What's this I see?
Discussion
Don't laugh but I did it with a spirit level and my eye! The idea was to get it neutral so then I'd drive it to a mates place and do a full geo. I was well impressed how straight it drove considering.
The new bushes and joints feel very nice, really direct steering and really smooth, so to then discover the rack leaking, I've been running the car on stands, then a number of drives around and all the time taking the steering from lock to lock etc. it took a week to show a leak.
When I disconnected rod ends so rack is free I turned steering wheel and it's very light and no tight spots so I'm not sure what's happened. It's been fine until I've disturbed it?
It's taken the shine off what was otherwise a very economical tidy up.
My car won't just accept maintaining it,,,,, it wants diamond rings and gold dust sprinkling on the fecker. I've had an expensive woman or two but this is ridiculous. Thank f
k she's a good ride at the end if it all. bd car.
The new bushes and joints feel very nice, really direct steering and really smooth, so to then discover the rack leaking, I've been running the car on stands, then a number of drives around and all the time taking the steering from lock to lock etc. it took a week to show a leak.
When I disconnected rod ends so rack is free I turned steering wheel and it's very light and no tight spots so I'm not sure what's happened. It's been fine until I've disturbed it?
It's taken the shine off what was otherwise a very economical tidy up.
My car won't just accept maintaining it,,,,, it wants diamond rings and gold dust sprinkling on the fecker. I've had an expensive woman or two but this is ridiculous. Thank f
k she's a good ride at the end if it all. bd car. 
Hi Anthony, with my driving the car needs to be perfect!!!!
What a pain, the suns shinning and I was going to tax her today.
Hey I'm going to come to Curborough on Thursday, I'll be the lap timer. No driving just a chance to say hello and see some good machinery.
I've got to pick my mate up from E Mids airport at midnight so I might aswell make a day of it.
Let's hope it's dry.
What a pain, the suns shinning and I was going to tax her today.
Hey I'm going to come to Curborough on Thursday, I'll be the lap timer. No driving just a chance to say hello and see some good machinery.
I've got to pick my mate up from E Mids airport at midnight so I might aswell make a day of it.
Let's hope it's dry.
Today removed oil seal from PS rack pinion.
Something that bugged me was not painting the inner bodywork around radiator area when I first stripped her out so today I did it. Also painted inside the radiator opening, it used to annoy me that if you looked inside the opening from the front of the car you could see dulled paint and over spray. I'd had a re spray and that was the remains of it!
I know I've posted the PS pic on another thread but this is my memory of the work so I can remember what and when etc. Alun.
One good point is,,,,,,,, I remember the nut and bolt sizes to everything now I've took it apart twice!!!
Power Steering I'll seal
If my rack repair works then I'm glad I've now painted that up. I used spray cans and a brush. Plenty of masking tape etc.
Also re painted horn and bracket.
Rewarding day after feeling very fed up first thing.
Something that bugged me was not painting the inner bodywork around radiator area when I first stripped her out so today I did it. Also painted inside the radiator opening, it used to annoy me that if you looked inside the opening from the front of the car you could see dulled paint and over spray. I'd had a re spray and that was the remains of it!
I know I've posted the PS pic on another thread but this is my memory of the work so I can remember what and when etc. Alun.
One good point is,,,,,,,, I remember the nut and bolt sizes to everything now I've took it apart twice!!!
Power Steering I'll seal
If my rack repair works then I'm glad I've now painted that up. I used spray cans and a brush. Plenty of masking tape etc.
Also re painted horn and bracket.
Rewarding day after feeling very fed up first thing.
I know your all bored of this never ending front end tidy up so I'll be brief.
Loosened steering rack adjuster nut and nipped up Allen bolt, felt tight so went clockwise 1/6 of a turn then back a tad. Tightened lock nut. See what happens!
As I'd painted the lower bodywork in the rad area yesterday and still had half a can left, I decided to paint both front inner wheel arches. Masked up the edges rather well, there's over paint from an earlier attempt so will use some Paris blue to they up.
I'd also repainted my horn bracket and re fixed horn this morning, 100mm to the left of its original position and out of the way of the air flow to radiator.
This was a tip I took from Phazed earlier thread on Alley rads,,,,, I think!
Very pleased to tick off things I wasn't going to get to do until another time but as it's up on stands again,I just thought the more I do now the less I have to do in the future.
Now I know most guys prefer mat black for these things but many years ago I worked with a car restorer for a short time, old Bentleys and Such like, long story short I've used gloss black as I like the classic car look.
