Bentley 3 Litre
Discussion
It does get a lot of very friendly attention people wave at you all the time and come ask you questions. It's very different kind of attention to something like a Ferrari.
In other news we found the rattle that has been worrying us! Had a good listen as it was backed out of the garage decided it wasn't coming from underneath so opened the bonnet to find a plate on the magneto being held on with one screw instead of 4 as it moved around we got rattles some times and not others. We have just added some more screws for now but the holes don't really line up so will have to and make the plate fir properly or make a new one.
IMG_4093 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickr
IMG_4094 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickr
In other news we found the rattle that has been worrying us! Had a good listen as it was backed out of the garage decided it wasn't coming from underneath so opened the bonnet to find a plate on the magneto being held on with one screw instead of 4 as it moved around we got rattles some times and not others. We have just added some more screws for now but the holes don't really line up so will have to and make the plate fir properly or make a new one.
IMG_4093 by Elliot Simpson, on FlickrIMG_4094 by Elliot Simpson, on FlickrI was on the M42 last week, heading towards Brum airport, when the unmistakable rump of a vintage Bentley appears ahead of us through the tail-end of the morning "rush".
Eventually, I catch it up and pass it... hoosheet... What's that between the dumb irons...? Surely not...?!?
This 'un, I think.
http://www.vintagebentleys.org/carpages/uw3761.php
Eventually, I catch it up and pass it... hoosheet... What's that between the dumb irons...? Surely not...?!?
This 'un, I think.
http://www.vintagebentleys.org/carpages/uw3761.php
Little bit of research that car it appears is a totally different one that is now in Australia.
http://www.vintagebentleys.org/carpages/ku7964.php
So I have no idea why I have a pic of it in our file. Only thing I can come up with is that they wanted to copy it or something? Also just noticed in the old pics that our car doesn't have the slopping carbs that it does now.
http://www.vintagebentleys.org/carpages/ku7964.php
So I have no idea why I have a pic of it in our file. Only thing I can come up with is that they wanted to copy it or something? Also just noticed in the old pics that our car doesn't have the slopping carbs that it does now.
Been fiddling with switches and electrics the last week.
Added some new switches that we think look a bit more appropriate than the ones that they have replaced. 2 pull switches to replace the modern switches and the horn button that was only attached with one screw and didn't sit flush.
IMG_4453 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickr
Hopefully they are an improvement?
Whilst doing this we decided to check the brake lights, indicators etc turns out other than headlights non of it worked. So we have been non indicating or brake lighting, people probably think we are self important knobs for the last year
After a bit of checking was a simple fuse that made the brake lights work and the indicator switch is faulty only working when it felt like. This also uncovered that at some point the cover for the fuse box had fallen off and melted on the exhaust. So new fuse box which gives us an excuse to check all the wiring.
IMG_4455 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickr
We have been looking up the rules for VSCC sprints and hill climbs that have thrown a bit of thought on how we are going to proceed with the car in the future. Alternators are totally banned which for us would mean removing ours and reinstating the dynamo. We are bit torn as to whether we should work on the car with a plan to make it eligible for a bit of competition or for touring reliably, idealy we would like to be able to do both. Any ideas on how to get around this would be welcome? Like other forms of competition that aren't as strict or even what would be the best way to enjoy the car?
Are dynamos that bad?
I personally think it would be really amazing to have it eligible to compete at classic le man in 2024 for the cars 100th birthday!! Whether or not the car would be selected is another but would love to try.
Wifes crappy pic.
IMG_4366 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickr
Added some new switches that we think look a bit more appropriate than the ones that they have replaced. 2 pull switches to replace the modern switches and the horn button that was only attached with one screw and didn't sit flush.
IMG_4453 by Elliot Simpson, on FlickrHopefully they are an improvement?
Whilst doing this we decided to check the brake lights, indicators etc turns out other than headlights non of it worked. So we have been non indicating or brake lighting, people probably think we are self important knobs for the last year
After a bit of checking was a simple fuse that made the brake lights work and the indicator switch is faulty only working when it felt like. This also uncovered that at some point the cover for the fuse box had fallen off and melted on the exhaust. So new fuse box which gives us an excuse to check all the wiring.IMG_4455 by Elliot Simpson, on FlickrWe have been looking up the rules for VSCC sprints and hill climbs that have thrown a bit of thought on how we are going to proceed with the car in the future. Alternators are totally banned which for us would mean removing ours and reinstating the dynamo. We are bit torn as to whether we should work on the car with a plan to make it eligible for a bit of competition or for touring reliably, idealy we would like to be able to do both. Any ideas on how to get around this would be welcome? Like other forms of competition that aren't as strict or even what would be the best way to enjoy the car?
