But I have begun to collect a few books, partly want to go up to Longbridge sometime in Amy, just to "take her home" Weird.. I know it's weird!!
And I quite like my "new" cufflinks:
Oh dear!!
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Obsessive?
Over the months of owning my Austin A40 Somerset, I have become quite interested in the history aspect, I knew from watching Top Gear (!) that the decline of the British motor industry was a travesty - but as you learn more about Austin for example, and the leading position Britain used to have, it makes it even more saddening. Especcially seeing bloody German Minis driving around marked as Coopers and Countrymans.. Oh well.
But I have begun to collect a few books, partly want to go up to Longbridge sometime in Amy, just to "take her home" Weird.. I know it's weird!!
And I quite like my "new" cufflinks:
But I have begun to collect a few books, partly want to go up to Longbridge sometime in Amy, just to "take her home" Weird.. I know it's weird!!
And I quite like my "new" cufflinks:
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Wife away, I will play (on the internet...!)
Found a couple of nice things whilst killing time this evening. Wife on hen weekend with friends, so in between entertaining the kids, tinkering with the car, blogging and watching movies I also had a quick search for any more Brooklands pics. Sunday was been a nice relaxing day of pottering, driving and now surfing!! ONLY 4 posts in one day. What am I thinking. THAT bored..
Anyway, quite cool. There's a video of the Austin Morris day at Brooklands that features my Amy quite nicely at the start, including this nice still within the first minute or so.
Brooklands Austin Morris Day 2014 - video, above still captured from this. Copy-write acknowledged to the video owner.
Brooklands Austin Morris Day 2014 - Also the Brooklands Trust Facebook page has a photo album of the day. Just managed to sneak in the background of a couple of shots there too!
Anyway, quite cool. There's a video of the Austin Morris day at Brooklands that features my Amy quite nicely at the start, including this nice still within the first minute or so.
Brooklands Austin Morris Day 2014 - video, above still captured from this. Copy-write acknowledged to the video owner.
Brooklands Austin Morris Day 2014 - Also the Brooklands Trust Facebook page has a photo album of the day. Just managed to sneak in the background of a couple of shots there too!
Blowing all but fixed .. Bodgits 'r' us!
OK, so wonderful what you can do with a bit of old head gasket!!
Not overly clear, but the front manifold nut fixing is now a separate roughly triangular piece. A crack runs all way from top to bottom around where the pipes flare out. A kind of washer / gasket "thing" made from old head gasket has near enough eliminated the blowing noise. (by all but covering the biggest gap basically)
Sorry so sorry.. but that will do for now. (especially as expecting the head gasket to go any time - so will think about fitting the replacement manifold then!!)
Not overly clear, but the front manifold nut fixing is now a separate roughly triangular piece. A crack runs all way from top to bottom around where the pipes flare out. A kind of washer / gasket "thing" made from old head gasket has near enough eliminated the blowing noise. (by all but covering the biggest gap basically)
Sorry so sorry.. but that will do for now. (especially as expecting the head gasket to go any time - so will think about fitting the replacement manifold then!!)
Whistle gone :-) Manifold crack blowing worse :-(
So, partially happy with that outcome. The whistle / whine has gone. For me that is proof positive that was the problem. Vacuum leak(s) enough to cause the noise, not enough to affect the running of the car. So one step forwards.
Upon re-assembly - focusing on seating the inlet manifold, the cracked piece of exhaust manifold is clearly NOT seated as well as it was before. So the blowing is now more noticable! I have traded one noise for another!! But dealing with known factors here.
Although I have a spare manifold, want to just muck about with this one for now. So will try some extreme high temp. weld putty for now.
Then go from there. Fully expecting head gasket to go, so not going to get too carried away yet!
Another lovely day, and by complete coincidence, choosing an odd route home than usual, just happened to drive past the other "local Somerset" going the other way.. Now THAT doesn't happen very often anymore!
Upon re-assembly - focusing on seating the inlet manifold, the cracked piece of exhaust manifold is clearly NOT seated as well as it was before. So the blowing is now more noticable! I have traded one noise for another!! But dealing with known factors here.
