ClassicCar

Be careful, these little british cars can get to be a habit. And two will fit in the space of a stepdown--well almost.

After this comes the Austin-Healy 3000 GT. rear hubs are knackered, need replacing and other things need fixing. The AH 3000 has a Laycock de Normanville overdrive unit. Restoring the SU carbs on the MGTF now. Polished the dashpots from cast finish to shiny finish. I wore down my thumbnail wet sanding the dashpots prior to buffing.

This MGTF does have the wire spoke wheels that fit on splined hubs. My friend asked me to remove the bearings to clean, repack and reinstall in the hubs. I didn't have a press, but I was able to adapt a large gear puller to push the bearings out and back into the hubs. The bearings are ball bearings, not tapered roller.

One thing about the dash pots on any SU, or some Zeniths and Strombergs with variable venturi designs is you need to take precautions not to dent or distort those dash pots as they and the pistons are machined as a matched set. That also means you can't typically go around swapping a piston and needle from one dash pot to another. When I buff them, I use light pressure and keep the dash pot moving so as not to heat it up in one spot, as that can warp it. They are aluminum alloy. DO not sand or wire brush the inside of the dash-pot, or the piston, as this will result in loss of the seal needed for the vacuum to operate the piston and needle correctly. I use a non abrasive metal polish like Brasso, Blue Magic, Mother's etc. When handling and storing the piston, take care not to bend the tapered needle.

Ken, When did you last pull an Essex radiator out?? Somewhat similar to your description!! LOL