SO what did you you do with your Stag today?

[GrahamF]

Just back from our first classic car tour. 400 miles in three days, the most we've done in a short period in our '75 in three years of ownership. 90 miles down the M40 to Wokingham to join the Regis Classic Tour, then two days of touring around Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire with 60 other classics, from a 1927 Rolls Royce and a 1930 Bentley blower, to our humble Stag. We finished Sunday afternoon at the Williams F1 centre at Grove in Oxfordshire, before another M40 run back to Warwickshire. The recent investments of a new radiator, a Stagweber header tank and new hoses was well worth it. The car ran beautifully, and gave the XK Jaguar's a good run for their money. Hood down all weekend, and a big grin on my face at the gorgeous Stag sound again was up there with the very best of the classics on show.

[new to this]

Coming along nicely Dave, soon be on the road.

ive still got the servo to buy and fit

[stagmyson]

put the interior back in after having new floors, sills etc

[Ctwidle]

Took the Stag to see uncle Greg Tunstall in Brisbane for a health check. There were at least 7 Stags around the workshop with probably enough bits for several others lying around! Mechanic gave it a very thorough looking at and found a number of little "challenges" for me.
Minor leak from diff, no nose piece reinforcement and quite a lot of backlash.
Rear brake hoses about ready for replacement as is the hand brake cable.
Gearbox leaking oil, probably from selector shaft 'o' rings.
A few minor engine oil leaks (sold me a spin on filter kit as part of the cure). All showing that the famed under body anticorosion system is functioning well.
Known radiator filler neck weep now accompanied by a header tank weep shown up by the fluorescent dye I put in last week and the piece de resistance a head gasket coolant leak.
I had been chasing minor cooling leaks since I put in the HT and a new set of hoses a few weeks ago, mainly minor ones from corroded aluminium spigots on pump and thermostat. The HG leak was a bit of a surprise as it is only visible from below as it is around the middle bolt directly under the exhaust manifold between numbers 3 and 5 cylinders.
Nothing to keep her off the road but plenty to keep me busy. Step one has been to re torque the o/s head to 80Nm. All threads backed off easily by 1 flat or so. While I was at it I took of the cam cover, took out and cleaned the flame trap, gave the pieces a good soak in degreaser, pressure washed them and decided they looked better than the SS scouring pad I had bought and put them back in. As they looked so good after 40 years I just tack welded the plate back in. Mistake, I only have a stick welder so I had a devil of a job making sure no slag got left behind! I used the scouring pad to tidy up some bits of the cover that I couldn't get to with a wire brush then gave it a spray with high temp enamel.
Will clean off the fluoro stain and monitor before trying a sodium silicate type sealer (like K-Seal) as I don't want a sealer that stays in permanently and I hope to fix the rad leaks as well but I also want to know if the re torquing has any effect as I am concerned it will be a possible cause of future problems if a bolt is continually wet.
Tomorrow I will check the valve clearances on that side and put in a new gasket and seals before a test run.

That's actually three days work as I had to repair the ride on mower as well!

[Pete]

Well the fettling on my "fully restored" continues. Today I managed to get the overdrive, blower motor and windows working again (temporary switch on a piece of two core mains cable for OD mind). A cable was missing from the ignition relay and the blower switch was just incorrectly wired. The woodwork on the dash continues - the leather on the fascia is much thicker that the vinyl so bits on the centre console and either side of the glove-box need to be reduced in size. I drove to a garage to get some fuel to test the overdrive and got permission to put the car on the ramp to inspect the speedo cable. I took it and and reseated but still no joy so I'm guessing the housing has to come off next.

[thebadleys]

On Saturday rebuilt diff and mounted on suspension subframes and very bravely refitted to car on my own, bit of delicate balancing required. All bolted up, brakes bled on Sunday morning and the a 20 mile road test, vey happy with diff, quiet and smooth, and certainly pulls away pretty quick after the 3.45.

On Monday went down to lock up to start the MGB, horror, would not fire up, checked usual items but suspect electronic ignition has passed away, so this afternoon going to take my "spare " distributor (from a Minor 1000 early one with pints and condenser ) and fit that, always works when I've used it on Mini's, Midgets and 1300 and a MGB.

[KOY 23]

Finished the BMW servo conversion, changed from Greenstuff to Mintex M1144 pads and adjusted the rear shoes. Loads of initial bite from cold. Car always stopped before but didn't inspire confidence, now its like a modern.

[new to this]

Finished the BMW servo conversion, changed from Greenstuff to Mintex M1144 pads and adjusted the rear shoes. Loads of initial bite from cold. Car always stopped before but didn't inspire confidence, now its like a modern.

John

what did you make the spreader/strengthening plate out of alli or steel ?

dave

[KOY 23]

Steel.

[Donkey]

Just back from our first classic car tour. 400 miles in three days, the most we've done in a short period in our '75 in three years of ownership. 90 miles down the M40 to Wokingham to join the Regis Classic Tour, then two days of touring around Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire with 60 other classics, from a 1927 Rolls Royce and a 1930 Bentley blower, to our humble Stag. We finished Sunday afternoon at the Williams F1 centre at Grove in Oxfordshire, before another M40 run back to Warwickshire. The recent investments of a new radiator, a Stagweber header tank and new hoses was well worth it. The car ran beautifully, and gave the XK Jaguar's a good run for their money. Hood down all weekend, and a big grin on my face at the gorgeous Stag sound again was up there with the very best of the classics on show.

Nice one Graham, got my juices flowing a bit there.

Our season isn't too far away. We have an "All Marque" club locally with about eighty members (not bad for rural France) and have a full and interesting year of tours, visits etc.

Interesting also, the facility at Grove used to be my HQ before it was sold to Williams.

Sounded like you had a blast, great.

Brian

[thebadleys]

Have been looking at new soft top and recon frame, so after making a few enquiries decided on Jim at South East Trimmings, after a good chat with him about his spec and a search on here about the work he has done I have placed an order.

The only downside for me was the up to 12 weeks delivery, may be quicker, depends on his powder coater, still gives me time to save up from my pension !!!

[Jeff]

Probably the box unfortunately mate, it was probably damaged with that incident in your Garage. If I were you I would shove a bottle of additive in it, I've heard good things about an this one. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lucas-Tran...25.m3641.l6368, cheap enough to see if it improves things and It should buy you a bit of time given the amount you use the car.

Ian.

Arrived today, hopefully get it in tomorrow and test run it.

Jeff.

[Bob Heritage]

Had a run to the main Post Office, as the Stag is currently taxed to end March, I thought I would register it for historic and put some free rent on it. No was the reply, you can't register for historic until 1st April

[wilf]

Yesterday I bought Buttercup a recon starter.

[stagmuffin]

Finished the BMW servo conversion, changed from Greenstuff to Mintex M1144 pads and adjusted the rear shoes. Loads of initial bite from cold. Car always stopped before but didn't inspire confidence, now its like a modern.

thats extly my experience of these pads john ! well happy