Day 5: Crank removal, Engineer visit and news from Kent County Council!
The day started with removing more parts from the block and having to remove the crank, pistons, cam shaft and cam followers. Dad had also turned up to help which was nice. Little bit of pressure today as I'd been dreading this last bit. The bores had been filled with penetrating fluid, but all bar one piston had refused to let the fluid through and needed to get the parts over to the Engineer over in Brierly Hill. Those pistons weren't going to come out without a battle, but then what would when it'd been stood for 47 years?
Things may have been done a lot faster, but I'm slow and methodical and have to bag and label everything up (I'd be great working in the Police, bagging up evidence). I was really grateful to receive help getting the pistons out, I'd have never have been able to do it..............without causing copious amounts of damage. The pistons were all scrap and I just hoped the same would be said for the crank (they don't come cheap).
It was better news when the crank came out. The journals looked to be in good condition, but the ultimate confirmation would have to come from the Engineer.
By lunch time my ever faithful car was loaded with the engine block, cylinder head, pistons, crank shaft, cam shaft and a few other bits and bobs and I took off on my journey to see Mark at Absolute Engines. What a fab guy he was ! He took the time to measure, explain and answer any questions I had about the engine and, most importantly, he said that on first inspection, things looked good. He was able to tell me that Muriel's engine had had a re work before and that the crank had been ground, she'd had a rebore and had oversized pistons at +40. All of the parts are now going into a hotwash next week, allowing Mark to make his final inspections. Then we move onto what needs doing, what needs ordering and the price.
Some of you will know that Muriel's registration does not appear on the DVLA database and therefore, doesn't exist. I'd been working with the Morris Minor Owners Club to try and get her a new, age related plate. I'd been told that the plate currently on the car was from 1931 and wasn't the correct registration. Turns out the MMOC were mistaken. I'd done a little research and found out that Kent County Council held an archive (Muriel's reg was a Kent registration) and I'd contacted them to see if I could uncover any information.
I got home from delivering the engine parts to the engineers and found a letter from Kent County Council waiting for me. Not only had Kent CC confirmed that the registration belonged to Muriel, but they'd also provided me with a copy from the original vehicle registration ledger, proving everything I needed to provide to DVLA to keep her original registration. It's such a shame that I cannot share the photo of the ledger with you guys, but Kent CC have strict rules on the re production of their ledgers, but it really is wonderful to see that entry, made back in 1957!
From the Heritage Certificate that I'd ordered I was able to see who Muriel first ever went to from the factory, back on 2/3rd September 1956. She was delivered to a Company called Caffyn's, who are still trading to this day. From Caffyn's she was sold to E. Kent Motors Ltd. I did a search for E. Kent Motors Ltd, but the closest name I could find was East Kent Road Car Company which was in fact a bus company. I'm unsure if I have the correct company, but If I do, then can only assume she was a company car. See the link below which gives so much information about East Kent Car Company, it's really interesting. There's also a part two of the document you can link to from the bottom of part one.
https://doverhistorian.com/.../east-kent-road-car.../
Anyway, hope you're all finding this as interesting as I am and I'll give an update as soon as I hear back from the engineer, Mark.
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