thanks Leo no time to digest what you have said now, as the motor does enough to pass the test!
Today started finishing off the rear. Rear lamp housings were piped and fixing bolts sealed with O rings. problem on one side where the light housing would not quite go back far enough so had to adjust the bodywork.
Before Amy arrived , Heinz Kuntze visited with a couple of heads , one of which the valve seat insert had come out. I measured the combustion space on the replacement head which was 42 cc, which is OK for a cooking engine. Sent Heinz away with the Competition Tuning notes and the burette and glass covers with a hole in them for measuring capacity. I advised not to gas flow the combustion spaces as that would lower compression. Since Heinz is unlikely to do a lot of motorway driving, hardened valve seatts for unleaded are not worth the effort. Bill Maris also arrived on his motorbike special that had just been MOTed.
Amy finished fitting the front wings and quarter circles on bonnet. I then fitted the front lights and tidied up the wiring.
Amy and I then bolted down the floor and fitted the doors which I continued after dinner. Both sides defied logic and required changing from when they were fitted prior to painting. Just need another pair of hands tomorrow to complete the job.
Took the offending bonnet strut off and drilled out the pin holding the bottom mounting to reveal what may be the blockage. There is a thick cylinder with a hole in it. No idea whether it should be there or not!The strut will not go down the last 1.5 inches. More work on that later.
Just finishing off a tasty Brakspear triple 7.2% beer, not that I need it to sleep.
A couple of hours tomorrow before off to lead my Rugby team into the semi final with the drums.
Great SC rebuild.......
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Amy
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- Your interest in the forum: 1954 SC Jupiter, TTD 88
- Given Name: Amy
- Location: Herts
Home straight?
We're getting there. We may yet be able to get the Jupiter to its MoT on Tuesday...
Yesterday I finished fitting the front wings (they were on, but not secure, and the beading needed doing). It's a bit of a tricky job to get to the rear couple of bolts, which involved quite a lot of groaning from me as I had to lie across the wheel to get to it. Whilst I was doing this, dad was occupied at the rear of the car fixing the lights into place, and the seal for the boot.
It's looking amazing now, and with the numberplate on he looks really smart:
When the front wings were on, I fixed the front stone guards in place (the only panel on the car which Chris didn't have to do major surgery to!). All panels for the front of the car are now in place.
Next came the floor - Jack and I had fitted this earlier in the week, but again just with bolts in for placement whilst we checked the fitting of the seat, etc. Tightening the nuts is a two person job, and this time dad got to crawl around under the car whilst I got a spanner on the bolt from the topside.
With the floor in place securely it was time to fit the doors. These had been fitted a few weeks ago (I'm sure it'll be somewhere earlier in the saga!
) so in theory it was a case of fitting them to the marks that we'd made at that time. Except this is a Jowett that we're working on.
We started with the nearside door first, and after a struggle to get the top hinge bolts in, we managed it, and then proceeded to put the bottom hinge bolts in as well. One problem: the door was nowhere near aligned. [Insert swear word of choice here].
We decided we wanted to get a bit of progress before dinner, so left the nearside and went onto the offside door. Same story. Time for dinner...!
I was out for the rest of Saturday night, but dad made a lot of progress on the doors, as when I returned on Sunday the doors were fitting nicely. Dad had taken the afternoon off to go and support Saracens rugby team at their semi-final match, so I was toute seule in the garage. I got to fettling with the door handles, and soon discovered that the ones selected had a couple of issues... firstly, one was actually broken (oops!) and secondly, they didn't quite line up with where they needed to. We have some new handles, but without innards - dad has now swapped the innards onto the new handles and I'll fit these tomorrow.
I've also sorted out the mechanism for the inner door handles, and will fit all of the handles (and catches) tomorrow.
Most importantly, we now have a bonnet badge
The main grille is also now in place, so no nasties can fly into the engine on our way to the MoT.
After dinner, Jack arrived (somewhat fuddled from his best friend's stag weekend...) and stood and watched dad and I do a few bits, before helping to put the seat in (again). We'll secure the seat tomorrow and put the steering wheel in, then check everything is MoT-worthy - I've got the day off work to devote to the car, so am expecting a long day in the garage. Though hopefully I won't end up doing what dad did earlier:
He actually claimed it was comfy down there, but I think it was just the fact that he'd spent the afternoon fighting (I'll let him explain that one).
