cliff.b

Is this one of those things where everyone laughs when I say I tried it 🤔

Many thanks all. A few good ideas to try 👍

There was one reasonably "modern" car there on Friday though. This Ford Granada Scorpio 4x4 Ironically, the only car that experienced a problem and had to leave for home early lol Something to do with a "sensor" I believe, whatever they are 🤔

I am probably quite fortunate that there are several different groups that organise meets and drives at various times. The chap that has been organising the Friday runs says only vehicles over 25 years old are allowed and enforces it. Maybe you need to start your own group 🤔

Yes indeed. There are different groups for owners who like that sort of thing here lol Surely there must be like minded people where you are, or are you unique 🤔

The overiders and spoiler on my Spit are in reasonable condition but past their best and wondering if anyone has used anything to smarten them up a bit? Is painting them a good idea and if so, with what? Anything else worth trying?

Maybe that Oxford had a 1.8 fitted then. Or maybe they were faster than I realised as 40+ years ago, when they were everywhere, they all seemed to be driven by an old bloke wearing a hat and smoking a pipe while driving 🧐

Just one more thing, as I have been talking about oil pressure and running temperatures etc. As part of my investigations I lashed the sensor of one of these thermostats to the rear of the oil filter and initially, before refitting the mech fan, fitting a smaller number plate, changing the oil and repairing/flushing the rad I was seeing temperatures in the 90s regularly, and particularly when stationary. Yesterday, for most of the drive it was in the 60 to 65C range, approaching 70C going home down the A1 and a high of 75C briefly when stopped in traffic. I know this isn't very scientific but feel it reflects relative temperatures and I am wondering if the mech fan helps keep the oil cooler to some extent, and not just the coolant? Constant airflow over the block, sump oil filter, even when stationary 🤔

Regarding the cars, the Magnette is one of many cars owned by the chap who organises the drives out. He is the only one who knows where we are going and we just follow, having to travel at whatever speed he is going. Sometimes there is a hold up at junctions meaning a catch up is required and yesterday I was behind that pristine Morris Oxford when that became necessary. It had a surprising turn of speed.

Regarding the thermostat, after fixing the rad leak I was running it with the rad cap off initially to avoid any pressure and after 20 mins running on my drive the temp gauge was just above 1/4 with no obvious rush of water through the radiator. It was 9nlycabout 6C out though and previously, in warmer weather, I have seen a sudden rush of coolant as the thermostat opened. The water in the top of the rad was about 65C so I am assuming the stat was just opening a little.

It's a one piece pulley, and surprisingly heavy. I am more than happy to believe it was caused by the pulley, but at this point no way to be certain. But happy at the moment that the noise seems to have gone and will be even happier if that remains the case when/if we get 40C weather this Summer ☀️😎🥵

Just to (hopefully) close this off, joined a group of fellow enthusiasts for a jaunt around the Leicestershire countryside and so had the opportunity for a thorough test of everything. 20 main road miles to the meeting point at reasonable speed and then another 40 miles on back roads before a lunch break. Lifted bonnet and can't hear the "worrying noise" 👍 Left the group after the stop and made my way back independently and considerably faster but on arriving home, still good 👍👍 So, is it due to me now having significantly improved oil pressure? And is the oil pressure increase all down to the change in oil, or has improving the cooling combined with the cold weather been a contributory factor 🤔 Certainly today the temp gauge was barely above the 1/4 mark and barely approached 1/2 when I slowed in traffic after driving quickly for quite a few miles. Have to see what happens when the weather gets hotter I suppose. Anyway, it would be nice to know for certain what the issue was but if the noise doesn't come back, I don't think I am going to worry about it obsessively at the moment. I would rather drive it and it was nice to get out today, although it was bl**dy cold at times 🥶

Mum didn't allow swearing in front of the children lol. I think he may have muttered "oh dear" or such like 🤬

I remember my Dad taking us up Porlock in his Ford 100e with 3 speed gearbox & no synchro on 1st. It was full of family and 2 weeks luggage, much of it on the roof rack. He decided to "take a run at it" with foot to the floor in 2nd which was ok until he turned the sharp bend and hit the really steep bit. He couldn't get it in 1st and then there was a cloud of steam as the cooling system emptied itself. We had spare water but it wouldn't start so he rolled back down to the bottom where there was a garage. After a bit if tinkering we took the toll road lol

Indeed. I retired about two and a half years ago and now I can't imagine how I had time to do it for all those years. Not having a classic car helped, I suppose.

Maybe what's needed is a Winter multigrade and a Summer multigrade oil 🤔

Yes indeed. At least now I don't have to try and fix it (or bodge it) on a cold wet Sunday evening so I can get to work the next day 🤔

Lol

Crank pulley refitted while leaky radiator out. Small amount of loctite around key, keyway and nut threads then up to specified torque. Rad refitted and run up to temp, then rad out again (see cooling thread 😒). All back together and up to temp again and can't hear engine noise so far. Need to bolt rad in properly and then out for a proper run, but out of time today. Maybe tomorrow if not raining. Interestingly, this Millers 20w/60 certainly gives a higher pressure but it takes longer before I see pressure on the gauge when starting from cold. The oil light goes out pretty much right away though. I remember someone else who had a start up rattle said it went on for longer with this oil. No noises from mine on start up with either oil but shouldn't a 20w60 oil have similar viscosity to a 20w50 oil when cold? Not that bothered and will just crank for a bit before pulling the choke out, but just curious. Anyway, will report back after I have had a chance to get things properly warmed up.

Yes, in hindsight drilling a hole would have been a better idea. Oh well, have to keep an eye on it. I haven't repainted it yet, just in case.

The next task is to fit the rad in properly and then, if it's still leak free after a good run, refill it with coolant instead of just water 👍

Hmm, refitted the rad enough to test it and it's still leaking. Not as much as before but definitely a steady drip. So removed some more paint from the bottom of the tap boss and found it has split down further than I had noticed. So back to the soldering Now seems to be leak free🤞

Yes, hopefully get a chance to refit the rad tomorrow then all should become clear.

Removed the paint, clean up with a bit of wire wool The applied some flux I managed to find that I last used about 40 years ago and attempted to solder. Not a pretty job but will hopefully do the trick 🤞

Ah, have taken a closer look, scraped some paint off and can see what you mean. I should be able to solder that. Thanks Pete 👍