Category Archives: Technical

Subtle Modifications

An ongoing project has been the (hopefully) discrete and (definitely) reversible conversion of an 80 inch Land Rover to take the steering box from a later model. There are plenty of arguments for and against this sort of conversion but … Continue reading

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Old Fashioned Methods

I have been engaging in a bit of an old fashioned art today: The hand scraping of big end bearings belonging to the Singer Le Mans engine. I talked about the white metal bearings from this engine in the last … Continue reading

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The Return of the Singer

I started the more formal side of my engineering studies in 1984 and this involved spending one day of each week in a college workshop and four days in the lecture room. Friday was “practical day” and was looked forward … Continue reading

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Testing Times

I have recently been working on a vacuum feed fuel system which belongs to a 1929 Delage. These were the first popular type of fuel pump which enabled the fuel tank to be located at the rear of the vehicle … Continue reading

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Unlikely Stories Mostly

“Chattie”, the Singer Le Mans is due be displayed at Brightwells at the beginning of next month so today’s post features a photo of a pair of her kingpin bushes being line reamed. It also features a rather Scottish reference … Continue reading

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A Small Sacrifice

One of the jobs which has been progressing nicely in the workshop is a small single cylinder engine manufactured by The Motor Manufacturing Company of Coventry in 1898 and which comes from a motor tricycle of that date.   This is … Continue reading

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Strange Measurements

One of today’s jobs has involved attending to the king pin bushes of the Singer.  I have some new king pins and bushes in my possession with which to complete the job, and thankfully the new hardened and ground kingpins … Continue reading

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The Prince Of Darkness Strikes Again

The latest return to blogging is precipitated by a recent annoying mishap: A rather ironic breakdown.  The Bristol 403 has been a recent visitor to the workshop for a thorough check over and service. Since this car is in regular … Continue reading

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A Return To The Blog

Shockingly it seems that my last blog dates from October last year: There have been major works in progress at home and since my evenings have largely been taken up with building work, I have to confess that enthusiasm for … Continue reading

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A Case of the DTCs

Or to give them their full name, “Diagnostic Trouble Codes”. I have a Jaguar XK8 in the workshop at the moment which drives everywhere in “limp mode” and displays “Gearbox Fault” on the dashboard.  Plugging in the laptop reveals a … Continue reading

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Stacking Dimes

I have a fair bit of sheet aluminium fabrication to look forward to soon, so with this in mind I have been taking a bit of time to practise some extra skills.  Usually my preferred choice for welding aluminium is … Continue reading

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The Correct Settings

I had a visit from a Bristol 403 today (not forgetting its owner) for the fitting of new rear shock absorbers – or to use the more technically correct term: dampers.  One of the things we discussed was the intital … Continue reading

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Scimitar Taking Shape

The bellhousing conversion for the Ford Type 9 Gearbox in the Scimitar SE5A is now finished and pictured here as a trial assembly.     Also pictured is the new cover assembly for the selector rail which has to protrude … Continue reading

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More Ford Type 9 Conversion

I finished off the adapter plate for fitting the Type 9 gearbox into the Scimitar SE5A today – and managed to get a decent workout into the bargain when it came to finishing the profiled edges! The finished plate bolts … Continue reading

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Scimitar Gearbox to Type 9 Conversion

Just as many other children did in the 1970’s, I looked forward to my weekly helping of The Professionals on Sunday night.  Unlike many children, however, a good deal of my thoughts were devoted to making things on lathes and … Continue reading

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The Ethanol Chronicles

I think that the subject of Ethanol in fuel is going to become the topic of the moment in the next few years and in view of the frequency of my posts on the subject am beginning to wonder whether … Continue reading

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Ethanol in fuel

The Daimler SP250 left today for an 800 mile drive to its home in France.  I have also been attending to the S.U. carburettors belonging to the Daimler’s stablemate: A Rover 105R which has been running poorly and flooding.  It … Continue reading

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Driving Nicely

Went out to run a few errands in the MK2 today – it’s running really nicely. That’s fairly remarkable as it happens, since it doesn’t seem to have had an engine rebuild since new. Admittedly it has only covered 68 … Continue reading

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