Keep your fingers crossed that we get the car to MoT-worthy tomorrow..!!
Amy.
Yesterday I finished fitting the front wings (they were on, but not secure, and the beading needed doing). It's a bit of a tricky job to get to the rear couple of bolts, which involved quite a lot of groaning from me as I had to lie across the wheel to get to it. Whilst I was doing this, dad was occupied at the rear of the car fixing the lights into place, and the seal for the boot.
It's looking amazing now, and with the numberplate on he looks really smart:
When the front wings were on, I fixed the front stone guards in place (the only panel on the car which Chris didn't have to do major surgery to!). All panels for the front of the car are now in place.
Next came the floor - Jack and I had fitted this earlier in the week, but again just with bolts in for placement whilst we checked the fitting of the seat, etc. Tightening the nuts is a two person job, and this time dad got to crawl around under the car whilst I got a spanner on the bolt from the topside.
With the floor in place securely it was time to fit the doors. These had been fitted a few weeks ago (I'm sure it'll be somewhere earlier in the saga!
) so in theory it was a case of fitting them to the marks that we'd made at that time. Except this is a Jowett that we're working on.We started with the nearside door first, and after a struggle to get the top hinge bolts in, we managed it, and then proceeded to put the bottom hinge bolts in as well. One problem: the door was nowhere near aligned. [Insert swear word of choice here].
We decided we wanted to get a bit of progress before dinner, so left the nearside and went onto the offside door. Same story. Time for dinner...!
I was out for the rest of Saturday night, but dad made a lot of progress on the doors, as when I returned on Sunday the doors were fitting nicely. Dad had taken the afternoon off to go and support Saracens rugby team at their semi-final match, so I was toute seule in the garage. I got to fettling with the door handles, and soon discovered that the ones selected had a couple of issues... firstly, one was actually broken (oops!) and secondly, they didn't quite line up with where they needed to. We have some new handles, but without innards - dad has now swapped the innards onto the new handles and I'll fit these tomorrow.
I've also sorted out the mechanism for the inner door handles, and will fit all of the handles (and catches) tomorrow.
Most importantly, we now have a bonnet badge
The main grille is also now in place, so no nasties can fly into the engine on our way to the MoT.
After dinner, Jack arrived (somewhat fuddled from his best friend's stag weekend...) and stood and watched dad and I do a few bits, before helping to put the seat in (again). We'll secure the seat tomorrow and put the steering wheel in, then check everything is MoT-worthy - I've got the day off work to devote to the car, so am expecting a long day in the garage. Though hopefully I won't end up doing what dad did earlier:
He actually claimed it was comfy down there, but I think it was just the fact that he'd spent the afternoon fighting (I'll let him explain that one).
Keep your fingers crossed that we get the car to MoT-worthy tomorrow..!!
Amy.
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Forumadmin
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No comment! Except to say a rival supporter objected to me blowing my horn at the end of the match and that a right old bundle ensued. The stewards assured me they will ask the club to send me an apology. Anyhow ribs are now a bit tender which was why I was taking the opportunity to enjoy the comfort of the garage floor. It should also be realised that the final at Twickenham is during JAW so it looks like we may be trying to find a pub to view it.
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Drummond Black
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SC REBUILD
LOTS OF LUCK WITH THE MOT TOMORROW
Drummond's jup also going for it's MOT tomorrow.
Ruby
Drummond's jup also going for it's MOT tomorrow.
Ruby
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Amy did a good job yesterday fixing the door openers. Some more work fettling the dovetails provided a reasonable closure but they are still a bit stiff.
A lunchtime check on the cooling system still showed the car was overheating; so the thermostat was removed and seemed to fix it. There was no flow around the system, even into the heater. However, see later.
Bonnet catches were removed from SA and fitted to SC. Jack and I attacked the 'short' bonnet strut with all manner of techniques to get the offending blockage out. Eventually alarge drill was employed with towels over it to catch any emerging springs at high velocity.
