Yet another J type for sale!

Yes a very nice 1951 Morris J type. Star of the small screen and it looks in very good condition and from the photographs, I can hardly fault it.

Item number on e-bay is 330352019091.

Is that the correct Solex Carb? Also incorrect petrol pump.
So a fine vehicle and with a starting price that is very reasonable compared to some of the very rusty projects that have appeared recently. So what do you think its worth? And more to the point what will it sell for? I think it will reach about 9K, I would be put off by the non original number and one or two very small items but overall a very charming van.

Dr Who again.

Sorry to do this, for all that have seen it before, Yes my J type was on Television again.
The episode was repeated again last night, I wish I had repeat fees as this seems to be a popular one.
I did not know it was going to be "on" the television I only found out the next day when I was walking the dogs and a neighbour let me know.

So I missed it again, never mind it will/should be all sign written up again as the Magpie Van when it goes on its holiday to the Isle of Wight in early September. He is booked in at a Morris Minor gathering at the local Steam Railway Centre. So old vehicles, Auto Jumble, Steam Engines, Road Runs, Hog Roasts, Jug Bands and vintage open topped Buses doing trips round the island. Should be a rather nice weekend event.
Up date on water pump progress is that OBL 432 now has a nice new water pump.

Details of where to order (the best price/quality) and some part numbers and also things to check when buying old stock items at auto-jumbles (the late MGB pumps are no good for our vans) will be posted shortly with pictures.

I have also been chatting with "Rodney" via face book and he has made a promise to post a picture or two of the parts he has acquired for his van restoration. The boys will be round if he fails....

Gearbox tail shaft oil seals.

OBL has a slight oil leak from the the rear oil seal on the output shaft of the gearbox.Not a big problem, I had ordered a new seal the other week but when I tried to fit it, I found out it was the wrong one. I was unaware there are two types. So do check which gearbox type you have. Current part number for the early one, item seven, is 11G3147Z while the current part number for the later type (item 8) is RTC447A.

On a further note of early and late items, did you know there are 3 types of water pump you can get for a "B" series engine and I don't mean one for the 1498/1622/1789 cc versions. Yes 3 for the 1498cc "our engine".

I'm investigating part numbers and compatibility and will get back to you with the current part number of a pump that fits.

I have had a few people ask me about the engine mount rubbers, well it turns out that these are series one, 2.25 ltr Petrol engined Land Rover ones. Part Number NRC2054.

Manufactures number GR0700097.

The MYtH blog has been updated today with a further 18 wonderful picture which brings the story up to June this year.

The re-match me verses the near-side engine mount.

Well I attacked the near-side engine mount again, what a nasty job. With the engine off-set there is very little clearance to even get near the three bolts on the engine bracket with a set of spanners.I knew I would have to undo the four engine mounting bracket bolts holding it onto the chassis rail. This was because there was no way to undo the single nut at the bottom of the engine mount rubber block.

So all seven nuts and bolts played hard to get and as normal they would not undo with the fingers till the very end.

I struggled for over an hour but at last won and the rubber engine mount was soon changed. The next job is to give the engine and engine bay a good degrease and a repaint would be a good idea.

Also some of the wiring needs tidying up and the broken fuel pump cover needs replacing. Still lots of pottering jobs that I can fit in over the next few days.
I sprayed the engine bracket white just so it would stand out a bit better in the pictures.

You can see I have already changed from a dynamo to an alternator and if you look closely you can also see the spin on oil filter conversion. Easier when doing an oil change, less chance of a leak and much better filtration.
As normal Captain Chickenzie came to see what I was doing. That is just one nosey chicken.
More pictures have been added to the MYtH site and the J type van picture album site, enjoy.

Engine mounts.

Engine mountings. It was my intention while I had the front of the engine exposed to investigate the engine mounts. I have never been able to find any at auto jumbles and wondered what other vehicles had these fitted. Well the answer is as yet I have not found what else these round mounts were fitted too. DO YOU KNOW? So trawling the Internet, looking at many British vehicles of the same age and checking on-line parts books I spotted what looked like similar mounts.
So I found a stockiest and had to order four, as they had a minimum order value for credit cards on web site orders. (I now have two spare if anybody needs them).
So here is old and new engine mounts. Apart from the threads on the new ones being metric and the actual diameter being slightly larger, which if anything it is a good thing they fitted with no problem.
The off-side mount was easy to change, just three bolts on the engine bracket and the two nuts on the mount. I had supported the engine on wooden blocks with a pad of folded carpet to protect the sump. This was just to take the weight of the engine without actually "jacking it up".
I then moved on to the near-side mount. What a xxxxxxx. Not helped by the constant rain I gave up after half an hours fight.
Round two of this fight will continue tomorrow night.

Radiator removal.

Picture showing the location of the top right hand radiator mounting bolt.At last the front of the engine is exposed.

Water pump removed, so much rusty water came out when I removed the lower hose I think its time to back flush the radiator and also wash out the block.

The engine mounting rubbers look a bit tired so I'm thinking of changing these as well.

Polly pick up progress and OBL's water pumps.

Polly the "B"Pick up is in the garage while OBL432 can use the carport. This constant rain is a right pain.
It is a shame that polly is "in doors" as it is now very hard to work on the pick up as we are rather tight for space.
So I turned to OBL, yet more out standing jobs. To replace the water pump and fan belt.
So off with the front panel.
Off with the top shield over the radiator, this makes sure all the air at the front of the van is forced throught the radiator when driving and does not just pass over the top of the engine.
Next job remove the radiator, which is held in place by five bolts. Four can be undone from the front and last one is found inside of the cab. Once all the bolts are removed undo the drain pipe and tap and the last little job is to remove the sheild and gasket from around the filler neck.
Next episode tomorrow! (if I get home in the light).