September didn't start too well. The engine started making a strange noise on the way home from work and then wouldn't start after I pulled over to check it
The first check was a compression test - cylinders 4&3 were about 60psi, and 2&1 were above 180psi (the gauge was dropping a bit when I stopped cranking). This definitely sounded like a gasket blown between 4&3. There was a fluttering noise was when testing 3&4 - I'm guessing this was the sound of the air going between the cylinders and not out the right way
Yep - definitely blown! Also looks like a leak out from #1 towards the water pump..
After cleaning it all up and adding in a new gasket (lucky I had a spare of everything in the garage) it all looked pretty good.
One thing that didn't work after getting everything back together was the electronic module and the Accuspark blackbox ignition advance unit. I think I might have got a wire crossed when trying to get the car started on the side of the road, so I ended up back on some points (apparently the stronger Cooper S ones)
Now that I had disconnected the blackbox advance unit I needed to get the mechanical advance working again. I cut the tie wires and reinstalled the springs and it should have all been fine... I checked the timing and it was spot on, and the idle was very smooth - the only problem being that I had no advance when I revved up the engine. I pulled it all back out again and found that the advance cam was not rotating at all. Once the spindle was out of the distributor body it took me a bit of time to slowly lever off the advance cam - it was stuck really hard with a combination of solidified grease and rust. Next it was all cleaned up and greased, now it moved smoothly and everything worked as it should. One thing to note before you pull off the advance cam is the position of the drive gear - it is possible to put it on 180 degrees out which is a bit of a pain when you try and start the engine!
I did an oil change, checked a bunch of the things that I'd messed with in the last few weeks and took it for a decent drive around town to check everything was working as it should. It seemed to drive even better than before, I'm not sure if previously the gasket was on the way out, the timing now is better or if I'm just not used to driving it but it was a bunch of fun
It was nice to finally have it outside again so I gave it a good clean
I've finally bought a disc brake front end too! It's all genuine Cooper S parts, so all decent stuff
The calipers have got scrubbed and they’ll need new seals and some stainless pistons. The hubs look great, ball joints are genuine BMC ones and they just need shimming and greasing. The bearings are Timkens and also look really good and just need greasing
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The CV joints looked ok & I got a new pair of Rover boots, so just need greasing too. The discs and pads are a bit thin and will need to be replaced
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Once that’s all sorted I’ll need to get the right rear brake cylinders so that the brake bias is correct, and sort out what I’m going to do for wheels...
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The red wire needs to get unsoldered from the column end, then the old broken bit gets removed and it all comes out. Next is a quick clean up of the end of the stalk and the electrical contacts
The plastic end is pressed on first, then the spring and the bulb holder. The wire gets resoldered and then it’s ready to go!
I’ve bought the majority of the parts (I think) I’m going to need. New discs, Green Stuff pads, stainless pistons and seals, wheel studs etc. I was able to inspect the rear wheel cylinders and they are already 5/8” which means they don’t need to be replaced to suit the discs
