racing

Category: Austin Seven Ruby

  • A Drive and a Small Job

    Today was a day more for driving than working on the car.

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    However I did a small job of fitting the lock for the sunroof. Today was a sunroof open day.

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  • Carpets

    I decided to add some nice carpets to the interior of the Austin Seven. The rubber floor mats are good condition and I shall keep them, but I thought I’d get something to match the blue seats and exterior.

    Here are it was before and a view of the floor before the carpets were fitted.

    Afterwards, I think they look smart. I still need to fit the rear carpets, but no more time today.

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  • Parcel Shelf

    I am undecided whether it looks better with or without the rack on the back for a case. Currently I am trying it without.

    With the rear shelf complete with period case.

    It is easy to remove and looks good without too.

  • Happy 83rd Birthday

    In January this Austin Seven Ruby was 83. Time for a trip out to celebrate.

  • Bicester Sunday Scramble

    The first time I’ve ever been to the Sunday Scramble.We set off after breakfast, loaded up with a flask on this cold, but sunny, morning. When we got there we found a space to park near a AE86, a modern classic.

    It’s a great event. Such a wonderful variety of cars. The format is of a nice easy relaxed event. Just park up amongst the old buildings and wander around looking at other cars.

    The car was noticed by some fellow enthusiasts. Click here to see the Austin Seven facebook page.

    What a fun drive – a sunny day, lovely roads – 60 miles covered. See a bit of a drive in this video.

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  • Austin Seven Service – Fluids

    I changed the water. While doing this I flushed out the radiator and filled with de-ionised water and new blue anti-freeze.

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    I would probably normally replace the brake fluid in a classic car I’d just bought too, but the Austin Seven doesn’t have hydraulic brakes. That’s one less job to do! Well the brakes were still checked over, grease applied where it should be, cables checked. All good.

  • Austin Seven Service – Plugs and Leads

    I decided to change the spark plugs and leads. The old plugs looked in good condition and will do as spares. The leads were made up of slightly different kinds, so I bought a nice “period” set. This was fun to do as you had to make up the leads from a kit.

    I used Champion D16 spark plugs. They are 18mm and a little wider than I’m used to.

  • Austin Seven Service – Engine

    The first thing I thought of doing before a run was give the car a service.

    Changing the oil

    It’s a little different to what I am used to. There is no external filter, just a mesh in the sump. So sump off. In doing this I found that one of the sump bolts had been sheared previously. Carefully using a left handed drill bit I managed to get this out.

    Inside the engine looked good – which made me happy. The filter was OK, but worth changing. Here is the filter before and after:

    Unlike a more modern (’50s onwards) where you would just put on a new filter I had to made one up.

    There was a little sludge in the bottom of the sump, but it cleaned up nicely. I also fitted a new sump plug.

    In the end it got all new gaskets, new sump plug, new sump bolts, new gauze filter. I topped up with Millers Oil Vintage 30. I’ve used Millers a lot and, after research, saw that this was the best grade for a Seven.

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    Unfortunately I put slightly too much in, so had to drain off a small amount through the plug.

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  • Austin Seven At Home

    After spending some time looking over the Austin Seven and deciding what, if anything, needed doing I noticed a couple of things I liked.

    The plaque listing recent patents is a nice touch and trafficators are always something to appreciate. I decided to see what bulb was used – maybe a chance to replace with LED?

    Then on to the first little bits of work. The battery was checked, it’s in good condition and I was pleased that there was nothing wrong with the battery box – a bit of surface rust was easily cleaned up and treated.

    I like the RAC badge, but removed it, I’ll decide whether to put it back on. 

    Finally the dash was missing a securing nut which I replaced. I like the settings – low and high charge. Oddly the started and the choke are labelled the wrong way round. Will I be bothered to change, or just grow to like the oddity. Both work well.

    I tried the starting handle – just because I could. Another first for me, starting a car on the starting handle (without braking my wrist).

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  • Ruby Ruby Ruby

    I was getting a little frustrated at the time taken to obtain some parts for another car (lead time is April 2018!) as this was being renovated by a specialist the garage was empty. I was also getting a little bored. The mind wandered and I realised I’d never driven a pre-war car. To the internet!

    I decided that a nice project would be an Austin Seven. I would get one, do a little work on it and then sell when I needed the garage space again.

    I came across a nice Ruby near Derby. It was a good condition, I was a little worried nothing needed doing, but that was ideal. A rolling restoration were I could just do the basics – a service, perhaps some new carpets, that kind of thing. Oh and use it.

    Here is the original advertisement:

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