Dutton Dementia

[Mick O'Malley]

Quick p.s. In the interim I've managed to source a Hillman Avenger prop. shaft (it shares its gearbox with the Talbot Sunbeam 930) for 30 quid to be collected from Leics, a nice drive up the Fosseway in the offing . Also, a 4.1 diff (same ratio as that fitted to the 930) for 200, collection from Daventry, an OK distance.

Once my rear suspension woes are resolved, I'm looking forward to fettling the uber familiar small chassis Triumph front end .

Regards, Mick

[Mick O'Malley]

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley

Once my rear suspension woes are resolved, I'm looking forward to fettling the uber familiar small chassis Triumph front end .

Whilst mentally bemoaning the non-arrival of the shackle rubbers I'd ordered on 25 Sept., I decided to simply re-locate the rear spring pro tem with the bolts only. Seized with a fit of enthusiasm I rolled her backwards and attacked the front end. Everything came apart like a dream, and was stowed in my shed ready for winter refurbishment. I have quite a few suitable new bits and bobs which came with my Mk1 Marlin Roadster a good many years ago. They did come in useful one day!

Next job was to fit the tow bar to my Honda Jazz so I could deliver the frame to my go-to guy of 40 years at Woodchester for all the welding jobs. This was fiddly and time consuming but I knocked it off in half a day. Here's a picture of my famous 'Dutton Towing Gismo' strapped to the frame ready for action. Primitive though it is, I've used it to rescue a good half dozen Phaetons/B Types back in the 80s and 90s when I was mad keen - my longest tow being 125 miles from Brighton. Happy Days.



Anyone dismayed at the ratchet strap attachment will be reassured that this is a first, on all previous occasions I used sundry bits of blue nylon rope...

I'm off to Porthcurno for a week on Tuesday so no updates for a while.

Regards Mick

[Mick O'Malley]

Yesterday, after a few abortive attempts at finding a mutually acceptable pick up venue and date, I motored through the sunny Autumnal countryside to Daventry, about 90 miles, and picked up my 4.1 diff. The vendor had some interesting vehicles: a stock car; a Cologne engined S4 Phaeton; and a Moggie pick-up. After chatting cars for a good while the diff. (in a kindly supplied bin) was loaded into the front footwell whereupon I pootled home well pleased with this vital purchase .



If next week's prop. shaft collection from Leicester goes half as well I'll be delighted.

Regards, Mick

[Mitchelkitman]

I had a diff failure on my Rickman about 4 years ago. I slowed for a speed hump on a private road, and there was no drive. Car was in gear ..... Hmm... I got out and looked underneath to see the prop turning merrily
After the AA collection I got home and jacked one side - turned the elevated road wheel and the prop turned. repeated with the other side and the same happened. When I removed the prop and diff I half expected there to be a few bits falling out, but it all looked good. With no real load on it the oil stiction must have been enough for things to turn as if normal when I tested it. I scoured the Country unsuccessfully, and then a very helpful Old Ford specialist directed me to a Rally restorer just 2 miles away from me, who I'd never known about. He promised a replacement the next day. Further inspection revealed all 6 ring gear retaining bolts were broken.during which time I'd ascertained the existing one could be fixed with some new (same as flywheel) bolts. I still bought the replacement as it would have been morally wrong to refuse the purchase. The Rally Specialist had never seen such a failure despite the huge BHP they put through their diffs!

[Mick O'Malley]

After spending a good deal of fruitless time on various websites and FB groups I decided I should bite the bullet and buy likely looking rear shock absorbers 'Returns Accepted'. Serendipitously, after a chat with my super helpful independent parts supplier - a Mk1 Capri fan - I ordered a pair for that model and they fitted perfectly. Bingo! Excuse the wobbly low light picture, the best I could do at dusk.



In a fit of enthusiasm I also lashed out 124 quid on brushing enamel: 2.5l of Goodwood Green and 1L of Bahama Gold. I plumped for this thoroughly retro option as I also brush painted my first Phaeton - Retro Rules! 'The Look'.



Regards, Mick

[Mick O'Malley]

These rather uninspiring bits of decades old metal lurking on my workbench in the late Autumn sunshine are, in fact, the holy grail! They're the engine mounting brackets which bolt to the sides of the Imp derived engine, and to which the rubbers are attached.

My search for these elusive items began with enquiry of the Hillman Avenger Talbot Sunbeam HATS cars FB group, which drew a blank, but threw up a link to the FB Talbot Sunbeam and Avengers parts group. A little lateral thinking by a member brought the suggestion that I should try the FB Hillman Imp group, as the Sunbeam engines lend themselves to conversion back to their parent, and someone might have a pair of now redundant brackets high on a dusty garage shelf. This proved to be the case and a super helpful chap in N. Ireland not only dug them out, but posted them to me 1st Class for a very reasonable sum. Result!



With only the prop. shaft (for hybridising) left to collect next week, and a compatible speedo, which I'm tracking on Ebay, major parts sourcing difficulties should be largely over - famous last words!

I'm off to the Classic Car Show at the NEC on Friday where I can touch base with possible helpful contacts.

Regards, Mick

[Mick O'Malley]

Yesterday I pootled up the Fosseway for my long-delayed collection of the Avenger prop-shaft I need for mating to my gearbox. I have to say that the vendor, with whom I've been in internet correspondence was, as miserable gits go, right up there, even face to face. Still I got the necessary for a reasonable 30 quid, result! It was a 150 mile round trip so, on return, I left unloading and examination for today.



The internal splines were as rusty as the rest of the prop. and needed a good hour of wire brushing (I had to saw the longitudinal corners off one of those pound shop brushes to get it slim enough) and scraping with a skinny flat bladed screwdriver for them to look half way decent. I next sat the Ford prop. alongside and had a good head scratch.



The U/J spiders and their yokes look to be of similar dimensions so it may be possible to hybridise the original with the gearbox end of the 'new' one. Before I embark on attempting this, I'll have to carefully measure where everything sits (again - I know what I'm like!) to ensure that I wouldn't end up with the gear stick either under the scuttle or my left elbow.

Whilst searching my shed for the old prop., I found the engine mounting rubbers (which were attached to the cross member when I collected all the gubbins). I'd forgotten I had them and had been searching the internet without success for a pair to bolt to my recently acquired 'Holy Grail' brackets. I now have all the necessary for more engine dangling to accurately fabricate the chassis frame mountings.

I'm beginning to feel that I'm getting somewhere!

Regards, Mick