Lord Gruntfuttock

Seems I'm missing the compensator sprocket (as per pic below) But consensus is they're not necessary (a lot of people remove them) and it's another tool I don't need to make to remove it. Whizzed off the front sprocket nut with the 18V impact, made up some shonky lock plates out of scrap and locked the clutch basket/sprockets together... Didn't have a 1-1/2" socket for the clutch hub nut, but a mate had a 38mm one that would save me a trip into town, except it didn't as I had to go grab a 1/2 to 3/4 drive adapter. Tried undoing the nut with a pry bar but my lightweight lock plates started bending, so used rattle gun again and all came apart. Pulled the sprockets and chain off together, using a puller on the front sprocket, and it all looks pretty clean... And a simple job to pry out the seal behind the front sprocket that I thought was causing a problem (primary case filling with oil). Apart from being a bit hard, there was no obvious point of failure, can still read the part number too... There's a spacer around it, slightly damaged from previous work by the looks, but inner surface seems ok. For the life of me though I can't figure out how it's supposed to seal around the splines? Time for some research... [Edit] Dumb. The sprocket goes on splines and seal is around sprocket...

Rigged up a clutch compression tool today out of scrap... Fitted it thus... and removed the nyloc nuts, unwound things and removed the clutch springs... Removed the tensioner arm, which is showing wear (grooves) on the pad... And removed the clutch. This is where I stop till I can make the next tool... And making a list of bits I need now...

Sick of the leaks (was actually becoming embarrassing as well as messy) I thought I'd pull the old girl down for a refresh... Dismantled a lot of bits and wrestled the engine out, while also wrestling a rib out of my sternum. These are not a light unit... and sat it straight into the engine stand I'd bought for just this sort of thing... Pulled rocker covers off while it was on the ground and gave them a clean up, not looking too bad... Apart from one pushrod tube which was very jagged... So I cleaned that up with a file and fine sandpaper... A couple of the pushrods were showing signs of wear... And as I'm damaged, I used the engine crane to lift it onto the bench for further work...

I feel your despair at a new engine feeling tight, so many questions/emotions/worries. Had that with the Fairmont rotating by hand, had a certain point where it got tight to rotate. Complete anguish till I found I'd left the compression tester in one plug hole...

What time u guys in town? Currently doing project stuff. You could come out for a tour of the shed of despair and some dubious beers...

Jim the sex pest Wiltshire approves...

Shit haven't been here in a while. Hops are about the same stage again now, ahead of last year. Got a great crop in March and have made a few brews with them. Actually won a prize at beer festival competition too so things going OK... Just cracked one of these, a passionfruit Gose, a sour German beer with salt and coriander. Sounds gay AF but very refreshing. Cheers...

This still on schedule? I've actually got Friday off so could catch up in Invers, think I'm off to car show in TeAnau on Sat morning. Only thing planned Friday is working on my daily (ironically an early 2000s subie) after I've dropped kids at school...

Old regulator I think, prob redundant if newer alternator has been fitted...

Yeah think by '77 they'd stopped using a valve between engine and primary, from memory there's supposed to be like 900mls of oil in primary, but if mine sits it collects a few litres I have to drain before it's ridable, and yeah just noticed you have a different oil tank after I posted. I think I have a stripped rocker cover thread, plus leaky pushrod seals, so oil could be coming from anywhere. Had another look at the XL forum and opinion is divided between cork v rubber. let us know how it goes. Regards gaskets, I have no idea if they are pre-annealed or not, but it's pretty easy to do so I'd do it as cheap insurance. pretty sure you just heat till they're red and let cool naturally (would pay to check).

Cool. No idea on lifters sorry. I fitted an external oil filter but you can get a drop in filter for the oil tank. Should really fix my leaks as well, pretty much stopped riding it as so oily, plus there's a leaky seal between engine/trans that needs fixed. Might pull engine to do things properly... Let us know what you find regards leaks. I've heard that old school cork pushrod gaskets work better than synthetic, no idea if true or not...

Mate just replied. His is 6 seater, bench front with fold down armrest... * 'Full width front seat with foldaway centre armrest' was factory Futura and optional on Fairmont in Aus/NZ. * 'Reclining bucket seats' factory on Fairmonts and GTs, optional everywhere else...

Would be a cool seat modified with a small notch in front for floor shifter clearance (similar to the notch between seats on top).

I've got a mate with a factory XY 6 cyl Fairmont wagon. Dont think it has armrest in front bench...? (might have buckets actually, I'll have to check it out).

Yeah that's a pretty cool front bench. Yellow and black are great colors too...

Jealous how tidy that looks. Things like the Fairmont wheel arch trims look mint. Is actually pretty cool being a factory bench 6, and really interesting being a SAFer. Understand you wanting a big 8 in it, tho I'd be tempted to Barra. Pleased you're keeping the original bits... And yeah the 7" 5 slots are a good looking wheel. Got a set of 15 x 7 globes for mine I should tidy up...

Oh fuck yes. Great to see another one...

Could you borrow one from an electrical outfit? They use them for checking hot spots in switchboards, substations, lines etc. Good ones are several thousand $$$

Trolley mount is a great idea...

No prob, will flick u a text...

I may know a guy in invercargill. Met him at a Burt. Think he drives a supercharged small block Bedford? likes a challenge. Look up EXELL engineering invercargill.

The ute doors are same as the coupe/hardtop I think. Not that that helps, just barrying in...

*axle...

Have seen similar things in old Jerry cans...

@felixx Just had a look, yeah it's in the shed, buried behind bikes. The leveller isn't though, think that's with the rally car, out of town. Happy for him to borrow it if he sorts transport. I'm in Otatara if you want to let him know, PM for contact deets...