We left things as I remember having just got the engine going following Sledmere. The problem appears to have been bad plugs though they were pretty new and purchased from one of the P6 specialists and specified for the job. Still, that's the oldest lesson in the book isn't it?
Anyway, new plugs and rotor arm have got the engine running reasonably smoothly, though it still takes a bit of effort to get started after a lay off. Mind you, all my cars are like that! I fitted the air cleaner together with all the bits not reassembled after Tony's late night tuning and the engine now runs quietly once warmed up, albeit at 1500 revs. Hoiking the pedal back with my toe cures that so I suppose the cure will be simple.
You will remember that the clutch failed as we were loading the car onto the trailer. One phone call had a new master cylinder on the mat in twenty four hours so I set out to replace it. The first problem is of course that one can't actually get a spanner to the bottom fixing nut. Well OK--- I can't. Anyway the brake servo had to come off for a start. No bad thing since a whole reservoir of fluid had vanished and the servo was suspect number one. Then having moved several wires and brackets and undone the pipework I was able to get a socket on the nut with the aid of two extension pieces. The nuts came off OK and the cylinder came out once I remembered that it was still fixed to the pedal.
The new one slotted in all right and I got the top nut on to locate it. Then, because I couldn't get the lower nut on I fixed the pushrod to the pedal so I could pull the cylinder back into place and then locate the last nut. Sadly I then discovered that the pedal and pushrod need to be at the right angle, one to the other, in order to start the thread and this can't be done unless both nuts are in place. And both nuts won't go on until the pushrod is fixed. Here we go again! The answer proved to be to jam a chunk of two by one in the bay to push the cylinder into place and after much claustrophobic contortion in the footwell The cylinder was bolted up.
This being Thursday the Bees Wing called and I took my servo along to Fred's for the pre pub session to get someone to fit the repair kit, not being in the mood by now. Tony kindly did the job in spite of most of the bits being jammed and then announced that as there was no fluid in the casing the servo was not to blame and another explanation should be sought for the disappearance of the fluid. The favourite solution was that I had put the rear caliper rubbers in the wrong way round and the fluid was filling the rear caliper covers. I do love the way the whole team gets together to boost my confidence and self esteem, don't you?
Anyway, back to the clutch. Next day, armed with a gallon of brake fluid and lots of plastic tubing I set to to bleed it. Giving up on the Easybleed (on the grounds of idleness, I'd have to fetch a spare tyre ) I set up and gave the pedal some stick. Bubbles seemed to come from the pipe for ever. How can such a small device hold so much air? Never mind, at last clear fluid and I closed the nipple and had a nice firm pedal. Full of joy I started the engine to casually flick through the gears with the aid of my newly found clutch. The sound of grating and crashing would bring strong men to tears. Clearly no clutch yet, so more bleeding. Same result. Crash, grate, grate, crash. Much gnashing of teeth later it occurred to me that I had screwed the pushrod so far into the pedal that it couldn't possibly get a full travel when the pedal was pressed. Sure enough when the rod was backed off far enough the clutch worked as designed and the gears changed sweetly and silently.
And so to the brakes. After getting the car up on stands on the near side I filled the reservoir and opened the front nipples. (Tony's idea, just let it leak through) . Having little faith in this apparently too easy system I also worked the pedal a lot. As with the clutch a surprising amount of air emerged. Then I attempted the rear calipers which I had been putting off. First you have to get under from the rear and wriggle till the nipple is in sight of the inspection light. This involves having the de Dion tube pressing in your face. Then you apply the spanner which involves pushing a size ten hand into a size five space which not only blocks the light but removes surplus skin at the same time. The technique seems to be to remember where the nipple is and close your eyes and go for it. Anyway, to cut the long story short the rear calipers eventually gave out no further air and a hard pedal was achieved. Such happiness did this success engender that I cleaned up and gave up for the day in triumph.
Seasoned readers will have a good idea of what comes next!
Entering the garage in triumph the next day I was intrigued to see that the brake reservoir was all but empty. And I knew it was full when I left it. A search under the car revealed no puddles of fluid and the rear caliper rubber theory gained credence by the minute. Just by chance I picked up a rag lying outside the raised front wheel and found in soaked in brake fluid. Further inspection found a trail of fluid down the inside of the wheel, across the tread of the tyre and down onto the aforesaid rag. In panic I tightened up everything pertaining to the brakes on that corner and retired for sustenance. There has been no leak since so I don't know where it came from and to be honest, if it stays dry I don't want to know.
And so for the moment that is pretty much it. I spent one more day offering up the exhaust loosely to establish the preferred course down the underside. I well remember as a lad spending hours under cars changing bits of exhaust because I couldn't afford a whole system, Remember that? I hated doing it then and I've just remembered why. I'll report on that next time. Since then a week's holiday with my four grandchildren has taken precedence and I now need another week to correct the sleep deprivation. At least we now have an engine that runs, a clutch to connect it to the rear wheels, a steering wheel which works and brakes. More than enough to have a go around the garden don't you think?
Watch this space!