Rusty the Autosleeper 2.0
- Thread starter CommerVanDan
- Start date
Progress has been ongoing still, very close now! 
I have a couple questions though,
Which way does the distributor fit on?
And I think the firing order is 1, 3, 4, 2 ( I could definitely be wrong though haha) Which is #1?
Other than that, brakes need playing with then I think it's almost MOT time!
I have a couple questions though,
Which way does the distributor fit on?
And I think the firing order is 1, 3, 4, 2 ( I could definitely be wrong though haha) Which is #1?
Other than that, brakes need playing with then I think it's almost MOT time!
Well, I had the distributor on the wrong way round... don't I feel silly.
Sorted now though!
A friend of my dads who lives around the corner came to give a hand, he's into his Rootes stuff, he has a Hillman Imp van that he's restoring at the moment. (I've been measuring the driveway to see if an Imp will fit, I reckon one would fit where the bins are, parents might murder me though...)
Weather has been a bit rubbish round these ends recently, all I have left is the petrol tank to pipe up and a few small jobs! (Might be after an aluminium tank and an SU carb conversion soon; 6-speed sounds good too! )
An earth could do with fixing too, for some odd reason the throttle cable got a bit hot with the key turned over once... confused my dad a bit, and I have no idea haha.
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Might try start her tomorrow, weather permitting!
Sorted now though!
A friend of my dads who lives around the corner came to give a hand, he's into his Rootes stuff, he has a Hillman Imp van that he's restoring at the moment. (I've been measuring the driveway to see if an Imp will fit, I reckon one would fit where the bins are, parents might murder me though...
)Weather has been a bit rubbish round these ends recently, all I have left is the petrol tank to pipe up and a few small jobs! (Might be after an aluminium tank and an SU carb conversion soon; 6-speed sounds good too!
)An earth could do with fixing too, for some odd reason the throttle cable got a bit hot with the key turned over once... confused my dad a bit, and I have no idea haha.
Might try start her tomorrow, weather permitting!
Oops, I guess the leads were put on so the firing order was clock-wise
It sounds like the engine earth strap is missing or broken to cause the throttle cable to get hot, be careful that could cause a fire. The strap is usually connected across the offside engine mount, it's a swine to get to but it needs to be done.
It sounds like the engine earth strap is missing or broken to cause the throttle cable to get hot, be careful that could cause a fire. The strap is usually connected across the offside engine mount, it's a swine to get to but it needs to be done.
I had a mini that broke its earth strap and was using the choke cable as an earth!!
You couldn't pull the choke and start the car at the same time as it got too hot......
You couldn't pull the choke and start the car at the same time as it got too hot......
It's been a little while, (A month to the day actually haha) since an update.
Good news!
She starts and sounds healthy, My dad was a bit jealous, she sounds better than his Riley 1.5 (due to go under resto' next, after the Commer and then Vauxhall...) She's done well though, last restoration was before I was born!
I'm not good with names, but a part inside the gearbox had come off and rotated 90 degrees, causing some serious sparks as it grinded away. We had a bit of a leak too so it was fairly scary as they were close together.
Both sorted, back together again and she moves! Only given 1st gear and reverse a go as there's about 2ft of room to move on the driveway, but she can move on her own (No more pushing! Yay!)
Had a few carb problems too, but that should be sorted soon. She still has a Zenith after all (And a 14 year slumber, that I know of.)
Also had some "Whitewall tyre paint" left over from my Wolseley, transforms the alloys but I think i'll have to put a fair bit on... not quite as good as the real thing haha.
And an artsy-fartsy shot from Instagram;
I've also been thinking about Rusty's history, can anyone shed any light on where she's been?
I've found a couple forum posts and the odd "Auction site" links, I think she's lived in the south most of her life, bit of a change from up here in the north haha.
My parents have been on holiday, but they're back tomorrow. I'll give my dad a day or two to rest, then full steam ahead for the final stretch.
We're almost road worthy!
Good news!
She starts and sounds healthy, My dad was a bit jealous, she sounds better than his Riley 1.5 (due to go under resto' next, after the Commer and then Vauxhall...
) She's done well though, last restoration was before I was born!I'm not good with names, but a part inside the gearbox had come off and rotated 90 degrees, causing some serious sparks as it grinded away. We had a bit of a leak too so it was fairly scary as they were close together.
Both sorted, back together again and she moves! Only given 1st gear and reverse a go as there's about 2ft of room to move on the driveway, but she can move on her own (No more pushing! Yay!)
Had a few carb problems too, but that should be sorted soon. She still has a Zenith after all (And a 14 year slumber, that I know of.)
Also had some "Whitewall tyre paint" left over from my Wolseley, transforms the alloys but I think i'll have to put a fair bit on... not quite as good as the real thing haha.
And an artsy-fartsy shot from Instagram;
I've also been thinking about Rusty's history, can anyone shed any light on where she's been?
