Friday, June 27, 2008

Engine teardown part 1

After a clear out of the garage (for the arrival of Ruby) we'd dragged my old engine onto the work bench where I could start taking a look... This engine had made it over from Budapest just before I bought the van and after the restoration had driven ok most of the way round the lakes, along Hadrians wall then all over the North Yorkshire moors before finally giving up 50 miles from Leicester... Here's a few pics of the heads and pistons etc... Problems i've noticed so far are missing case savers, loose case and head bolts, loose rocker arm nuts, perished gaskets almost everywhere, two cylinders appeared to be running lean and two rich, appeared to be a broken piston ring resulting in excessive oil in one of the barrels! badly fitted barrels and heads resulting in oily sludge all over the case, heads and barrels.




I've yet to split the case but my feeling is that the bearings will be worn. It looks to have been badly reconditioned in the past perhaps with old gaskets! All the oil galleries are full of oily sludge too, perhaps from overheating a few times... case needs a very good clean!!
The good news is that I haven't found any hardware that's shot yet, all the springs rockers, heads, valves, barrels, pistons, case etc look to be ok so far - would like to get the case align bored and perhaps opening up to take a stroker...

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Better late than never!

Well it's a bit late, as we did this work a month ago! Work is moving on, but slowly...




Things will be made right, with enough grinding!
I was very impressed with Ben's work on the rear corner. Just want this laquered and she's ready to go! ;)
Painfull to see the lower front seciton needs replacing too! Time for a trip to Alana in the peak district... anyone fancy a run up there this week?
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Sunday, June 22, 2008

RubyRubyRuby .... RUBY!!

After a morning of draggin rusty old boats out the thames ;) it was on to the next job, get a tow bar fitted on Daz's passat, pick up a trailer then on to Newbury to pick up a lonely beetle in need of a new home! Here's a few pics of Ruby hurtling along on the back of an extra large trailer... when I say hurtling I mean 50mph as anymore than that resulted in horrific snaking on the road, not the best like. :)

Who's that reversing through your back window Daz!

Are those frayed old straps holding out?

Safely tucked up in her new home...

Obsessive Canalboat Disorder...

Possible splinter-blog in early stages of development...Obsessive Canalboat Disorder!!!
Here's a few pic's of Peacock's Pride coming out the water yesterday morning ready for hull survey and hull blacking. Gently does it!!
They're never giving that 50 Tonne crane to that little lad are they?? my boat!!!
Fingers crossed I've still got a hull!!
No worries the man from Marina he say YES! ...quick wash and some special cream and it'll all be fine!

Monday, June 9, 2008

GOING DOWN A STORM


The exhibition has so far prooved to be a great success, especially with kids and OCD heads!!!
If you get the chance its open for another 2 weeks, Mon to Sat.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Art Exhibtion



An invititation to a Private Viewing of an OCD style Instalation at the King's Lynn Art Centre, Sat 7/6/08 2-4pm (exhibition continues for two weeks). All welcome.

A collection of 52 1:80 scale VW T2 Splitscreens made from white stoneware and finished in iron and manganese oxides.