Harry's Roadster rebuild

[Harry]

More Marlin dismemberment.

I was well up for it this afternoon after work, got in the garage for 6.00 and out for 7.30, Donned my goggles and attacked the Marlin with my trusty slitter disc, two floor panels out, then I removed the handbrake, followed by the tunnel fabrication, then unbolted the prop shaft 9/16 UNF ! ( Not had my box of "old fashion" spanners out for years ! ) most of the screws and set screws + bolts have gone in the bin as they are often rounded off or rusty. Once I had the floor out I gave that area of the fabrication a bit of a wire brushing and found some substantial rust just below the Accelerator pedal, I removed this with a hammer and chisel, but in all fairness the fabrication is very substantial for such a little vehicle and there was no sign of the fabrication wall giving way and no holes to be found anywhere. I then noticed the brake pipes need replacing, one is quite well shaped and the other made by Edward Scissor hands, it's almost got a knot in it ! So I finished off by rubbing down the wind screen frame ( Was white once ? ) now silver hammerite. By the way, I bought some Hammerite today, it's not cheap - £28.00 !.

[stevejgreen]

Re: More Marlin dismemberment.

The prop-shaft flange bolts were originally HT ones, presumably for the shear forces that they may come under, should be replaced like for like.

[Harry]

Re: More Marlin dismemberment.

The prop-shaft flange bolts were originally HT ones, presumably for the shear forces that they may come under, should be replaced like for like.

Hi Steve, yes I've kept them, the heads can be tidied up with a little filing. Any idea what radiator was popular for use on these Marlins at this point in time ( 1980 - 85 ish ) I think mine looks like an old Viva radiator ??

[listerjp2]

Re: More Marlin dismemberment.

Hiya

Correct, Viva but depending on your engine you may want to add another core to help the cooling. Although like rocking horse stuff, a landcrab radiator fits nice and sits lower so you can get to the filler cap.

[stevejgreen]

Re: More Marlin dismemberment.

Landcrab radiators are about as rare as Viva ones and would certainly need pressure testing before fitting, something that should be done by a refurb company if they do it properly.
Some have tried high flow Aluminium Honda Civic (1992-2000) radiators, with good results.

[listerjp2]

Re: More Marlin dismemberment.

Hiya

If you have the old radiator and the top and bottom cans are ok, get it recored.

Adrian

[Harry]

Re: More Marlin dismemberment.

Thanks everyone, the radiator looks a bit rough but it also looks like it had been referbed at some poimt, no leaks or rot though, I did pop into our local radiator specialist and told him I had a Viva radiator, the look on his face said it all before he opened his mouth, he quoted £100 - 180 for a complete rebuild.

[listerjp2]

Re: More Marlin dismemberment.

Hiya

Thats about the going rate for a recore.

[Harry]

Marlin stripdown

Not a great deal done these last two days, I was rubbing down yesterday, it took me almost two hours yesterday to rub down the old paint runs and sags on the radiator surround, then a little time spent rubbing down a running board, but today I had a run up to Bolton and picked up what looks like a tidy engine from a 71 plate MGB GT, along with carbs, starter, alternator etc, I was a bit of a job lifting it in and out of the van, especially when my mate slipped and let go of his side, I was lucky, I'd put a nice crunchy pallet on the floor to sit the engine on, and it took most of the impact, no damage done! I just need a thrust bearing and clutch slave cylinder now !

[CompoSimmonite]

Re: More Marlin dismemberment.

Hiya

Thats about the going rate for a recore.

It pays to shop around.
Locally we have a traditional rad builder who recored me a Chrysler Neon rad for under £40 when everybody else was quoting three times that. Moral of story is ask who small garages use - main dealers etc will fit new but smaller garages will still know who can sort out minor leaks / recore unusual rads.

Paul H

[Harry]

Dismantling engines

Not a great deal done after work today, just a couple of hours in the garage inspecting my new / used MGB engine, I stripped the timing gears and chain from both along with the front plate as the plates must be swapped round, or rather the Marina 18v front plate must be fitted to the MGB engine, ( Engine mounting position ) the old Marina 18v timing gear was well worn as expected and it's cover was battered ( Hammer rash) why, I don't know. On removing the MGB timing gear, the cover was in good condition, but the timing gear teeth are also a little worn, but not to the degree of the Marina unit, where my heart sunk was when I looked at the pulley retaining nut, looks like it was removed using a hammer and chisel then refitted the same way !! Anyhow I cleaned up the parts I require removing some tough old gasket, then removed the carbs and cast exhaust manifold from the MGB engine. I'm having one of those wish I'd bought a fully reconditioned engine moments.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Dismantling engines

Were you planning to retain the Marina mechanical fuel pump or the MGB electric one?
I found that replacing the Marina bolts with studs made swapping the mechanical pump, when the seals failed, an easy job, rather than manipulating two gaskets send a spacer against the pump spring.

[Harry]

Re: Dismantling engines

Were you planning to retain the Marina mechanical fuel pump or the MGB electric one?
I found that replacing the Marina bolts with studs made swapping the mechanical pump, when the seals failed, an easy job, rather than manipulating two gaskets send a spacer against the pump spring.

Hello Steve, I now have both types, however the Marlin was fitted with an electric pump, I will reuse the blanking plate where the MGB's mechaical pump was and utilise the electric pump. I belive the old MGB engine I aquired once had an electrical pump but it packed in while on tour in France, and not replacement could be found ?? so the mechanical pump was fitted.

[Harry]

More head shaking.

Another hour in the garage fiddling with my two engines, I swear half of what I strip off them is going in the bin, I was told the engine I bought was running three months back ( Cobblers) is all I can say to that, it turns etc, anyhow I thought I'd remove the clutch tonight and check it's condition, it's not good news, although the face is lovely and flat as is the fly wheel face ( Lucky me ) the bearing face built into the Diaphragm fingers is very cracked due to over heating by the look of it and the plate is also worn out, so a new clutch unit is required too ( My quick tidy up budget has been blown away !! ) also the bronze spigot bearing has taken a hell of a battering on it's edge due I believe to trying to locate the gear box shaft ? so a new spigot will be fitted too. Apart from that I cleaned up what usable parts I require ready for painting.

[cameronfurnival]

Harry's Roadster

Harry had been writing an awful lot about his roadster rebuild and so we agreed to make a build diary section of the forum for him. Everyone is really interested in these restorations so please think about adding yours too