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Post by Sigmund Fraud on Dec 23, 2013 21:20:43 GMT
Thanks for the encouraging words, Ken.
I wouldn't feel safe using those tyres to protect the sides of a fishing boat, however they will probably pass an MoT easily as they have ample tread and only superficial cracks. Mad, isn't it ?
Once the car is road legal, and before it sees any real use, the wheels will undergo a quick and dirty refurb and all four tyres will be replaced.
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Post by 33grinder on Dec 23, 2013 22:21:06 GMT
Is she running 13 or 14 inch rims (I can't remember)? If 14s then I recently bought four new tyres from flea bay for a respectable £120 odd, delivered. They are Nexen 165/70 which is about as wide as you can go on the rims but apparently don't alter the rolling radius much and offer much better road holding.
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Post by pauldaf44 on Dec 24, 2013 8:37:29 GMT
Is she running 13 or 14 inch rims (I can't remember)? If 14s then I recently bought four new tyres from flea bay for a respectable £120 odd, delivered. They are Nexen 165/70 which is about as wide as you can go on the rims but apparently don't alter the rolling radius much and offer much better road holding. Pah Sophie has a full set of 155/65 fitted which cost me £15 bridgestones too. Oh 165 70 will give the same rolling radius as 145 80 14 not to the original 135 80 14 fittment In practice your speedo will just become accurate ;D Mine on the other hand is going to be wildly optimistic as my rolling radius is just a bit smaller.
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Post by Sigmund Fraud on Dec 24, 2013 11:15:26 GMT
Ena has been changed over to 13" Marathon-spec wheels, which are meant to be shod with 155R13s.
Of course, I'm not willing to pay £600 for a set of those from Longstone, so Ena will have to make do with a set of humble, period-incorrect 155/80R13s.
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Post by macplaxton on Dec 24, 2013 11:44:27 GMT
period-incorrect 155/80R13s. They are period correct, optional extra of the day. I'd rather put 155/80R13 tyres on a 4.5J x 13 rim than squeeze a "fat" tyre on a 4.0B x 14 rim. Just make sure you sort out those fake holes! ;D
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Post by Sigmund Fraud on Dec 24, 2013 12:46:48 GMT
That's interesting, I thought that tyres with an 80% aspect ratio weren't around in the early '70s ! Every day is school day !
I'm still undecided on the fake holes, I will make my mind up when I've seen how the wheels look without them. It's not as if it will be too much trouble to reinstate them, there's a can of black paint in the shed and plenty of masking tape.
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Post by Sigmund Fraud on Dec 28, 2013 13:19:42 GMT
The postman just delivered my Recoil kit, so I'm about to venture out into the cold and massacre expertly repair Ena's cylinder head.
Just in case, does anyone happen to have a spare 1108 head ?
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Post by spunkymonkey on Dec 28, 2013 13:59:47 GMT
The postman just delivered my Recoil kit, so I'm about to venture out into the cold and massacre expertly repair Ena's cylinder head. Just in case, does anyone happen to have a spare 1108 head ? Funny you should ask, but yes. No idea of the condition because it's still attached to an engine (Mac should know more, it came from him) but I've got to start on an engine swap in Boris over the next few days so I can pull it while I'm down there. Yours for the cost of postage if you need it Welcome to ED btw - sorry I missed your arrival but been a little preoccupied for the past few months. Normal service will resume sooner or later
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Post by macplaxton on Dec 28, 2013 14:48:42 GMT
Condition is good Joe. No 4 pot* has a TimeSert in it which was done by and engineering shop. The head was skimmed, cleaned and pressure tested. I'll report back later if required, I've still got the receipt somewhere....
(*That the one nearest the rad as the French have a thing for calling number 1 the pot at the flywheel.)
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Post by Sigmund Fraud on Dec 28, 2013 20:39:40 GMT
Update time ! So out, into the cold I ventured, armed with my brand new Recoil kit. Bonnet up, leads off, dizzy cap off, dipstick out, no.3 spark plug out, area around spark plug hole cleaned to surgical* standards. Kit opened, correct insert measured against spark plug, insertion tool adjusted. Tap checked and cleaned, then packed with red rubber grease to catch as much swarf as possible. A brief moment of doubt, deep breath, JFDI man ! Tap screwed into the head with my 1/2" ratchet, then out by hand. Look at all this swarf... At least the grease idea seems to have worked. The new thread was then cleaned, the insert was installed and its tang broken off. Then the moment of truth arrived... Spark plug in by hand, nice and smooth, so far so good. Then start torquing it up with a T-bar, still holding up, then 15Nm with the torque wrench, a bit more, bit more... click ! FUTHA MUCKA, IT WORKED ! Time to put everything back together, taking the opportunity to renew cap/rotor/leads and lube the shaft (ooh... err...). I kept the old points and condensor for the time being as (1) they work and (2) they'll probably get replaced with a Powerspark kit in the near future. Back into the car, choke out, small prayer to whatever deity protects scruffy old cars, turn of the key and... It's alive, it's alive !!! Final pre-MoT check tomorrow and if everything is in order she'll be going in for her test on Thursday !!!
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