Off to Donington Park
Blog
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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A New Engine
A “new” block and a “new” crankshaft.
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On a Wing and a Prayer
A test day and a race meeting. Unfortunately the ‘bay engine wasn’t up to it!
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The ‘bay.
So what do you do when you have a conrod go through your block and you have a race at Silverstone in a month? Simple, buy another engine on eBay.
Easy. Although it turned out to be smaller cc than advertised. Boo. Still, it’ll have to do.
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Snetterton. There’s a hole in my block dear Liza.
What a race, briefly. Started fifth, up to third and the tail of the top two. Then disaster, a ‘rod went and smacked a hole through the block.
Still it was a great meeting. Very professional, yet still a proper club meeting organised by the CSCC. I was inteviewed in the pit lane after the problem.
Photos:
The end. Pushing on, with exhaust hanging low. Good times early on (live timing on your phone!). Harassed by a mini. First lap. Waiting for practice. Mirror and quarter light issues in practice.
