The Boiler Room ~ Jules Blog
 

Some Tales from Jules workshop (or the sharp end)!
For those of you interested in the techie side of these great cars, this will be a regular log I thought I'd start to keep as a bit of fun or as reference with some tips thrown in etc.
Contributors welcome too ..............so here goes:smilie_re:

Engine smells entering cabin KV6 2.5 Auto
A case recently during a Cam Belt change.
Before I start a major dismantle job, I usually take a short test drive, just to see if any running problems etc.


This Y Reg car seemed OK, if a tad sluggish (80K miles) apart from the oily fumes type smell coming via the air vents ...oh and an intermittent front indicator bulb.

Alarm bells started to ring when I found 2 of the small cam cover 8mm bolts glued in !!! Brass inserts sheared out due to over tightening.
"someone's been here before" I thought!

Possible causes of Cabin smell:
1:First off, the yellow plastic part of dipstick was found broken just below O ring, so not totally sealing properly.

2:Bulkhead hatch (the bit you take off to access spark plugs etc) wasn't fitted correctly. The lower tabs should be tucked inside the plenum area.

3:Amazingly the main Cambelt had been changed (Gates) but not the other 2 small front & rear belts were still Rover (and very slack)!
To our amazement, the rear Cam timing was out (advanced one tooth)

With new belts (correctly timed now), and a new Balance VIS motor she drove like new again and no more smells.

MOT Failure due to corrosion
 

MOT Failure due to corrosion in wheel arch.

Reason:
It's within 30cm (IIRC) of a seatbelt anchorage point
NO need for alarm chaps as this is probably a one off!

This members car had previously sustained a small impact to that wheel arch area.
Judging by the very poor quality respray, they probably took shortcuts in rustproofing the repaired panels especially in the inner arch where flexible sealer should be used.

So when getting body repair quotes beware of the cheap quotes!!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_CloltyGrcac/TT...c/P1060611.JPG

Oeerrr.. Needs bashing in wiv a ball hammer, then stuff the hole wiv paper, bung a load of filler on top, file to shape, then a can of aerosol n bob's yer uncle.. Sorted for 12 months innit.. £400 please... lol... :D:D:D
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That's interesting a local farmer had a rust hole just like that in his CDT
Which in his case was due to no end of mud and cowpats building up under the arch and probably remaining there month after month at the time it was the first perforated 75 I had seen

Sounds about right!
Also the other rust trap on 75's is around the gap between the sills & where they meet the front wings.

Remove the bottom self tappers and peel back the front wheel arch liners.
There can be a bucket of mud in the void in each side (depending on where the car has been driven)

Corin has seen a Tree Sapling growing there!

I've only seen moss and ice in them before:D I always direct the hose into the gap to get the worst out, before cleaning it properly every 6 months or so.

When I changed my wing after the recent unpleasantness mine was crammed full of dead leaves which weren't there this time last year when I had the liner out to do that unmentionable job

Partial Restoration ?
 

Getting excited !!

Got a chap bringing me a very early 2.0 KV6 in English White for a few tasks next week. (W reg)

Cam belts, Shannon tube, possible cooling fan and condenser and a checkover.
Not had a White 75 in here before.
Should be a treat :o

Take some pics plzzz Jules. :)

In fact it would be nice if you took pics of all the cars you repair-maintain, just for posterity.. (and for me to look at).. :D

*This Blog you have, try taking antibiotics for it* ;) :}
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Mini competition mystery connector
 

Of course James will do
It's an S reg so even earlier !


Now chaps you don't see many of these:


Take a look at this Mystery connector on an 04 75 Diesel.
The prize is a choccie biccie for the first member to post what it would have been used for ?
I've left the rubber cover over the connector as that would give it away :cool:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_C...2/P1040345.JPG