It’s only a small leak, honest

[Mike Y]

When did you order from SJ? I've been waiting 3 weeks + I think hes a bit snowed under

[Saltire]

Hi Mike

I ordered on 12th June, but he did tell me a couple of things were out of stock and ship date would be 22nd. Here’s hoping!

[par]

For the items that were out of stock did you get a refund back from SJ?

I have been waiting since the 20th May for a part that was marked on the dispatch note as out of stock and will be refunded.

Despite sending an email progressing the status of the refund last week, I still haven't received any reply or refund. Its not the first time it has happened with one of my SJ orders, I let it go previously because it was only a few pounds but wondering if this happens across the board.

[Saltire]

For the items that were out of stock did you get a refund back from SJ?

I have been waiting since the 20th May for a part that was marked on the dispatch note as out of stock and will be refunded.

Despite sending an email progressing the status of the refund last week, I still haven't received any reply or refund. Its not the first time it has happened with one of my SJ orders, I let it go previously because it was only a few pounds but wondering if this happens across the board.

Interesting . . . I’ll call him tomorrow and see what news he has.

[Saltire]

Well . . . The parts have all arrived. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that the valve stem oil seals don’t fit. As far as I can tell, they’re about 0.4mm larger in diameter than the existing seals (hard to tell because you tend to damage the existing seals taking them off). So the new ones are sloppy and just fall off the valve guides.

What really puzzles me is that the guides are steel, and I’d have expected them to be cast iron. I can find no record of the engine previously having been worked on, but I’m wondering if someone has fitted different valve guides in the past - or machined them down.

I’m hoping I’ve found an alternative part that will fit, but am waiting to see if it’s in fact available. So at the moment I’m left with a bald head and a feeling of doom and gloom

Nice clean head

In other news, I’ve been busy cleaning and tidying while awaiting the parts:

Gearbox like new with all seals replaced

Drive shafts cleaned and painted with new boots and grease

Brake fluid corrosion on the chassis

I’m cleaning the brake fluid off with some rust treatment and will then paint and protect while the engine’s out.

Scope creep - what scope creep?

And finally . . .

Refurbished alternator looks sparkling

Starter motor too

I had these done through John, the very helpful manager at Motor Parts Distribution in Swindon. Collected, restored and returned within a week. And parts were obviously not a problem, because they’ve even replaced the rusty old cover plate on the alternator.

Stand by for more on the Valve Guide Saga later . . .

[Simon_P]

You know that the stem seals need to be driven on?
Let me know if you need anything measured.

[Saltire]

You know that the stem seals need to be driven on?
Let me know if you need anything measured.

Yes, I do

Except that I can’t drive mine on because the seal internal diameter is bigger than the guide external diameter.

Or am I missing something?

BTW, thanks for your PM; replied.

[TorqueHorse]

Scope creep - what scope creep?

You mean scope leap?

Stand by for more on the Valve Guide Saga later . . .

Good luck, waiting with bated breath...

[Saltire]

Well, it’s three weeks since I last updated this thread, and much has happened in the interim.

We haven’t fully solved the problem of the valve guides. I had three replacement sets which were close in diameter, but not an exact match. I elected to leave all but two of the original ones, and replaced the two I’d already taken off with the closest match from the new ones. They’re not a perfect fit, but I think they’ll be OK - they’re certainly a better fit than the ones In the gasket kit from Kelvedon. Anyway, the moral of the story is watch out of you do a top end rebuild.

Engine rebuilt with new vacuum pipes and all sparkly

Cam cover baffle plate removed to check for blasting debris . . .

. . . and riveted back in place
. . . and riveted back in place

While the engine’s out, I’ve taken the opportunity to clean up the engine bay/bulkhead area:

While I was there, I noticed that the rack body was pretty corroded, so that’s been derusted and painted too:

And during THAT work, I saw that the steering pipes were both in a bad state; the HP pipe was worse than the LP. I sent them off to Pirtek in Swindon, who rang me to say that the thread going into the rack isn’t a common thread type anymore. They suggested using adaptors, but that would stick out too far. Plan C was to make a new bottom piece with a right angle bend, but they’re now onto Plan D, which is to weld a couple of new unions onto the pipes to join into the rack. I think most of Pirtek in the south-west has been working on it for the last week

That’s about it for the moment, but no doubt there will be more news lateR

[Kipperozzy]

Hi Saltire, I bought a set of PAS hoses ( pump to rack and rack to header tank) from this company in Sept 2017 for £ 105 , maybe too late for you now
Address:
Mobile Fluid Ltd trading as Power Steering Store
White Cottage Farm
Holly Lane
Balsall Common
CV7 7EA


Visitors by appointment onlyTelephone:
07917 697262

[Rambo]

Project creep J Your car might be just about ready for CC2022

[Saltire]

Hi Saltire, I bought a set of PAS hoses ( pump to rack and rack to header tank) from this company in Sept 2017 for £ 105 , maybe too late for you now
Address:
Mobile Fluid Ltd trading as Power Steering Store
White Cottage Farm
Holly Lane
Balsall Common
CV7 7EA


Visitors by appointment onlyTelephone:
07917 697262

Alas, it is too late now, but thanks for the thought. I normally go to Cotswold Hose & Fittings for stuff like this, but they couldn’t help with this one, so Pirtek was the next best option. I must ask them what’s so unusual about the rack threads though.

[Saltire]

Project creep J Your car might be just about ready for CC2022

Oi Who are you calling a project creep?

Trust me, Mark, I don’t need any more project runaway.

[Saltire]

It’s much easier to take the front panel off and put the engine back from underneath:

Engine back in the car

On the home stretch, hopefully. Should be finished by Christmas

[dapinky]

The very easiest way is to whip the clamshell off.... but then there's even more project creep when you find stuff to clean, paint and replace.

[Saltire]

The very easiest way is to whip the clamshell off.... but then there's even more project creep when you find stuff to clean, paint and replace.

Don’t!!! This started out as a straightforward C service and radiator replacement - and it’s turned into the mother of all scope creeps

[dapinky]

I know exactly how it goes - mine started out as the annual 'brake clean/lubricate', extended to cleaning up the wishbones, and finished 2 years later after a total rebuild.

[Saltire]

On the home straight (we hope). Everything back in and just connecting up the final hoses, brackets, grommets, etc. Final job will be to put the Lotus badge on the oil filler before turning the engine over to build up oil pressure and then seeing if it will start.

[Rambo]

Just in time before Boris locks you down again

[Rambo]

Just in time before the Bungling BoJo locks you down again