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Sunbeam

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Everything posted by Sunbeam

  1. Sorry to read about your Dad. I hear you re. spending more time with him. Reminds me I should check in on my folks a bit more…
  2. The bottom end has come back from the machine shop! There’s a bit of cleaning work for me to do, as the block didn’t get hot-tanked. The rationale for this was it would destroy the auxiliary shaft bearing which they didn’t remove because they couldn’t be bothered. They did remove the gallery plugs and gave it a good manual hose out though, and he reiterated several times how much crap was lodged in there! The deck has had a very light skim. The marks still visible can’t actually be felt by my sensitive fingers. It has been bored 0.4mm oversized. The crank has had the journals polished and also had the gallery plugs removed (full of crap also) This meant the holes had to be drilled and tapped for new modern replacement plugs. This apparently ruined his tap because the steel is so hard! Go Fiat!! The crank has also had some weight ground off to balance it. It didn’t need much apparently. Shiny piston The rods were balanced too. 6 grams between the heaviest and lightest ex factory. All spot on now. Looks like number 2 was the lightest as it has nothing missing. The flywheel and clutch cover were also balanced. The flywheel was pretty good, just 4 small holes drilled. Clutch covers aren’t that well balanced evidently because swiss cheese to get it right! I have only had time to gap the rings on number 1 so far, and they were bang on the low end of the spec range out of the box. If all the others are the same I’ll be happy as.
  3. Sunbeam

    Toyota Alphard

    Only short runs huh? There’s your problem. Probably hasn’t had an oil change in years because “it hasn’t done 10,000km since the last one” My other favourite is “it’s a Toyota, therefore it is indestructible and thus maintenance is for mugs” 4 cylinder or V6? Actually it doesn’t matter really, because either is extremely intolerant of skipped services and prone to sludging. I think they’re an Estima in drag, essentially so engines should be plentiful?
  4. I have one. For the money it seems you can’t go wrong. I will say it’s not a frequently used item in the workshop atm. Makes nice welds when dialled in.
  5. I bought a LeLink obd2 from amazon. Bit dearer but leafspy on iPhone is fussy. Works mint and has survived a trip through the washing machine. I think android is better for apps. I have car scanner pro which has connection profiles for hundreds of models, but generally only newer cars. Does generic OBD stuff just fine.
  6. The engine block is still sitting untouched on the floor at the machinists. Grrrrr. I’m giving it one week and then I’m picking it up and giving it to someone else to do. Any recommendations in Christchurch? Anyhoo, FIZZZ FIZZZ look what finally turned up! Front fits, but quite snug on the hub, so hard to get off. Rears won’t go on. Looks like I need 0.3mm off the hub centre. Also, they dont fit over the locator pegs. The hex doesn’t fit in the relief in the wheel. I can probably make do without the hex, as they don’t need to be super tight. Well worth the wait getting them shipped in a container. This way they ended up 150 per wheel cheaper than the next best place I could get them on the interweb. Shout out to Palmside in Christchurch, they were good to deal with. Also, they have a couple more sets in stock now too for you Fiat foamers. Specs are 13x7 et10. They appear well made, and not that heavy. EDIT: also poos, because the wheel bearing cap sticks out too far to use the centre caps!
  7. My dear wife gets bored sometimes and then puts her mind to ways of highlighting my vehicular acquisition habits with a particular sarcastic bent. She has produced this “helpful” flowchart for me.
  8. Post accident pics aren’t showing? I admire your perseverance.
  9. Are you going to be able to get your hands on the O.G. high compression engine or have you severed all comms with the seller?
  10. I do enjoy getting wads of paperwork with a car. The last owner before it was de registered was a receipt hoarder. My favourite bit though is this. The most comprehensive original document wallet ever. Containing a mint owners manual, Safe Motoring Hints book, original warranty booklet, worldwide service centre directory, and service coupon booklet (only filled out to 12,000 miles)
  11. a. I know, and I’m ok with it. edit: this is also the pot calling the kettle black… b. I am aware of this. I also became aware of another 1500 5 minutes down the road in a paddock full of dead Mercedes however I dare not breathe a word of this around home til the dust settles… c. Not so fast mio amico, this bad boy sports aluminium drums out back.
  12. Last year with great haste and excitement I bought a 1966 Fiat 1500. During Covid lockdown. On the wrong Island. 1095km by road and sea from my house. In my defence, a few years ago I also obtained an MG that was 1000km from my place and fetching it was a fun lads’ mission, so confidence in a repeat mission was high. However, lockdown dragged on. Then when it lifted, the ferries had no capacity, the Interislander was down a boat etc…. The seller was good about it, happy to hang on to it but it was being moved outside due to a lack of room. Months down the track I still couldn’t get a ferry to mesh with my days off, and I wasn’t going to pay for a transport company either because the car was a non runner in a tricky location. Eventually the seller decided the best thing was to give me my money back and hence I un-bought a car. A month ago I received an email from the seller. They’re moving and need to clean up to put the house up for sale and btw I never got around to re-homing the Fiat. I would like to gift it to you because you’re the only sucker who showed any interest I think if you took it, it would be going to a good home. I’m a sucker and can’t resist a free car so of course I said yes. Now, I still can’t get a ferry to coincide with my days off, so I flew to New Plymouth, got ol mate to pick me up from the airport and lend me his Hilux and trailer and some barn space and voila! Temporary home With a flatmate that @kws will appreciate.
  13. I was starting to wonder if you still had this… 285/70r16 is massive…. 235/75r16 I believe is as close to 7.50r16 as you can get, and still wider than the o.g.
  14. Look what the postie dropped off today! Going straight to the machinists. I love NOS.
  15. Cool video! Gee you don’t muck about do you? Nice wee shed.
  16. Significant wallet-lightening action has taken place. These are on their way from Straya. Also NOS main and big end bearings.
  17. Aaaaaaaaargh! I had a cluster fly infestation in the shed so I bombed it. The picture does not do justice to the carpet of dead flies. I then set about vacuuming them all up. They are so gross, the vacuum cleaner hose now has a thick buildup of goo on the inside with the consistency of tar from the filth that these flies excrete. My cleanup revealed a bigger problem, a mouse plague. They’ve had such an abundant season thanks to the mild, moist summer that the numbers have exploded. Anyway, they have made camp inside the Fiat and MG, and have been gnawing on bits of car. Quite demoralising.
  18. Wash your mouth out. I bet you can’t even type that with a straight face.
  19. I’ve heard about the Mazda pistons. I know the rings from the old B2000 are compatible, but the pistons have flat tops, so no dice.
  20. Actually I’ve found some on ebay in Western Straya. Seller has loads of Fiat stuff. Really helpful. I’m getting a set of 80.4mm Borgo pistons, about $650 landed.
  21. Got a call from the engine shop, bore wear is 6 thou which is the trigger for a rebore. New pistons on the way$$$$$!
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