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if thats no good try chris draycott on 01332 850856
he specialises in rebuilding sunbeam alpines and race preparation and normally has cylinder heads,hes opposite east midlands airport just off the m1/a50/a42 junction
 
Hmmmm, sounds a bit of a challenging repair [xx(] but its no good as it is so there is nothing to lose by trying ;)


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"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
 
The power of this forum really showed itself today - thanks Jimmy. Sceptre engine now resides under a cover waiting to be stripped of its head[^] Just a thought it's not an Arrow series engine as the mounts would make it sit straight - not at an angle - so I'm wondering if it's a 1600. Are the heads the same as that on the 1725? advice please, also what are the external differences between the two or can it be identified by engine number.

After visiting Jimmy to look at he engine this morning we went to a local antiques and crafts centre, on a previous visit I was chatting to a guy who restores and sells furniture and I asked if he had any drawer fronts or wardrobe doors I could use to make a fascia and glove box for Harvey. We shot the breeze for over an hour and it turns out he used to camp out in an old Commer van on a farm where him and his mates did odd jobs for pocket money - small world. Anyway he produced a couple of oak veneered wardrobe side panels that will be perfect - and he wouldn't take any money for them he just made me promise to show him the finished article sometime soon - a true gent and a real enthusiast with a passion for his trade.
I was determined to do something this afternoon and the steering wheel looked a bit sad, as you can see from the numerous pics its appeared in, so that got a good rubbing down and a couple of coats of gloss back - the indicator cowling got the same treatment and looks luvverly, just got to get the rest of the cab up to scratch:I

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quote:
Originally posted by Enigma

What a bummer[:0][:0]

Sounds good though:) G'sus you must be really frustrated at this point mate....




Frustrated......me, nah. I was well pi***d off when I first found it but my faith has been restored[^]

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everything crossed for you that the head fits:)

bugger , having to take the gearbox out again:(

What a lovely little tale about the timber[8D]



 
the engine number usually corresponds to the chassis number.the engine number is on a flat above the petrol pump
go to www.team.net/www/rootes/chassis.html
this will tell you what it came out of(unless its a recon)
if you can find out what model i will have a look in my rootes books to see if i can trace if its 1592 or 1725
 
Thanks Steve, I think it is a recon unit. Do you know if the heads are the same - that's all I want to use for now if it will fit.

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I whipped the head off the spare engine tonight and........................result, the valve diameters match those quoted for the 1725:D Needs a good clean up but it will do nicely - thanks again Jimmy[^]

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well, i didn't look in testerday and just got in from work....loads of wonderful news to catch up on[8D]...but hang on!!....Mr Panky? where may I ask is your update??:)



 
Crikey it was hot today - I drank 3 litres of water while I was working in the BOTG[xx(] I must have sweated most of that out again. I've stripped the spare head down an got a price for pressure testing, skim and valve seat re-cut - if this one goes on I'm making sure it's OK.
As a temporary measure I bunged up the leak with a gob of epoxy putty[8)] I ran the engine on tick-over for about an hour to prove the repair and really test the cooling system. The temperature gauge is telling lies as it never moved above a quarter scale but the electric fan cut in as it should and the Davies Craig water pump did a fine job , at no point did I think the engine was cooking - all this in the confines of a small garage on the hottest day of the year[^] I set the timing up with a strobe and locked up the dizzy but the tick over was a bit high - the throttle return spring on the SU wasn't quite man enough to pull it back to it's stop but a bit of fettling to give it a bit more tension soon sorted that out. Its strange but once the engine was really warm the spigot bearing didn't seen so noisy (must have been the exhaust fumes getting to me:I) The engine starts on the button now - hot or cold so hopefully it will be a reliable old lump.
Once I was happy with the engine the excuses for putting the cab back together sort of ran out:I so the old vinyl wheel arch and engine covers were given a good clean, repaired with a stapler, then re-fitted. The front bench seat was a bit grubby so again this got the 'Pank's Amerzin Vikleen' treatment and put back in place. I spent a couple of midweek evenings sprucing up the steering wheel and once the dash got a seeing to with Autoglym vinyl cleaner everything is looking pretty good.
Tommorow the plan is to clear the garage and get Harvey out so I can finish off painting the roof and put the cab doors back on - it's getting really exciting:D

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I had the same thing with the SU spring, the throttle is really heavy now :I Really is coming on now, wish the Detector was[V]

http://www.commervanspares.co.uk/

http://www.yorkshireclassiccampers.co.uk/
 
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