So to fit the brake cam bushes - but once again, the bushes fitted are different to the replacements supplied. An aluminium alloy bush of smaller outside diameter appears to be in the hole. The new bushes are the same as those fitted in the 1923 rear axle, so when did they change? The old bushes will have to be drilled out and the apature opened a little.
Having enlarged the block's water gallery hole between the two centre exhaust ports, it was found the Lester Reader head's corresponding water gallery hole was only drilled from one direction. ie; only half way through. Problem rectified. Then it was noticed that the Cambridge head is not drilled through it's centre water gallery between cylinders 2 and 3 next to the centre stud. More information as to why this is the case needs to be sought before this hole is bored.
Glued in place with a 2 pot epoxy, and spaced with a custom machined spacer, this is one of the first jobs ever under taken on Albert. Initially it was fitted to another steering box, however, recently it was discovered that box is an XL numbered item. As it was not cracked in the usual place across the top adjacent to the column thread pinch bolt the XL item was removed from special service and a replacement sought.
A replacement steering column and box are now to be used in conjunction with an aluminium side cover for the steering box. Scavenged from an early pinch bolt set up, that was otherwise useless, the cover has part number IA600 and is very similar to a standard steel item. The cog wheel is of the 1923-24 design - being machined to a right angle instead of the later curved shoulder from the narrow section to the toothed business section of the part.(Does that make sense??) Any one got clues as to the manufacture date??/Origins?? E-mail me details please.
Plenty has been going on and this will be added over the next week or two.
Three weeks ago saw the local Austin 7 Club's swap day. An excellent selection of cars and parts for sale. A beautiful Wasp in superb condition changed hands for $12,000. Perhaps the deal of the day, but I was more than happy with the Smith's FN speedo to match my white faced tacho. Other goodies included a full set of castings for a supercharger, a sports body to fit a short wheelbase chassis, NOS side lights, a webbed rear axle, early 20's CAV headlights, a repro. La Trobe body woodwork, and a complete La Trobe Sports with restoration almost complete. Asking price $10,000. A large selection of special parts from a discontinued project yielded tractor headlights and brand new aero screens. Albert now has a ruby petrol tank if needed and oil screens for the bottom of the timing chest.
