100 miles down

Since CH gasket was re-done have done 100 miles so far. Starting can be tricky when really damp and cold, but unsurprising, using Easy Start solves that. Quite sluggish, but ticks over fine, runs fine. All still fine so far.

New Years day gathering at Brooklands?.. hmmm.. weather looking awful, hangover will probably match, so doubt it. We'll see, but signing off 2013 in good shape.

Seats to fit, new chrome trims ordered for the wheels. Looking forward to Winter being over and warmer weather coming again.

But 4 months down!!! So far so good again!

Another good day - icy start easy! Tempting fate AGAIN?....

Each morning when there is ice on the cover and moisture everywhere is a mixture of dread and delight! The pessimistic expectation that she won't start in such conditions, quickly followed (in today's case) by delight when she starts with relative ease. No problems today, warmed up nicely and off we go.

Two school drop offs and then to work. Still a lack of power (did she ever have any?!!) and the slight hesitations. Float level may be too LOW now perhaps, as I have two thick-ish washers under the needle valve at the moment. Will probably replace one, either remove completely or stick a thinner one in.

So the only doubt is that the last time I had an easy / icy start and commented about a lack of power, the CH gasket then promptly blew that evening. And that was also on a Friday!

Anyway, we'll see. Took the plugs out the other day and they seem pretty much OK, not oily like last time. So let's see. I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.

In the meantime, leather care products ordered and will treat the new seat covers before fitting. Will take time and do that in the New Year.

Hopefully Happy first Christmas around the corner. Have owned Amy for four months and it has been an adventure for sure.

Car at work - 6 all smiles - mostly !

OK - a decidedly dodgy start. It has been cold, wet, raining heavily etc.. etc.. over the past few days. Amy was last driven on Thursday with no problems, but this morning she would not start. Various checks showed no obvious problem, except for a weak spark, probably associated with the damp. A bit of carb cleaner sprayed around liberally got her going, and once warm (and dry) all was fine. So perhaps not a huge surprise. Despite the good strong battery (which worked like a trooper to eventually get her going) the wiring has not really been addressed. Ignition system could still do with an overhaul I think if I want to expect cold damp starts to be hassle free.

But nevertheless, alternative view of Amy at work. (Because I was late frankly and couldn't get the usual space!!)

New seats.. well .. very old seats

The seats in the Somerset were one of the most visual let downs for the car. Comfortable, but clearly in need of major repair / replacement. As below:

Always on the list to address but on the back burner as I have had bigger things to worry about like the Brake Master Cylinder and burnt valve and blown CH gasket, old battery, damp weather etc... etc.. etc... !!

I had ventured to a local Auto Trimmers but they had quoted £1000 for a proper job in leather, some compromises brought the cost down to £600 for vinyl, but either way, it was a definite back burner.

Until..... the guy I bought the car from knew the seats needed attention. He spotted a set of original seats for sale and put me in touch. Cut a long story short I am now the proud owner of a set of ORIGINAL replacement seat covers for the Somerset. They turned out to be new/old original stock that an old BMC dealer in Washington, USA had. Knocking around in a shed or a store somewhere. Whatever.. Amazing, after 50 years or so, they are back in Blighty and waiting to be fitted to my Somerset. What a journey.

Thanks to Paul, an ex-pat and an MGY enthusiast himself. Original seats, marvellous original smell and half the price of a vinyl recover that was the closest option... Brilliant...

Can't wait to fit them, but need to investigate methodology before rushing headlong into it and making a hash. But she'll have brand new - really old sets pretty soon. (Back seat always fine...)

Here they are, not a great picture, but these are just PERFECT and will not affect the look of the car one bit as compared to a brand new set:

Fan belt squeal.. ?.. Nah..

Just a side note, I thought that  I had to tighten the fan belt due to some squeal.

It has gone since re-doing the head gasket. Didn't do anything apart from that.

Just wonder if the squeal was something else. It did sound more like a toned "whistle".. Something to do with air leaking between cylinders in the failing gasket?

Who knows.. but either way, it has gone, so an unsolved mystery.

50 miles in a day - still OK

Tuesday was a gamble. Had a Austin Counties Christmas dinner that evening but needed to work in Staines that day. Not enough time to travel as normal, would need to drive to Staines be able to go direct to the pub after.

19 miles to Staines, 19 miles to Ash Vale, 12 miles home - 50 miles in total.

Never driven that far in one day, new CH gasket has only done 6 miles so far.

But anyway, as usual went for it. Spare oil, water, funnel, torch. Jumper in case broke down!

In summary, made it alive .. still running. Working fine, still hesitation at cruising. But hopefully the main issues are resolved now.

Running again.. again..

So, when doing a job for the second time, the desire and patience to photograph the steps is lacking somewhat. But what has happened as of today is that the cylinder head was refaced by Classic and Modern Engine Services of Bracknell, valves re-lapped and refitted, new gasket arrived, engine re-assembled.

Torqued down, started engine (after repairing the coil-dizzy cable... that was a curve ball!)

Warmed engine, fixed water leaks and most importantly - RE torqued the head!! (and double checked valve clearances again). It was quite loose frankly just after warming for 5 minutes, a good indicator that it was the original problem, because I DIDN'T re-torque. Only my dad has pointed this out, he remembers that practice from the 50's. Hopefully that was it. Left the thermostat out for now, have loosened off the radiator drain tap, so emptying the system is easy when needed now.

Look on the bright side, only two weeks off the road. Only £50 spent. Two advantages this time, skimmed head, therefore perfectly flat. Sheared bolt replaced. OK, bought a torque wrench too, didn't use the Hylomar in the end.

So as of this evening, Amy is running again - has done a couple of laps. Once around town, once to the motorway roundabout and back.

So far so good, again. Happy?.. Well, I will be if I get some problem free driving again. And I have Becky for bad weather / salty wet road days over winter. It made sense and is a cheap little runaround. Great.

Car at work - 5 - oh dear!!

So, after a week and a half off the road, the cylinder head went in for a skim today. Low points across 1&2 and 2&3 .. apparently 3&4 are fine!!! That possibly explains why the healthiest looking plug was the one in the 4th cylinder!

I am still hoping the gasket will turn up in the post and that I can get Amy running again at the weekend. I am missing driving her!!!

The view from the office window needs some jazzing up. (The blue Citroen in the middle is the current car, after having disposed of my 4x4)