What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[Steve kay]

Today the Ruby was taken out on test. Thanks are due to forumists who have made helpful comments on what has become quite a long job, which is that polite old fashioned way of saying a very long series of jobs.  What had sounded like a run big end turned out to be a loose camshaft due to the departure of the stud locating the front bronze bush. Drillings and tapping the bearing in situ was pushed aside by concern about damage in the crankcase and removal of camshaft. No obvious signs of damage but a chipped lobe at the driven, rear, end, so camshaft replacement seemed sensible, which inevitably meant  happy hours very carefully using grinding paste.  After putting it all back together turning over seemed very stiff, so off with the big ends to discover one shell scored, was this caused by lobe chips? One can only hope and pray that old skills with engineers blue and the scraper have not wholly departed, after slow and careful attention it turned over smoothly. Running the engine with it just sitting  in the car showed no signs to be afraid of, so the only way to find out if all was now OK was to get it  out on the highway. A few more jolly hours and we've done short journeys, so putting that vast carapace of front bodywork is next and then serious road miles. Naturally, with a certain Chummy project in the workshop, timber had to be purchased to build a temporary gantry for the chain block to lift out the engine......and all other work delayed although the domestic authorities have been very tolerant. 
 

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