Are dynamos that bad?
I personally think it would be really amazing to have it eligible to compete at classic le man in 2024 for the cars 100th birthday!! Whether or not the car would be selected is another but would love to try.
Wifes crappy pic.
IMG_4366 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickrntiz said:
It does get a lot of very friendly attention people wave at you all the time and come ask you questions. It's very different kind of attention to something like a Ferrari.
In other news we found the rattle that has been worrying us! Had a good listen as it was backed out of the garage decided it wasn't coming from underneath so opened the bonnet to find a plate on the magneto being held on with one screw instead of 4 as it moved around we got rattles some times and not others. We have just added some more screws for now but the holes don't really line up so will have to and make the plate fir properly or make a new one.
IMG_4093 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickr
IMG_4094 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickr
Those iron filings! In other news we found the rattle that has been worrying us! Had a good listen as it was backed out of the garage decided it wasn't coming from underneath so opened the bonnet to find a plate on the magneto being held on with one screw instead of 4 as it moved around we got rattles some times and not others. We have just added some more screws for now but the holes don't really line up so will have to and make the plate fir properly or make a new one.
IMG_4093 by Elliot Simpson, on FlickrIMG_4094 by Elliot Simpson, on FlickrSo we have dug up some more history on the car Dad has written something up here.
IMG_5350 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickr
We have decided to try and get a long term plan for the car in terms of a sort of restoration based on what we would like to do with it. We have been looking at the possibility of racing it or hill climbing but with research have realised that we would need to invest over 100k to get it competitive then once that money has been spent neither of us would feel comfortable risking it with that much money on the table if we crashed it. Still plans to get into classic racing though
So it has been decided that we want to make it ideal for touring around Europe. This means we would like to make it reliable and a bit faster so we can sit comfortably at 70-80 on a motorway without stressing it to much and get up mountain passes with no bother. Plus we would like to add things like a larger fuel tank perhaps and tidy up the rougher edges on the car that we think go beyond patination into just a bit scruffy.
Don't know how to do this so we are talking to some well known Bentley restorers about how to achieve our goals and them having the car for maybe a couple of months a year over the winter for the next few years until the car is at the spec we would like. Not very keen on giving someone our car for 2 years not getting to drive it.
Would like to get to something a bit like this.
large_1491933423_92f5636c71e19dceab5343aebc20ce0b1d38aa91 by Elliot Simpson, on Flickr
IMG_5350 by Elliot Simpson, on FlickrWe have decided to try and get a long term plan for the car in terms of a sort of restoration based on what we would like to do with it. We have been looking at the possibility of racing it or hill climbing but with research have realised that we would need to invest over 100k to get it competitive then once that money has been spent neither of us would feel comfortable risking it with that much money on the table if we crashed it. Still plans to get into classic racing though
So it has been decided that we want to make it ideal for touring around Europe. This means we would like to make it reliable and a bit faster so we can sit comfortably at 70-80 on a motorway without stressing it to much and get up mountain passes with no bother. Plus we would like to add things like a larger fuel tank perhaps and tidy up the rougher edges on the car that we think go beyond patination into just a bit scruffy.
Don't know how to do this so we are talking to some well known Bentley restorers about how to achieve our goals and them having the car for maybe a couple of months a year over the winter for the next few years until the car is at the spec we would like. Not very keen on giving someone our car for 2 years not getting to drive it.
Would like to get to something a bit like this.
large_1491933423_92f5636c71e19dceab5343aebc20ce0b1d38aa91 by Elliot Simpson, on FlickrSo we said goodbye to our 3 litre on Tuesday for a few months.
After speaking to the guys at VBE Dad felt they were on his wave length about how to approach our car. So he decided to take the car down to see them for some work and to discuss the whole car as a long term project. Until this point we had started to get a little worried that we had bitten off more than we can chew with regards to how much getting work done on this car cost.
