NEW WEBSITE FOR MILFORD VINTAGE ENGINEERING

We have finally got our new website live after many months' development.  Head over to www.vintage-engineering.co.uk to have a look.

There are still some more photos to go into the gallery but have a look around and let us know your thoughts.

ROLLS-ROYCE 20/25 REWIRE

Ian and Brian are well under way with the rewire of this 1934 Rolls-Royce.  The next few photos will show a little of what they have been up to:

Fuse Box, before

Fuse box back in position with new
cables attached

Bulkhead stripped but awaiting cleaning up

Bulkhead now degreased and ready to start fitting back up

Some of the wiring is now back behind the cappings

The delights of the under-dash area

Wiring up the ignition switch

The cables have all been fed through the flexible conduit 

The 'ignition switch' is now back in place.  If you are not familiar
with these, they have settings for summer and winter charging, etc

NEW MECHANIC, TAKE 2

Welcome to our second new mechanic.  Brian is thrilled to join the team, having a very deep love of old cars.  He has been thrown straight into a rewire on a 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25.  Brian is in the middle of restoring one of his own cars, a Triumph Vitesse.

1939 AUSTIN BIG 7

We have certainly been extremely busy here in the workshop.  

The Austin Big 7 engine and gearbox rebuild was completed back in January ready to return to the customer for fitting however he decided that he would like us to fit them (he had removed them himself).  Ian went down to collect the car itself and was also given a list of other jobs our customer wanted us to carry out.  These included a re-wire and a suspension overhaul.  Our customer had an event he planned to attend this weekend (25/26 May) and was looking forward to getting the car back.  However, when the work was completed and we were able to road test the car there was a horrendous howl from the back axle - diff problems!  We tried the usual suppliers for parts but were not able to source many.  Luckily our customer had a contact who "might just have a back axle around".  A few phone calls later and the friend was delighted to have an excuse to come and visit us (something he had been wanting to do, apparently).  Fortunately we then had enough parts to make up a good back axle which is now fitted back into the car and as quiet as a mouse.  

The car is ready for collection by a delighted customer who will also drop in on his way home after his trip for a 500 mile oil change (following the rebuild) and check over.

ENGINE REBUILD:

Engine and gearbox arrives at MVE

Engine stripped down

New and original components
cleaned and ready to rebuild

Rebuild almost complete

Engine back in the car

GEARBOX REBUILD:

Stripping the gearbox

Bellhousing view- before

Ready for cleaning up and inspection

Starting to build back up

Building back up

Remaining parts for refitting

REWIRE:

When starting to fit the loom we were puzzled as to why some of the cables appeared to be the wrong length.  Upon further investigation it became clear that some of the electrical parts had been fitted in the wrong place on this car.  Once they were re-positioned correctly the cables reached without any problem.

Ready to start stripping cables

We were also asked to use this
opportunity to clean up the bulkhead

Instrument panel about to be rewired

Almost there!

Ready to go

1937 AUSTIN 18/6

The Austin 18/6 'bus' re-wire has just been finished today and the overhaul of the running gear, brakes and steering are almost finished too.  We are now just waiting for the engine parts to come back from the machine shop so that the rebuild can be completed.    We then have a few last bits and pieces before the vehicle can return to its estate and the owner can enjoy using it for family picnics again.

Brakes before

Brakes after

Back of dash

Back of dash

The poor condition of the old wiring can be seen on the headlight

ROLLS-ROYCE 20/25

Ian and Graeme running cables

The work on the front brakes of the1930 Rolls-Royce 20/25 is now complete and the front axle king pins and bearings have been replaced.  The one-shot system has been overhauled and we have just finished replacing the clutch.  The re-wire is underway and the gearbox will be refitted once the wiring conduits are back in position.  When the wiring is completed we will move on to the back brakes and refitting the front wings.



CLUTCH OVERHAUL PHOTOS 

 

Clutch pressure plate complete with old lining

 

Pressure plate stripped down



Clutch cover with fingers removed



Clutch fingers and pivots ready for overhaul



New linings on pressure plates



Pressure springs and other components ready for build up



Clutch cover with fingers in position



Pressure plate assembled ready for refitting



Clutch into position on flywheel







JAGUAR SS100

The rewire is now well under way and should be finished next week.  We then have one or two other minor tasks to carry out before it can return home to its owner.

WORKSHOP VIEW

Time seems to have flown by as we have been busy at various shows and events.

Congratulations to Raymond, Graeme and Roy who managed our entry at Scone's Farming of Yesteryear and won Best Trade Stand.  We have a lovely shield for the year as a reminder. 

The workshop is busier than ever at the moment with a good variety of work ranging from repairs to an ash frame on an Alvis Speed 20 SB, major recommissioning work on a Rolls-Royce 20/25, rewiring a Jaguar SS100 and services to a brace of E-type Jaguars which featured in earlier posts.

Tomorrow we have the Scotsman Newspaper coming up to take photographs and interview us for a feature in a forthcoming motoring section so look out for more information.

DERBY BENTLEY 4 1/2

The rewire is virtually complete and the wings and running boards have been re-fitted so she is starting to look more like a car again.  We are currently re-fitting the interior trim and are simply waiting for the return of one of the instruments from the engraver.  Once this is back in the car she should be ready to leave us suitably shod in new rubber with refurbished wheels to boot.



Instrument panel awaiting final clock




A car once more!



Refurbished and repainted wheels with new Blockley tyres

LAGONDA 3 Litre

The rewire is now complete and we are just awaiting the return of the dynamo from repair.

Engine bay and bulkhead following re-wire

 In the meantime we have fabricated original-type shock absorber mounts and fitted them to the car.

Derby Bentley 4 1/4 Re-wire



Wiring diagrams with control box as the work progresses



The re-wire is well under way. 

All cables are cut and routed.  The electrical fittings are now being put back into place and connected up. 



New cables on bulkhead



New cables pushed through bulkhead
on interior of car

 


 

Cables routed and ready
for conduiting



First part of conduit in place



Cables all neatly hidden away in conduiting