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Garage / Re: It's not easy being green - 1971 TC
« Last post by EuropaTC on Today at 10:00:43 PM »
The door pin and door bush/lock nut look in excellent condition, I wouldn't be surprised if someone has been there in the past and replaced them. When I did mine in the late 80s the car was probably 15-16yrs old and the lower part of the pin and door bushes were completely rusted. Even getting the nut to move was a big effort whereas yours looks as if you could be in with a good chance.

As for magentism the austenitic stainless steels, 18%Cr/8%Ni grades for example, are usually non-magnetic although they can have a very small pull on a magnet. Ferritic stainless steels with only 11/12%Cr were the original "stainless steels" and are strongly magnetic, it's the structure that does it. Ferritic steels are cutlery, usually exhaust tubing and anything where you want shiny/no rust but at a lower cost than the 18/8's. Hence it could be as magnetic as plain steel but still stainless.

I would certainly try to move that pin though, leave it soaking in plus-gas or equivalent for a couple of days and you could be in luck with it.

Brian
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Garage / Re: The revival of 650143R, 1970 with TS.
« Last post by Richard48Y on Today at 05:53:04 PM »
With a complete car here to trial fit wheels on it has been an educational day.
My wheel choice has been finalized.
And the winner is, Cosmic!

Turns out the CSS "Basketweave" are .625" too deep in offset and will not clear the trailing arm, so I will probably list them on feeBay.
The wheels that came with the car clear the suspension but really sit just bit too far out for my stock bodywork.
I can see where the DPO trimmed the fender lip, and some past rubbing near the top outer edge in front.
They may end up on the Spitfire or GT6.

Not at all unhappy to use the Cosmic's, period correct, they clear the inside and should also have a bit more clearance to the outside, WIN!
Almost as importantly, I have six of them.
So I will have a matching spare, and an extra wheel if I ever damage one.
Looking like 185/60-13 tires.
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Garage / Re: What are we missing, what should I make on a VMC?
« Last post by Richard48Y on Today at 05:25:05 PM »
I've collected all sort of welders, I would get prettier welds if I did it more often.
I have a nice tube bender and dies in several sizes.
I have access to sheet metal brakes but not a shear.
If the tired seats show up on Sunday my plan was to repair them, good practice parts.
This is all tooling I have now!
Do we have a drawing, pic, or sample to look at?
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Garage / Re: It's not easy being green - 1971 TC
« Last post by BDA on Today at 05:22:13 PM »
Good point, Fotog. Cheguava can check it with a magnet. Most but not all stainless steels are non magnetic. If it's really rust free, it probably won't need to be cut and will come out with a little coaxing.
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Off Topic Subjects / Re: Hemmings - Was the Lotus +2S a Better Elan?
« Last post by BDA on Today at 05:19:21 PM »
The Elan +2 is a nice car. I was always disappointed that they didn't use the front end of the Elan, but that's a personal taste issue. It is definitely a more "civilized" car than the Elan.

That one is only bid to $12,000. It might be your best opportunity to get a nice +2 On the other hand, you're up to your elbows in Europa S2 so maybe it's time to focus...

Kendo, you are right. That's the normal TC motor (possibly with a different tune from the regular Elans) which all have 2 valves/cylinder. It wasn't till the BDA that a Kent based motor had 16 valves.
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Garage / Re: It's not easy being green - 1971 TC
« Last post by Fotog on Today at 05:08:15 PM »
That hinge pin looks like it's stainless.  There's virtually no rust there.  So it should be possible to pull it.  Not to mention that it will be difficult to cut assuming I'm right that it's stainless.

That doesn't mean it will be necessarily easy, because chances are low that all the bushings in the door and body are actually co-axial.
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Off Topic Subjects / Re: Hemmings - Was the Lotus +2S a Better Elan?
« Last post by Kendo on Today at 04:59:06 PM »
They describe the engine as 16 valves. I thought all of those early TwinCams had only two valves per cylinder?
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Garage / Re: It's not easy being green - 1971 TC
« Last post by BDA on Today at 04:45:15 PM »
Nope, that's definitely not the same switch. It looks like a much nicer one!

Don't forget about the tapped hole in the bottom of the hinge pin 5/16 - 24 or 16.

A saws-all is your friend but not having one, I just used a hacksaw blade handle - with a hacksaw blade, of course.
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Off Topic Subjects / Hemmings - Was the Lotus +2S a Better Elan?
« Last post by dakazman on Today at 04:41:22 PM »
 This may be my next project, or a TC: Finding ones is the problem.
 
    https://www.hemmings.com/stories/lotus-plus2-the-better-elan/

Dakazman
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Garage / Re: It's not easy being green - 1971 TC
« Last post by Cheguava on Today at 03:33:10 PM »
So, set myself the task of getting the dashboard out today, should be easy given it only occupies half a dozen lines in the manual. Wrestled off the steering wheel (prior application of release spray then rocking it at various different opposing points did the trick) and got the steering clamp off before the serious business set in. The inner dash screws in the bobbins came out, the outers just spun the nuts behind the dash. after getting access to the nut, just about got it to undo, but it was a close run thing. And the genius work of the dual purpose courtesy switch and fascia mount defeated me - nut just spun round, and the front is circular... Had to cut it off, luckily there was just room.

Still got the n/s door switch bolt, and fascia screw to remove, but feels like progress. Lying in the footwell with my head under the dash and my feet on the bulkhead had all the same joy (ie none) of sorting the dashboard wiring of my Scimitar in the 90's - I was more flexible then though!

After I've done the dash I might have a go at removing the door, seeing as it's just a case of removing the split pin and sliding the outer tube down.  :FUNNY: Given the split pin's not for shifting, looks like hacksaw work may be needed.

Looking for replacements for the multitasking courtesy switches, I see Banks have them at a shade under £15 each, but no stock. Looks like they are common to Austin A30/35s, as this seller's switches look very similar to me.

https://www.austina30a35parts.co.uk/product/all-electrical-parts/courtesy-light-switch-zswh001/ZSWH001
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