Project Sierra

[Dave Taylor]

Sierra is getting closer, we could do with a weeks worth of good weather, and we'll turn the corner. James ordered to Poly bushes for the front end yesterday on E-bay from Flo-Flex, and they where delivered by 10 am this morning, now that service!!

We picked up an exhaust box at Stafford last week 2" in Twin 2" out, so exhaust will exit from both sides just in front of the rear wheels. Now looking for X-flow exhaust manifold 4-2-1

[Dave Taylor]

Leaving Calais on the 24th heading towards Orlean via Rouen, Dreax and Evereux, I can't be arsed with Paris when towing the Caravan. Steve Keryy heading through Paris to meet us later in the day. May see you.

[Dave Taylor]

Ade if you can get them to me early next week I'll make 2 from 3, just been so busy in the last couple of week with work and this Bl**dy rain is getting me well brassed off, you start something and it all as to stop. Tennis, F1, Cricket, what is it the Big man upstairs doesn't like about having fun? Give me a call.

[Adrian Southgate]

Daryl, it was grand up here yesterday, sunny, warm and breezy... today dawned lovely and then it rained... LOTS and its still raining.

I already have a diff for Dave to use in the sierra, its in my car. I have another that needs a rebuild and then we can swap it out.

[Dave Taylor]

Hi Dave, We travel on Saturday the 23rd staying in Calais for that night, then off South.

 

[Dave Adams]

Dave, Sandra and i are going to France in July as well. we are going from Monday 18 July for a week, then a week at home. We will be going in the Phaeton and using B+B's since i remember you going at a similar time to us last year perhaps we ought to organise to go together......or not. Just an idea.

[Dave Taylor]

Weathers been lovely up here today, Hope it bucks up in the South for the end of July, we're off to France. Should have been in France today for Le Mans, but funds didn't run to it this year. Perhaps next year.

There's plenty of space for a V6 under the bonnet and the suspension won't need altering going if this one. I took the plugs out of the crossflow last night and was surprised they were 10mm Fr Bosch multipoints, also checked compression which also looked OK. I think it will start when the time comes.

[Dave Taylor]

Sorry Daryl, I have not tried it today, big hurdle crossed yesterday, in that it turned over. I can now get the gearbox back in tomorrow.

Today I wanted the floor fettled, as believe it or not the sun was out ( told last week you'd have a drought down there) So GRP'd the holes in the floor and got the ply cut and fitted, I'll gett the Apprentice tobolt them down tomorrow. (check the photos)

Just short of a diff, but Ade has one somewhere. Then finish off the wiring, not long now.

[Dave Taylor]

Moved on a piece today with the Sierra, I got the engine to turn over today, but didn't start just a bit off smoke out of the exhaust ports ( No manifold fitted ). The starter started to get hot has the connector was loose in the starter body, so decided to take it off and recon it. Luckily the brushes where in good condition showing little wear. it was just ful of S*it and then found the the bendix track was shattered and that was what was causing it to jam.

I had a an old bendix in the bits box so that got a soaking in petrol, it cleaned well. The comm was good just very dirty, quick clean with fine wet n dry and undercut the segments. All back together and it works a treat, re-fitted to the engine, jump leads from the RAV and it works and thew engine turns over, result. Still didn't get it to fire up though. Perhaps tomorrow.

[Dave Taylor]

Project Sierra continues, today I managed to get the dash in place so I could bond the fixings in place. quite a surprise really as James removed the dash early in the rebuild, with the intentions of mounting it slightly lower, as it was originally riveted to the front screen aperture and the rivets hiden behind the screen rubber. Not the best way of doing things. When I got it in place this morning and bolted the steering column to it, it fitted exactly where we had planed to put it.

I also fitted the roof support board which is a shaped piece of wood, which was screwed in place original with 4 screws, screwed in through the roof, again clever lad this last builder, Now it's bonded in place and fibre glassed to the body for extra strength.

On with finishing the dash as well, and as you'll see the use of specialist clamping devices was needed. I found them under the sink in the kitchen, you don't realise how technical our girl's are.

[Dave Taylor]

The Sierra now has an Engine and Gearbox fitted, wired up and starter on.

Next problem!! As Steve was putting the propshaft in he found no resistance in the axle, we jacked a rear wheel up, and turned it, but no movement of the prop. It looks like it may have no crown wheel or the pinion is snapped. So there the next job split the diff out and see what's happening in there.