Progress to date

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Progress to date

I have been quoted between £75 and £150 to fit a new core to my Viva header and bottom tanks. A company in Preston who I have bought Radiators from in the past has been most helpful, They have offered a range of options from basic to sophisticated, including a three row core @ £110 and also louvered fins which they say increase the cooling by a further 10%. However, for now I can't afford a new core and I can see I am chasing my tail trying to solder the Vive Rad any more, I have already wasted best part of a day soldering it up and testing it. The brass tubes are very fragile, the brass is brittle and deeply pitted with corrosion so something has to be done.

I spent some time at my local friendly breakers and finally chose a Clio radiator from a bewildering array of choice including a BMW 318 rad and a Merc 190? both of which looked good but the hoses came out in awkward places. The Clio rad is about the same width and a little taller than the original Viva rad and should fit well. It's only single row aluminium but if it works for the MOT then I'm not bothered how many rows it has! I am told it's from a 1300 engined car so it should be somewhere near, it weighs next to nothing compared with the Viva rad. That will help compensate for all the extra weight I have added beefing up the chassis. Depending how it works I will probably re-core the Viva rad in due course.

Todays forecast is for heavy showers so progress may be soggy... The tasks are being ticked off one by one but I have to keep up the momentum, my task list is vital to remain focused and to avoid doing a little here and a little there. I select a task and complete it at least as far as is possible, then move on to the next task.

I had one little stroke of luck, while delving in boxes the other day I discovered a hub bearing cap from an Astra, (I have run Astra cars and vans for years) it seems to fit the Triumph hub pretty well so that's another tick on the list.

[b_caswell]

Re: Progress to date

One of the reasons some roadsters have cooling problems is that they need the area around the radiator blocking off so the air goes through the radiator and not around it.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Progress to date

I have tried to collate all the relevant information on the Overheating problems experienced in a Roadster at http://kvisit.com/S1cb2AQ

As far as I know, no one has tried a Clio radiator before. It would be interesting to see how well it works on a 1300.

The ultimate solution has to be to modify a Chevette radiator with an extra core, but there are several options to try including Ben's suggestion if you on a budget one of the solutions is to insert short lengths of commercial foam pipe insulation into the gaps between the radiator and the cowling.

Not wanting to teach you to suck eggs, the standard radiator cap is 15lbs so even if you were to solder all the known leaks, without testing it at a pressure higher than that you can have little confidence that you have actually found every leak.

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Progress to date

Hi Ben, I have fixed that possibility, The entire back of the nosecone is 3mm aluminium plate bulkhead which fits snugly to the top and extends right to the bottom below the top of the chassis, I might even fill in the floor to stop any air escaping downwards.

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Progress to date

My bad Steve, It's not a Clio rad, it's from a Micra. I looked at so many radiators yesterday that I got confused. The clio ones were strong contenders and one in particular which was two row with an expansion tank and fan could have been perfect but it looked like it had been in a crash, it was very battered, so I passed on that.

I understand the pressure point you make Steve but knowing the brass is so brittle and fragile I stopped at one bar, I am only wanting it to pass the MOT at this stage, I don't need anything too fancy but it would be good it it holds water! lol

I think if I had continued to use it once it was subjected to the rigours of use vibration, fluctuating temperatures and pressures it would not have been long before it dumped the water.

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Progress to date

Brakes and clutch bled! The clutch seems to work OK, I haven't had the engine running today but putting it in gear and pushing it, the engine stops turning when the clutch is pressed... So it must clear at least.

The brakes seem to work, no disks fitted yet... Christopher can't pull my Snap On 1" spanner (dummy disk) out from between the pads when I have the brakes pressed, and the pedal feel seems OK, pretty firm. It will be interesting to know if the servo works.

One moment of panic when I fitted the pipe into the master cylinder, the brake pipe nut seemed very slack in the end of the master cylinder. So I had a bright idea, perhaps I could re-thread it 10mm metric... I tried a metric brake pipe nut and wow! It fitted perfectly! All the other nuts are 3/8 UNF and one 10mm?

