This post is a bit of a mish-mash of things, as I appear to have gotten my photo-taking a little out of sync. First off, a quick look at the subframe now that it has been reassembled. The steering rack came up nicely and after fitting new gaiters was loosely bolted back on the frame.
I have treated the subframe to new, er, everything really. Bushes, washers, nuts, washers - you name it.
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The anti-roll bar finally got its new bits, too, although I couldn't get the end caps (either end of the bushes) anywhere so cleaned and painted the old ones. The parts catalogues show two clamps either side of the central mounting bushes, but my car didn't have those when I stripped everything down. I wonder if that was just shoddy Speke workmanship, a later omission after a repair or perhaps the early cars didn't have them? Who knows, but I ordered some anyway as I guess they do something related to safety. Currently everything is just thrown on the anti-roll bar for storage, and will be positioned properly when the suspension goes back together.
So, apart from the lower links, that's the front suspension done and ready for when they'll be refitted. Scratching my head for something else to do, I then moved onto the heater box.
After connecting some power to it, it ran! It is always nice to experience something electrical coming back to life after so long in storage. This can't have run for at least 20 years, so I was dead chuffed. The whole thing was looking very dirty, so it was given a good clean and inspected.
The two pipes into the heater matrix were looking pretty corroded and one of them was crimped over where the flexi should fit, so these will need to be replaced. I don't think they are available as a stand-alone part, so I will have to try to get some made or find a scrap box with good pipes. Commendably, Robsport do a set in stainless steel but at £80 they are just too expensive for me.
Next job was to remove and inspect the heater matrix, as I don't want to put the car back together only to find it leaks. So, out it came after removing the little clips around the heater assembly, splitting it into two halves and drilling out four pop rivets. I really have no idea how to test the matrix, but blowing a load of compressed air through it cleared out much muck and brown water, after which I refilled it a few times and swilled it out. Filling it back up showed no leaks whatsoever, but I concede that a pressure test might be in order.
The rubber gaskets/bushes which seal the pipes will need replacing, but they are very scarce (and expensive in the UK if you can find them). Having seen a pair on ebay for circa £50, I did a quick internet trawl and within a week took delivery of two original, new ones in BL packaging. They came from The Netherlands and cost 30 euros including postage. Result!
When you are putting the heater unit back together don't forget to replace those two sheets of foam on the cold air inlet and vent flaps so that they seal properly. I was able to do mine with the heater unit in situ but it was a real fiddle and will be much easier when its apart. It does makes a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteThanks Russ, much appreciated. Can I ask, what foam did you use and where did you get it from?
DeleteAll the best
John