We're not alone

Came across this in idle web search - considering how few there were made, there seem to be plenty still around.

Cruise for the final time this year

Off to Charnwood Cruisers get together. Another great day on Saturday - bright sunshine and a good turnout - some fabulous cars too.

I'd fitted the new breakerless distributor I obtained from another member the previous week (2/10/2011) and gained an instant improvement in starting and running.

Current mileage 42396.

Charnwood Cruisers Cruise

This is local and I get to it when I can (which is sadly not as often as I'd like). There are some fabulous cars there, mainly hot rods and muscle cars - I marvel at some of the feats of engineering. Anyway, a quick pic of my car there.




















Current miles 42353

Weekend Drive

I had booked a single seater driving experience at Rockingham so I thought I'd travel there and back in the AMC.

It did the 100 mile round trip with no problems and I drove there and back with the top down - all this despite its total failure to start last week because I'd let the battery get flat.

It did the two things it does - on filling up I got a huge spit back and soaked the forecourt with petrol - I'd forgotten about that. I am sure that's down to the non-standard tank and filler setup.

The other thing it won't do is start when warm except on a full throttle - embarrasing at the filling station because having spilt fuel everywhere I then look like a total boy racer on startup.

Must get that stuff sorted. One day.

MOT'd and Working

I have actually been spending a bit of time driving around in the car! I fashioned an exhaust from a combination of some new silencers and pre-bent bits I got from the excellent Jetex. I had a small setback in that the car failed again as there weren't enough brackets holding the exhaust in place and I'd failed to notice one of the indicator tell-tale lights in the dash was out.

Soon sorted that and the parking brake, and I've fitted a remote oil cooler too. Now I'm not spewing gallons onto the road all the time, I have even changed the oil.

Recent mileages
Sat 9/7 - 42142 - 42161
Sun 10//7 42161 - 42190

I went to Rempstone in the car - parked in the ordinary car park - I don't feel the car is up to show standard. Was tickled pink though, when a chap stopped and took a photo of it.

MOT Time

I took the 68 for MOT - it's been laid up a while. Before taking it I checked the lights - which to cut a long story short resulted in a couple of days sorting (shorting?) out the tired electrics in the region of the headlamps and front indicators.

As delivered in the US the cars had two amber side/indicators in the front bumper. At some point (presumably before delivery) the sidelight connection was disconnected - amber sidelights weren't legal in the UK at the time. I'm guessing the wiring was then modified to provide side (parking) lights behind the outer headlights - not an unusual fitting at the time. Fast forward to 2010 and several hacks later and it was time to replace the lot with new pigtails incorporating new sidelights from Autosparks, a small friendly outfit who were very helpful.

Anyway, the car failed on a rotten exhaust backbox and the poor effectiveness of the hand (parking) brake. This latter was tested using a meter in the car on a test drive rather than on the rollers - it passed last time on the rollers so I'm wondering if the test's a bit more demanding if the car's moving.

Meantine I have won some new (old) electric window switches on eBay to replace the 70's Japanese (I'm guessing) ones that are fitted to the driver's door.

I need some new tyres, and I'd like some period-looking wider wheels, but finding any at a sensible price and that I can be sure will fit isn't proving too easy. The wheels of 14" and I think they are 5.5" wide. The 67 is fitted with 7.35x14 Cross (Bias) ply tyres and I don't think I want to go to those! (certainly not the 30+ year old ones on it -but probably not even a new set). Optional 15x5.5 wheels were available so it seems I could go to 15", but not too wide.

More Oil Pipe stuff

I am starting to question the fun and enjoyment that's supposed to come from tinkering with old cars. I seem to take one step forward and two back. The other thing is that I am poorly organised and (sort of) cash rich and time poor which isn't an ideal combination. I guess that I have grown up in the fortunate position where pretty much anything can be done or obtained within a reasonable time - the consumer society. As the Internet has shrunk the world and given us access to more information, I can shop for stuff and find out stuff far more than I ever used to be able to.

However, coverage is patchy, and the missing thing is that I don't always know what I have or what I need. There really isn't much point in telling any parts supplier in the UK that you have an AMC Rambler Rebel. Even one of the leading UK based US parts specialists I spoke to recently (who has been a great help with parts for my 1956 Chevrolet) gave a sharp intake of breath when I told them what I had.

As usual, a casual conversation with someone with a different perspective helped. I had found, via the Internet that the National Pipe Thread (NPT) threads are to all intents the same as BSP (British Standard Pipe) threads. This knowledge took me to a plumbing supplier - and (sort of) - bingo. Much scrabbling around and a trip to the stores out the back had me equiped with fittings I could marry to 1/2" oil pipe. I got it all back together (just about). I thought it might be good to fit a new oil filter - round to my local motor factor with the old one - blank look again. He promised to call me on Monday after he'd checked with his supplier. Of course it's now Friday.

I put it all back together with the old filter, tightened everything (twice). It wouldn't start so I don't know if it works. Oh Well.