The problem was a 2 inch long dowel of bakelite. Was that factory fitted, perhaps only on the SA? Anyhow the remnants of the boring took half an hour to remove just in time to prevent Josephine (the SA) being stripped of yet another part. Wipers were taken from SA also!
Amy and I fitted the seat, steering wheel and horn. Jack sorted the screen washer finding the feed to it was the output of the wiper switch, so washers only work when wiping. However, in doing so flooded a cylinder with petrol, (must fit a pressure regulator or sort the needle valve!) . Luckily I started the car and hopefully prevented any damage to the block. So spark plugs out to flush out a cylinder full of petrol.
Amy elongated the slots in the boot lock; but even this did not get the catch to latch. So another job to do.
At about 11.30 we tried opening the garage door but the mechanism broke. So this had to be fixed. Finally Amy and Jack as passenger drove the car out of the garage and up to the top garage ready for the early MOT.
There were many unusual sounds needing investigation and what is worse the engine overheated so a decision after midnight was made to postpone the MOT.
But that did not dampen their elation at getting a car back on the road since it was last there in 1972.
A lunchtime check on the cooling system still showed the car was overheating; so the thermostat was removed and seemed to fix it. There was no flow around the system, even into the heater. However, see later.
Bonnet catches were removed from SA and fitted to SC. Jack and I attacked the 'short' bonnet strut with all manner of techniques to get the offending blockage out. Eventually alarge drill was employed with towels over it to catch any emerging springs at high velocity.
The problem was a 2 inch long dowel of bakelite. Was that factory fitted, perhaps only on the SA? Anyhow the remnants of the boring took half an hour to remove just in time to prevent Josephine (the SA) being stripped of yet another part. Wipers were taken from SA also!
Amy and I fitted the seat, steering wheel and horn. Jack sorted the screen washer finding the feed to it was the output of the wiper switch, so washers only work when wiping. However, in doing so flooded a cylinder with petrol, (must fit a pressure regulator or sort the needle valve!) . Luckily I started the car and hopefully prevented any damage to the block. So spark plugs out to flush out a cylinder full of petrol.
Amy elongated the slots in the boot lock; but even this did not get the catch to latch. So another job to do.
At about 11.30 we tried opening the garage door but the mechanism broke. So this had to be fixed. Finally Amy and Jack as passenger drove the car out of the garage and up to the top garage ready for the early MOT.
There were many unusual sounds needing investigation and what is worse the engine overheated so a decision after midnight was made to postpone the MOT.
But that did not dampen their elation at getting a car back on the road since it was last there in 1972.
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Jack
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One very tired worker here.
Well, it was an evening of highs and lows. My concerns at the start of the night were that without working screen washers the MOT guys might not let it through, and I didn't know what was wrong with them. After 15 minutes of multimetering and checking with a battery, it was clear that the pump worked, just that it wasn't getting power.
Initially I suspected the switch, however it had been tested before it went in so should have been fine. Following back from the pump to the switch there was continuity, so my suspicion became stronger. There was continuity through the switch, and not when turned off, so that was ruled out (my suspicion incorrect) and then I found the problem - a loose bullet connector had obviously either been removed when something else was going on behind the dashboard, or it didn't get plugged in when I finished the job a week or so ago. Quick plug in of power from the windscreen wipers and we were away - this means the screen wash won't run when the wipers aren't on, but I don't see really when you'd need it that way anyhow. All working, and confidence was restored.
Amy fitted the rear view mirror, required for MOT, while me and Keith were hammering, drilling, swearing a bit, shaking, poking, and otherwise abusing the bonnet strut. In the end it was a fairly simple blockage and the strut reassembled. The bonnet now goes up and down as it should, though it does need a bit of a tweak to get it to lock in the up position.
Following this I moved on to tying the boot down, as it doesn't need to open for the MOT (floor of the boot visibly new and solid from below, and nothing else in there that needs checking) which took a bit longer than expected - no major drama and it is now secure even if there is still a bit of tweaking to do on the catch.
Next came the low of having to remove the spark plugs and deal with the flooding of the engine, not easily avoided as I had to have the ignition on to test the current in the circuits, but worth us learning anyhow so we don't destroy the engine.
