Austin Seven cylinder block

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Austin Seven cylinder block

This topic has 27 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 4 July 2017 at 14:09 by OuBallie.

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21 October 2016 at 10:49 #262177
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Spent time in the Workshop instead of the Carport in September as the heat and humidity made working on the Austin Seven body parts uncomfortable to say the least.

Mounted the lathe and dividing head chucks, that had been gathering dust since 2006, onto base plates then time to work on the Austin Seven cylinder block:

1. Valve grinding

Last time I did any was int the '70 when I was racing at the original Kyalami GP circuit, bringing back lots of memories plus things I had forgotten

2. Machining flat surface

clamped the Austin Seven cylinder block onto the Marlow table and machind the surfaces where the exhaust/inlet and water inlet manifolds bolt to.

Something was most definitely wrong with the way the flycutter behaved so that was soon replaced with collet and end mill.
Afterwards a session of draw filing on the machined surfaces revealed all nice and flat, and doing the same on the cylinder head and block mating surfaces showed they where flat as well.
The inlet ports have a nasty 90° bend on the short side, as they head upwards to the valve heads, so they need blending.
Anything to get the mixture to flow better will help.

Geoff – Back to body parts.

Edited By OuBallie on 21/10/2016 10:58:17

Edited By OuBallie on 21/10/2016 10:58:45
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21 October 2016 at 10:49 #34333
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Valve grinding and machining surfaces
8 March 2017 at 16:33 #287779
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
No need to add anything except that it's been made and working a treat.

Geoff – Video of the item in action being edited.
8 March 2017 at 17:08 #287793
Hacksaw
Participant
@hacksaw
Cambelt locking tool ? Oh hang on….
8 March 2017 at 17:41 #287799
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
For Geoff – new "H" format TV aerial for BBC on a 405 line Pye TV ??
BobH
8 March 2017 at 17:55 #287801
Brian Oldford
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@brianoldford70365
You know the suspense is killing us.
8 March 2017 at 22:05 #287869
Robbo
Participant
@robbo
"The inlet ports have a nasty 90° bend on the short side, as they head upwards to the valve heads, so they need blending.
Anything to get the mixture to flow better will help."

Geoff, that takes me back 60 years to hours spent with an HSS burr in a 1/4" drill smoothing the inlet passages on that lovely little engine in a "750 Special".
8 March 2017 at 22:29 #287875
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Posted by Brian Oldford on 08/03/2017 17:55:09:

You know the suspense is killing us.

Yes
8 March 2017 at 22:38 #287877
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Hacksaw,

The Austin has absolutely no idea what you mean.

BobH,

I stopped watching all TV years ago and do not miss it at all.

Robbo,

You reading my mind per chance?

I did exactly the same as you on my Anglia and Cortina engines in my racing 105E, where the metal bodied drilling machine became too hot to hold.

Took me hours, but so satisfying.

Geoff – All will be revealed soon.
8 March 2017 at 22:52 #287881
Hacksaw
Participant
@hacksaw
I read a book a while ago .. was it called Building and racing my 750 ? And a more heavyweight Seven special building book ,but i can think of the title ,it's upstairs somewhere…

Is it for chassis extensions ?

I love that word chassis !

!
9 March 2017 at 12:37 #287957
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Hacksaw,

Nope.

All will be revealed soon, but don't hold your breath.

Geoff – I think everyone knows all about my work rate and how I get sidetracked.
9 March 2017 at 13:00 #287958
Phil P
Participant
@philp
I am thinking it might be a stand for working on the engine.

Phil
9 March 2017 at 13:32 #287962
Richard S2
Participant
@richards2
I'm thinking the framework is to assist in positioning/installing the Head when the Engine block is in the car?.

I also remember spending ages grinding, polishing Ports and Chambers on 'A' Series Mini Cooper Heads. Used to call it 'Gas Flowing'. Always a challenge checking/balancing the Chamber volumes. Patience was a virtue!.
9 March 2017 at 15:16 #287970
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
Richard, the head is so light that it just slides down on the studs. I used to lift out the engine and gearbox in one piece without a hoist – not sure I could do that now though.

