fitting an inline fuel filter to catch any gunk.
If it was me, (and I wish it was, I sadly sold my chummy earlier this year) I would tidy it up as little as possible, make it safe. Get the lights sorted well, check the brakes, clean the glass and side screens and give the rest a clean and wipe with a mix of engine oil and parafin and then let it dry off in the sun.
It will come up a treat!
Austin said:
Get on the phone and get it insured, don't need an MOT and tax is £0
I would tidy it up as little as possible, make it safe. Get the lights sorted well, check the brakes!
As it has been off the road for so long, it might be advisable for a sympathetic MOT inspector to check it over, just as a second pair of eyes. Unsympathetic inspectors will worry about the narrow track on his ramps... I would tidy it up as little as possible, make it safe. Get the lights sorted well, check the brakes!
We use RH for insurance.
davepen said:
As it has been off the road for so long, it might be advisable for a sympathetic MOT inspector to check it over, just as a second pair of eyes. Unsympathetic inspectors will worry about the narrow track on his ramps...
We use RH for insurance.
The problem with that is you will have trouble finding someone who knows about cars so old and is still working. My Sevens going through the MOT process was a bit of a joke as the mechanics didn't really know what they were looking at. The uncoupled brakes really baffled them! And this was at a garage recommended by several local vintage car owners, some of the local garages I approached refused to do an MOT on them.We use RH for insurance.
There isn't much that can go wrong on them to be honest, grease the bits that need greasing, check that nothing has rusted away in the chassis and that the cable brakes work and aren't seized.
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