SO what did you you do with your Stag today?

[GDPR]

Thought it was about time I sorted the driveline clonks as it is off to Le Mans in a few weeks - at 10.30 this morning it went up in the air and on stands, and the diff came out. Washed it off and stripped it, found, as I expected and pre ordered the planet and sun gear thrusts shot - the sun gear thrusts broken up and missing, and the planet ones seriously worn - both leading to the huge backlash I had.

A quick clean out, some new thrusts installed, a quick check of gear mesh and all assembled and back in the car by 3pm, in time to get my boy from school.

Rollout up shifts are now silent and smooth unlike before with a jerk and a clang as the prop shaft rang and R to D now "proper". Took the opportunity to clean out the driveshaft splines and try a new lithium/ptfe mix to see how long that lasts before it sticks.

A good day.

[I am Groot]

You are just soooo good!

[GDPR]

Yes Nige - I was thinking about letting the podgy little bugger walk home

How's things up up in Shropshireland mate?

[I am Groot]

Things are good Russ hope same for you,your right these kids don't walk hardly at all these Days!

[mole42]

I drove Mabel from Bristol to The Hague via the Tunnel.
A combination of football traffic and Le Mans traffic meant we spent 40 minutes in a queue for the first gate, and about half an hour queueing for the ticket gate and the passport control. I couldn't stop the engine because I needed the water pump running! Mabel the Stag will tickover for an hour without getting too hot and bothered, but I did have to run the cabin heater fan to provide extra cooling. A chap next to us an in vintage Bentley was not a happy chap at all.
It rained in Belgium. Boy, did it rain.
I proved that I can get the top erected in short enough time to prevent the inflow of water.

Richard

[WVD77]

After getting the starter motor, front pipes and radiator out last monday, today i got the propshaft off. That was after a loooong time spend on getting the middle section of the exhaust off. Got the bolts off on the flexplate from the torque converter. So nearly ready to get the autobox out. It will be my first time so hope fully it will not be too bad. Fingers crossed

Warnoud

[m9fdb]

Drove it round the block for the first time in ages and then stuck it back in its space !!!

Really need to find the time to use it more as its becoming an ornament !!!

[72BLUE]

Drove it round the block for the first time in ages and then stuck it back in its space !!!

Really need to find the time to use it more as its becoming an ornament !!!

How much are you looking for?

Cheers, Keith.

[LD334]

Fitted new inlet manifold gaskets in an attempt to keep the V dry. Put new gaskets on the water pump housing.
Getting the manifold to sit down and even the bolt torque was fun.
Now to clean the carbs.

[Tdm]

Cut some studs to use to hold the PAS bracket and system in place together with helicoils &
inserted them into the RH head together with some sealant in readiness for re-assembling
the Power Steering System tomorrow and testing it. (see Electrical & Fuel issues thread).
Also assembled a "back-up" device to help hold the bracket in place.

[GDPR]

Also assembled a "back-up" device to help hold the bracket in place.

String?

[Tdm]

String?

I will take a picture of it when it's done, in fact it is 2 back-up devices as the idea for the 2nd one was given to me by a neighbour who has an apartment out here as well as one in Devon and who used to work on car engines and whose son is currently working for one of the Formula one teams (actually it's the son who owns the Tenerife apartment).

Taking a day off today (Saturday) to play snooker, watch football, then go out for a meal with another ex-motor mechanic (and wife) who supplied the part for the 1st back-up device.

I assure you Russ neither of them involve string or chain. Having now replaced bolts with studs sealed into the RH head, I shouldn't have a thread stripping problem again when it comes to next having to remove the PAS.

Thanks to those who suggested using studs. The studs I cut myself by the way using some new bolts I had that fit the helicoils I had just put in, I simply cut the bolt ends off with a hacksaw.

[milothedog]

Why do you need a secondary (just in case device) Terry. if the helicoil repairs are sound and the fixings tighten up then its back to similar OE spec and should last another 40 years.

Ian.

[Tdm]

Why do you need a secondary (just in case device) Terry. if the helicoil repairs are sound and the fixings tighten up then its back to similar OE spec and should last another 40 years.
Ian.

It's just as a little bit of extra security Ian, and peace of mind. If I find the helicoil/stud fix is sound after driving the car for a while I can then easily remove them as they are quite simple additions. Call it paranoia if you like.

[Tdm]

A couple of pics showing the studs I have just fitted being held in place whilst they set with one of the PAS brackets and some nuts. Also at the same time relocated the battery cut-off switch.

Next job is to remove the nuts & fit the other bracket that holds the PAS (+ belt), then tighten up and see that it is holding O.K. with the engine running and the steering wheel being turned left & right.

Ps. The missing rocker cover screw will be put back later (you will see why I removed it in the next set of photos).

The top right and bottom studs are where I used new helicoils plus some sealent to hold them, the top left is the one where the hole had partly broken through the Head, and I had to drill it out slightly and fit and seal a nut in there in order to take the 3rd stud (shown with a temperary gold coloured nut attached). The picture on the right shows the new 80amp alternator now fitted which is the reason I had to remove the PAS in the 1st place.