Dashboard, fuel guage,fuel cut-off switch

Next winter I'll remove the dash properly and sort out the 50 years of bodges (including mine) as the final wiring should be well planned by then.

It was impossible to get to the fuel gauge thumbscrew so the crash pad was removed and the glove box.

 
The glove box was a previous owners design so some of it may have been easier than normal. 
The broken Bakelite glove-box surround was "repaired" with "super steel" as it's a reasonable colour match. 

Fuel gauge works and gives a more accurate result of what I put in the tank after I last ran out of petrol!
The cigar lighter was also repaired and "converted" to negative earth. Odd that it only works with side lights on.

The heater fan came out because it squeals like a banshee... 

The upper bearing was seized. With much force and WD40 it was released and now all is well. getting the plastic fan off was hardest part.


A fuel pump cut-off (impact) switch and manual isolate switch was added.

Rear Springs

 Rear springs have been changed.
Much improved ride height.



Won't be ready for Spa

But the ride height, spring rate and damping will be much safer for the bigger engine.

Engine still a big issue.
Flange main bearing burnt out.
The heat has distorted the main bearing cap and the block bearing seat, A new bearing will not fit!
Either a new block or get this one line bored.

So start again. :-(

Engine strip again and front suspension

 Finally got the crank out - it looks like I fitted the flange bearings the wrong way up - blocking the oil port!! Wally..


Specialised engines in Essex have a crank for exchange and all the bits and pieces required to rebuild.

 Decided to change the Dampers and Springs while I had a spare Sunday.
The M10 rod wasn't really man enough to act as a spring compressor without the aid of another jack to assist.

The old springs had shortened with age and were definitely beyond use as the Sunbeam used to bottom out on corners and one side was lower than the other.

The front looks a bit odd... I hope its better with the engine back in!

Will do the rear springs soon.

The new series 3 springs I had bought were the wrong length at 11.65" .
No one had 11.175" springs in stock so had some made.

The new springs then lowered the front by an inch to match the rear springs

2nd and 3rd road test

2nd and third road tests didn't go so well!

on second run I ran out of petrol - a gallon doesn't go far these days..

Third road test was quite good fun, the engine - even though not set up well - is quite exciting 😃 - but it does show that the suspension is a bit old!

Then the engine stalled and was hard to turn over on the starter.
After cooling down and a short run home it was time to start to worry.




The sump was removed (not an easy task with engine still in the body.) and swarf was found in the sump.

So the engine was then removed and the bearing caps unbolted.

The flange main bearing seemed to have burnt out - all looked ok a year ago.






Not sure if the flange bearing rotated to block the oil way - or the oil way got blocked before.

At the moment the crank is stuck at the flange bearing.

Oh well... its all part of the fun...☺

And just in case I get the engine fixed quickly I bought a full set of suspension springs and dampers.