Recent content by 45Dougal

Maybe better not take the '40 on a touring holiday through san marino...

We used to boil rubber seals in a pot of water to bring them back to life. I'm not sure what the matt is made of - could try heating a bit up with a hair dryer?

I just cleaned it with washing up detergent and hot water. i bonded some sturdy canvas onto the back where it was really bad - hopefully that holds it together for a while longer and stops it getting worse. I had a similar hole which I patched with an offcut of grey lino from a local flooring...

Have you tried an air-fed mask in the spray booth? Get a separate small compressor for it with a good supply of fresh air

Pumping fresh grease into all the grease nipples around the steering and suspension is a good place to start. Then adjust the brakes and new fluid. By the time you've done that then you'll have discovered whatever else is lurking beneath.

Any

And if you put an ignition lead onto a spare spark plug and ground it to the head, you get a nice healthy blue spark while cranking?

Sounds like a corroded crimp terminal on the ignition switch connector on the harness side.

Sounds to me like you've allowed a bubble of air to move. Have you tried burping it out?

Won't turnover when you turn the key, or won't fire up and run? Have you checked your fuses?

Pondering and planning is underrated. You can save a lot of time and money by mooching around the workshop pondering - preferably with beer, but a mug of tea will also suffice (milk and two sugars please).

If you lost fluid, but its still at the top, then you may have air in your system now. Id also start with the radiator cap. I had this last year where the outer seat was slightly damaged, and wasn't sealing. In effect, it could blow out, but not suck back. Both seals need to actually seal...

The high temperature jb weld seems pretty good so far in my experience. The extreme heat version looks like it would get you there and back.

4 cylinder would be a diesel BJ40, less common in the US. Look forwards to seeing some photos when you get in there either way

Interesting choice. I can find a whole 2H engine here in the UK for less than half that. If I was spending that money I'd be looking for a 1HZ or HDT. 2H still seems widespread in Australia so parts aplenty. H on the other hand is much more elusive...