Once started up everything was ok again, and the car moved from the bottom garage to the top ready to drive to MOT. Driving down the lane was an interesting experience, with a few bumps and ruts on the path producing interesting knocks and noises under the front and back, but once on the road things were a lot more normal. There were a few noises that will need addressing, but the MOT test doesn't care about the odd clunk, they just want to see it's safe. Obviously these will need sorting before its maiden voyage to Wakefield, though that seems a long way off at the moment.
It was nearly midnight, and the car was in the top garage. At this point I nearly have a complete sense of humour failure - taking Amy's new tools to the top garage to go in the car a set of ramps was balanced rather precariously near the front of the car (I won't say who balanced them there, but they were obviously very tired and just didn't realise they were that close), and fell onto the front end - a rather nasty dink in the paintwork. We did have some work to do polishing and tidying up here and there on the paint, that will have to go on the snag list to finish the car. It's not critical, and doesn't affect the car for MOT or getting to the rally, but it was pretty disheartening to walk away from the garage with a car that was overheating and now had more work to do to make it look great.
These things are sent to try us, and we will get there. Somehow. Perhaps. It is a long road, but if it was easy everybody would be doing it, and we are within spitting distance of the all important bit of paper. We still have time, and with a weekend devoted to it I think we can get there.
Lots of tired heads, and another open appeal to anybody who knows anything about Jowetts to help us to finish the last few jobs. Plenty of free beer and dinner, just let us know if you've got a few hours to drive and need a bed for the night. To be honest you can have my bed, as I don't think I've been in it for more than 5 or 6 hours for weeks. This weekend will be a busy one for a lot of people tidying up and washing the car for the rally, if your car is ready to go and just needs a bit of detailing please consider that the two or three hours on Saturday afternoon could be the difference between there being another Jupiter there or not. Your car could go a little bit dirty and not win the concourse, but what could be more rewarding than to know that your few hours made all the difference.
Support and encouragement welcomed from anybody and everybody. I think everyone was very excited at the car starting and leaving the garage for the first time in many years, but visibly tired and in need of rest, and even small setbacks are hitting morale hard.
Jack.
Well, it was an evening of highs and lows. My concerns at the start of the night were that without working screen washers the MOT guys might not let it through, and I didn't know what was wrong with them. After 15 minutes of multimetering and checking with a battery, it was clear that the pump worked, just that it wasn't getting power.
Initially I suspected the switch, however it had been tested before it went in so should have been fine. Following back from the pump to the switch there was continuity, so my suspicion became stronger. There was continuity through the switch, and not when turned off, so that was ruled out (my suspicion incorrect) and then I found the problem - a loose bullet connector had obviously either been removed when something else was going on behind the dashboard, or it didn't get plugged in when I finished the job a week or so ago. Quick plug in of power from the windscreen wipers and we were away - this means the screen wash won't run when the wipers aren't on, but I don't see really when you'd need it that way anyhow. All working, and confidence was restored.
Amy fitted the rear view mirror, required for MOT, while me and Keith were hammering, drilling, swearing a bit, shaking, poking, and otherwise abusing the bonnet strut. In the end it was a fairly simple blockage and the strut reassembled. The bonnet now goes up and down as it should, though it does need a bit of a tweak to get it to lock in the up position.
Following this I moved on to tying the boot down, as it doesn't need to open for the MOT (floor of the boot visibly new and solid from below, and nothing else in there that needs checking) which took a bit longer than expected - no major drama and it is now secure even if there is still a bit of tweaking to do on the catch.
Next came the low of having to remove the spark plugs and deal with the flooding of the engine, not easily avoided as I had to have the ignition on to test the current in the circuits, but worth us learning anyhow so we don't destroy the engine.
Once started up everything was ok again, and the car moved from the bottom garage to the top ready to drive to MOT. Driving down the lane was an interesting experience, with a few bumps and ruts on the path producing interesting knocks and noises under the front and back, but once on the road things were a lot more normal. There were a few noises that will need addressing, but the MOT test doesn't care about the odd clunk, they just want to see it's safe. Obviously these will need sorting before its maiden voyage to Wakefield, though that seems a long way off at the moment.