So Dad left at 7 am in the dark on his trip to Warwickshire. No traffic cold crisp morning empty roads just him and his car. Apparently the car was running fantastic and he was having so much fun he had to call me at work to tell me
Although it did highlight that the headlights are totally wrong when on dip the right hand headlight is on high beam but so high it is more likely to blind a helicopter than a oncoming car. On full beam the left headlight goes full the right dips.
Once he got there one of the guys at VBE had a drive of it. Turns out our gearbox is much more difficult than it should be. Our cars alignment is out as the car tramlines quite a lot, we just thought that is how it was. We have 2 spoke wheels one side and 3 spoke on the other. The wrong tyres on the front apparently the ones we have are for a 4.5 litre which are wider but make the steering heavier. Personally not so sure on that one but any excuse to get some new Blockley tyres for it.
Dad would like the fabric body re skinned at some point which means interior out and dash out. So worth getting the dash repainted and interior retrimmed. The guide prices given for this work and possibly going to 4.5 with the engine were much more reasonable than what we have been told before. They seemed to have a much more practical approach than the other place we had spoken to trying to work with what you have got rather than build you something new at huge cost.
The car was left and we are waiting on a full quote. We think we will start with getting the following mechanical stuff done first to get the car in good condition to use next year.
Gearbox re aligned with the engine
New starter ring
Better and more seals to try minimise oil leaks from pretty much everywhere.
Headlights working correctly
New clutch brake
Get the Rev counter working
New tyres and put 3 spoke wheels on back 2 spoke on the front. Re align to make sure.
Check all dampers replace if necessary.
And a few others that I can’t remember.
The good news is Dad had such a good drive down there that it has given much more confidence in the car that he wants to go to his house inFrance in it as soon as he gets it back.
Sorry for the long rambling boring post if anyone is still reading.
After speaking to the guys at VBE Dad felt they were on his wave length about how to approach our car. So he decided to take the car down to see them for some work and to discuss the whole car as a long term project. Until this point we had started to get a little worried that we had bitten off more than we can chew with regards to how much getting work done on this car cost.
So Dad left at 7 am in the dark on his trip to Warwickshire. No traffic cold crisp morning empty roads just him and his car. Apparently the car was running fantastic and he was having so much fun he had to call me at work to tell me
Although it did highlight that the headlights are totally wrong when on dip the right hand headlight is on high beam but so high it is more likely to blind a helicopter than a oncoming car. On full beam the left headlight goes full the right dips.
Once he got there one of the guys at VBE had a drive of it. Turns out our gearbox is much more difficult than it should be. Our cars alignment is out as the car tramlines quite a lot, we just thought that is how it was. We have 2 spoke wheels one side and 3 spoke on the other. The wrong tyres on the front apparently the ones we have are for a 4.5 litre which are wider but make the steering heavier. Personally not so sure on that one but any excuse to get some new Blockley tyres for it.
Dad would like the fabric body re skinned at some point which means interior out and dash out. So worth getting the dash repainted and interior retrimmed. The guide prices given for this work and possibly going to 4.5 with the engine were much more reasonable than what we have been told before. They seemed to have a much more practical approach than the other place we had spoken to trying to work with what you have got rather than build you something new at huge cost.
The car was left and we are waiting on a full quote. We think we will start with getting the following mechanical stuff done first to get the car in good condition to use next year.
Gearbox re aligned with the engine
New starter ring
Better and more seals to try minimise oil leaks from pretty much everywhere.
Headlights working correctly
New clutch brake
Get the Rev counter working
New tyres and put 3 spoke wheels on back 2 spoke on the front. Re align to make sure.
Check all dampers replace if necessary.
And a few others that I can’t remember.
The good news is Dad had such a good drive down there that it has given much more confidence in the car that he wants to go to his house inFrance in it as soon as he gets it back.
Sorry for the long rambling boring post if anyone is still reading.
Edited by ntiz on Thursday 25th October 22:07
Good news and bad news.
Seals in the rear axel are done and the rear brakes are in good shape don’t need any work at all which is always encouraging.
Bad news turns out the windscreen wasn’t made for the car isn’t straight and appears to be made out of several different non matching parts. So looks like I’m having a new one made. Thinking maybe getting a spotier version that can be laid down with aero screens. The bad bit it has added about 25% to what we had planned to spend this winter. Oh well it will be worth it.
Seals in the rear axel are done and the rear brakes are in good shape don’t need any work at all which is always encouraging.
