My next project.....

[Mr. Magoo]

first the clean up and classification of component parts..... does anyone have some suggestions on effective fluids, materials and machinery to achieve a good clean?

[Slidingpillar]

There are no quick magic cleaners/lubricants. Some are better than others, but depending on the size of the bits, painting liberally with paraffin, wrapping/covering to exclude most of the air and waiting a month before starting to wield spanners will get you started.

I repaired a speedo of a similar age or slightly older than the Lagonda block. Took me two months of soaking in paraffin to even get bits to move, but I do now have a working speedo. Even reads quite accurately now after an evening spent re-calibrating it.

Time - that is what you need.

[Mr. Magoo]

cheers - Time I have!
I am familiar with the paraffin treatment on the old Beetle engines I used to clean up.
I am putting up a man shed in the garden, when that's done I will lay it all out across several trestle tables and just work my way round.

[Russwhitehouse]

Brave man, looks like a big old job. Best of luck with it and look forward to regular postings of progress.