It was nearly midnight, and the car was in the top garage. At this point I nearly have a complete sense of humour failure - taking Amy's new tools to the top garage to go in the car a set of ramps was balanced rather precariously near the front of the car (I won't say who balanced them there, but they were obviously very tired and just didn't realise they were that close), and fell onto the front end - a rather nasty dink in the paintwork. We did have some work to do polishing and tidying up here and there on the paint, that will have to go on the snag list to finish the car. It's not critical, and doesn't affect the car for MOT or getting to the rally, but it was pretty disheartening to walk away from the garage with a car that was overheating and now had more work to do to make it look great.
These things are sent to try us, and we will get there. Somehow. Perhaps. It is a long road, but if it was easy everybody would be doing it, and we are within spitting distance of the all important bit of paper. We still have time, and with a weekend devoted to it I think we can get there.
Lots of tired heads, and another open appeal to anybody who knows anything about Jowetts to help us to finish the last few jobs. Plenty of free beer and dinner, just let us know if you've got a few hours to drive and need a bed for the night. To be honest you can have my bed, as I don't think I've been in it for more than 5 or 6 hours for weeks. This weekend will be a busy one for a lot of people tidying up and washing the car for the rally, if your car is ready to go and just needs a bit of detailing please consider that the two or three hours on Saturday afternoon could be the difference between there being another Jupiter there or not. Your car could go a little bit dirty and not win the concourse, but what could be more rewarding than to know that your few hours made all the difference.
Support and encouragement welcomed from anybody and everybody. I think everyone was very excited at the car starting and leaving the garage for the first time in many years, but visibly tired and in need of rest, and even small setbacks are hitting morale hard.
Jack.
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Jack
- Posts: 1113
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:49 am
- Location: Herts
Also, as we are using the internet as an accident book, I managed to do a lovely job of lowering the bonnet on the other Jupiter and caught my finger between the bottom edge of the bonnet and the top of the rally plate on the front end. Ow.
Keith also seemed to be suffering with his ribs from being a ruffian at the rugby match - I never realised Keith's bareknuckle boxing background when I started going out with Amy...
EDIT - Just had an e-mail from Keith - our overheating problems seem to have been shortlived. A minor issue with a gasket has been resolved and we have water flowing again and a working cooling system. MOT rebooked, currently for Monday. The project is back on the rails and we are good to go again!
Jack.
Keith also seemed to be suffering with his ribs from being a ruffian at the rugby match - I never realised Keith's bareknuckle boxing background when I started going out with Amy...
EDIT - Just had an e-mail from Keith - our overheating problems seem to have been shortlived. A minor issue with a gasket has been resolved and we have water flowing again and a working cooling system. MOT rebooked, currently for Monday. The project is back on the rails and we are good to go again!
Jack.
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Amy
- Posts: 205
- Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:36 pm
- Your interest in the forum: 1954 SC Jupiter, TTD 88
- Given Name: Amy
- Location: Herts
Napolean's midnight foray
Overalls at the ready!
A long day in the garage for me yesterday - around 12 hours in all. It's a good job we're not paying ourselves on this project as a) I think we'd probably be bankrupt, and b) none of us would get paid anyway (apart from Chris) because of our various mishaps etc which would probably justify witholding of pay in a normal business...
Yesterday was concentrated on getting the MoT checklist done. My main task was to get the door catches and handles installed and working. As ever, this wasn't simply a case of it all going in on the first attempt, and rather involved a series of attempts to fit the catch / handle / interior door handle & mechanism, filing out holes to the correct size / position, de-rusting things, and repeating the above several times until everything fit in place and operated nice and smoothly.
However, it all paid off as we now have beautiful new external door handles on both doors, and nice smooth mechanisms to boot.
(Nearly) last but not least
Dad popped down to the garage in between meetings to come and give moral support / check I knew how to use a spanner. On one of his visits, I had a momentus task: I had to start the car! I knew the engine had run before, but I'd never been present and it was really rather lovely to sit in my car, on the seat, and start it. It caught first time too
The reason for starting the car was to try and iron out the overheating issue that dad and Jack have talked about - shall let dad fill you in on the outcome of that one (apparently not due to a rodent...).
