Augusta special

[JohnMillham]

Quite correct - it's the brake fluid reservoir. The other thing is the brake light switch. I'm surprised it wasn't obvious. i'm glad to see progress being made. There was a good turn-out of Augustas and Belnas on the SPR this year, so why not aim to have your one ready for the next SPR?
Regards, John

[DavidLaver]

I found a supplier for the reservoir, and its a stock item so "as and when" should thoughts of soldering a thinners tin lid onto the old one come to nought. 

http://www.powertrackbrakes.co.uk/

The switch is siezed but might be recoverable, if not its hardly an "in your face" item to substitute.

http://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct.asp?sg=&pgCode=020&sgName=Electrical&pgName=Switches&agCode=0535&agName=Brake+Light+Switches&pCode=31281

http://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct.asp?sg=&pgCode=020&sgName=Electrical&pgName=Switches&agCode=0535&agName=Brake+Light+Switches&pCode=020.238

As for "when will it be done" I'm a big fan of the rolling restoration - so it will be thrown togeather ASAP then improved over time.  There's all the "easier to do it right first time" arguments but I can remember the Austin 7 took a year to build but only a long afternoon to take to bits, move through the house, and assemble in the street out front.   So much of the joy of cars like this is how easily they can come apart and go back togeather.   

I've got some "they will do" seats, fingers crossed the engine "will do", brakes and steering ARE worth some care, axles "we'll wait and see", a basic "trials tub" body can almost be a throw away item.   Metalwork-wise the front axle needs to be well anchored, there's some chassis repairs to do,  and I may as well make a proper job of floors.  However the rear wings could have Mk1 and Mk2 versions.   I'd like a proper replica petrol tank but again that's something were there might be a stop gap, a couple of tanks have been and gone for trial fittings already.  Over time can improve with a better body, a full width folding screen, hood and side screens, restore the original seats and so on.

The important battle is to keep momentum...

David

[DavidLaver]

The other news is that there's an early type rad shell on the way 

I've a third light to fit and the bumper mounts look ideal for a couple of legs.  Number plate on the steering track arm next to the badges. 

David

[donw]

David
just catching up! Yes I restored the John Charles, the headlight that is green came from a batch of parts I bought years ago which were the remaining bits from a March which had been broken many years ago.

Don

[JohnMillham]

 Number plate on the steering track arm next to the badges. 

That's not a good idea, as it can cause a lot of agro if it gets hit by a stone and becomes horizontal. It would result in no steering in one or other direction as the plate hits the radiator shell. I don't like seeing badges on track rods, for the same reason. A simple bracket using the holes for fitting bumpers is to be preferred. See my Augusta at the AGM for a simple design.
 Regards, John

[DavidLaver]

You're a life saver!!   

Another good nights tinkering - accelerator mechanism removed, and what a lovely thing.  Brake line "junction" removed, and got the bolts out the master cylinder and its out its housing but still attached to the peddle.  At least the peddle now moves.   Also got the hollow bolts out the fire wall that I assume carry the hand throttle and choke cables.

In terms of the brake light switch being a bit of a mystery the reason is that there's another one on the car.  Looking at it it is obviously a later addition - the mounting bolts are too long, there's a lever that is obviously home made, the link has a number of holes where its been fine tuned.   That one is also siezed.

Am hoping to make my first ever AGM but its a big negotiation round the family calendar.

David

[DavidLaver]

Picture of the other brake light switch - clearly a later addition.   

Scuttle came out having sheared the bolts.   The frame from the door pillar back to the chassis unbolted with the long extension.  The front seat frame needed a chisel to get the screw heads off.  The rear seat base support was hanging on by threads so not much work with the chisel to have that off as well.

Found some shreds of carpet on the tunnel and the screws in the middle of the seat frame throught to the tunnel didn't look factory - is it really just four screws that hold the two front seats to the chassis?

The rear x-member weighs nothing.  In fact v.impressed at how light the thing is made.

Once have had another measure up the tunnel and the rest of the floor comes out.  Will trim the bottom third off the foot board as well to tidy up.

David

[DavidLaver]

...and a couple more...

David

[DavidLaver]

How different is this to what's under a saloon?

David

[DavidLaver]

How I'd love to say "and here's how far I got last night".

I found these for a compare and contrast with a saloon but am remembering something in Viva Lancia when there had been a "probably used in the Mille Miglia" type story about a special and the author had said that aside from all the other mumbo jumbo round the car they'd looked it over and could tell it was originally a saloon not a platform chassis.

Alas I can't now make the AGM - but am hoping the March will be in the Prescot Orchard early August (it usually is) to take some "spy photos" of chassis, tank, under bonnet.  I wish I'd had more time when I saw the March and John Charles at Goodwood.

David

[ColinMarr]

I suppose I should be careful confessing going around taking photos of the underneath other people’s motor cars! I’ll try not to make a habit of it.

No prizes for distinguishing between Augusta and Aprilia in these photos:

[DavidLaver]

The conclusion I've come to (so far...) is that the platform chassis changes permit the rear passenges to sit lower and further forwards.  This is by having rear passenger feet in "roasting trays" in the floor below the front seats.

Looks like the rear springs attach differently as well, again I suspect a lower floor was the objective.

David

[DavidLaver]

...but as always no hard and fast rules...?

I think all these differ 

David

[chugga boom]

good to see progress, keep up the good work, i think all this has set my dad off , he's started his belna!!! i blame YOU!

[DavidLaver]

Measurements please!!

What is the clearance for the rear wheels?   I can work out space above the tyre based on the position of the bump stops but its harder to assess how much side to side movement. 

I'd be interested in tyre to inner arch clearance, or rim to inner arch clearance, or from the edge of the mudguard to inner arch, or rear seat width.  Anything you could easily do would be of interest.

As an aside I've got 3ins rim to chassis one side, and 3.5ins rim to chassis the other.  Yet to swap the wheels left right and remeasure.   Am also intending to get one tyre up on blocks to the extent the other side is in the air, measure how far it tilts inwards, and push down on the airborn wheel to see how far extra it might droop in a dynamic situation.

There's another question - did they ever have check straps to control maximum droop?

David