Bad news turns out the windscreen wasn’t made for the car isn’t straight and appears to be made out of several different non matching parts. So looks like I’m having a new one made. Thinking maybe getting a spotier version that can be laid down with aero screens. The bad bit it has added about 25% to what we had planned to spend this winter. Oh well it will be worth it.
Edited by ntiz on Sunday 18th November 19:39
I've also found the link from the garage thread!
In the '90s my Dad flew hot air balloons and we were invited to a Bentley Owners Club/hot air ballooning event in the highlands. I'm not sure exactly which model we were in, but we were driven around the highlands, which was amazing. Then as I was only 10 or 11 at the time, I was in demand to "co-driver" for the hillclimb event that was organised. Ever since then I've had a soft spot for these old Bentleys.
In the '90s my Dad flew hot air balloons and we were invited to a Bentley Owners Club/hot air ballooning event in the highlands. I'm not sure exactly which model we were in, but we were driven around the highlands, which was amazing. Then as I was only 10 or 11 at the time, I was in demand to "co-driver" for the hillclimb event that was organised. Ever since then I've had a soft spot for these old Bentleys.
Quick update.
The car is still in the garage having work done. We decided to concentrate on mechanical stuff to make the car drive as well and be reliable as possible.
So far we have had:
Clutch relined and the clutch brake refurbished. Universal joint which is fabric replaced.
New starter ring on fly wheel and repainted whilst out of the car.
Seals added to gearbox and back axel to reduce the sieve like tendencies of the traditional thrower oil seals.
Dip stick and hatch fitted to the gearbox so you can check the oil without having to take the floor up and take the lid off the box.
Oil filter converted to modern cartridge type inside existing housing.
Reinstated the Autovac as the main fuel pump making the old one the reserve. Didn't have a usable reserve before. Had a tap fitted under the rear seat to start using the reserve.
Magneto striped and rebuilt as it was falling apart. Only acts as a distributor for a twin coil system.
Bearings replaced on all 4 corners.
New wheels because on inspection they are all worn out or not matching. New blockley tyres all round to go with the tyres.
Second set of dampers added for better road holding and cornering. Twin dampers make the suspension more responsive compared to single. Single needs to be much tighter which leads to much higher "stiction". Had all of leaf springs cleaned checked and lubricated ready for leather covers to be fitted. New brackets have had to be made to fit the double shock absorbers to the axles.
[url]
Fixed all the poor wiring to the headlights as they used to smoke which wasn't very inspiring.
|https://thumbsnap.com/0273u5ji[/url]
Windscreen started with detachable side screens that will be convertible to aero screens.
Finally the much debated rev counter will work with a new cable with a reversing gearbox in the middle.
Its not pretty but hopefully will make the car nicer to drive and in good health. Hoping to get it back in April can't wait.
The car is still in the garage having work done. We decided to concentrate on mechanical stuff to make the car drive as well and be reliable as possible.
So far we have had:
Clutch relined and the clutch brake refurbished. Universal joint which is fabric replaced.
New starter ring on fly wheel and repainted whilst out of the car.
Seals added to gearbox and back axel to reduce the sieve like tendencies of the traditional thrower oil seals.
Dip stick and hatch fitted to the gearbox so you can check the oil without having to take the floor up and take the lid off the box.
Oil filter converted to modern cartridge type inside existing housing.
Reinstated the Autovac as the main fuel pump making the old one the reserve. Didn't have a usable reserve before. Had a tap fitted under the rear seat to start using the reserve.
Magneto striped and rebuilt as it was falling apart. Only acts as a distributor for a twin coil system.
Bearings replaced on all 4 corners.
New wheels because on inspection they are all worn out or not matching. New blockley tyres all round to go with the tyres.
Second set of dampers added for better road holding and cornering. Twin dampers make the suspension more responsive compared to single. Single needs to be much tighter which leads to much higher "stiction". Had all of leaf springs cleaned checked and lubricated ready for leather covers to be fitted. New brackets have had to be made to fit the double shock absorbers to the axles.
[url]Fixed all the poor wiring to the headlights as they used to smoke which wasn't very inspiring.
|https://thumbsnap.com/0273u5ji[/url]Windscreen started with detachable side screens that will be convertible to aero screens.
Finally the much debated rev counter will work with a new cable with a reversing gearbox in the middle.
Its not pretty but hopefully will make the car nicer to drive and in good health. Hoping to get it back in April can't wait.
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