sad story

[grainger]

hi

i havent been on for a few months, thought id bring you up to date - about a month before xmas, i noticed the ignition light on my 66 2 door saloon was taking longer and longer to go out, i measured the voltage coming off the dynamo at only about one volt, im sure i did it right (short the 2 terminals together - then measure between that and the earth ) - anyway rather than messing with it i ordered a replacement from ESM - while i was waiting, i had to get out so i thought ill take a spare battery and even if the dynamo isnt charging i'll run it until it stops then change the battery to get home - anyway then the oil light came on, no prob, i already had the oil and the filter element, it had done about 10k so i took it home, changed the oil and it all seemed to be fine (isnt it difficult to see fresh oil on a dipstick ?) - so off i went again with the spare battery - and it was going nice for about five miles, then i noticed the tapping noise which it had since i bought it was getting louder - i stopped and the engine was sounding like a big lawn mower with something stuck in it by now, and it was boiling up all over the place - i had to get it home so i let it cool off and drove it back - the noise was incredible by the time i got home - so that was that - i was already counting on spending a grand to get a lot of work done on the body (rotten boot, spring hangers,doors inner wings etc) to get it through its mot next month - well to get someone to take the engine apart was going to add a few more hundred including repairs to the engine compartment - it had had it !! oh no !! - anyway its sat there all xmas, ive now bought a traveller for 2 grand which isnt perfect but it is beautiful and its engine sounds like a bmw compared to my 2 door (even before it died) - i worked out the cost of all the spare parts from the 2 door that would be useful on the traveller and its getting on for 500 quids worth, 'll scrap the shell - yesterday i went and started the 2 door up after a month and its still going great except for that racket

cheers
grainger

[Cam]

Grainger,

My heart goes out to you mate.

I know that you have fallen out with the 2-Door now, but if you have got the space why not keep it for a future restoration project.

In 6-12 months you may be able to look on it with different eyes.

Good luck with the traveller though!!

[grainger]

yeah im not making any decisions yet

ive been thinking i might use it for learning to weld on actually, the engine might be as simple as a busted cam, and anyway ive not even opened the rocker cover yet - you might be right, i think i will wrap it up in a tarp for now and get on with this traveller, if i need any bits its there anyway

everything ok with you cam ? - winters hard on these old dears isnt it ? especially without a garage, hope yours is going well

see you
grainger

[Cam]

Mine is starting to show a bit of surface rust through near the rear bottoms of the front wings. But I'll have to wait until summer to do that one.

Like you say, the winter is a bit harsh on the old dears.

I am busy doing my MGB at the moment, rust, rust, rust. Grind grind grind.

Oh well, never mind......and we do this for fun?!?

[rayofleamington]

Hi Grainger,
Sorry to hear the sad tale of your 2 door.
No chance of taking a 2 hour look-see getting, the head off etc..? There's always a chance to pick up a cheap second hand engine if you find something nasty in it, but there's also a chance you find something simple.
If it's a runner, there's always a daft-un like me who'll take it on as a resto.

Gayle's car did an impression of head gasket failure on a test-run before the MOT (not been used for 2 years before I bought it). It started to clatter and splutter and barely had the guts to get back down the back lane .
It turned out to be a fouled plug, and boy was I relieved ! The clatter was just the exhaust on the bulkhead due to the shaking engine.

[rayofleamington]

Well if you can get hold of a trailer - this could be your free engine?

http://test.mmoc.org.uk/modules.php?op= ... opic&t=795