Early HPE restoration

[peteracs]

Managing to grap a few hours to sort out more parts, clean etc. Have not managed to visit John yet, but hopefully over the next couple of weeks.

I have a small issue with the Spider in that the intermittent wiper relay becomes less intermittent the longer it is turned on, so decided to revisit the modern wiper relay I bought and reported on some time ago. In order to install it I need to make up a cable assembly with crimp connectors. The crimper I had used on the Spider was always a make do and not really 100% correct for the job, but I had inherited it from years ago and it could be made to work. With the amount I have to do on the HPE as well as this wiper job, I decided to have a look for a new crimping tool. A bit of searching and up came a tool with multiple jaws on Temu. Now I have never bought anything from Temu despite endless ads, but at £15 I decided it was worth it to try it out and see if I get anything worth using. It arrived today and was pleasantly surprised at the quality and jaw options. Quickly had a play with a 6.3 and 2.8mm crimps and it looks to work well. The various jaws do differing crimp types some of which will be useful I think.

I also received a 12mm RIBE socket which I need for the head bolts for the engine when I get around to building it.....

[peteracs]

Had a few hours in the garage today, first up finished cleaning/painting the latest victims, front arb brackets and rear brake balancer parts.

Whilst waiting for various layers of paint to dry have been carrying on going through my box of bolts for plating and using a thread cleaner to make sure the threads are free of rust/crap etc. Very laborious, but worth doing I think before having them blasted.

Lastly had a delivery from Mark of front arb bushes, rear brake balancer bushes, door check strap retainer and rear arb outer bushes. He also sent an old clutch swivel for the later pedal box as mine had a missing ball. It needs a good bit of fettling, but nothing new there as the rest needed it as well…..

Good productive day

[peteracs]

Have turned my attention to the window winder mechanisms which are both stripped and cleaned, just waiting for some bolts to attach the handle spindle as you have to drill out the rivets to get to clean it.

Also stripped and cleaned the rear wiper mech, now in pieces ready to go back together. Quite a nice piece of kit.

Peter

[Nigel]

FYI Peter, the wiper arm spindle is virtually identical to that
fitted to many British cars in period. I found one listed for
a Jensen Healey which I used.

N.

[peteracs]

Hi Nigel

Good point, yes it is the same fitment as I converted the wipers on the Spider to so I could use the new stainless arms. I will probably get a new arm from the same supplier.

Peter

[peteracs]

Hi

After several days of cleaning bolts, nuts and washers + assorted brackets etc, I visited a player in Sheffield on Tuesday and collected the results today.

In general happy with the outcome (zinc plated and passiviated). The washers and nuts did not come out that well, but I am likely to use stainless in general. The unusual washers (thick or profiled) did come out well. The bolts in general came out pretty good, the only issue being the top of the heads of some did not fully plate. I will use some additional protection after assembly.

The brackets and other odd items which are not easily substituted came out well, so very happy on that score.

Photo is of some of the brackets and bars that I received back. The company does not do 'gold'passivating, so is the zinc colour. I am happy with this as some of the bolts will be stainless, so keeps the colour theme the same.

I do have more to go to the platers (not a lot, but will find more as time goes on!), but will have to use a different company as I also need the wheel bolts rechroming and the original company only do zinc. I have found a company in Nottingham who offer both, so when the time is right I will get in touch.

Having these back mean I can actually get on with putting parts on the car. I have been waiting for the bonnet stay and the bolt for the round spring retainer to allow me to safely have the bonnet open. Both are in the batch of parts.

Peter

[Ferrit]

yellow or zinc colour they both look cool to me :-)

[peteracs]

Hi

A few more bits cleaned and painted.....

Main job has been the refresh of the window winder mechanisms. I stripped and cleaned the whole thing, which included drilling out the riveted plates which hold the spindle. This is necessary as there is some very unsavoury 50 year old grease in there. On the Spider I used some aluminium inserts as rivets to put it back together. This time I bought some 6.4mm rivets thinking i could simply use a hand rivet gun to install them, how wrong could I be.....

6.4mm rivets have huge pins through them, which I assume you need a special gun to use them normally. Also the smallest ones I found were 10mm long, which is a bit long for the two thin plates. So I cut the rivet part in half and then drove out the pin leaving just the rivet part. Inserting this and using a dome headed punch I was able to effectively rivet the two half togther making a much neater job than the ones on the Spider. Then the really messy job of greasing the whole thing before installing the sliding mechanism, not enjoyable and the gloves were disposed of after this!

End result is a nice smooth action, so hope that will not need doing again in my lifetime.

Peter

[peteracs]

Hi

Just collected my last (at least what I am aware of) parts which needed plating. Used a company in Nottingham which was more convenient than Sheffield where the last batch were done. I took better care to clean the parts this time and the results are much better, you live and learn.

