What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[John Mason]

Well done David. My car a MK1 1935 Ruby and has the pin type valves but of course I do not know if that’s how it came as new.

John Mason.

[David Stepney]

Hi David

That’s dedication working in a dank garage on the run up to Christmas. I’m baulking at going out in my reasonably warm brick garage this time of year! Well done.

Cheers

Howard

There is a bank in front of the yard at the front of the house and, when the weather is really horrid, as it has been this last week, the drains can't cope and the garage floods to a depth of about half an inch at times. we had so much wet on Wednesday that the garage flooded! Fortunately, it drains out of the back door fairly promptly, but the floor is still damp in places. The problem is not as bad as it used to be, now that next door have moved the cattle grid that used to be at the top of the bank directly in line with my garage door, but it is still an occasional problem. I have thought about trying to rectify the issue, but that means rearranging the drains, which is going to be very expensive!

The garage itself is built of rendered breeze block with a tin roof and lit by four 100 watt bulbs, so, at this time of the year it has the feeling of an oubliette about it. At least it is somewhere to work.

And thank you Bruce and John for your comments.

[Mike Costigan]

Pins replaced split cotters in early 1935; Parts List 1218 dated November 1934 lists only the split cotters BC34, Parts List 1218A dated March 1935 for chassis 216701 onwards illustrates the pin cotter and lists the part number as BC108, but describes them as eight pairs!

[John Mason]

Thanks for that information Mike as my Ruby is March 1935 it is more than likely to be original.

John Mason

[Chris KC]

Winter workspace is an issue facing many of us in the UK David, ref the concurrent thread on 'workshop insulation'.
I console myself with the thought that many of my Japanese colleagues envy me for having a garage at all, it being the height of luxury over there I gather, in urban areas at least.

[Reckless Rat]

Quite mild here so I have been pottering in the garage (which is nice and dry, heated and air conditioned when necessary). I have been fitting a set of 6v indicators to the RP, a kit I bought from Willie McKenzie, augmented by a 6v LED warning lamp courtesy of a very reasonable oriental gentleman on the Bay of E.

The rears are mounted on the outside of the luggage rack brackets, whilst the fronts have been mounted on the extremities of the front number plate, which has been reinforced by a length of 25mmx25mm angle across the back. This necessitated speaking to the mounting brackets with the dolly hammer to render them flat.

I spent ages today sorting out the wiring. By the way, if you're thinking of doing this yourself then make sure you have more than 10m of cable. Ask me why I know that!

The cabling to the rear follows the standard routing on the RP through the hole under the seat, along the inside of the o/s sill and then up the o/s A pillar. I have mounted the switch, warning light and flasher unit to the left of the Patent plate. I have long arms so it's not a problem and access is easy from the glove compartment.

Part way through the job I did a current test to make sure everything was wired and earthed up correctly and could I get anything to work? No. There was current, but not enough to light the bulbs. I thought at first I had probably done something wrong, but the same problem was evident at all four corners. I finally found out why... to simplify the testing I had by-passed the ignition circuit and I was using a jump lead connected to the starter to feed current to the four wires powering the indicators. It wasn't until I tried another jump lead that I discovered that the first one was duff!

Everything now fitted and working correctly. Not obtrusive but will help when battling with moderns in deepest Frogland. The 3/16ths pop rivets will get a dab of black paint when I get a round too-it.

[bob46320]

Looking good Bruce. Are the bulbs LEDs or Filament. I assume the cables in the picture are the arrestor cables to stop you crashing into the brick wall ??

[Reckless Rat]

The bulbs are filament 6v 18W, supplied as part of the kit. They are more than bright enough. The cables you can see are the power leads to the two accumates - one for the Austin the other for the MG.
On a saloon the options for fitting front indicators are limited unless you're able to fit them in wing mounted sidelights. I have seen some cars with them fitted to the side of the rad shell but they seem to be very close together.

[Henry Harris]

      Another damp day at the farm.

[Nick Lettington]

Spent the day freezing my bits off supporting a Christmas craft market for the local CAP debt centre... 

   

Slightly embarrassed to find I'd left something theatrical sticking out the front when I got home...