Practically Classics Forum

Ok so what did we get wrong this time

That was the car with the wobbly 'B' post. In the background you saw the Stag which shows we are doing two at a time, jumping from one to another as parts are available or one of them is at the trimmers or in the spray booth. The Zodiac was loaded on the transporter at 4-30am and dropped at the Ace Cafe' at 9-00am. THAT is cutting it fine!

BTW the guy loved the two tone colours on the Zodiac.

Phil

Phil P wrote:Ok so what did we get wrong this time
Phil

you didnt fix my car

Phil P wrote:Any chance you could enter a car that only needs putting through the car wash. Westgate need to pull some cash back!

Phil

I've entered my Imp (I think I have if I've done it right anyway!) Be very fitting being as its the 50th anniversary this year!

Phil P wrote:Ok so what did we get wrong this time

Nothing, that was brilliant!

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! It only took 9 cars to practice on to get it right. Oh I do hope we didn't make a dogs breakfast of the louts....er....sluto.......stoul. Oh bugger it's the kit car that comes pre assembled you know the one made in Norfolk. They only build them in the winter because they go out hop picking in the Summer.

mbwoy84. A Hillman Imp...Hmmm......50 years old. We used to call them the 'human pimp!' The engine was designed by Coventry Climax. The early ones suffered from the fuel pump diaphragm leaking into the sump because it sat on top of the engine as it was driven off the overhead camshaft. That diluted the oil at best. I know one Rootes agent in Birmingham having one in for service. The mechanic was leaning over the engine. The sump was full of petrol fumes he revved the engine up and it was suffering 'blow by' of the pistons. It ignited the fuel and vapour in the sump and it blew the side of the block out. He was killed instantly. Worth checking the diaphragm if you've got one. The early ones didn't have a leak hole in the pump body under the diaphragm. They sat with a load of positive camber because the front suspension was packed too get the headlights up to the legal minimum. When they were first designed the headlights were too low.

Early Hillman Minx's suffered from fan blade fatigue and would throw one. Never stand inline with a steel fan or lean over the radiator and rev the engine. Nice cars these Rootes classics!!

Sorry rich I didn't fix my own car either.


Phil

Mine is one of the last, so hope I'm safe!

Phil P wrote:Ok so what did we get wrong this time

Thought the Zodiac episode was very good. The pop-rivetted sills and wobbly B post were a shocker, but nothing we haven't seen before. What was all that fibre-glass about too? I presume the floor was solid under there and someone thought it might be a good idea to cover it in fibre-glass?

Phil P wrote:In the background you saw the Stag

Yes I spotted that.

Phil P wrote:BTW the guy loved the two tone colours on the Zodiac

I'm not surprised, it looked glorious. I'm with Fuzz on the originality decisions, but Tim does a very good job keeping the owner's interests to the fore. How did the owner get on with the servo-assisted brake and clutch? If I have one criticism of that episode it's that they presumed the owner would be able to operate the pedals because they are now servo-assisted without even waiting to see if he could. I've had achilles tendon problems and know how difficult it is to apply even light pressure through flexing your ankle. Hopefully he was okay though

Dave

The OHV Reliant engines suffer from the same thing and on these, the pump sits by the side of the crankcase, it's pink (Latex) diaphragms that cause leakage into the sump, the fact that the pump is mounted high makes no odds and yes, mbwoy84, if yours doesn't by now have a black diaphragm then it'll probably have filled up and gone bang already, the black ones are nitrile-based so safe with the cause of the original failures in the late '80s; unleaded fuel and its weird chemistry.
I had the pink diaphragm on Rebel van V1601 as it was when I found it, that did a brilliant impression of a freshly discovered oil field until the sump was drained of its oil/petrol mix, the pump diaphragm replaced with a black one and fresh Mobil 1 Forté poured in along with a good washing of the filter and the breathers. It still stinks but it's all chickens and they lived in there since 1974 so may take a while to fade.

Regarding last night's episode of the show, loved it. Very human.

Phil P wrote:Ok so what did we get wrong this time

As far as I'm concerned there's not been anything 'wrong' with any of them. They are what they set out to be - an entertaining programme for the general public to watch as it has the human interest element learning about the owners, the technical bits, some history and a bit of humour

We must remember that the TV company comissioning the programme has to be sure that they can sell it to a broadcaster who will be guided by the advertising income it's expected to generate. Despite what we might all think, these programmes are designed to make money and that might not be the case if we only saw the technical side - those of us reading this forum are all car enthusiasts but we are a very tiny minority of the general public who watch TV.

I see that you had a starring role last night Phil (unless there are two of you with the same name) - I guess you are the more mature gentleman in the blue overalls

Keep up the good work

Mike

Topaz wrote:As far as I'm concerned there's not been anything 'wrong' with any of them. They are what they set out to be - an entertaining programme for the general public to watch as it has the human interest element learning about the owners, the technical bits, some history and a bit of humour

Absolutely, I've loved them all so far (not seen the Zodiac yet).