• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

Yesterday's drill

Share this page

DrEntropy

DrEntropy

Great Pumpkin
Platinum
Country flag
Offline
A friend's '67 MGB had clutch hydraulic failure, the master cylinder stopped building pressure. Got the appropriate kit from Moss, went to his place and we spent four hours doing the task. Rust in the bore at the front, the cylinder had been replaced when the car went through a mechanical rebuild a couple decades back. Whoever did the work neglected to put any lubricant at the pushrod end of the M/C, the car has sat most of its life, too. Clevis pin was dry as well. Honed the cylinder and installed new seals. Today the Eezi-Bleed goes with me and we finish the job.

To anyone thinking this is a "no big whoop" task, I suggest taking the vehicle to an experienced tech. Getting the cylinder out is almost straightforward, disassembly and honing the bore is like any outher M/C. Reinstalling the thing is akin to combining a contortionist act with building a ship in a bottle... entertaining for the viewers, nerve-wracking for the performer. Much colorful language and gnashing of teeth. In other words: "Don't try this trick at home!"
 
I hear ya, Bubba! Evil task. Fingers and wrists need to be fully articulating. And tiny. Wretched designers.

How many times did you bump yer noggin on the hood performing said drill?
 
Many years ago when I was at the Porsche shop, a Lotus Europa came in with a waterpump issue. I was the only guy with Lotus experience at the time. Did the job with the engine in the car. The "book time" is 18 hours, R&R engine/gearbox is the first step, remove head and pan... I'd done my car's once and another Elan of a pal. Learned the "tricks". Did the Europa in just under eight. The guys in the shop then said I had "Lotus fingers".

Brer Mick said:
How many times did you bump yer noggin on the hood performing said drill?
Click to expand...


Ahhh... learned to avoid that particular insult early in life. The earlier cars that used a hood prop, all you need is a length of rope to go from the hood's release catch to the hook of the trunk lock. The hood then can be put into a vertical stance. Later cars require removal of one bolt to accomplish said solution. Can't say the under-dash head thump has as elegant a solution though. But yesterday no blood was drawn.
 
Back
Top