Baby Ruby

[brading]

Like the Austin Somerset. With the roof chop in my eyes its got an American Forties look even though it is a Fifties car.

[taxirod]

A couple of times recently I've had trouble getting through barriers where the Anpr doesn't recognise my front number plate



Hardly surprising!
So I made a new plate from thin ally, so it could easily bend to the curvature of the front panel.
Once I had played with a paper template I cut the ally to size, then gave it a bit of sanding with some wet and dry, then stuck on the numbers and letters which were to act as masking. Then I sprayed the plate black.



Once it had dried and the letters peeled off it came out like this.
It's a bit too shiny to fit in at the moment, but I'm not bothered, another road trip or 2 will get some road rash on it.

As for whether it will be recognised by Anpr systems, we'll have to wait and see. Probably not!

[mygasser]

it's not really any different to the curved plates vintage bikes have on the front mudguard mate. at least you used correctly sized and font for the letters and numbers.
neil.

[v8pop]

Looks good Ian, as you say it'll soon weather down mate.

Cheers Tim W

Sent from my M2103K19G using NSRA mobile app

[MisteR Tee]

My front number plate started out straight, but over time melded down into a downwards curve, but it was fibreboard! Probably didn't help that it was fitted flat against the rad core!

Got a new one made now to match the rear one & glued rare earth magnets to the back so it will fit on the chrome lower grille shell panel below the rad & can be removable for those times I wish to! At the moment it's on the fridge though, awaiting the great day!!

[mygasser]

i've 'aged' ally number plates with salt dissolved in boiling water. dab it on and leave it outside to weather, adding more as required.
neil.

[taxirod]

So today we headed off to the supermarket, battling through Londons morning rush hour.
When we came out of the shop, I noticed something on the roof of the car. "Who has dumped something on my car?" I thought.
Then as I got closer I could see....









Needless to say, box of screws made the return journey inside the car!

[brading]

Good job there was heavy traffic or you would have had people swearing at you.

[taxirod]

Could have got commission from local tyre shop!!

[jsf55]

Sent from my SM-A515F using NSRA mobile app

[taxirod]

For nearly 5 years, the Rubyhas been very reliable, I think that's amazing for a 91 year old car with a 52 year old engine!
Just lately, though, she's been misbehaving.
Some days will not start from cold, so I go out in another vehicle, when I come back home later and try to investigate, it starts fine.
And once she starts, after an initial moment where it sounds like its only 2 or 3 cyls,she runs fine.
This has has me perplexed for a while, as the things happening dont seem to be logical.

Today, she did a big back fire as it started. I then did a compression check and found :

115, 135, 135 and.........0 . Yep, zero.

This made no sense, because apart from the random starting issue, it ran absolutely fine, whereas the lack of compression meant that surely it could only fire on 3......??

So I whipped off the head






The exhaust valve on no 4 is recessed in, probably it even notices in the photo..
But when I put liquid into the chamber it didn't leak!

Anyway, at least I've finally found something to fix.

Ill probably get the hardened valve seats done too.

Here's hoping it sorts out the mysterious issues!

[Happydaze]

At 115 the engine was effectively running on 2!! It should fly with all 4 contributing! What engine is it and what have you been running it on?

Chris

Sent from my SM-T515 using NSRA mobile app

[taxirod]

Hi Chris.
It's an Mgb engine, been running on E5 and occasionally e10.
I thought I was proving that hardened valve seats are unnecessary- but I stand corrected.
It was still doing close to 40 mpg on a run!!!

[mygasser]

i'd just lap in a new set of exhaust valves Ian. have you priced up getting hardened seats fitted yet? you'll still need new valves either way. so the difference will be the machining and seat costs. the engine you started with probably had it's original valves so 50/60 years old and now they're worn out. even if half of that time was with decent leaded fuel that's still a long time before they needed replacing. you drive the ruby pretty much as your daily and have done lots of miles before failure. all these things make me think my above suggestion is the most cost effective solution. i mean, you're as tight.... i mean frugal as me whenever possible so......
neil.

[taxirod]

Ha ha yes I like to make my pennies go as far as possible.!
But I was surprised by how reasonable the quote was, about ?160 I think. Although that could grow if more work is needed, we'll see.

[mygasser]

so if they say it needs new valve guides will you get that done too or not?
neil.

[taxirod]

so if they say it needs new valve guides will you get that done too or not?
neil.

I havent got a clue/ probably
What do you suggest?

[mygasser]

it's that or just replace the rubbers and send it, lol. but then i wouldn't do the seats either so..... if you've paid to have the seats done you're sort of committed to guides too if it needs them. at that point you're halfway down the financial slippery slope so keep going to the bottom i guess.
neil.

[Blackpopracing]

No point in only doing half a job Ian, I'd get the guides done as a matter of course.

[taxirod]

I had written a list of jobs to do on the Ruby, the plan was to get the Morris in regular use and then take the Ruby off the road. Hmmm.
Ive now ordered new valves and guides, meanwhile there are bits lying around waiting for the head to come back.
One of the jobs on the list was to build a new tank, the old one has leaked from time to time. Recently though, it started weeping again, I hoped I could get away with just using it locally, but today a strong smell of petrol greeted me when I opened the garage, accompanied by a frequent drip sound.
I made a few phone calls and formulated a plan. Between other stuff going on today, I managed to get the tank drained and out, I'll be sending it off to a company in Wigan who will make a replica in ally.

While the tank is out, access to the rear suspension is much better, that's another job I planned to leave till later, but I might as well do it now.

Then I noticed a bit of damaged inner rear wing, not rotten surprisingly, but torn away, another thing on my "later" list. Sigh, OK, might as well do that too while the tank is out.






Now Ive multiple things half done all at once! Working on one thing at a time is all very well in theory.
It will be good to get it all sorted.