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Post by mistersocks on Feb 28, 2011 10:34:47 GMT
You are weak. You have no will power. correct...... i cant stop thinking about buying this car, i must have a problem although there is a nice looking allegro on ebay thats only down the road from here...... Now get on and buy the d@mn thing P45.
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 26, 2011 10:57:10 GMT
just a quick one (oo eerr missus), would anyone be able to tell me the combined weight of the engine and gearbox for an austin 1800? gonna have to pull the engine out of my mk1 as it refuses to unseize, so have to invest in an engine crane and dont want to buy one too big, but also dont want one that will bend in half thanks in advance rich
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 26, 2011 10:54:35 GMT
Thanks for your offer Rich, I appreciate it, but I'm afraid I fill the garages anyway:-) Believe me, I know the feeling when something interesting comes up for sale, you want to save them all, right? Same with me, luckily they don't turn up that often here. One period I bought anything BL that came up, but I've calmed down a bit especially due to consentrating on the resto of my grandparents' 1800. Today I've got that one (blue mk 2 Morris), a very low mileage 75 Marina 1,8 Coupe and an Austin 1800 mk 2 spares car, which I'm now planning to restore. I just can't break it.. I've also got a BIG 1976 Scania LS 81 lorry and a 1966 Volvo BM tractor, and of course a boring modern car:-) However I've still got room for more, outside though, so who knows? Buy the Mrs something nice and I'm sure you've got a nice blue mk 3 there before you can say "crab":-) Cheers, Tommy:-) you're exactly right Tommy! the mrs claims that i dont have a garage, its a rescue home for unloved bmc stuff..... it seems a shame that some of our cars have lasted 30-40 years only to end their days on a banger track wow, the contents of your garage is pretty cool, i like the sound of the scania and also the volvo tractor too - i didnt know volvo made tractors? if you still ahve space outside, just buy some car covers ;D i have just sold my modern tractor due to lack of use, and have also just sold on my lorry - a 1950's commer q4 so i should have the green light to invest in some more projects. i cant save them all but i can try! cheers! rich
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 25, 2011 12:28:07 GMT
Looking good:-) Go on, get it:-) I believe it was up for sale on Ebay a while ago too, cheaper, and I think you find the same car on youtube. Search for Austin 1800. You get a good impression of it there, engine running while he's walking around it.. Pity about the 2nd gear though, not only a cable issue either as it's a mk 3.. I'm glad I don't live in the UK, I would buy any BL car on ebay and my place would be full of cars:-) Tommy, please dont encourage me, I'm already in enough trouble with mrs socks Video of the car looks quite good, so I'm sorely tempted, especially as I have a mate who lives up that way who'd take me to see it. And it comes with a spare gearbox! But no, I'm supposed to be looking for a spares car only... I could always buy it on your behalf Tommy, I'd be only too pleased to help fill your garage up with landcrabs!! Cheers Rich
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 24, 2011 11:53:40 GMT
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 23, 2011 21:54:21 GMT
I only have the old style green log book at the moment Is it the original or a continuation logbook? I can't remember when, but weren't they buff rather than green at some point? Hi Keef, This is the logbook that I have, I think its the original not a continuation as the reg number is stamped apart from the numerical part, although i could be wrong! the first three owners were garages, car was reistered on 01-05-68, first change of owner was 07-05-68.... cheers! rich
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 22, 2011 23:48:47 GMT
According to my 1969 BMC/ BL Mechanical parts list for the 1800, 48 G 521 is a genuine high compression replacement engine, complete block and cylinder head. Further, the list states it as a replacement for engine numbers 18 AMW/U/H97274 to 115738 (mk 1 engines) Strange that your original engine had a number starting with 18 H, that's a mk 2 engine. Mk 1 engines should start with number 18AMW/U/... Is the car a 1968? If so, it could be a mk "one and a half", with mk2 engine originally fitted. Anyway, I believe your engine wouldn't have had a dipstick problem. I believe that was rectified in 65- 66. I'm not sure about the engine paint, but I don't think replacement engines were painted gold until the seventies, 72 or something, when all engines became black and they quit green paint. Some gold seal engines were black too, only with a golden strip brushed across the block. I had a 1300 with one once:-) Tommy:-) Hi Tommy! Wow, thats some good info It would appear then that my crab had a complete replacement engine fitted, I think it must of had a hard life. It is indeed a 'mark one and a half'. I'm no expert but I was under the impression that Mk1's had leather seats and different door handles amongst other things, whereas my car has vinyl seats and Mk2 onwards door handles and arm rests instead of plastic door pulls like early mini's etc. As I said, I'm no expert and I'm sure someone will put me right. I'm always keen to learn more ;D The car was registered in 1968, and has had 4 previous owners, three of which were garages in the North East so it may of been a courtesy car or hire car (nothing handles like a rental...) I did wonder that as it is a late mk1, it may have been 'cobbled together', perhaps the factory had a few more mk1 bodyshells and fitted them with mk2 engines etc as they were gearing up for mk2 production? Anyway, many thanks indeed for the info, its fascinating to piece together the cars history! Keef, I only have the old style green log book at the moment, and that shows the engine number as 18H so I reckon its the original one ( as Tommy says, a mark one and a half). When the heritage certificate arrives that should clear up any confusion. There is no mention in the log book of a change in engine number for when the recon unit was fitted so i guess i'll never know when that occurred. I do have the three mot certificates though, 71 to 74 when the last tax disc expired, so I'm pretty sure the 60k mileage is genuine! Just got to undo the driveshafts and speedo and the engine will be out. Cant wait to see the horrors that lurk beneath..... Cheers! Rich
