Quote:
Originally Posted by newby@54
Hell's bells, Nic. She's beautiful!!!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newby@54
Hell's bells, Nic. She's beautiful!!!
After 3 weeks away its now time to begin sorting out the roadworthy for Betty. Before starting this though I thought I better tidy up the indicator and parking lights.
The 4 indicators are essentially opaque clear plastic (brittle and crumbly) of unknown origin i.e. there are no identifying marks They are domed and look like Wipac in shape - but I don't know.
The front parkers are even tougher to identify. Again they are opaque clear plastic (again brittle and crumbly) but this time with a chrome bezel. They look like Lucas L638s but again there are no identifying marks.
If anyone can identify them I would really appreciate it. I'm told though that Wipac is now out of business and that Lucas doesn't produce older styles. Is that correct? Any leads on sources would be appreciated.
The rear stop lights (well the passenger side especially) is definitely Wipac (it says so) while the drivers side looks like a copy of a Wipac.
Photos are below. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Cheers
Nic
hi 2 brand new wipacs in there boxs jimQuote:
Originally Posted by newby@54
Betty is beautiful.
I have to tell you that I am Deep Bronze Green with envy.
John
Well - it's taken over a week for me to source and replace where I could the indicators and tail/brake lights with similar but new items.
I've figured out that the indicators are a type of Lucas fitting so I sourced 4 new amber units and fitted them. Not without difficulty though as the backing plates in the new fittings are basically rubbish and I had great difficulty getting the screws that hold the lens to actually screw into the backing plate once that was attached to the vehicle. I ended up on one unit having to cannibalise the new fitting by using the backing plate from the old fitting and fitting it into the new fitting. I tested each indicator as I went and all was good until the last when I think I blew the flasher unit so now no indicators work. So down the auto electrician on Monday.
The front parkers I haven't replaced as they are pretty good and after a polish of the chrome bezel and a clean of the lens they look pretty smart. I found the name Hella on the backing plate so at least I now know who made them. But they look remarkably like a Lucas L638 and a Sparto unit too.
One of my rear tail/brake lights was a Wipac S170 while the other was some sort of cheaper copy. I was lucky to source 2 NOS complete Wipac S170 units (thanks Jim) and they now sit proudly on the back of Betty. I can't get the brake light to work so will have that attended to by an expert shortly.
Here are some new photos. I think she looks smarter with her new lights and her new amber indicators are likely to be more legal than the old white ones.
Nic
Looks great. I have been considering getting some of those 3" Sparto-type tail-light units, but wasn't sure if I'd like them being noticeably larger than the indicators.
Looks pretty tidy on your vehicle.
P.S. Is that clean galvanised capping, or has it been painted?
Johnno
The previous owner regalvanised everything when he restored the vehicle from a pile of bits. The previous owner to him had pulled her apart to undertake the restoration but then didn't do it.
Nic
Thanks Nic. That explains why it looks so marvellous...
It's been weeks since I last posted an update on Betty so strap yourselves in....
I was keen for an experienced mechanic to go right over Betty before I submitted her to the Blue Slip inspector. I had to wait 3 weeks before I could get her down to the mechanic and on that day one of his mechanics quit and walked out.
The experienced mechanic, who did his apprenticeship on BMC vehicles including Series Land Rovers, runs a very busy workshop so loosing a staff member really wrecked any chance I had of getting Betty looked at and worked on quickly. But over a 4 week period the following took place:
- the fault with the indicators was found and repaired - a faulty fuse and cross wiring
- similarly the fault with the brake lights was found and repaired
- a 7 pin trailer plug was installed
- an engine kill switch was installed as a means of reducing the chances of anyone stealing her
- the engine bay and everything underneath was pressure washed - apparently a truly awful job and great for getting yourself covered in oily, greasy muck
- brake drums were all removed and brakes pressure washed to remove a build up of oil (leaking axle seals)
- brakes bled and adjusted
- clutch bled and adjusted
- clutch pivot shaft shimmed to overcome lateral movement
- gear box and diffs topped up , oils leaks identified
- tappets adjusted, timing and points adjusted
- carbie removed and cleaned out, and finally
- steering box adjusted after tightening several bolts and steering knuckles
Betty sailed through the Blue Slip and I registered her in NSW last Monday. I was a happy chappy driving her home the 20 kms on Tuesday. My wife, who was driving behind me, said I reach a mind blowing 75 kmh!
She now runs very nicely and I can find gears a lot easier. Understandably steering and braking is still not quite up to Ferrari standard but she is a 52 year old Landy.
The last couple of days I've been tidying up the tow hitch so I can actually use her on our property with the trailer and then down to the green waste recycling centre, fitted a fire extinguisher to the side of the drivers seat base (sitting above a fuel tank has concentrated my thinking on fire extinguishers!) and generally cleaned her up after her 4 week stay in a busy workshop.
The to do list includes new tyres, repairs to the damage on the drivers side rear, finding appropriate but workable rear vision mirrors, thinking about installing seat belts, getting a key for the rear window and then thinking about the paint on the canopy.
A couple of pictures are attached.
Nic