Geoff what have you done to the 3rd manifold stud from the front ???
BobH
9 March 2017 at 15:35 #287975
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
It's a replacement chassis out of heavier gauge angle than the original A7 one

Neil
9 March 2017 at 15:49 #287979
Richard S2
Participant
@richards2
Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 09/03/2017 15:16:56:

Richard, the head is so light that it just slides down on the studs. I used to lift out the engine and gearbox in one piece without a hoist – not sure I could do that now though. BobH

Fair enough , I have problems fitting 6" 4 Jaw Chuck nowadays. My time of lifting weighty objects are also long gone ……………. I can manage a Pint though!.
9 March 2017 at 16:10 #287982
Brian Oldford
Participant
@brianoldford70365
Posted by Richard S2 on 09/03/2017 15:49:35:……………. I can manage a Pint though!.

I'm glad to see you have your priorities correct.
9 March 2017 at 16:20 #287984
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Keep the guesses flowing

One is hinting on its usage.

BobH,

As received.

Obviously threads in the block stripped, so re-tapped and a stepped stud fitted, all standard procedure with parts available off-the-shelf from suppliers.

About to be sidetracked by investigating induction heater for persuading rusted/stuck fasteners to bahave.

Geoff – Finish editing the video first though.
11 March 2017 at 16:19 #288315
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Suspense nearly over.

Video being uploaded to YouTube right now, so expect a post shortly with link.

Geoff – Next one of the Sandblasting Cabinet mods.
13 March 2017 at 11:21 #288601
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
I've given up on getting the video onto YouTube as upload speeds are 3rd World rate at 0.56-0.62Mbps.

Those are ZEROES/ZEROS!

I've sent an email complaining, but may now need to look for an alternative Broadband, suggestions please.

Geoff – Worn out after 4 hours with 5year old at a birthday party, manic doesn't adequately describe their energy.
13 March 2017 at 12:05 #288617
Brian Wood
Participant
@brianwood45127
Geoff,

I'll happily share a little tip I was given years ago to ensure mutually flat surfaces between cast iron cylinder blocks and heads to ease the job of sealing for the gasket. Machining is part of the job of course but finishing the surfaces makes a huge difference.

Lap the two components together with an oscillating and rotary action, turning the head by 180 degrees from time to time. Using fine grinding paste, you will soon get down to a nice matt grey surface on the surfaces that are flat to each other. Obviously take care to clean up afterwards.

I did this to my old Landrover after a full engine overhaul and never found it necessary to re-torque the cylinder head bolts after bedding it in afterwards

Regards Brian
13 March 2017 at 23:43 #288732
vintagengineer
Participant
@vintagengineer
The original ones were made from high tensile steel an so far non has made a decent copy.

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 09/03/2017 15:35:17:

It's a replacement chassis out of heavier gauge angle than the original A7 one

Neil
15 March 2017 at 12:50 #288923
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Hello Brian,

Thanks for the suggestion.

I've done a few strokes drawfiling, but will be doing as you suggested.

Neil,

Never disappoints

Geoff – GD sick last two days, with me not feeling too bright either.
15 March 2017 at 16:26 #288949
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Just had this response from my ISP:

"In regards to your upload speed issue, the maximum an ADSL line can handle in regards to upload speeds is 1mbps.

The upload speed can fluctuate between 1 and 0mbps."

Geoff – Will try uploading the video to YouTube again
15 March 2017 at 17:31 #288962
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Posted by OuBallie on 15/03/2017 16:26:07:

Just had this response from my ISP:

"In regards to your upload speed issue, the maximum an ADSL line can handle in regards to upload speeds is 1mbps.

The upload speed can fluctuate between 1 and 0mbps."

That's roughly right, though I sometimes get 1.2Mb/s on a good day, lucky me. It's a limitation of the technology.

ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. It makes compromise use of existing telephone wiring. The Asymmetric tag refers to the disparity between upload and download speeds, typically a ratio of about 8:1 in favour of downloading. It's a cheap way of delivering an acceptable service to domestic users. Mostly we don't notice the bodge because we receive far more than we transmit.

The good news is that – unless you live out in the sticks – your ISP will be happy to sell you a business package providing a symmetric service. Business users need high speeds in both directions so they can run web and email servers etc. Or, depending on where you are, there may be a better Fibre or Cable packages available for consumer use.

The bad news of course is the cost. Also you may have to deal with the ISPs business arm rather than their relatively cuddly consumer set-up.

Being a mean bean I've learned to put up with it…

Dave
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