Advice opinions please

[AndrewA]

Well things haven't gone precisely to plan! After the last post I started poking around at the cills - last done 20 years ago. Once uncovered properly they definitely needed attention - not horrendous but in another year or two they would have been. Also took the opportunity to clean up the underside and catch a few other minor issues that would have become problems with time. The leak from the power steering box has turned into a flood so that's now top of the list.
I intend to send the pump and steering box off and get them refurb'd and new lines made up.
The challenge at the mo is removing the steering box which is reluctant to come out.
Having spoken to most power steering specialists, I'm going to go with Kiley Clinton who knew immediately what I was talking about and are normally able to turn things round quickly.
We shall see!

[AndrewA]

For eagle eyed readers / those that are interested..Kiley Clinton seem so far to have done an excellent job and I am now leak free on the steering front. Putting it all back together was a lot quicker and easier than taking it out - just under a couple of hours.
As noted earlier, the cills have been attended to but the aluminium covers were beyond saving so am having new ones made up by a chap who seems to be taking an age. He's doing them to the precise shape and so on of the original ones so hopefully not too much fettling will be required.
Have booked car in at end of June for the rumble at the rear to be investigated - hopefully nothing major but I won't know until it's apart.
That's all for now.
Andrew

[David C]

Did the power steering improve noticeably with the newly fettled rack? I always thought your car was under assisted and wasn't sure if it was wear or adjustment.

[AndrewA]

Difficult to describe precisely - bit like Goldilocks and the 3 Bears it now seems "just right"!
Head gasket(s) now given up ghost(s) so expect questions/request for
suggestions as to improvements to heads and possibly cams in near future.
The rumble at the rear will have to wait...
Andrew

[David C]

Regarding heads etc, I think there is a good chance that you already have a slightly hotter cam than standard as I think the parts for the rebuild would have come from the American Car Care Centre who were offering a mildly improved profile as standard at the time. Check cam bearings in the block and make sure the heads have suitable inserts for unleaded along with the right valves.

The heads themselves were pretty good. The breathing was let down by the inlet and exhaust manifolds. The single best improvement for my money would be a Weiand 7503 intake if you can find one. The original cast iron inlet forces the fuel / air mix to make a very tight turn immediately after it leaves the carb. The Weiand is about an inch taller and sweeps round. With the Edelbrock replacing the Carter carb the combined height is very similar to original.

I don't know what is currently available by way of exhaust manifolds but I thought I heard that SLJ had found someone to make an improved version although there is very little room for this without modifying the chassis rails. That was a bit of an extreme option for me.

[AndrewA]

Heads now off - not great to be honest a couple of valve guides non existent, two bent pushrods, the cam is pretty badly scored and the timing chain is US. On plus side no scoring in bores. Have ordered up cam and followers from States as poly cams not easy to find - the rest of the stuff I can get over here.
Still amazed how well it drove so am expecting great things when all back together again. For the time being am going to stay stock as it was quick before and once it's all working properly it should be even better!
The Weiand inlet manifold I'll keep an eye out for but as you say, they are rare and command big money - likewise SLJ's excellent exhaust manifold - it is a wonderful improvement but its an investment too far for this year (and I'd need to change the exhaust to get the best out of it).
Quick question - what colour was the intake manifold originally? Mines currently red which seems a bit garish. It needs tidying up and was thinking of toning it down a bit - has anyone done similar?

[David C]

I'm pretty certain all the 318s in 409 and 410 originally had red inlet manifolds.

The Weiand manifold is aluminium and I thought that looked better. To stop it corroding I etch primed it and painted it silver. With any luck I have attached a picture.

[PEU186F]

Originally Posted by AndrewA

Still amazed how well it drove so am expecting great things when all back together again. For the time being am going to stay stock as it was quick before and once it's all working properly it should be even better!

This seems a good point to repeat my earlier advice, for the sake of others

"The V8 Bristols, even if they are actually in quite a bad state, have so much torque that they cannot help but impress somebody who is used to lesser vehicles. So beware, even though one might seem great at first acquaintance, there may be a long way to go before it is actually up to the mark.

I speak from experience"



Roger M

[PEU186F]

Originally Posted by David C

I don't know what is currently available by way of exhaust manifolds but I thought I heard that SLJ had found someone to make an improved version although there is very little room for this without modifying the chassis rails. That was a bit of an extreme option for me.

No, SLJs swept exhausts do NOT involve any modification to the chassis rails, but they MIGHT require a small aperture into the wheel arch. They improve the breathing beyond all measure and also reduce the under bonnet temperature as the heat is no longer concentrated right under the cylinder head. They are a very impressive piece of knitting!

Roger M

[AndrewA]

Thanks for that Roger - they do look brilliant and work even better!