11-05-2021, 07:53 AM
(This post was last modified: 12-05-2021, 01:16 AM by Bob Culver.)
My interest is mainly in the tech side. This site seems the best avenue. I do not have a running car and have not in recent years enrolled in th NZ VAR. And for other reasons which long term readers may deduce I have avoided contact with the local Auckland branch. However there has been recent changes.
The local VAR recently moved its mostly Seven spares hoard onto a pleasant rural property and to celebrate the occasion a barbeque was held. Key members also belong to the Jowett Club so with a strong interest in both I was invited. Very satisfactory; arrived with a colleague in a "barn find" 1935 Ten via back roads I have little travelled for 40 years. The general overgrown nature of the countryside cf the relative bareness of yesteryear when intensively grazed very evident.
Anyway, some observations:
I have been castigated for repeatedly mentioning the danger of failed steering arms. Some consider it might deter enthusiasts. But in this now safety obsessed country any serious injury or worse would severely curtail the still relatively free old car hobby. Despite repeatedly mentioning the hazard it is astonishing to meet members who have never heard of it (Or of the excellent UK parts supply sources, or this Forum!!) One engineer member immediately found a crack in his car.
Sevens and especially their parts have nothing like the value in UK. The parts collection is quite impressive. But, as with other Clubs, several factors severely irk me.
In any club there are very few able to truly assess the usefulness f old parts, and some of them have a cavalier attitude to saving available bearings etc. Persons dismantle and rob parts but do not keep old parts together. Early dyns with good looking comms but field coils and poles gone. Maybe 20 camshafts. Perhaps someone diligently examined and measured each and decided they were very seriously worn. But I suspect some would, be very serviceable, but for serious use all ruined by rust. Once plain bearing surfaces are pitted a part is more or less useless. Many crankshafts, presumably all cracked but all very rusted so even a good one would incur avoidable regrinding expense. If persons find cracks please mark with paint. Little point in keeping although the early ones nice ornaments.
Many discarded diff bearings mostly rusty. Many a/c races can be reused, perhaps with shims, at great savings but when rusted nbg. Many roller races with parts separated and rusty. Sometimes rings can be mixed for a close clearance. Odd pinions. Hard to believe all the mated cw were totally u.s .but the pinions OK. Mild rust of gears not too important, except the timing gears with their marked sliding. Gearboxes with intact synchro cones and looking reasonable but open and rusted.
Persons ratting through parts and leaving part dismantled, exposed and scattered are a menace.
A lot of moisture falls out of the air, esp in an often open shed. A plastic sheet assists greatly. Greasy and oily parts do make sorting a messy business, but at least some parts are then preserved as useful. Clean thick engine oil helps but soon dries off. Grease is effective esp the old drying greases like Castrol CL.
It is a great help if parts with not so obvious defects are marked with paint or pen or a label attached.
Light rust is effectively removed with a soft power wire brush but beware very dangerous flying wires. Stand aside as will penetrate thin flexible plastic goggles.
The local VAR recently moved its mostly Seven spares hoard onto a pleasant rural property and to celebrate the occasion a barbeque was held. Key members also belong to the Jowett Club so with a strong interest in both I was invited. Very satisfactory; arrived with a colleague in a "barn find" 1935 Ten via back roads I have little travelled for 40 years. The general overgrown nature of the countryside cf the relative bareness of yesteryear when intensively grazed very evident.
Anyway, some observations:
I have been castigated for repeatedly mentioning the danger of failed steering arms. Some consider it might deter enthusiasts. But in this now safety obsessed country any serious injury or worse would severely curtail the still relatively free old car hobby. Despite repeatedly mentioning the hazard it is astonishing to meet members who have never heard of it (Or of the excellent UK parts supply sources, or this Forum!!) One engineer member immediately found a crack in his car.
Sevens and especially their parts have nothing like the value in UK. The parts collection is quite impressive. But, as with other Clubs, several factors severely irk me.
In any club there are very few able to truly assess the usefulness f old parts, and some of them have a cavalier attitude to saving available bearings etc. Persons dismantle and rob parts but do not keep old parts together. Early dyns with good looking comms but field coils and poles gone. Maybe 20 camshafts. Perhaps someone diligently examined and measured each and decided they were very seriously worn. But I suspect some would, be very serviceable, but for serious use all ruined by rust. Once plain bearing surfaces are pitted a part is more or less useless. Many crankshafts, presumably all cracked but all very rusted so even a good one would incur avoidable regrinding expense. If persons find cracks please mark with paint. Little point in keeping although the early ones nice ornaments.
Many discarded diff bearings mostly rusty. Many a/c races can be reused, perhaps with shims, at great savings but when rusted nbg. Many roller races with parts separated and rusty. Sometimes rings can be mixed for a close clearance. Odd pinions. Hard to believe all the mated cw were totally u.s .but the pinions OK. Mild rust of gears not too important, except the timing gears with their marked sliding. Gearboxes with intact synchro cones and looking reasonable but open and rusted.
Persons ratting through parts and leaving part dismantled, exposed and scattered are a menace.
A lot of moisture falls out of the air, esp in an often open shed. A plastic sheet assists greatly. Greasy and oily parts do make sorting a messy business, but at least some parts are then preserved as useful. Clean thick engine oil helps but soon dries off. Grease is effective esp the old drying greases like Castrol CL.
It is a great help if parts with not so obvious defects are marked with paint or pen or a label attached.
Light rust is effectively removed with a soft power wire brush but beware very dangerous flying wires. Stand aside as will penetrate thin flexible plastic goggles.