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 17, 2011 21:52:37 GMT
Hi Kels Many thanks for the tips, I'm off to Mole Valley Farmers tomorrow to get a blowlamp to apply some heat to the engine. And the charity shop for a cheap saucepan for heating some oil up. I think mrs socks might be a bit non plussed if i use her best saucepans to try and fix my car
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Hi
Feb 17, 2011 21:48:29 GMT
Post by mistersocks on Feb 17, 2011 21:48:29 GMT
Hi James! Welcome along, hope you find the site useful That is a lovely looking car, I'm hoping to add an 'S' to my collection one day... Cheers Rich
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 17, 2011 11:47:48 GMT
it seems very odd that evrything so far I have removed has come undone incredibally easily,even the exhaust clamp, but yet the pistons still refuse to budge Engine run low on oil and big end(s) seized? I did wonder that Keef, I hope not but have resigned myself to the fact that the engines gonna have to come out and be stripped. The only thing that stopped me thinking big ends was the fact that after filling the bores with diesel, the level didnt drop even after a week. So I guess the rings have rusted right up, or the engine will have incredibly good compression!!
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 17, 2011 11:23:26 GMT
Progress is slow, hampered by an engine that refuses to free itself off! Hopefully "wingling" the crank pulley will do the trick. Thats the plan Keef ;D Radiator off, water pump off (seized solid!) and bottom rad mount off so got good access to the crank pulley. After googling how to free a seized piston, it seems like my last options are crank pulley, heating the block with gas, belting the pistons with a wooden drift and pouring boiling engine oil down the bores. I get the feeling I will need to do all of the above Think I have said this before, but it seems very odd that evrything so far I have removed has come undone incredibally easily,even the exhaust clamp, but yet the pistons still refuse to budge
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 17, 2011 11:01:03 GMT
Thanks for all the advice guys, its much appreciated So, it would appear that its a gold seal engine, odd that its still wearing BMC green paint, although maybe not all god seal engines were painted gold? It did cross my mind that maybe it was a dipstick related failiure. I didnt know what issues the incorrectly calibrated dipstick caused, I can remember my dad moaning about his mk1 seeming to use lots of oil. Luckily he chopped it in and got a mk2 's'. Thanks again, now all I have to do is get the b****y pistons free, anyone got any tips for that???
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 16, 2011 22:54:49 GMT
48G521 looks more like a part number - recon of some sort seems a good bet. Chris. Hi Chris, Thats what I was thinking too. Did a bit of research and it seems that gold seal engines were stamped with an 84G prefix. Apparently silver seal engines were offered too, which were a replacement block using the original sump and top end, although I dont know whether these had a 48G prefix. Looks like my crab had a hard time in its 6 years on the road, a replacement block after 60k miles
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 16, 2011 19:39:06 GMT
Progress is slow, hampered by an engine that refuses to free itself off! Its had two weeks of diesel soaking, I even resorted to the coca cola trick but all to no avail.... Stripping it down was ridiculously easy considering its been sat for 37 years, head off reveals shiny bores but solid pistons. Im back off to the barn in a minute to remove the radiator and try turning the crank, but it looks like an engine rebuild is on the cards. Oh well, at least it 'll give me an excuse to open the tin of BMC green enamel I have sat on the shelf! Hopefully the calipers will be off tonight as well, I have bottled out rebuilding them myself so shall be sending them off to Bigg Red. Should have a nice shiny set back with me in about 10 days! Cheers Rich
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Post by mistersocks on Feb 16, 2011 19:29:58 GMT
Hi All, I have a heritage certificate on the way, which may help out but in the mean time I thought I'd run this past you all to see if anyone could shed some light on this. I have the original green log book which lists the engine number as 18H197A 115110. The plate on the front of the engine however says something a little different... Some of the numbers/letters look to be factory stamped, whereas some are hand stamped. Has anyone seen this type of engine numbering before? Perhaps it is for a reconditioned engine or factory repair? The engine itself has clearly been in place for a very long time and been professionally fitted, and its still in its original BMC green. Any suggestions greatfully received! Cheers! Rich
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