I have also actually started putting parts on the car although small parts at present. This is a major step forward for me and now finding out what original early parts fit or do not fit easily onto the later front end, hopefully not too many and only the odd mounting hole will be required. First up was the bonnet restraining hoop which attaches to the front top crossmember. This should have two captive M6 nuts, one had gone awol. The hole is there, but the gap is too small to put a new one into it and the crossmember is a solid box section. Fortunately there is a round hol right near the wing, so a length of wire down the mounting hole, along the box section to this round hole, attaching the captive nut to the wire, pulling it into position was the answer. All very fiddly, but necessary. Just need to find the parts for the bonnet to attach it to now....

Peter

[peteracs]

Hi

Had some productive days recently which is all very positive. Essentially putting more parts on the car.

After the bits under the bonnet, I concentrated on the rear tailgate which now has the struts sort of installed (two of the mounting pins appear MIA, so ordered a pair and using temporary ones at present). Installed the lock and the rear wiper.

Then moved on to the winder mechs which I have been tripping over for a few weeks and happy to see them installed and out the way.

Lastly built up the pedal box. All pretty straight forward except the spring for the clutch, what a PITA..... The spring is so strong and needs extending a fair amount, I ended up using one of a pair of suspension spring compressors to extend the spring enough to park it in its correct place. After that waste of an hour, all went well and managed to find all the parts!

I realised I had not looked at the wiper mechanism at all which is not in that good a state. I will be stripping it, modifying it as per Nigel's mod to park the arms lower and then sending the parts off to the plated. I also have a few more bolts etc which I now realise need replating, nothing significant, just a while I am sending parts off I might as well add them to the batch as you normally get charged by the batch.

Peter

[Ferrit]

I find I get caught out with jobs that in theory should take a few minutes and three hours later I am still there.  Not sure if it me being silly or rubbish at working on cars now?  :'(

Shame we all dont live near each other.  Looking good though.

Mark

[peteracs]

Hi Mark

Yes some jobs just take forever, some which you think may be a pain go very smoothly, so on balance with some planning it tends to even out. What I find you do have to get your head around is when you find you need a widget and then have to order it and stop the job for it. I tend to have multiple jobs in mind for that occasion, so can always find something to fill the time. I also try to find a job which fits the time I have on that day. That way I get a sense of achievement despite their being setbacks.

Peter

[peteracs]

Hi

Some more good progress which is, as before, feels very satisfying.

First, I was less than happy with the door courtesy light switches and saw these at no money from China, so decided to see if they would fit/work (see photo). They are widely available and on fitting did not allow the door to fully close, but cutting the plastic end off allows the spindle to retract fully into the body and appears to fit and work, so will stick with them for now.

Main job I have been doing apart from stripping and cleaning the wiper assembly, is to install the pedal box, the two swivels in the engine bay for the clutch and brake, the servo and swivel attached to it and the brake interconnect rod. I have nearly finished so photos when finally done. Things will need to be adjusted when everything else is installed eg the whole braking system....

Peter

[WestonE]

On the Door pin switches I think I went with Land Rover Items from ebay because they come with a rubber seal better suited to our wet world. I agree the originals can not be relied on.

[peteracs]

Hi

Finished the brake linkage and pedal box for now.

Peter

[WestonE]

Looking fantastic Peter. I found building the pedal box to a high standard very satisfying. 

[peteracs]

Thanks Eric,

Yes putting clean, painted parts back on the car is all very satisfying. Still keep finding parts which need to be cleaned and painted or plated....

Peter

[Ferrit]

I find it fascinating seeing the the bare shell with parts starting to go into respective holes etc.  Really useful when you are grovelling about in the dark recess's trying to find or fix something.

Well done on your chocolate dipped car build so far.  Keep up the good work.

Mark

[peteracs]

Thanks Mark

A few jobs done, nothing much photogenic, stripped two wiper rack assemblies, ordered new stainless shim washers, main parts going for plating. Was amused to find small pieces of fabric inside where the spindles go into the rack between the two bushes.

Also thought quick job fit the radiator, wrong the refurbished radiator appears just slightly taller and/ir the lower mounts which were fitted to the front frame a bit too high. Either way have had to mod the top mount bracket and reduce the height of the rubber isolating bushes. So a 5 min job turned into over an hour…..  Lastly, I see the refurbished radiator company ‘kindly’ knocked out the dip in the top tank where the steady bar goes. So like Neromoto I will be modding a steady bar to suit!

Peter

[Nigel]

Hi Peter,
The fabric you mention is, I believe,  an oil soak with
two functions: to store oil ,and to provide a water seal.
I know mine has that but can't recall what it looks like.

Regards,
N