I've found a couple forum posts and the odd "Auction site" links, I think she's lived in the south most of her life, bit of a change from up here in the north haha.
My parents have been on holiday, but they're back tomorrow. I'll give my dad a day or two to rest, then full steam ahead for the final stretch.
We're almost road worthy!
Looking great
For history just download form V888 from the DVLA website. Fill it in stating you want to build up a history file for your historic vehicle and send it off with (I think it's still £5) payment and a few weeks later you shouild recieve copies of all previous V5 and old style log books showing details of all the previous owners and addresses.
You can then try writing to the addresses to see if the owners are stil laround and maybe speak to them about Rusty. They may even let you have photos from the early days if they have them. For £5 it's a bargain.
You can then try writing to the addresses to see if the owners are stil laround and maybe speak to them about Rusty. They may even let you have photos from the early days if they have them. For £5 it's a bargain.
I'm terrible at keeping up to date!
You're right Panky! She has some lower profile tyres on and the side panels extended by 1-2" ( I think at least, I kinda eyed up other vans on here and google ). She was lowered when we got her, but we've converted her back to standard height.
And cheers Baz, I think I'll get onto that!
DVLA will love us, I'd like to get history on my Commer & Wolseley... and my dads Riley, Wolseley and Vauxhall haha.
I can't quite remember what the problem was Andrew, my dad gets up a lot earlier than me (Too lazy...) and had it sorted by the time I got up haha. It was to do with the main jet, float needle or the twin floats, one of them had come loose.
We're onto the home stretch now though, got a bit of welding to do to the front and the rear brakes to adjust, then some odds & ends.
And another artsy one.
You're right Panky! She has some lower profile tyres on and the side panels extended by 1-2" ( I think at least, I kinda eyed up other vans on here and google
). She was lowered when we got her, but we've converted her back to standard height.And cheers Baz, I think I'll get onto that!
DVLA will love us, I'd like to get history on my Commer & Wolseley... and my dads Riley, Wolseley and Vauxhall haha.
I can't quite remember what the problem was Andrew, my dad gets up a lot earlier than me (Too lazy...
) and had it sorted by the time I got up haha. It was to do with the main jet, float needle or the twin floats, one of them had come loose.We're onto the home stretch now though, got a bit of welding to do to the front and the rear brakes to adjust, then some odds & ends.
And another artsy one.
Time for another drunk update!
We're getting there!
My daily, a 1.6 TS Alfa' 156 failed it's MOT on the 1st, so sadly that has to come first haha. Exhaust camshaft and variator trouble... should be dealt with by Monday, hopefully...
We have the rear brakes to adjust and fabricating the rear panels on the Commer, then she's ready for an MOT. (Still needs a few things to make her a 'camper' though)
She'll be ready for 2016
We're getting there!
My daily, a 1.6 TS Alfa' 156 failed it's MOT on the 1st, so sadly that has to come first haha. Exhaust camshaft and variator trouble... should be dealt with by Monday, hopefully...
We have the rear brakes to adjust and fabricating the rear panels on the Commer, then she's ready for an MOT.
(Still needs a few things to make her a 'camper' though)She'll be ready for 2016
Time for an update!
Two steps forward, one step back it seems. I've got the brakes done, apart from the handbrake, the cable decided to snap.
Going to see if it's fixable but if not I'll be giving you a ring, Martin.
Been re-painting the interior on the nice day that appears every so often, had a bit of a damp problem that made the paint go funny.
By painting, I mean 1/3 painting, 2/3 thinking "These cushions are comfy"...
I've also got an odd idea for a dashboard top/cover but I'm keeping it under wraps for now until I find more... 'pieces'
We're about complete other than a quick check around and then on for the dreaded MOT
I need to change her Tax class to Historic though, how do I go about this? Wouldn't mind cashing in on this free tax, she's a '73.
My dads Riley 1.5 needed painting, she was looking a bit sad, so Rusty took to the back-burner for a couple days and in record time she is now looking good again.
Looking forward to Tatton, going to make sure I have a good month of tinkering time and local driving before trekking across to Cheshire just to be safe!
Two steps forward, one step back it seems. I've got the brakes done, apart from the handbrake, the cable decided to snap.
Going to see if it's fixable but if not I'll be giving you a ring, Martin.
Been re-painting the interior on the nice day that appears every so often, had a bit of a damp problem that made the paint go funny.
By painting, I mean 1/3 painting, 2/3 thinking "These cushions are comfy"...
I've also got an odd idea for a dashboard top/cover but I'm keeping it under wraps for now until I find more... 'pieces'
We're about complete other than a quick check around and then on for the dreaded MOT
I need to change her Tax class to Historic though, how do I go about this? Wouldn't mind cashing in on this free tax, she's a '73.
My dads Riley 1.5 needed painting, she was looking a bit sad, so Rusty took to the back-burner for a couple days and in record time she is now looking good again.
Looking forward to Tatton, going to make sure I have a good month of tinkering time and local driving before trekking across to Cheshire just to be safe!