The smear marks are in whatever covers the inner wheel arches, not my paint.
Regards Al
Loosened steering rack adjuster nut and nipped up Allen bolt, felt tight so went clockwise 1/6 of a turn then back a tad. Tightened lock nut. See what happens!
As I'd painted the lower bodywork in the rad area yesterday and still had half a can left, I decided to paint both front inner wheel arches. Masked up the edges rather well, there's over paint from an earlier attempt so will use some Paris blue to they up.
I'd also repainted my horn bracket and re fixed horn this morning, 100mm to the left of its original position and out of the way of the air flow to radiator.
This was a tip I took from Phazed earlier thread on Alley rads,,,,, I think!
Very pleased to tick off things I wasn't going to get to do until another time but as it's up on stands again,I just thought the more I do now the less I have to do in the future.
Now I know most guys prefer mat black for these things but many years ago I worked with a car restorer for a short time, old Bentleys and Such like, long story short I've used gloss black as I like the classic car look.
The smear marks are in whatever covers the inner wheel arches, not my paint.
Regards Al
Just a little update, yesterday
Re painted all four inner wheel arches
Replaced PS rack pinion oil seal
Today
Re built car
Installed
Rack connecting track rod ends,hydraulic hoses and steering arm.
Anti roll bar connecting up drop links
Radiator connecting up hoses
Expansion bottle
Y piece and exhaust. Loosened n/s manifold to facilitate mating faces of Y to manifolds then nipped back up.
Rear anti roll bar
Loosened front O/S chassis bolt, sanded area and added new washers to front EARTH points.
I'd done this with huge trepidation but the bolt loosened easily and all went well
A few other tweaks/ yet more cable ties
Filled water system
Filled Power Steering system.
Ran engine up to temps/ fans kicked in and added more PS Fluid to system as I span steering wheel from lock to lock clearing air bubbles
Added wheels
Dropped car off the ramps and has a spin round the block.
Nothing's leaking,,,,, yet. I won't say more!!!
I nipped up the steering rack adjuster when rack was out of the car
No play whatsoever. It feels incredible! I might take the adjuster back a smidge yet.
After all that work everything seems good bar my steering wheel isn't centred, I've gone one spline to far on the steering arm, cars jacked up ready to do a tweek in the morning, weather permitting
The first time I pulled the car apart it was hard work, putting it back together for the second time in a week, I learnt so much that today was just fun, went together really easily and I felt far more confident. I'll remember it, it's imprinted on my brain.
See what tomorrow brings?
I just like that last pic, it shows my hardship and my car almost alive. I'm ready for anything now, nothing can be any harder than doing this lot on a crumbling driveway!
Nah it's easy.
Re painted all four inner wheel arches
Replaced PS rack pinion oil seal
Today
Re built car
Installed
Rack connecting track rod ends,hydraulic hoses and steering arm.
Anti roll bar connecting up drop links
Radiator connecting up hoses
Expansion bottle
Y piece and exhaust. Loosened n/s manifold to facilitate mating faces of Y to manifolds then nipped back up.
Rear anti roll bar
Loosened front O/S chassis bolt, sanded area and added new washers to front EARTH points.
I'd done this with huge trepidation but the bolt loosened easily and all went well
A few other tweaks/ yet more cable ties
Filled water system
Filled Power Steering system.
Ran engine up to temps/ fans kicked in and added more PS Fluid to system as I span steering wheel from lock to lock clearing air bubbles
Added wheels
Dropped car off the ramps and has a spin round the block.
Nothing's leaking,,,,, yet. I won't say more!!!
I nipped up the steering rack adjuster when rack was out of the car
No play whatsoever. It feels incredible! I might take the adjuster back a smidge yet.
After all that work everything seems good bar my steering wheel isn't centred, I've gone one spline to far on the steering arm, cars jacked up ready to do a tweek in the morning, weather permitting
The first time I pulled the car apart it was hard work, putting it back together for the second time in a week, I learnt so much that today was just fun, went together really easily and I felt far more confident. I'll remember it, it's imprinted on my brain.
See what tomorrow brings?
I just like that last pic, it shows my hardship and my car almost alive. I'm ready for anything now, nothing can be any harder than doing this lot on a crumbling driveway!
Nah it's easy.
Peter your an inpiration in never giving in and a lesson I'm leaning fast.
Honestly it felt sooooo exciting to drive, engine mounts etc all so tight and flipping awesome steering.
