25 replies to this topic

[I hate Brian]

Ells I've sent you a PM

[Ell.s]

I've managed to fix the issue of the stuck recliner today, forgot to take images.

I removed it from the car and started to strip the covering off, once I could see the mechanism it looked like it was jammed between teeth. I got a large adjustable spanner on the square drive where the adjuster handle bolts to and really gave good tug. The mechanism free'd off and now works again although it isn't as smooth as the passenger side. It will do for now.

[Ell.s]

Minor update; this evening was spent setting the valve clearances in a hope to stop the lumpy idle and tappety/knocking top end.

Interestingly I found 7/8 set at 0.009" and number 4 had a large gap and required 4 full turns of the adjuster to close up. I'm hopeful this will have cured the issue however a flat battery has stopped me finding out for sure. Trickle charger now fitted fingers cross for tomorrow evening.

New suspension cones arrived from mini spares today and Protech dampers coming next week so fun times ahead. Just a steering rack to order now.

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[Sam76]

Had a worn cam shaft on a 1275 I had years ago, used to run a bit lumpy at idle - always adjusting the tappets! ? hope yours isn’t the same mate - although if you have to change the cam, would be rude not to slip a mild cam in!

[Ell.s]

It pulls really well and has only done 50k so I'd like to think the cams in good nick RSP's have an MG metro cam in from standard which a beleive is the cam of choice for many tuners.

[Sam76]

Should be fine at that mileage!

[Ell.s]

Well the good news is the valve train is now a lot quieter, I haven't had time to do much the week but did a small repair on the unobtainable Roof trim. It's not perfect but it's passable with the 1ft rule. Plastic welded and filled in the gaps with some black plastic from a spray bottle trigger.

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[Ell.s]

Today saw me start to tackle changing the cones and fitting Hi-Lo's. Still waiting on the Protechs to arrive so they will bring up the rear.

I had all intentions of fitting the drivers front and rear but once I'd got the wheel off I found the subframe was somewhat crispier than I remembered it to be and that's taken most of the day up.

Out came the wire wheels and I set about the rust and removed the old coating of what I beleive to be waxoyl.

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Rust converter applied:

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Followed by a coat of hammerite smooth black and fitted the new OEM cone and Hi-lo. The Hi-lo is fully wound down at the moment hoping it settles somewhat as it isn't quite as low as I'd hoped.
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The knuckle joint had also failed so glad I did this.

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Will try and get the front done this week and the rest done at the weekend. Hopefully by then the Protechs will have arrived. I also need to get new nuts for the lower shock mounts. Looking at them the flats have completely rusted away. Anyone know the size I need?

Edited by Ell.s, 16 August 2020 - 07:17 PM.

[Ell.s]

Not managed to get in the garage this week, finally managed to make some progress today. replaced the drivers side front suspension cone and fitted the Hi-Lo. Protech are apparently very busy and haven't built my dampers yet ?.

I also appear to have lost my ball joint splitter so had to get rather creative with a coil spring compressor.

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Had an absolute nigmare getting the top arm off, what a job that is! It's nigh on impossible to get at the fixings had to creative with socket extensions and thread it through the grille cutout.

Didn't take many pics but the front cones are definitely well over due!

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Edited by Ell.s, 22 August 2020 - 08:20 PM.

[Ell.s]

Long time since an update on this thread but the progress hasn't stopped.

I finished fitting all the Hi-Lo's and got the Protech Shocks on;I must say the Protechs are fantastic quality and thier customer service is fantastic. I was a little too sucssessful lowering the rear at first ?.



After that I decided to go for an MOT, 5 minutes down the road I was stuck in a lay by after very much over heating! I made it home by stopping and cooling down numerous times in the short journey.



That wrote off as a bad event I found the head was blocked with crud from 7 years of sitting with antifreeze and water in. A thorough flush, new thermostat and Fletcher alloy radiator later;the car was keeping itself nice and cool.

At this point I decided to take on the job I had been dreading! Steering rack replacement (I had an unfortunate event with a pothole 7 years ago which had rendered it very stiff) and my god what a ballache of a task that is!



Today saw the refitting of the steering colum and a brand new Bosch S4 004 type 075 battery and since it all went so well I thought sod it I'm going for an MOT.


And would you know it? It passed with no advisories!

I truly forgot how much fun this little car is. It feels like a little rocket!

[Ell.s]

The post had duplicated for some reason.

Edited by Ell.s, 04 October 2020 - 07:29 AM.