Onto the list of "must do" things for MoT which hadn't been sufficiently pressing previously. Dad and I fitted the seat securely, which needed a bit of levering of a couple of body struts that had been bent when we walked over them when the car was just a chassis. The seat back then went on, as did the steering wheel and dad sorted out the horn - which made me jump when dad tested it as I hadn't been paying much attention to his goings-on!
I also stole (borrowed) Josephine's bonnet catches, fixed the rear view mirror, checked all the lights with Jack's help, tried to fix the boot catch, and other things that I can't now remember. By dinnertime we had only the screen washer, the boot catch and the bonnet strut to sort for the MoT.
The first and last of these were sorted by the male contingent, I tried (and sadly, failed) to fix the boot catch, and by 11.30pm we were ready to transfer Napolean to the upper garage!
Jupe's away!
This was an immensely exciting moment for me - I was going to be the first person to drive the SC since it had been chez Clements, and possibly the first to have done so in the best part of 40 years! Jack climbed in on the passenger side, Clements Senior took charge of my (new, shiny and very technical) mobile to video the momentus occasion, and I then started the SC and - very, very carefully - edged my way out of the garage, with an enormous grin on my face.
The lane down to the road is quite rutted, and quite steep - I checked the brakes (all ok), noted a few unusual noises, stopped for Jack to listen to something he'd heard, and then drove Napolean out onto the public highway for the first time. I didn't make it out of second gear; it's a matter of a couple of hundred yards along the main road to my parents' road, which is a steep hill. However, gear selection seemed nice and smooth, the clutch (despite an almighty grating from the pedal shaft against the metal floor) engaged nicely.
One of the rear brakes (nearside I think) sounds like it's binding and will need checking, and there was a clunking from the front offside which we think is probably a slightly loose bonnet catch.
We stopped for a passenger change at no.49 - Jack got out, dad got in - and I took dad round the block for him to have a ride and listen to the various noises. We checked the brakes coming downhill - all good and no pulling, though still a binding sound to investigate. Back on the straight the brakes needed a couple of pumps of the pedal to come on, so there may still be a bit of air trapped in the system - another task for one evening this week. I then eased the car into the top garage, accidentally catching the horn push whilst turning the wheel (oops!) and possibly announcing the Jupiter's presence rather too loudly for the neighbours at midnight... The downside was that, despite having gone only a quarter of a mile or so, the car was boiling merrily away
However, that now all seems to be sorted (fingers crossed!), so we can concentrate on the snag list of noises...
So, a very short but incredibly sweet midnight journey. After all these months, we have a (mostly) complete and running car. Yes, it has some things to be sorted, but the sheer fact that we have got this far is a testament to the hard work, dedication and sheer number of hours spent on the project.
Amy.
A long day in the garage for me yesterday - around 12 hours in all. It's a good job we're not paying ourselves on this project as a) I think we'd probably be bankrupt, and b) none of us would get paid anyway (apart from Chris) because of our various mishaps etc which would probably justify witholding of pay in a normal business...
Yesterday was concentrated on getting the MoT checklist done. My main task was to get the door catches and handles installed and working. As ever, this wasn't simply a case of it all going in on the first attempt, and rather involved a series of attempts to fit the catch / handle / interior door handle & mechanism, filing out holes to the correct size / position, de-rusting things, and repeating the above several times until everything fit in place and operated nice and smoothly.
However, it all paid off as we now have beautiful new external door handles on both doors, and nice smooth mechanisms to boot.
(Nearly) last but not least
Dad popped down to the garage in between meetings to come and give moral support / check I knew how to use a spanner. On one of his visits, I had a momentus task: I had to start the car! I knew the engine had run before, but I'd never been present and it was really rather lovely to sit in my car, on the seat, and start it. It caught first time too
The reason for starting the car was to try and iron out the overheating issue that dad and Jack have talked about - shall let dad fill you in on the outcome of that one (apparently not due to a rodent...).
Onto the list of "must do" things for MoT which hadn't been sufficiently pressing previously. Dad and I fitted the seat securely, which needed a bit of levering of a couple of body struts that had been bent when we walked over them when the car was just a chassis. The seat back then went on, as did the steering wheel and dad sorted out the horn - which made me jump when dad tested it as I hadn't been paying much attention to his goings-on!
