Started from January 2019
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this project and I will do my best to reply promptly
Jan 2019
Engine block has been collected and I repainted blue. Picked up the seats and door cards from the upholsterer, they need a little tiding up though. Engine is now assembled with a re-bore, new +0.030" pistons, new shells all round, + 0.005" thrust washers, valves, springs, new oil seals and gaskets. Engine unit is less new clutch complete and serviced gear box . U-Tube Gear box dismantled using 7/16" and 3/4" dummy bars checked all parts (lay shaft cluster gear showing wear)and replaced oil seals and reassembled using new gaskets. Painted Gear box unit blue, re-fitted bell housing, rear cover and painted support bracket assembly completing this unit. Engine, clutch and gear box units will be joined when I am ready to install in the engine bay.
Feb 2019
Re-assembled the serviced front headlight units and decided to fit an electronic ignition unit while the the engine is out. On warmer days I am working on the engine bay. Had to construct some steel boxes to weld into front wheel arches where they contact the bulkhead. Another poor design where water ingresses into an area with no drain holes, a tricky job laying on your back with welding splatter spaying all over the place. Engine bay is ready for masking and red oxide, grey primer and blue paint. I could only get this sky blue heat resistant colour.
March 2019
Just another coat of blue and the bay will be ready for all serviced parts and finally the engine unit completing the refurbishment. Started on bonnet hinges by stripping and refinishing the mechanism and applying etch primer. Now the engine bay is painted the front under carriage will be stripped and repainted. Started cutting out the rusting parts of the front wheel arch panels these will be replaced, God there`s a lot of rusting surfaces.
April 2019
Finished replacing the rusting parts on the front inner wheel arches so its on to the rear inner and outer wings, As this is where water has sat for years there is a lot of rusty panel parts to cut out and replace. Once remaining parts have been treated with rust inhibitor I will start to fabricate new steel panels to eventually weld in place. I have many curved and compound shapes to create as this area is where the bulk head, front inner and outer wings, floor structure and sills meet drainage must be addressed. Really I would love to have a little word with the designers about their approach to surface water draining because it seems throughout this vehicle a few pockets have been created to trap water without any consideration to drainage.
May 2019
Front arches are finished off with red oxide on bare steel work and then black underseal I have started to repair steel work on the rusting bonnet by replacing hinge support channels, front corners,the inner and outer skins of the front curved shapes above the radiator. These were filled with bits of steel and a ton of body filler. I must get the shaping right because this is an iconic part of the Singer Vogue styling. I have added drainage holes myself.
June 2019
Finds me still working on the front bonnet with all the various curved profiles using wooden templates where possible. I have decided to try lead filling on the bonnet rather than bondi, not having tried this before I will document my progress in the Tech section.
July 2019
Due to a family bereavement this month will see no work done
Aug 2019
Fitted the front cross member, upper and lower fulcrum arms, the brake and clutch master cylinders with copper pipes being run around the engine bay and cross member. I will have to wait to fit suspension until engine is in as the extra weight will help when compressing the road springs. The end of the month finds the fly wheel, new clutch assembly, gearbox, starter and clutch slave cylinder fitted.
September 2019
I have fitted all the electrical units to the engine bay replacing all rubbers, terminals and fixings. Engine is on the hoist ready to fit on a fine day with the assistance of my Son. Engine is now in and I am connecting up all ancillaries but won`t try starting until the fuel tank has been checked out. Front suspension springs, dampers, stub axils, brake discs, pipes and steering parts have been fitted. This just leaves the radiator, anti role bar, prop shaft and a little tidying up of the electrics in the bay to finish up.
October 2019
All engine bay parts fitted, fuel tank refurbished, oil, water and fuel added so it just needs battery charged to try the engine for the first time, fingers crossed. With the static timing set second turnover saw the engine start so I strobe set at 8` BTDC and checked at 2500 rev fully advanced was at 28` BTDC. All works after setting carburetor fuel with only temp sender failing and timing chain rattle on tick over. When it warmed up a smell of burning paint from the exhaust manifold but no signs of oil or water leaking with a very tight sounding engine.
November 2019
On bright days I will start on the front end first removing paint, rust and then welding replacement metal to finally giving it all a grey primer coat. All the doors need extensive metal work on their lower sections so this is my winter project. I will remove each door, remove mechanical parts, cut out all the rusting steel, prefabricate replacements and weld in and seal with primer. Continuous rain has stopped all work for this month.
December 2019
Christmas on the horizon means work will be put on hold I think so I am looking forward to 2020.