CARB CLEANING

I had first noticed fluid running down underneath the front of the car when I was closing the garage door after taking the car out. On my hands and knees I stuck my hand under the small stream and decided it wasn't power steering fluid, brake fluid or cooling fluid, therefore it had to be petrol. I traced the leak back to an overflow pipe that connected to the two carbs. I had had a similar situation when I was first running Marjorie, my three wheeler project and determined that the pressure from the  fuel pump was more than the float needle valves could cope with. I fitted a small pressure regulator between pump and carbs and no more leaks and much more consistent fuel delivery.

Checking out the Stag Owners Club Forum I soon found exactly the same problem discussed. Fitting new needle valves, checking the level of the floats and fitting a Fuel King Pressure Regulator Filter, were the recommended remedy. I immediately order a carb service kit and the said pressure regulator filter.

As soon as everything arrived I started work by first taking loads of pictures to ensure I remembered where all the hoses and cables attached. The whole assembly was covered in grease and dirt and once I removed it from the inlet manifold I washed all the muck off in petrol. I soon realised there was other things I was going to need, new screws to replace the chewed up ones and stainless fuel hose.

Whilst the carbs were off, I took the opportunity to degrease the inlet manifold and the V of the engine, I also polished the Stromberg top body casing and reassembled with new gaskets, needle valve and diaphragm. Thank God I had taken all of the photos, they were essential to ensure everything connected up correctly. I also replaced the ducting between air filter and top of exhaust manifold with clean shiny aluminium ducting. Finally I fitted the Filter King Regulator and set the pressure with the provided gauge.

I turned on the ignition and with considerable relief, the engine immediately came to life. No more leaks so far. Previously, when I started up I needed to apply full throttle, always a sign of flooded carbs, now I only need to turn the key and she gently rumbles to life, success.

All now ready for the Bank Holiday Weekend.

MIRROR MIRROR

There was only a mirror on the drivers door and that was flapping around as was the central rear view mirror. Two new door mirrors were ordered and a small mounting block for the main mirror, plus replacement sun visors as the foam in the originals had completely disintergrated, the passenger one has a courtesy mirror, whilst the drivers visor carries instructions for raising and lowering the hood. Now not only can I see what is going on behind, Jacquie can watch her hair being blown about.

The underside of the bonnet was an absolute disgrace, the insulation pad was falling apart and the paint was oily and discoloured. I removed the pad and cleaned up the surrounding paintwork and fitted a new pad, that's better.

The Wolfrace wheels are not the original wheels and although I would like some spoked ones in the future, these are a good looking wheel. However the aluminium is badly marked and the red painted bits are hardly appropriate, I have scrapped of the red paint and polished up two of the wheels and repainted in black smooth Hammerite, not bad but some of marks are etched into the ali and will need a little light rubbing with emery paper and repolishing, but they will do for now.

 

I have also removed a defunt cobra alarm and wiring along with wiring which was obviously from a previously installed alarm, the cables were still live, just cut off under the bonnet and taped up, much of it was also festooned into both footwells. I hate untidy wiring, plenty of scope still for tidying up the rest of remaining cables.

STARTING ON STELLA

My previous project, a replica of a 1930's Morgan Three Wheeler disappeared down the drive last Tuesday. I had hugely enjoyed building it during 2013 through to 2015 and had great fun driving it about and acknowledging the accolades it received, but sooner than I had planned another project loomed into view. A 1974 Triumph Stag, 3 litre, V8, white, a proper car, four wheels, two doors, a roof and a heater, all the things that Marjorie didn't have. This beautiful car, was not in need of restoration, nothing like it, and it is a sound runner, but only having covered very low annual  mileage for the last 30 years, it is in need of some serious fettling and tidying up to ensure that it is capable of some serious future journeys.

No sooner was my Morgan, Marjorie, well not mine anymore, on the trailer and gone, Stella Stag was in the garage. First job was to change the oil and filter and the next was to upgrade the cooling system by fitting a high level header tank, thereby dispensing with the low level expansion bottle.

The idea is that any trapped air in the system will find it's way into the header tank. I think it has worked as the Kenlow electric fan doesn't keep switching on as it used to and the temperature gauge is steady at just a tad over 90 deg., which I assume is just under when one would expect the fan to start whirring. There is even a float in the header tank, connected to a buzzer, which will give early warning of any loss of coolant before any damage can occur.

I still intend to drain, flush and refill the cooling system fairly soon and will probably take the rad out and back flush it. whilst out I will probably tart it up with some black spray. The two photos above show that a lot of cable tidying and tarting up need to take place before I will be happy, but plenty of time. Keep watching this space.