I also stole (borrowed) Josephine's bonnet catches, fixed the rear view mirror, checked all the lights with Jack's help, tried to fix the boot catch, and other things that I can't now remember. By dinnertime we had only the screen washer, the boot catch and the bonnet strut to sort for the MoT.
The first and last of these were sorted by the male contingent, I tried (and sadly, failed) to fix the boot catch, and by 11.30pm we were ready to transfer Napolean to the upper garage!
Jupe's away!
This was an immensely exciting moment for me - I was going to be the first person to drive the SC since it had been chez Clements, and possibly the first to have done so in the best part of 40 years! Jack climbed in on the passenger side, Clements Senior took charge of my (new, shiny and very technical) mobile to video the momentus occasion, and I then started the SC and - very, very carefully - edged my way out of the garage, with an enormous grin on my face.
The lane down to the road is quite rutted, and quite steep - I checked the brakes (all ok), noted a few unusual noises, stopped for Jack to listen to something he'd heard, and then drove Napolean out onto the public highway for the first time. I didn't make it out of second gear; it's a matter of a couple of hundred yards along the main road to my parents' road, which is a steep hill. However, gear selection seemed nice and smooth, the clutch (despite an almighty grating from the pedal shaft against the metal floor) engaged nicely.
One of the rear brakes (nearside I think) sounds like it's binding and will need checking, and there was a clunking from the front offside which we think is probably a slightly loose bonnet catch.
We stopped for a passenger change at no.49 - Jack got out, dad got in - and I took dad round the block for him to have a ride and listen to the various noises. We checked the brakes coming downhill - all good and no pulling, though still a binding sound to investigate. Back on the straight the brakes needed a couple of pumps of the pedal to come on, so there may still be a bit of air trapped in the system - another task for one evening this week. I then eased the car into the top garage, accidentally catching the horn push whilst turning the wheel (oops!) and possibly announcing the Jupiter's presence rather too loudly for the neighbours at midnight... The downside was that, despite having gone only a quarter of a mile or so, the car was boiling merrily away
However, that now all seems to be sorted (fingers crossed!), so we can concentrate on the snag list of noises...So, a very short but incredibly sweet midnight journey. After all these months, we have a (mostly) complete and running car. Yes, it has some things to be sorted, but the sheer fact that we have got this far is a testament to the hard work, dedication and sheer number of hours spent on the project.
Amy.
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Forumadmin
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The day started investigating the overheating. I took water transfers off and saw where water came out. Only out of the inner outlet from the water pump on both sides. Took off the rad hoses and tried pressure washer in both ends. It appeared it was blocked so I took off the head. Then checked the inlet pipe too find it was blocked. Amy had made the gasket and had unfortunately been distracted as there was no hole in it.
Problem solved so replaced head and put hole in gaskets on both sides.
Replaced thermostat, and tested. All OK. Then after work took for a test drive to listen to all the noises.
Readjusted all the brakes. Put the rear axle on stands to then discover brake drum rubbing on brake plate. So dismantled and removed shim from behind bearing cover. Tried again but not enough was removed. So ground down drum. That side is OK. Although the diff was making some funny noises just driving the one wheel.
Meawhile Amy tested the head light dip switch which proceeded to disappear through the floor. It then took well over an hour to put back with bigger bolts. Jack was busy extending the rear exhaust mount that had broken again. Swapped bulb in headlight.
Final checks showed headlamp warning lamp and indicators had failed. Warning lamp bulb changed and a wire had come off the indicator switch feed.
Final test run and ready for MOT early morning.
Problem solved so replaced head and put hole in gaskets on both sides.
Replaced thermostat, and tested. All OK. Then after work took for a test drive to listen to all the noises.
Readjusted all the brakes. Put the rear axle on stands to then discover brake drum rubbing on brake plate. So dismantled and removed shim from behind bearing cover. Tried again but not enough was removed. So ground down drum. That side is OK. Although the diff was making some funny noises just driving the one wheel.
