johny Posted September 3, 2023 Report Share Posted September 3, 2023 1 hour ago, Kelv said: Update 2 from Bern... You have a loose main starter motor connection which needs to be either repaired by a specialist or the starter needs replacing. Unless the connection is really floppy I wouldnt worry about this too much at this stage. My starter, which is very likely to be the same as yours, is also loose and its because the main connection stud is only held internally by a plastic fitting to keep it insulated from the case. This obviously cant hold it very rigidly so the stud can move especially if the correct method to tighten the cable connection hasnt been used: Its critical to hold the nut on the inner side of the cable lug with a thin spanner while tightening the outer nut to clamp the lug. If you just try to tighten the outer nut the whole assembly will turn in the previously mentioned internal plastic fixing and, if you continue, will do damage.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted September 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2023 Update 3 from Bernard Littlewood... Hi Kelvin, A set of cylinder head studs and nuts were delivered at a cost of £55, a saving of £60 + P&P from Rimmer Brothers. Using a flat file then an oil stone, the top of the engine block was cleaned up. The replacement head studs were then cleaned up, the threads coated with copper slip and were screwed and locked in place using two nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted September 4, 2023 Report Share Posted September 4, 2023 Do you know when the head will be returned? Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted September 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2023 Bern thinks a week Thursday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahebron Posted September 16, 2023 Report Share Posted September 16, 2023 Are we at a week Thursday yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted September 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2023 Next Thursday. Bern is away in 2 weeks though so nothing will be done until after he returns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted September 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2023 SWP say the valves are on back order. So it's a waiting game for the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted September 16, 2023 Report Share Posted September 16, 2023 If youre in a rush Rimmers show as having all the valves in stock... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted September 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2023 I'm not in a rush but thanks for the heads up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted September 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2023 I'm currently having fun with a rot box Rover V8 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted September 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2023 The head has now been repaired. £460! I could have bought an already refurbished one cheaper, but it is what it is. Now for Bernard to put it on and fingers crossed I'll be driving the Herald in a few days 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted October 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2023 Update of works carried out from Bernard... Hi Kelvin, After picking up the bare cylinder head I cleaned it thoroughly with white spirit and fitted the valves, springs, collets and spring seats. After cleaning the block the SWP supplied head gasket was fitted, the head put in position and the head nuts were torqued down. After examining the rocker shaft before fitting I found that 2 of the rockers were sticking so I stripped it down to find that the shaft was worn and slightly bent. The cheapest option was for me to fit a decent used item from my spares. The pushrods were fitted then the rocker shaft assembly. The valve clearances were set. I wasn't able to fit the water pump housing as the threads needed cleaning up with a tap. To do this I had to remove the radiator. The water pump housing was fitted, then I noticed a bent inlet manifold stud which I will have to replace. As the SWP gasket set came with the standard rocker cover gasket, I had to supply the correct wide and thin item from my spares stock before I could fit the rocker cover. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 3, 2023 Report Share Posted October 3, 2023 its all coming along nicely you can nearly hear it running Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham C Posted October 3, 2023 Report Share Posted October 3, 2023 Looking good, nearly there😊 Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted October 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 Update from Bernard... Hi Kelvin, I fitted a good used manifold stud then fitted both the manifolds using new nuts. The SWP supplied carb gaskets were too small so I modified some of my Spitfire gaskets to use. The outer carb mounting stud would not allow the carb to sit correctly on the manifold!! I had to remove it and fit a correct length stud to enable the carb and linkages to be fitted correctly. The coolant hoses were fitted along with the spark plugs, one was damaged so I may have to replace them, the radiator was re fitted and filled with water and the fan belt was fitted and the alternator fixed in place. I used the manual lever on the fuel pump to draw fuel through, it came as far as the filter, but when I stopped pumping the fuel flowed back. I put another gallon of fuel in the tank to give the pump a better chance of delivering the fuel, but it would not get fuel to the carb. I removed and stripped the pump to find the diaphragm and valves in poor repair. I removed a pump from a spare engine, but this was no better, I have ordered a new pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted October 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 It never ends. Ha ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 But you're soooo close! Of course the new pump will now over pressurise and cause different problems....... Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted October 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 😭😭 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 Better to get these jobs out of the way now than in a breakdown sometime eh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 18 minutes ago, johny said: etter to get these jobs out of the way now than in a breakdown In any historic or vintage car it's best to cross yourself, quick prayer, face west, spit on the ground and turn round three times or do whatever floats yer boat for a safe journey! Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 Its not as bad as that Iain! In the old days these cars were used everyday for work and holidays largely with no problems but of course now that does depend on keeping on top of the state them😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 It does very much depend on keeping up the maintenence. How things change, for 30 years I've never put any oil or coolant in my modern cars only petrol, air and washer water. The only times my Vitesse has let me down its been my fault not the cars. Iain 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted October 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 Another update from Bernard... Hi Kelvin, I checked the radiator and found that the water level had fallen ( it wasn't full when I received the car). After a good examination I found damp at the rear of the engine. With the radiator topped up and blowing into the filler, a leak was detected from the smaller rear cylinder head core plug!!! I removed the heater assembly and drilled a hole at an angle in the core plug in the hope that I could extract it without removing the head and buying more gaskets etc. I destroyed my core plug pulling tool trying to remove the core plug, but after an hour using various tools and methods I managed to remove the core plug. It was very fiddly trying to fit a new one due to the restricted space, but I finally managed to do so, it was checked for leakage before the heater assembly was re installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham C Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 Looks like Bernard is doing a wonderful job, going beyond and sorting out loads of issues that would cause problems later. When you get the car back it will be different and better. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelv Posted October 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 I'm really excited Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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