Although I have a spare manifold, want to just muck about with this one for now. So will try some extreme high temp. weld putty for now.
Then go from there. Fully expecting head gasket to go, so not going to get too carried away yet!
Another lovely day, and by complete coincidence, choosing an odd route home than usual, just happened to drive past the other "local Somerset" going the other way.. Now THAT doesn't happen very often anymore!
Will it / won't it? Manifold gasket versus whistle
So, rather than being lazy and trying to ignore "minor" irritations I replaced the manifold gasket this morning. As of beginning to write this entry I haven't tested / tried yet. Positives and negatives.
Positive - if it fixes the problem then of course vary happy. For two reasons - I fixed the problem (obviously!) and it breaks the correlation between head gasket and the noise.
Negative - if it doesn't fix the problem then I have an issue elsewhere so the grumps start to return a little. It could still be related to the head gasket. Still hoping not.. Spark plugs seem fine, roughly the right mixture (coffee coloured) So I think that means should be OK so far. Tell tale sign from the plugs.
Back to the manifold, the bolts felt a little ... un-tight when i took it off. Maybe I didn't nip them up enough? But either way, new manifold gasket, bit of "bodge" juice around the inlets. Tightened back up.
Another lovely day, will be going out in her later, but wanted to write this first and write the conclusion after.
Positive - if it fixes the problem then of course vary happy. For two reasons - I fixed the problem (obviously!) and it breaks the correlation between head gasket and the noise.
Negative - if it doesn't fix the problem then I have an issue elsewhere so the grumps start to return a little. It could still be related to the head gasket. Still hoping not.. Spark plugs seem fine, roughly the right mixture (coffee coloured) So I think that means should be OK so far. Tell tale sign from the plugs.
Back to the manifold, the bolts felt a little ... un-tight when i took it off. Maybe I didn't nip them up enough? But either way, new manifold gasket, bit of "bodge" juice around the inlets. Tightened back up.
Another lovely day, will be going out in her later, but wanted to write this first and write the conclusion after.
Saturday, 15 March 2014
The whistle is back..!
After the first head gasket change, Amy developed a whistle / whine when coasting down. I put it down to fan belt to start with. It went away after the second head gasket change didn't think anything of it - put it down to some sort of noise coming about as a result of the failing gasket somehow, rather than the fan belt.
Well, after 3rd gasket change (120 miles in) the noise is back. Definitely a toned "whistle" rather than a whine. Definitely on coast down - and more to the point when the throttle flap is closed. So the system is desperately trying to suck air in from somewhere else and any air leaks could cause a toned whistle exactly like that which I am getting.
Whats the common factor this time to the first time? Manifold issues. The first time I had sheared a bolt so I had vaccum leaks. That could cause a whistle. This time I have a cracked exhaust manifold around one of the fixings. So the crack not an issue, but could be causing some tiny leaks on the intake as not quite tight enough. Also reused manifold gaket. It was a bit tatty. So for the sake of £2.00 I'll fit the new one and see if that makes the noise go away! Hope it is NOT a sign of the head gasket going again, BUT still expecting that to be honest.
The nice weather means a lot of laid back weekend driving in Amy though. Despite the whistle, enjoyable and making the most of it!
Well, after 3rd gasket change (120 miles in) the noise is back. Definitely a toned "whistle" rather than a whine. Definitely on coast down - and more to the point when the throttle flap is closed. So the system is desperately trying to suck air in from somewhere else and any air leaks could cause a toned whistle exactly like that which I am getting.
Whats the common factor this time to the first time? Manifold issues. The first time I had sheared a bolt so I had vaccum leaks. That could cause a whistle. This time I have a cracked exhaust manifold around one of the fixings. So the crack not an issue, but could be causing some tiny leaks on the intake as not quite tight enough. Also reused manifold gaket. It was a bit tatty. So for the sake of £2.00 I'll fit the new one and see if that makes the noise go away! Hope it is NOT a sign of the head gasket going again, BUT still expecting that to be honest.
The nice weather means a lot of laid back weekend driving in Amy though. Despite the whistle, enjoyable and making the most of it!
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