1939 ROVER 16

We are now about a week away from finishing the Rover 16.  The car is looking great and runs well.  We have the wood trim to refit following refurbishment, a new set of carpets and the original seats which have been cleaned up.  The bonnet side panels will be fitted and then the car should be ready for a voluntary MOT test.

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

Other workshop news



Newly cored radiator



Willys Jeep

The radiator is back from having a new core fitted.  The other new parts have now arrived, so we will be back onto the project shortly.




20hp part way through fitting
new king pins and bushes



Rolls Royce 20hp



The king pin and bushes are currently being replaced on Lavinia's N/S front axle



Newly fabricated top water plate visible
under copper pipes in centre of picture


1902 Arrol-Johnston

We have now finished fabricating a replacement top water plate and this can be seen in place on the photo.  Once the oil feed tank and cooling pipes are all back in position and tightened up we can test the car before returning it to its owner.

Jaguar E-type

The E-type is now back from the paint shop looking great. 
We are currently preparing it for its MOT test which includes work on the rear brakes as the handbrake is currently inoperative, and replacing the front torsion bars which had lost their tension and therefore collapsed.

JAGUAR E-TYPE Series 1

The car has come in for a service and MOT work. 
Graeme has been working on the rear sub-frame, overhauling the brakes and drive shafts.  This is now complete and ready for fitting back onto the car.  The sump was off for repair to damaged sump bung threads which has been completed. 


Rear sub-frame stripped out

 

Rear sub-frame ready for refitting

  

Rust visible in hub bearing

Perished front suspension bushes

The front suspension joints are undergoing replacement and this has thrown up a quality control issue with the new spare parts which our suppliers are currently trying to rectify.  The problem we highlighted has caused them to reject the new batch of these parts as well as the batch ours came from.  Quality control of new parts continues to be a problem for some makes of older cars.