What did you do today?

[R_D_Olivaw]

Dropped mine off at the local garage yesterday so they could take a look at the brakes, plus a couple of other smaller points. The brake fluid consumption issue was getting worse and the brakes weren't at their best.

I rang the garage this morning to see if the car was still there, as I was a little worried someone might steal it overnight, but disconnecting the battery, which now resides in the boot helped. That made the mechanic laugh when I told him.

If the brake fluid has been getting into the inlet manifold, fixing the brakes may help the car smell better and that will please my wife.

[R_D_Olivaw]

The garage has confirmed that it's the main master brake cylinder, the one located on the bulk head above the pedals that is leaking. Phil has confirmed that this is a Girling unit on the Mk3, of which there is a 3/4 inch and 7/8 inch type. On mine .75 was stamped on the casting just below the filler cap to confirm the variant.

Brian stocks a .7 one which does the job, but you need to retain the push rod from the old one and fit it to the new one.

All being well this issue will be resolved by the weekend in time for me to drive it back from Cardiff.

[R_D_Olivaw]

I drove the car back from Cardiff yesterday and the brakes work a whole lot better, but I'm guessing there is some air on the left hand side as on heavy braking the car pulls to the right. I managed to find this out at 70 mph on a bend in the pouring rain. Luckily I backed off in time otherwise it would have been the central reservation.

On checking my mpg for the 145 mile journey it came in at 18mpg, which wasn't unexpected and hopefully something the new Holley will fix once fitted.

I was surprised when the garage told me they couldn't remove the sump plug because the exhaust manifold is in the way. Is this normal on the Mk3, or just mine. It may account for why the oil was the colour of coal. The garage ended up sucking the oil out through the dip stick. It appears there's a need for this type of tool, possibly to avoid the need to take the under-tray off modern cars.

I decided to look at the drives door lock today as it doesn't work properly, and was left scratching my head over how it ever had worked. It looks so fragile and will need to be beafed up a bit before it will ever work again.

At least it's in my garage and I can start the strip down and repair over the coming months.

[R_D_Olivaw]

I decided that today would be the day to replace my old Holley carb with a new Holley carb, and if all things went as planned I'd worked out it wouldn't be a big job.

1. Removal was straightforward. One jubilee clip, four bolts and a screw.
2. Remove fleece and shirt, then wash off all the petrol that had run down my arm. I'd forgotten about the float chambers.
3. Clean up the top of the inlet manifold in readiness for the new gasket.
4. Screw in captive bolts.
5. Put gasket in place.
6. Carefully lower new carb in place.
7. Stand back and scratch head whilst trying to work out why the carb is not sitting flat on the inlet manifold.
8. Remove carb and compare to old carb.
9. Spot that old carb had been butchered to
- Prevent it from fouling the inlet manifold.
- Prevent it from fouling the bonnet release.
10. Put carb back in box while I work out how to move the bonnet release so it's not necessary to butcher the carb, and the air filter which had also been butchered as it fouled the bonnet release.
11. It will still be necessary to bend one small part on the carb, but I'll need to figure out how to do that safely.

This job will now have to wait for another day.

[Fareham GT]

Hi Ian,

And it was all going so well! Keep at it.

Regards Brian

[Blackpool Plastic]

I eagerly awaited the postman's arrival today and, yes, the Invader 1 and 2 wiring diagram had arrived from Dudley.

I did not realise how large A1 size is ! ( approx 84 x 59 cms ) Brilliant so no more strained eyes. Easy to follow every cable from start to destination. Just bear in mind what Peter Williams says in that there could be discrepancies but in any event it is a great starting point.

Many thanks to Peter Herd and everyone involved, not least G A Curtis in 1981.

One of the best £4.00 I have spent for a ling time !!

Mike

[JayeM]

I got the Invader 3 MOT'd ----- YAAAAY

Just some detailing to do, but it's back on the road !!!!

(see my other post on Members Bar)

John

[Gavin McArdle]

Well done John.
Question--- was all the hard work worth it?
Gavin

[JayeM]

Let's hope so Gavin - I'll let you know!
Cheers,
John

[R_D_Olivaw]

Hi John,

I saw your car on Facebook and it's given me something to aim for. I loved the engine bay and interior. They are light years ahead of mine.

All the best,

RDO

[JayeM]

Thanks for the kind comments!
Just shows that the upside of having a bare interior and having to take out a scrap engine, rubbish wiring and hydraulics is that it gives you the opportunity to put everything back neatly!
I won't miss the last 18 months working in a single concrete garage, though

Cheers,
John

[R_D_Olivaw]

I have the garage space and a heater if needed, but finding the time is the challenge, but I'll get there. I'm aiming to always have the car roadworthy, which it will be when I put the carbs back on and bleed the brakes.

[JayeM]

I know what you mean about the time - being retired it's a bit easier, but I had to put off all the house stuff to do the car, and now it's catching up with me!

The great thing is you're using your car - too many of us get wrapped up in the resto, and don't get on with driving the cars !
Yours is on the road, or will be again soon, so enjoy it and improve it when you can

Cheers, John

[R_D_Olivaw]

Thanks for the encouragement.

There's a lot to do, but it has an MOT and besides the two little jobs that need attention is road worthy.

It's had some 100+ mile journeys in the past six months and has proved to be reliable, but there's a list of things that need fixing:
Heater doesn't blow hot area.
A couple of the gauges don't work.
Needs a new interior.
Needs tuning once the new carbs are in place.
Will need the bonnet locking mechanism re-designed, because of the carbs.
Doors don't lock.
Needs a complete re-spray.
Dash illumination needs a good overhaul.

There are probably lots more and over the next 18 months I'll try to get them all resolved whilst trying to use it on a semi-regular basis.

On the plus side I have finally managed to get two sets of new keys cut for the ignition and door locks.

All the best,

Ian

[JayeM]

As you say, Ian, you just need the time to work through your list, but you're using the car

Just looked through the MOT's for mine (bought as a project in 2016) and it's done 110 miles since 2013 - so you're doing ok!
I didn't have keys at first either - so I fitted remote central locking! (then found the key in a box of spare parts!!)

Don't get discouraged - I did from time to time, but this isn't my first resto, so I had confidence it would all come right in the end - just be positive and you'll get there!

Cheers, John