1961 Austin Se7en

[AustinSe7en]

Thigh fit with the Carb

What cooling hoses are these?

Tight fit - Hmmmm, not as bad as it looks in the picture, don’t remember having any problems back in the day? It had an offset K&N and I have now fitted an adjustable engine steady, so I hope it will be OK.

The hoses are MED engineering classic silicone ones. Really nice quality and love how they look.

[AustinSe7en]

Been really fortunate that there have only been a couple of parts that I can’t find from when the car was taken apart all those years ago.

Found all the glass intact (and all date marked ‘61!) except for the windscreen.
When I started out on putting the car back on the road, date markings and such-the-like didn’t remotely bother me. Now however I have become positively obsessed by it all!!
I had kind of resigned myself to the fact that having to have a brand new windscreen wasn’t that bad really.
And then buried at the back of one of the garages I found two Mini windscreens - Eureka!!!! MY WINDSCREEN!!!
Still got the stickers on it from the two gatherings I attended!!
And if I interpret the date marking correctly, it would appear to be the original screen!

[AustinSe7en]

Hopefully that last batch of odds and sodds for painting

[AustinSe7en]

Metal headlamp bowls Raptored outside

[AustinSe7en]

Before some satin black inside and out

[AustinSe7en]

Along with the other bits and bobs.

Loads left to do, not sure where to start first!

[AustinSe7en]

A few jobs done this weekend.

Starting with the heater tap.
Seal was rock hard, but managed to use a Mercedes one I had in my toolbox.

[AustinSe7en]

First attempt at knocking up some gaskets for the heater pipe plates and the magic wand lower cover.

[AustinSe7en]

Having drilled the heater pipe plate out a bit to take the MED classic silicone hoses, and repainted it, my gaskets worked a treat.

[AustinSe7en]

With all the coolant hoses on I could finally fill the cooling system.
I used the Evans classic waterless coolant, ran the engine up to temperature, got the strobe out and set the timing.
No leaks

[AustinSe7en]

Managed to get a bit of cupronickel pipe in the week, and borrowed a flaring tool so I could make up a fresh pipe from the brake master cylinder to the bulkhead union.
Checked all of the connections on the clutch and brake systems and bled all the hydraulics.
Good feel to the pedals, so last job this weekend was fitting the accelerator pedal and cable.

[AustinSe7en]

A couple of people have queried what air filter I was using, and I was stating to panic a bit that maybe it might not fit with my abutment modifications!
So tried it on.
Still enough clearance so all good!

Next stage i guess will be the fuel system.
Done the tank a bit arse-about-face! In so much as I’ve painted the outside before doing the POR 15 on the inside!
Need to try and get that done during the week so that I can plumb it all in next weekend.

[AustinSe7en]

Finally found my missing plastic polish!
So had a bit of a play for five minutes to see if it will work.
Pleased with the results, just got to find the time to do it!

[UHR850]

Looking good.

[AndyB72]

Great work on the plastic bits, that wheel center has come up lovely.

[Muhib]

Just binged this entire thread. I love the attention to detail. I think the maroon engine would have tied nicely with your seats but you can never go wrong with MOWOG green. It’s almost there!

That horn push cleaned up rather nicely. If you wanted to give it a little more shine, a light coating of mineral oil worked wonders for me. It soaks up overnight (may require a quick wipe) but still retains that shine.



Those heater pipes from MED look ace and really complete the period look. I may have to get my hands on them.

[AustinSe7en]

Thanks for the comments!

Almost there......but yet a never ending list of stuff still left to do!!

I’ve been working on it, as and when I can, hopefully get a chance to post some updates soon.

[Muhib]

The final stretch is always the longest. Looking forward to the updates!

[AustinSe7en]

Been a bit busy at work, so doing a bit here and there when I get the chance!

Did the petrol tank a bit back to front, in so much as I painted the outside before doing the POR15 treatment on the inside!
Weird though how the sender side of the tank was lovely bright metal, and the filler neck side was rusty!!??
Not all that bad considering how long it’s been stood with no petrol cap on it, but wanted to give it the full treatment anyway.

[AustinSe7en]

Treatment all done and coating applied