Austin A70 Hampshire
- paulplom
- The Geordie Lord, Mario!
- Posts: 26280
- Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2019 7:01 am
- Has thanked: 10355 times
- Been thanked: 5540 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
I'm 5'8" and he's taller than me (not hard). I reckon he's about 5'11".
-
- Posts: 1309
- Joined: Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:38 am
- Has thanked: 1346 times
- Been thanked: 1396 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
I'm 6'3" and about fourteen stone,and fit just fine in my old Robin. The chap I bought it from was about 6'8" (didn't much matter which way round one held the tape measure) and must have been well over twenty stone..He wasn't there when my Dad gave me a lift to Great Leighs to pick it up,but had told me "my missus knows you're coming for it,just knock on the door and she'll have the keys and V5 ready." This proved to be the case, although his otherwise charming wife turned out to be no lightweight either when she answered the door. Later on that day I found one of the headlamps was just resting in the socket and often wondered if this had occurred when both of them got in and tried to shut their doors simultaneously .
Back on topic, that's a lovely job you're doing on LOB.
Back on topic, that's a lovely job you're doing on LOB.
-
- The TDW Ancient Crock Appreciation Club (official) Chairman
- Posts: 1005
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2020 9:14 am
- Location: Lincolnshire
- Has thanked: 762 times
- Been thanked: 1880 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
Good news, I now have all the missing gears.
The linkage which operates the four forward gears needed a slight adjustment, while the cable which operates the reverse gear needed the outer sheath brazing back to the threaded part. I did that this evening after work. Fortunately by dropping it down I was able to do it in situ. I took a picture of the adjustment before I took it apart to do the clutch, and although I had the correct number of threads showing, seven, I had the washer on the wrong side of the bracket when I put it back together. Hence it was throwing the adjustment out. The idea is you pull out the spring-loaded gear knob to select reverse, and if you don’t, that’s second gear. Forwards and down for both.
It feels good now, I haven’t driven it properly (as it was blocked in by two other cars) but I fired it up and all gears engage easily with the engine running. I moved it forwards and back in the workshop and it feels great.
Engine is a very willing starter too. I primed the mechanical fuel pump using its little lever, gave it about half choke, pressed the button and it fired up straightaway.
The next things to do will be to reassemble the front end, and to get the charging system working. I’m hoping it’s just the contacts in the Lucas RF-95 control box. This control box came with the Dutch shell, I had no luck getting a charge out of the original from LOB either and I have an (untested) secondhand replacement in stock so hopefully I can get one of them to work.
I had the dynamo tested last year and the bloke said it was ok, so it shouldn’t be that.
The linkage which operates the four forward gears needed a slight adjustment, while the cable which operates the reverse gear needed the outer sheath brazing back to the threaded part. I did that this evening after work. Fortunately by dropping it down I was able to do it in situ. I took a picture of the adjustment before I took it apart to do the clutch, and although I had the correct number of threads showing, seven, I had the washer on the wrong side of the bracket when I put it back together. Hence it was throwing the adjustment out. The idea is you pull out the spring-loaded gear knob to select reverse, and if you don’t, that’s second gear. Forwards and down for both.
It feels good now, I haven’t driven it properly (as it was blocked in by two other cars) but I fired it up and all gears engage easily with the engine running. I moved it forwards and back in the workshop and it feels great.
Engine is a very willing starter too. I primed the mechanical fuel pump using its little lever, gave it about half choke, pressed the button and it fired up straightaway.
The next things to do will be to reassemble the front end, and to get the charging system working. I’m hoping it’s just the contacts in the Lucas RF-95 control box. This control box came with the Dutch shell, I had no luck getting a charge out of the original from LOB either and I have an (untested) secondhand replacement in stock so hopefully I can get one of them to work.
I had the dynamo tested last year and the bloke said it was ok, so it shouldn’t be that.
-
- Prize Cunt
- Posts: 6337
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 6:31 pm
- Location: Big Al Granvia’s armpit.
- Has thanked: 718 times
- Been thanked: 2338 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
I’d still sand it down and give it a decent DIY paint job.
- mercrocker
- Numb3rP14t3Fun
- Posts: 17187
- Joined: Fri May 17, 2019 2:53 pm
- Has thanked: 12376 times
- Been thanked: 8740 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
I wouldn't.
There's a great long bar in Rock & Roll heaven.......
-
- The only technocripple in the village!
- Posts: 10652
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:04 pm
- Has thanked: 1615 times
- Been thanked: 964 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
Fuck the paint job as long as it's not rotting.
As I suspected I was right about everything.
-
- The TDW Ancient Crock Appreciation Club (official) Chairman
- Posts: 1005
- Joined: Wed May 13, 2020 9:14 am
- Location: Lincolnshire
- Has thanked: 762 times
- Been thanked: 1880 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
Showed my mate the painter photos and he said he can definitely do it. He’s going to come and have a look at it at some point. He showed me the 2k etch filler primer he uses which will apparently fill the little pits left when the rust patches have been sanded down. And crucially, it won’t come bubbling back through again.
It deserves to have a decent paint job as it’s a very straight body that will be benefiting from 4x new wings, new valance and a good bonnet.
I’ll probably get it done next year. He’s cheap so his calendar fills up quickly, despite not advertising.
It deserves to have a decent paint job as it’s a very straight body that will be benefiting from 4x new wings, new valance and a good bonnet.
I’ll probably get it done next year. He’s cheap so his calendar fills up quickly, despite not advertising.
- cuntbuster
- Posts: 277
- Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:18 am
- Has thanked: 508 times
- Been thanked: 102 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
So pleased to see this old thing reinvigorated. Real against the odds stuff.
Who you gonna call
-
- Prize Cunt
- Posts: 6337
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 6:31 pm
- Location: Big Al Granvia’s armpit.
- Has thanked: 718 times
- Been thanked: 2338 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
Ideally it wants bare metalling, the rusty bits acid etching and then a couple of good coats of 2K primer filler. It’ll take a lot of guide costing/blocking down. Decent acrylic paint will give a good period orange peely finish as original.
- fried onions
- Posts: 3317
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 6:29 pm
- Location: In my safe space (the garage).
- Has thanked: 1449 times
- Been thanked: 2372 times
Re: Austin A70 Hampshire - running and driving!
I don’t think there would have been many paint defects when this left the factory. Usually the more expensive the car, the more care gets put into making it. Certainly in those days.
Regarding the charging system if you have no joy with the spare control box I would buy a solid state regulator and fit it to the gutted shell of an original. This is what I’ve done with a couple of my cars and it keeps things looking factory (including the wiring) whilst providing a much more consistent charge and eliminating the voltage spikes which shorten battery life. Feel free to send it to me to do if you want.
Regarding the charging system if you have no joy with the spare control box I would buy a solid state regulator and fit it to the gutted shell of an original. This is what I’ve done with a couple of my cars and it keeps things looking factory (including the wiring) whilst providing a much more consistent charge and eliminating the voltage spikes which shorten battery life. Feel free to send it to me to do if you want.
Squire Dawson
HUMBER - built stronger to last longer.
HUMBER - built stronger to last longer.