Pick up Restoration (Part 2)

[davidmiles]

Bolting on the new clutch is a bit of a fiddle, centralising the driven plate inside isn't the easiest thing to do without a splined tool to line it up.[frame][/frame]

[davidmiles]

It suggested in the Haynes manual that the gearbox itself can be used as a lineing up tool. The first stage splined shaft will line up the driven plate.[frame][/frame]

[davidmiles]

or taking one out of a scrap gearbox, I've got a spare box from the basket case box of bits, but I plan on cleaning it up and selling it to help pay for the cab interior.[frame][/frame]

[davidmiles]

The gearbox will soon be ready to bolt on. I wonder if I could attach the gearbox first then the engine, It would be easier and lighter that way. (I guess I'll need the propshaft in position to hold it in place at the rear)The mounts on the original field find gearbox have long since lost their rubber blocks, I think Mr farm rat had those for supper. Here the gearbox steady wire replaces the cut off old one.
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[davidmiles]

The gearbox cross member, here the rubber blocks are intact so I can unbolt the ones on the gearbox, the gearbox steady wire connects through the cross member where it bolts on. Is this wire enough to hold the gearbox in without the engine I wonder.[frame][/frame]

[davidmiles]

This earthing wire is intact, I cut the old gearbox one off with a disc cutter when I dismantled the original pickup relic. Can I tidy up this wire with black electrical tape without interfering with its earthing properties?
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[davidmiles]

The carbon thrust bearing connected with its spring clips and assembled with the clutch fork and nice new (unchewed) boot in the gearbox bellhousing.
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[davidmiles]

There's some parts to be ordered here, new bushes and spring, unfortunatly, despite my best efforts to clean it up, the relay rod is passed its best, the threads have rusted away and worst still....[frame][/frame]

[davidmiles]

The split pin has corroded away both sides, it sheared off leaving a section of it inside the end of the rod, never mind, these bits are only a couple of quid each from ESM. The short spring is only £1.25 so thats getting renewed.[frame][/frame]

[mogbob]

David the earthing strap is getting on a bit ( like me really ) a bit frayed at the edges.I'd bite the bullet and replace.It takes a lot of current and non replacement might contribute to future starting problems.
If you want the "fun " of replacing it later, crawling under the vehicle when it's all filthy, leave it for now, it might soldier on for quite a while.

Bob

[MarkyB]

Shame about the threads on the clutch rod as it has very little wear.
A soak in citric acid solution would clean up the spring I wouldn't bother with a new one.

The gearbox restraining wire wont do anything to support the weight of the gearbox, support it with some blocks or preferably a jack.
However, if you have an engine hoist, join the engine and box before you dangle them in place.
Fit the propshaft last, it wont help anything along.

[davidmiles]

Marky, thanks for that information, I could rest the gearbox on some blocks untill I finish re-building the engine and join them up.
You are quite right Bob, best to renew the earth lead now while I can easily get at it.

[davidmiles]

Some parts have arrived from ESM, the clutch lever spring looks shorter and possibly more compressed than its successor.[frame][/frame]

[davidmiles]

Bull motif had some cans of BMC green for under a fiver...[frame][/frame]

[davidmiles]

I decided to play safe and strip back to fit a new rear plate gasket, the size fits perfectly but the top doesn't seem to match the outline of the original one.
[frame][/frame]

[ampwhu]

I decided to play safe and strip back to fit a new rear plate gasket, the size fits perfectly but the top doesn't seem to match the outline of the original one.
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just done this on mine. the gasket it larger than before. i just slapped some more paint on after fitting and you can't see it now.

[Morin]

Hello mate, I have just spent a while reading through all this thread(and some others) and am blown away with all the work that folk are doing to theit cars.
David, I was wondering , as you have been so brave with the body, why have you not done a David on the engine and gearbox, I would have loved to have seen all the pictures of a full engine and gearbox restoration. It surely will look pretty now though with all that paint.
keep it up mate.

[Fingolfin]

That engine looks absolutely beautiful, David...nothing like the splotchy green/blue/rust/oil color that is mine! Many have said it before -- you're an inspiration. Do you realize you've done an entire strip-down and rebuild in a year? Someday I want to do that to my Mog...just tear it all apart, sort it out, build it up, make it new.

Is anything happening on the pickup proper? I imagine it's just waiting to receive the (now nearly showroom) engine?

[davidmiles]

Hang around guys, the pickup proper will be getting some attention soon. As far as the gearbox goes, I didn't fancy stripping it out unless there was a real reason, all those gears! it would have slowed me up some, and it turns over very smoothly by hand, so I have no reason to doubt (so far) its integrity as a sound unit. The cylinder block hand cranks over very smoothly since its stripping and re-assembly. When the head comes back from Autopics after its skim, I can't wait to assemble it all and run it for the first time, Very exciting.
In the meantime Ive got some fiddly bits to seat in the clutch before I can mount the gearbox in the pickup.
[frame][/frame]

[davidmiles]

The clutch assembled onto the flywheel and lined up using the gearbox.[frame][/frame]