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It's still the flex lines. If there was fluid in there and it's been 10 years replace. The original BMC Shop Manual calls for replacement every 2 years and the rubber products we get these days aren't need as good as in years past.
 
would that be true even with the stainless / teflon lines? that is what I installed when I did the brake overhaul...
 
Got the MC out without any real issue. Even though I will be rebuilding it I am going to clean it up and bench bleed just to see how a 40y old MC has faired!
 
So, found the blockage right where it should have been. I had found the brake line union from FP hard line to FP flex line was loose when I pulled car out of storage. I used compressed air to clear all lines save the FP which was blocked. removed bleeder- still blocked. removed banjo from caliper, still blocked. Removed flex line, clear. poked inside the union end of the flex line and felt what was most likely a small bit of rust from moisture getting through the loose union over the past couple years of storage. Blew the line out from both ends with entire tank of air, and it is all good now. Will be re-flushing the entire system regardless, and will most likely replace all flex lines once the MC comes back but main goal was to eliminate the hard lines, PDWA, and caliper.
 
after a slight detour the project is moving along. A couple days after my last post, I completely tore a ligament in my thumb, and had to have surgery to have it reattached....tough to work on car with no thumbs...

anyhow, The radiator is back installed as well as the carb, and the fuel lines have been flushed out or replaced as needed. Also have been oiling the cylinders and turning the engine by hand, and went through the electrical system as well.

This weekend was go time- put the wheels back on and wheeled it outside.....Started on the third crank! It was hesitating whenever I tried to give it gas, and that is when I remembered that I didn't add any oil to the carb dashpot. Took care of that and it was running great. Still have no MC since I wasn't able to strip it down and get it sent out until I was able to use hand tools again.

I have a couple minor things to tackle-some lines need to be fixed in the vapor reclamation, and the left turn indicator on the dash is not working, even though the signals are working properly. Also need to change gearbox oil and the diff fluid.

Given I live on a small cul de sac, and the hand brake works fine, couldn't resist a first gear crawl down the end and back. Haven't driven it since June of 2009, and it hasn't run since shortly after that. All in all a great push forward.
 
77MidgetMkIV said:
after a slight detour the project is moving along. A couple days after my last post, I completely tore a ligament in my thumb, and had to have surgery to have it reattached....tough to work on car with no thumbs...
Click to expand...

Agreed, in fact I think it is safe to say that when I work on these cars I am all thumbs! :grin: seriously sorry to hear and take all the time to recover properly! Over the last week or so I have had a number of conversations with individuals (or their family members) who pushed it with regard to injuries and now face a MUCH longer rcovery period (or in some cases a chronic condition) the car will wait!
 
I hear that- a lot of people do more damage during recovery than as part of the original injury! Doing PT twice a week, and have the OK to use hand-tools from therapist as long as I wear the brace I have for recovery. Ironically, it is not the stuff that requires strength or torque, rather the fine motor control stuff-you should have seen me with the carb mounting bolts and the for mount screws for the radiator shroud! For the carb it it was a bit cool- I had moved my father in law last year to an apartment, and took possession of a number of ancient hand tools. a bunch were old, thin profile, s-bent box wrenches....had the perfect thickness and angle to get in there. I fumbled for a bit until I remembered I had them in another tool box in the cellar.
 
update- looks like my resleeved and rebuilt MC is shipping out in the next day or so. I mocked up some of the tubing needed to repair the vapor reclamation DIY that has been in since I bought it , and ran it a few more times. On vacation next week, so any work will have to wait, but it goes back under the knife when I get back for the MC install, brake bleed, fuel lines, and also gearbox and diff fluid change. then it gets re-registered so I can continue testing legally!
 
I was on vacation last week, but came home to my newly sleeved and rebuilt master cylinder! Installed it today and after a couple hurdles, got it bled and got all four corners bled. Was able to drive it up and down the street, and grind off some of the rotor and drum rust-with each pass it seems to get some more stopping power, which is nice. At this point, it is not losing any fluid the pedal pressure is consistent. I am planning on another full bleed to replace the fluid that I have been working with anyhow, so still some more work, but I am happy with the progress- next step is to renew the registration so I can do more road trials legally!
 
UPDATE: It's on the road! took a spin into AAA and they were able to use my last reg and current insurance and get it on the road in 5 minutes.
 
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