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Progress to date

I have driven the Marlin under it's own power today!!! The first time it has been driven since December 1988.

It started perfectly, on the button, the brakes work, the clutch works, the handbrake works!

I started in ernest at the beginning of September, with a bare chassis and a seized motor, so I think I have done OK.

'All that remains' is a lick of paint and bolt the body panels on, oh, and a few wires, lights and 'stuff'.

Much of my success is due the help and encouragement you guys have given me when I have been a bit stuck. Thank you!



I feel first gear is rather high even for road use, way too high for trials use. I can't even get wheelspin on the loose. I put the nose against a very solid brick wall and tried to get wheelspin on concrete, no chance, even with fully inflated tyres and a wet surface.

Van axle anybody? I have a 4.1:1 axle but I think I will have to fit the original Marina gear cluster into the Dolomite gearbox casing as well.

# 3300

[stevejgreen]

Re: Progress to date

4.11 was standard 1.3 marina
Some 1.3 Itals had 3.89
Standard 1.8 marina was 3.63

http://kvisit.com/S1Mb2AQ

The Dolomite and marina used the same axle so the diff centres are all interchangable.

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Progress to date

Thanks Steve, The current ratio is 3.63, sorry I should have mentioned that. The rusty original Marlin had a 3.63 ratio, the PO warned me that it was liable to be a bit loose at the rear in the wet.

The Dolomite 1850 and Marina 1.8 first gear is quite a bit higher than the Marina 1.3 first gear.

I do have a 4.11 complete Axle ready to fit but I just went with the axle which I had closest to hand for now.

As it is at present I would think it would be challenged on a steep gradient, even given it's relative light weight. Maybe I need to adjust the timing and mixture a bit, it is tending to run on.

[cameronfurnival]

Re: Progress to date

Congrats so far Robert! But don't change the box...put a bigger engine in

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Progress to date

Thanks Cameron! I gave it away, I will overcome in the end. My 1430 Mini ate Escorts in the twisties.

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Progress to date

Most tasks complete on the chassis, suspension, brakes, engine and transmission. The power side of the wiring is complete, it starts on the button, charges the battery and drives. The main task at the moment is preparing the body panels for painting. I have borrowed a small 1/4 sheet Makita sander which seems very effective at removing paint, although it's also very easy to go through the gel coat...

Until at least the nose cone and engine side panels are in place I can't do much more wiring.

So the neighbours will have the merry sound a the Sander for a few days... At least it makes a change from the Angle Grinder! Speaking of which I have just finished grinding a radius on all the sharp edges of the screen frame. Looks much nicer now and safer if anybody were to impact on the frame, driver, passenger or other road user, the edges were very sharp.

[gary.price]

Re: Progress to date

Its the pick up axle you want 10cwt I think its a 4.6 Mine pulls off in second. tho i use first if not already moving. Check this site out. And click on section begins.

http://www.wheelspin.info/cars/marlin.htm

[Cornish Wrestler]

Re: Progress to date

Finding one may not be that easy though.............. but they are very strong , Steve Holder Fourtune engineering does a needle roller bearing conversion. I think your will be out of the garage before mine is !!. I found that the van axle required modifying the gearbox tunnel to give clearance , and the prop needs to be shortened .

[Robert in Cumbria]

Re: Progress to date

When I first started this project I considered using a Suzuki or similar pickup back axle but I felt that went against the spirit of the project, one thing to make minor mods to the chassis but to utilise a wholly different (and ineligible) major component is another thing altogether.

There was a 10cwt van axle mentioned by a new member a month or two ago but I am stretched to build what I have without adding to my expenses by buying another axle, however desirable. Maybe next year I will come across one AND have some cash, both at the same time!

I don't have a transmission tunnel, I do have several propshafts, of various lengths so those aspects don't pose a challenge.

I will see what effect the 4.11 final drive and installing the Marina 1300 wide ratio gearset has, once the car is on the road.


Being spurred by the devil (DVLA) has much to do with my urgency in getting it on the road, I don't have a garage! I wish! I now have to pack up by about four because it's too dark to work outside