The Dark Wob

For an old OHV plodder, that looks a lovely bit of kit. Did you get stem seals fitted?

That looks proper that does.

Almost a hemi, too.....Lovely to see.

That looks a fantastic Job
Hats off to you sir

This just came up on a Facebook group, is it the same?

That one's an Austin or Morris LD.....Lots of old blood boxes had pretty common bodywork.

Yes I have new valve stem seals fitted, they are retained inside the valve spring caps. Can't wait to get it up and running again but will take me around a month.

Good things come to those who wait, etc.

Still not re-fitted the cylinder head. This weekend I hope to have cleaned the engine block ready for it and painted the lot. The Allegro is in need of attention now, the Walker exhaust pipe which was new but unused in 1994 and then in my use since 2013 has rotted through just before the rear silencer. I heard a blow but did nothing about it until one day walking back to where the car was parked saw it hanging very low... it had rusted clean in half. I just removed the tailpipe and silencer and left it in the car park. The blower motor also gave up the ghost, so I removed it and bench tested. The smoke rising from it showed it had found its Valhalla. I have a replacement to fit. Also the brakes are due a spruce up, although I rebuilt the system in 2013 I re-used the pads and shoes, which were probably the ones it left the factory with, so 6 years and 20,000 miles later (total 53,000) they are making me aware of the need for some TLC. I have been neglecting the little car, and not even washed it for ages, but credit to the design and build quality it still keeps going without protest.

The dynamo and starter motor look much better for a coat of paint. I cleaned them up using the wire brush attachment on the power drill, after masking over the inspection apertures so no dust fell into the workings. Then sprayed on some Eastwood satin black radiator paint. I didn't want gloss, as that would be too shiny, and matt black too dull. What remained of the original finish looks to match the satin paint. I will also be doing my radiators with this Eastwood stuff eventually, hopefully it is tough paint and doesn't chip or scratch easily. But cleaning and painting these parts was well worth doing as the engine bay will look superb once everything is freshly painted.