Having cut down the mudguards I've now painted them black (Dupli-colour aerosol can) and refitted the torpedo type indicators to the top. Running the wires down the strut and back to the other electrics was very simple and quickly done, followed by a quick check that they worked correctly - which they did. Before fitting the mudguards I adjusted the offside wheel bearing as a small amount of play was evident.
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As the inside of the car was looking a little tatty still, and had suffered from a less than successful coating of Hammerite a while back, I sanded down the floorpan and gave it a coat of hammered silver. I still don't like Hammerite particularly and do feel that its not the same formulation it once was, but as I had a coating of it in the car already I didn't want to suffer the extreme frustration of a different coating reacting to the original, so used Hammerite again. Sure enough, the desired finish was not achieved - what once would have been a guaranteed, even, hammered finish, was anything but - brush strokes could be seen. Oh well, I suppose it will be covered with matting so does it really matter?
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Two other deliveries were received this week - the voltage stabiliser for the Stag fuel and temperature gauges, and the rubber matting - both courtesy of Ebay. The matting is ribbed rubber, not as thick as I had hoped but it will suffice. I really don't see the point of having carpet in a car that is likely to get wet, and the carpets I inherited with the car were very thin. So thin in fact, that every time I moved my feet, the carpet rucked up and moved backwards. I cut the matting using the old carpets as a template, and with a bit of subtle trimming, soon had them in place. I also removed the carpet that had been used on the vertical (in)sides of the car and gave them a new coating of adhesive before refitting. To complete the interior I cleaned off the seat squabs and back with a weak detergent solution. Having done this I realise that the handbrake looked very tatty, so must give this some attention soon. Not too sure what I'll do here as I cannot relocate my existing handbrake to a more forward position (as some have done) as there simply wasn't enough slack in the cable. Perhaps I'll make the handbrake lever a little longer instead - something to ponder on but hardly a necessity at the moment.
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With the arrival of the voltage stabiliser I soon had this mounted and connected to the relevant instruments.
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And so to the brakes - my Bete Noire. Whenever I attempt to bleed brakes I end up with a less than satisfactory pedal. I was already nervous about doing the brakes on the JZR because I had noticed a leak from the union on the master cylinder, and I also remembered the grief I had the last time I tried to bleed the rear brake cylinder. I tightened the union as much as I could and checked all the other unions - all seemed OK. With the help of Mrs Rog as pedal presser extraordinaire, we started, but not before I had sworn profusely at the rear cylinder and the position of the bleed nipple. I just couldn't get the bleed pipe onto the bleed nipple. Having tried for about 20 minutes I decided that I would have to just open the nipple and let the fluid pee onto the ground. (if there's one area that requires a design rethink, its the position and type of rear cylinder used) Having checked the master cylinder union I was pleased to see that it hadn't leaked so did all three wheels, and then repeated the exercise. The pedal went half way to the floor but pumped up. Blast! I checked the pipework and saw a pool of fluid under the car below the bulkhead. A quick check showed that the three way connector on the bulkhead appeared to be leaking. Nothing leaking from the inlet, nor the pipe to the front offside, and oddly not to the pipe to the nearside and back. What the ...? I then remembered that this three way connector has a fourth port - a bleed nipple pointing downwards. I have no idea why its there, but it is, and it was the guilty party - fluid was leaking from this totally unnecessary feature, although it hadn't been a problem in the past. By now it was 13.30 on Saturday and my local motor factor shuts at 13.30 so it will have to wait until Monday to get another three way WITHOUT a bleed nipple. Brakes - I hate 'em!
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I've been promised my bonnet and rear body section will be finished during the coming week,as well as the 'T' piece for the Stag temperature gauge sensor, so we're getting closer to a roadworthy car - brakes permitting.
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Roger
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