A40 Devon Countryman project

[Vikingo Tropical]

I won’t have much time for this car for some days, but I always try scape down to my basement when I hace opportunity to do so!
As the the floor panels was full of dents I just cover them with stainless steel...

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

The woodwork beguin to get ready, Now it's time for upholstery

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

I have beguin a research for chrome items in bad shape nearest workshop who rechrome is 2000km away at mainland...
As I feel it's pity taking away the original upholstery the Idea is to just make some nice covers as this car will be used much and frequently.

 

[Craig Robin]

The woodwork beguin to get ready, Now it's time for upholstery

This project looks amazing, lately I've been seeing similar build on the internet.

 

[78Z]

Very nice. The wood work is lovely.

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

Hi, thanks for all nice comments.
Last weeks I haven’t done much on this car due to I’m also restoring several old motorcycles.

I need a to find an second hand differential as the one in my old A40 is totally broken, I have been searching around a bit but I’m not really shore witch other cars share the same one as there is just one Countryman in the island where I live.

 

[78Z]

Would any A40 Devon/Dorset differential fit? The cars might have a different final gear ratio but would probably work. I knows the cars had mechanical brakes at the rear which probably does not carry forward to anything newer.

The later A40 Somerset has the hydro brakes for example.

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

You can see at the righthand side the broken differential from my A40, And if you compare this with the smaller A35 unit you can observe the missing parts

 

[JPSmit]

A quick search with the google suggests that an MGB or TR6 rear axle is awfully close. Might be worth a complete swap

https://www.automobile-catalog.com/auta_details1.php

CAR SPECIFICATIONS - MGB ROADSTER 62-70 | Moss Motors

mossmotors.com

tr6 rear track width - Google Search

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

I have found a rear axle from a Morris Oxford donor car at the island. I just creeped under the car and measured as good as possible and it seems to be very similar...
I my fingers crossed

 

[JPSmit]

keep us posted

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

went to pick up the diff this afternoon that I found at the island (5km from home).
And yes it’s exactly the same as the one in my car.
I feel very lucky with this found!

 

[Bayless]

Congratulations. Good find.

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

Congratulations. Good find.

140€ I believe is a good price and I haven’t to pay transport nor customs ....

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

I will assemble the rear diff tomorrow if I have time (I have a tennis match at 17.00h).
Next step is to take care of the brakes as they doesn't work at all, I will begin having a look at the master cylinder first and changing break fluid

 

[78Z]

That is a great find!

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

I cleaned the diff today and had a close inspection at it, Doing this I discovered that the splines is not the same as on the oem diff...
The solutions I find for this is:
1. Swap the whole rear transmission
2. Try swapping just the Morris drive shafts to my transmisión
3. Combing old parts from my diff putting this in the “new” unit. I don’t like this one as my unit is very worn sprockets.

I will try 2” option first..

 

[JPSmit]

You have nothing to lose - try working through the list.

 

[Silverghost]

There is a person here in the US selling off a major collection of Austins. RareAustins.com or check with Julian Howard on Facebook. North American Orphan Austin Cars Society is the Facebook group. This was a very well known collection of Austin cars - and parts? - in Fresno, California. Worth checking for the things you are looking for.

 

[Vikingo Tropical]

Finally I bought the complete rear axle from a Morris Oxford diesel, the Oxford rear axel is 39mm wider than the A40 unit but it will fit as there good room between the tyres and rear fenders.