Meawhile Amy tested the head light dip switch which proceeded to disappear through the floor. It then took well over an hour to put back with bigger bolts. Jack was busy extending the rear exhaust mount that had broken again. Swapped bulb in headlight.
Final checks showed headlamp warning lamp and indicators had failed. Warning lamp bulb changed and a wire had come off the indicator switch feed.
Final test run and ready for MOT early morning.
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Jack
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- Location: Herts
I'm way too tired for the usual progress report, and Keith has covered most of it.
Seeing the car roll around the block at 11pm, brake lights showing, seeing it come from the top of the hill with the headlights bright and looking good, the noise as it came past, I think we've got a chance tomorrow morning.
The electricals was a minor glitch, but did have me worried. Luckily we seem to be on the home straight, and other than a minor rub on the drivers side brake drum which should be fine once we've fettled it a bit, everything seems to be working as it should.
Off for bath and "early" night, hoping for good news by 8:15 tomorrow morning, or at least a very short list on the evil red paper of doom
Morale definitely back up by the end of tonight, everyone seems to be in better mood about things and the pain of yesterday is behind us.
Jack.
Seeing the car roll around the block at 11pm, brake lights showing, seeing it come from the top of the hill with the headlights bright and looking good, the noise as it came past, I think we've got a chance tomorrow morning.
The electricals was a minor glitch, but did have me worried. Luckily we seem to be on the home straight, and other than a minor rub on the drivers side brake drum which should be fine once we've fettled it a bit, everything seems to be working as it should.
Off for bath and "early" night, hoping for good news by 8:15 tomorrow morning, or at least a very short list on the evil red paper of doom
Morale definitely back up by the end of tonight, everyone seems to be in better mood about things and the pain of yesterday is behind us.
Jack.
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Amy
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- Your interest in the forum: 1954 SC Jupiter, TTD 88
- Given Name: Amy
- Location: Herts
HOORAY! :-D
Well, the Jupiter was in for MoT first thing...
It's only gone and ruddy well passed!!
Amazing. I think a celebratory spin may be in order this evening before we get down to snagging and putting in the niceties.
Yay!
It's only gone and ruddy well passed!!
Amazing. I think a celebratory spin may be in order this evening before we get down to snagging and putting in the niceties.
Yay!
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Drummond Black
- Posts: 448
- Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:38 am
- Your interest in the forum: Jowett Jupiter, Jowett Javelin, Rover 75 (s)
- Given Name: Drummond
- Location: Kirkliston, SCOTLAND
SC REBUILD
WAKEFIELD HERE WE COME - WELL DONE Drummond
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Leo Bolter
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:32 am
- Your interest in the forum: Proud owner of:
1 x 1951 Jowett Jupiter
1 x 1952 LE Velocette
1 x 1952 Jowett Bradford
2 x 1982 Princess 2 litre - Location: R. D. 2, Palmerston North, 4472, New Zealand.
MOT
Whooooo Hooooo . . . . Congratulations!!
(I feel like I've been "the fly on the wall" throughout this whole saga!)
Leo.
(I feel like I've been "the fly on the wall" throughout this whole saga!)
Leo.
R. Leo Bolter,
Palmerston North,
New Zealand.
JCC of NZ - Member No 0741.
JOAC - Member No 0161
Car: Jupiter (E1-SA-513-R)
Skype name = jupiter1951
Messenger name = r.l.bolter"at"massey.ac.nz
Palmerston North,
New Zealand.
JCC of NZ - Member No 0741.
JOAC - Member No 0161
Car: Jupiter (E1-SA-513-R)
Skype name = jupiter1951
Messenger name = r.l.bolter"at"massey.ac.nz
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Jack
- Posts: 1113
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:49 am
- Location: Herts
Re: HOORAY! :-D
I don't know about you, but I think I'm having a night offAmy wrote:Well, the Jupiter was in for MoT first thing...
It's only gone and ruddy well passed!!
Amazing. I think a celebratory spin may be in order this evening before we get down to snagging and putting in the niceties.
Yay!
Jack.
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p.p.
- Posts: 433
- Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2010 12:49 pm
- Your interest in the forum: javelin 1950 standard
- Given Name: peter
- Location: switzerland, 9320 arbon
