DERBY BENTLEY HEADING FOR AUSTRALIA

1934 3 1/2 LITRE DERBY BENTLEY

This is one of our regulars.  The car is used extensively and serviced at least a couple of times a year depending on the miles covered.  It regularly goes abroad, driving from Scotland all the way, covering thousands of miles.  The past few years have seen trips to Croatia, Portugal and Ireland, to name but a few, but this year it is heading for a trip "down under".

Water pump stripped for servicing

We collected the car just before our Christmas break and have now carried out a full service which picked up one or two potential problems including a small leak in the elbow of the water pump, and the early signs of a points failure in the fuel pump.  Thankfully these have both been sorted out before they caused any major failures and the car is now getting cleaned and prepared ready for collection.
It is being shipped from Felixstowe and will arrive in Melbourne ready to join the Bentley Drivers' Club in Australia for a tour from South to North right the way up to the Cairns area.  We have put together a comprehensive spares kit, just in case, but hopefully this will not be required.  We often accompany cars and their owners on trips such as the Veteran Car Club's London to Brighton, but unfortunately we were not required this time.

WHEELS

We have had two cars in recently with cracked wheel rims.  Most recently an OM 665 Superba (1925) where the owner had noticed the problem and has asked us to send the wheel to have a new rim made.  Prior to the OM we had a 1935 Derby Bentley in the workshop undergoing a full re-wire.  Quite a few of the Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars of this period have wheel discs to cover the spokes meaning that the wheels are totally hidden.

Crack easily visible (Derby Bentley wheel)

 Whilst the car was with us we needed to move it in the workshop which gave rise to a strange creaking noise.  This was located to one of the wheels so we removed the disc to reveal a large crack running approximately quarter of the way round the rim.  When the tyre was inflated to the correct pressure (it was slightly low) the crack increased.  The car had been driven some 170 miles to us, most of which is motorway, so the owner was extremely lucky to have arrived in one piece.  We regularly check cars for wheel defects if they come in for a service, however it is worth keeping an eye on the condition of your wheels in the meantime.  The RREC have published our picture with a small article from our customer to alert fellow members to this problem, but we will be happy to check your wheels if you would like, so please get in touch.

New wheel rim ready to have tyre fitted

1935 DERBY BENTLEY 3 1/2 Litre

Final polish and checks

After many months of work this beautiful car has had an MOT test today and is heading home.

1935 3 1/2 Litre Derby Bentley

 During investigation of the cooling problems this car was experiencing, we removed the side plates to inspect the waterways and the visible areas appeared free.  Using our bore-scope we were able to see further into the hidden areas where it became apparent that there was a great deal of corrosion and debris blocking the water circulation around the push rod side of the cylinder block.
This has all been cleaned out and new copper tubes inserted.  Raymond is now lapping in the valves before putting the engine back together.



Side plate removed from block showing some corrosion although
water was still able to circulate (small gap visible on left).
Main corrosion found on opposite side of block out of sight




Corrosion visible in the cylinder head



Cylinder head and block with new copper tubes inserted



Cylinder block



Raymond laps in the valves

WORKSHOP UPDATE

We are now all back from our various holidays and on the go again.

The work on the WILLYS JEEP is now finished and it is off for MOT on Thursday - the first time it has been on the road for 13 years

The BENTLEY S3 CONTINENTAL is also just about finished and, again, has an MOT on Thursday.

The VAUXHALL 30-98 is back with us due to engine problems.  These appear to have been caused by poor repairs at some time in the past.  Following investigation, including compression and leak down tests, we have found that there is a crack in the cylinder block between  the bore and the valve on No 3 cylinder.  There is a small clip of one of the tests being carried out below:

Our own BULLNOSE MORRIS engine rebuild is finished and the clutch and gearbox have been fitted prior to putting it all back in the car.  Hopefully the sunshine will continue and we can get some outings before rain stops play!

We have also had a number of smaller jobs on the go including changing the alternator on a VW Beetle for some passing German tourists, the red Derby Bentley has been in for a quick service before heading off for a continental tour and Ian had a wee bit of work on an Austin 7 too.

CONGRATULATIONS, AGAIN

Since our post yesterday congratulating the Rolls-Royce 25/30 on her prize, we have today heard from the owner of the red Derby Bentley 3 1/2 litre that she, too, has been winning prizes.  He emailed to say "Currently running very well and won a ‘concours d’elegance’ last month" - Congratulations!

The car will be back with us next month for an oil change before heading off on a 4,000 mile continental trip.

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

DERBY BENTLEY 3 1/2 LITRE

Ready for collection



 The 3 1/2 litre Derby Bentley is now ready for collection following some work to the back axle, a new exhaust system, full service and MOT.  This car does a number of foreign trips so look out for her on the roads around Europe.

Quick up-date

Apologies for the lack of entries over the last week or so - Sarah has been off touring the country. 
Work continues on the two Derby Bentleys as well as the Jaguar E-type and an MGB GT. 
More information will follow shortly on the individual projects.

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



Derby Bentley 3 1/2

We have a second Derby Bentley in the workshop at the moment for a major service, modifications to the floor for easy access to the dipstick and gearbox filler and work on the diff.

Sludge in the centre of the diff



Wear on the brake shafts
(these have now been metal sprayed and machined
back to the correct size)



Diff parts ready for rebuild showing the new bearings
fitted into their housing

Diff ready to take bearing housing

Derby Bentley 4 1/4 chassis refurbishment

 

Front section of chassis exposed

 While it is with us this Derby
Bentley is having a tidy-up.  The chassis has been rubbed down to remove all the corrosion.

Chassis rubbed down with
corrosion removed



   

Holes visible in chassis

 

Patch welded into position


A very small hole to the side of the running board outrigger was exposed.  On removing the outrigger a further couple of holes were discovered.  The corrosion was, therefore, cut out and a new section welded into place.

Following this the whole chassis has been painted in rust inhibiting primer before having a top coat of gloss black 

  

Chassis painted in rust inhibiting primer

  

 

Chassis now repainted in black



Derby Bentley 4 1/4

This Derby Bentley is in the workshop to have the steering box refurbished and has now been stripped out ready for its rewire.


A view of the old cables after the conduits were taken off -
note that the rubber has melted and is appearing through the cotton braiding



Rear of dash showing poor condition of cables to be replaced



Front firewall all steam cleaned and ready
to be further cleaned up using wire wool



Front cockpit area stripped out for re-wire


The chassis has been steam cleaned ready to be rubbed down and have a coat of paint after which the new cables will be run.








Dash on removal from car
(with rear axle from 3 1/2 litre Derby Bentley in the background) 



The dash is also being repaired and tidied up while it is here.



Dash now stripped, sanded and painted in primer

On removing the carpets and trim we discovered that the rear footwells had advanced corrosion and have been asked to carry out the necessary repairs.