My HPE....now a rolling recommission

[A Ross]

Nigel is this an Imasaf box? I've got a couple of marks on mine further down the system which I also fitted last year to my saloon ahead of our trip to France, but nothing like the pitting that yours was displaying.


Alex

[Nigel]

Yes it is Alex.
Not the best plating, in this case at least!

[Nigel]

Today I installed a new hatch seal that I'd seen on Omicrons site
a while back.
The current one was visibly fairly good but since the accident on the
M26 2 years ago, I'd been getting exhaust fumes in the cabin, probably due
to some slight mis-alignment. Window management helped keep the fumes out during my
trip to Brooklands.

This new seal is larger than original but the hatch still closes fine, albeit with a bit
more effort. Which is good. It's also got the correct bottom lip which folds around the
surrounding C pillar trim and headliner.

Nigel

[Ferrit]

do think this would be the same for the boot on a Coupe? 

[Nigel]

I don't know Mark.
Send a pic of your seal profile and I might be able to say.

N.

[Nigel]

I can now report that, after a run this morning,
no more exhaust fumes.

I wish I'd done this simple job last week.

N.

[Nigel]

For those HPE owners and wannabees, Laudoracing Models has just opened
pre-order on the 1975 1.6 HPE in 1:18 scale.

Only 199 of each colour will be made. Get in quick, I predict
a sell out soon. Car plus UK shipping £98.52.

[A Ross]

Seriously impressed with the look of those Laudoracing models and they seem pretty committed to making everything over time too. I'm hoping their next run of coupés are FL1s like mine (the previous offering was for an earlier car) and they offer a Metallic Blue option. I'm also highly anticipating their Berlina launch too.... I'm imagining that will start with a Series 1. It's interesting they offer both the MonteCarlo and the Scorpion.

[Nigel]

Headlight work, a brief look at fitting LED's to Siem backplates.

I removed the mounting rings from a pair of rusty original lamps and
glued them to the mounting flange. I had to remove a couple of lugs on the
aluminium casings to get them to sit as flush as possible. Then reduced the cooling fins
slightly for clearance. Then mounted them to my existing backplates.
This being the 1.0 version, which looks bug-eyed as they protrude too far.

I've now got a solution which involved making the solid post adjustable and lockable using
a fresh pair of backplates kindly supplied by Mark. This work will pull the lamps back
into a better position and also allow standard lamps to
be fitted when required.

These LED's are unlikely to be the final choice as the beam pattern is compromised, but
I'm running the bugeyes to Crewe, the judges won't notice will they? 
Version 2.0 to follow.

[Nigel]

I didn't like the look of the ultra-cheap headlights I've been playing with,
so it's all back to standard.

It's off for another MOT tomorrow morning with all as it should be.

I still want some form of led drl but nothing that
hits the nerves, which is probably impossible without going the Bangin route.

Nigel

[peteracs]

Hi Nigel

Sorry to hear your efforts have been in vain.

Peter

[Nigel]

Hi Peter,
An appropriate description well made!

The MOT was a pass, with one advisory about outer sill corrosion. This is
visible both sides at the seams in the centre area. I'll use some
Jenolite, primer and paint, and re-coat the insides with Dynax, of
which I have a full, shortly to be empty, can.

Nigel

[Ferrit]

Congrats on the pass :-)

[peteracs]

Always nice feeling to have a fresh MOT!

[Nigel]

I'm in the process of fitting a pair of rear struts kindly
supplied by Mark, that came off his Coupe. They were wrong for his car and
turned out to be HPE items.
The inserts, Monroe MR946, are not available except in South Africa, and I can't even find
a supplier there willing to respond to emails.
I got a second opinion on the inserts from my local MOT garage, he recons they will be
ok, despite there being a 'dead gap' in both. They are worth a try as the current fitments
seem very soft, and loose dampening overnight, i.e. I have to bounce the car to prime them.

As done on my front inserts, I've lock-wired the collar rings, as I had one on the front come
loose.

[lancialulu]

I had a dead spot on one rear damper on my Gamma coupe (same suspension layout). It caused a flutter of the rear wheel which was annoying on motorway journeys. I put a kyb insert in and immediately cured it…

[Nigel]

Just back from a 25 mile drive, mostly country roads, and the gearbox
oil change has vastly improved the operation of the 2nd gear synchro. The box
is still slightly noisy, but I put that down to the primary shaft rear bearing which I had
to re-use during the rebuild.

And the new-to-me rear shocks have also improved the ride and
reduced the clattering over rough road surfaces.

Nigel

[Ferrit]

RE: shocks that's excellent news

[Nigel]

I ordered a 100 amp alternator to replace the 65 amp which came with the car.
It was working but occasionally it seemed the battery wasn't getting full charge,
possibly due to the rear location and long cabling. I also have no idea how old
it was, so seeking something new.

The new one is for an Astra Mk2/Astra-van supplied by parts_eu via ebay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187656030152 It's Chinese, but appears good quality.

This unit has 10mm bore lower flanges, the rear being a slide fit. I used a couple of M8 steel
riv-nuts, turned down to 10mm o/d and drilled 8mm.   

A test fit showed that it would be ok, however I found that the pulley wasn't
quite in line and that the belt would slightly foul the power steering belt.
I didn't want to alter either the alternator or the mount so I removed
the pulley and turned down the rear boss by 4mm. Another test fit and all's good.
The belt would work if I modified the top adjuster bracket but I didn't want to do that
either, so a new belt should arrive tomorrow that is 15mm shorter. An estimate but
I can return and reorder if wrong!

The orange bush in the adjuster arm had collapsed so I found a plastic spacer from
a TV wall-mounting kit which pressed in with the vice, perfect.

I had to rework the electrical end fittings to fit the 8mm stud but that was easy.

Now waiting for the belt and final fitting.

[Ferrit]

Nice and shiny :-)  Did you look at any of the modern little units?

I have a question for you Nigel, your rear wheel spacers, where did you get them from?  I have this build thread but cant seem to find it

M