I seem to have an electrical issue, no n/s headlight or window or door opening from the outside.
I haven't looked yet but I've fixed my battery bolts so probably knocked something! Fuse or earth which is why I've te attached the one at the front of chassis.
Other than that the old girl is close to the finish line, I better not get to cocky!
Honestly it felt sooooo exciting to drive, engine mounts etc all so tight and flipping awesome steering.
I seem to have an electrical issue, no n/s headlight or window or door opening from the outside.
I haven't looked yet but I've fixed my battery bolts so probably knocked something! Fuse or earth which is why I've te attached the one at the front of chassis.
Other than that the old girl is close to the finish line, I better not get to cocky!
As it's raining so only test driven the car a few miles but so far so good.
My steering runs straight and so does the wheel,
The rack pinion oil seal replacement seems to have worked, no leaks as yet!
I'll do some more checks and maybe a geo set up soon.
I now have a few electrical gremlins to get to the bottom of but otherwise the cars a good un again.
I'm not overly confident as yet so I'll give it a few days before deciding if it's all ok.
Alun
My steering runs straight and so does the wheel,
The rack pinion oil seal replacement seems to have worked, no leaks as yet!
I'll do some more checks and maybe a geo set up soon.
I now have a few electrical gremlins to get to the bottom of but otherwise the cars a good un again.
I'm not overly confident as yet so I'll give it a few days before deciding if it's all ok.
Alun
ClassicChimi said:
Peter your an inpiration in never giving in and a lesson I'm leaning fast.
Honestly it felt sooooo exciting to drive, engine mounts etc all so tight and flipping awesome steering.
Too kind Alun. Generally I have no choice but to keep going and do it all myself, once bitten etc.Honestly it felt sooooo exciting to drive, engine mounts etc all so tight and flipping awesome steering.
I've been using my daughters 1.2 Micra today, should be a culture shock when I jump in the 55 early tomorrow morning!
Just did an awesome 180 handbrake turn with it when I picked her up, (on private land) try doing that in a chim
I dread to think of what this lot would have cost if the "specialists" had worked on it!
Yep once your committed your committed.
If I'd just done all this from the start of ownership I'd have saved thousands.
I got the car with this in mind but just bottled it as the cars "specialist" your avin a laugh!
Don't get me wrong I'm only touching the surface but I've had my hands around most of it now.
The next big learning curve is the electrics! I'm hoping sorting the earths first will eliminate unreliable gauges etc.
I think my oil sender is goosed, it's always been erratic. Luckily I have a mate who's the biz with the sparks so when I can get him out if his Alpine A610 he said he'd have a look with me.
I haven't even got a multi meter let alone the know how to use it,,,,,, but soon will.
Yep once your committed your committed.
If I'd just done all this from the start of ownership I'd have saved thousands.
I got the car with this in mind but just bottled it as the cars "specialist" your avin a laugh!
Don't get me wrong I'm only touching the surface but I've had my hands around most of it now.
The next big learning curve is the electrics! I'm hoping sorting the earths first will eliminate unreliable gauges etc.
I think my oil sender is goosed, it's always been erratic. Luckily I have a mate who's the biz with the sparks so when I can get him out if his Alpine A610 he said he'd have a look with me.
I haven't even got a multi meter let alone the know how to use it,,,,,, but soon will.
Hey, almost two years to the day since I re painted the front end of my chassis,
Here it is after two years outside and driven through winter.
Not bad really, chassis rails by exhaust are looking poor but I expected that to be honest.
If you read the later part you'll see I had a leak on the power steering rack, that's still holding firm and no leaks so I'm happy about that.
Odd how I looked at this tonight then realised the date,,, ha!
This thread was carried over from another thread so the first few pages are missing but you'll get the gist.
Once you've done this it doesn't take much to keep it clean, once a month or so I'll use rags and hot soapy water to just wash off loose crud and wipe dry, buff the manifolds every 6 months and bobs your uncle.
Here it is after two years outside and driven through winter.
Not bad really, chassis rails by exhaust are looking poor but I expected that to be honest.
If you read the later part you'll see I had a leak on the power steering rack, that's still holding firm and no leaks so I'm happy about that.
Odd how I looked at this tonight then realised the date,,, ha!
This thread was carried over from another thread so the first few pages are missing but you'll get the gist.
Once you've done this it doesn't take much to keep it clean, once a month or so I'll use rags and hot soapy water to just wash off loose crud and wipe dry, buff the manifolds every 6 months and bobs your uncle.
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