If you decide to go the 3 bearing route, then make sure the crank isn't bent (This will cause the centre main to be out of line). This can be checked by putting front and rear on v blocks and turning it with a dial gauge on the centre main. If the crank is true and sound then turn attention to checking the crankcase, and that the centre main is in line. Some detail on a method here.

My best advice for the whole thing would be to check everything you have assembled make sure there are no horrors in the back axle etc, and make a list of things you need. Get to Beaulieu this weekend and have a good rummage at the stalls, chances are you'll find most of what you need. No doubt seeing the cars assembled will give you all the inspiration you need. It may not have been the ideal start to your project, but given a good dose of enthusiasm and elbow grease you can still end up with a car you can be proud of.

All the best and happy fettling.

Location: New Forest

It was 8500 on car and classic

Location: not north wales any more

Awesome car! If mine comes out half as good I will be very pleased. A load of work has gone into that. Love the front grill, is it a 7 grill? And the side door is a great idea. Lots of photos for inspiration and perspiration!

If it had been mine I would probably have fitted aero screens, but the screen and hood as fitted is really nice.

Thanks for the link., much appreciated.

Location: Suffolk/Essex border

Thinking back, I still have a load of crown wheel teeth in a tub from the axle I bought with my project chassis from a well known purveyor of second hand parts. He was a little embarrassed and supplied me with a second axle. I doubt Mr Williams will be happy to oblige, though he does seem to have a fairly large collection of old sh*te to assemble his specials from.

As for your axle Tony, having seen the torque tube on Saturday... on the basis of the chips in the pinion, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the crown wheel looks like this...



If so, the diff casing may be distorted (mine was) so a replacement CWP set and bearings may not be be sufficient...

If you don't find one at Beauliea, and Andy doesn't have one, try Tony Betts for an axle... I was poised to get one from him until the other fellow stepped up (b.t.w. thanks Tony B) and Tony splits them and has a little look before sending them out! Yours is the later D type axle, and I'm fairly sure from the shape of the brake cross shaft (which didn't look much like the one on the yellow peril) it's the version with rod brakes... I would have taken a look underneath if my back would have let me bend

Buckets of enthusiasm, elbow grease and a good sense of humour... I also think you should ask Mr Williams for a substantial partial refund on threat of court action. See how he likes it!

Have fun

Nick

For the avoidance of any doubt, the 'Mr Williams' referred to above is NOT Dave Austineers Williams, who I would trust with my Granny's handbag.

Gosh... yes... no... sorry Dave. No relation. Williams isn't even the bloke's real name!

Location: Colchester

Nor is he related to me in any way!

Location: NZ

Can I put in a word in favour of the 3 bearing engine as well? If you want to thrash it in racing and hillclimbs you'll need a Phoenix 2 bearing engine but for general motoring the 3 bearing engine in my Nippy is brilliant, smooth and flexible, pulls from low revs, cruises at 50mph and returns 45mpg.

Location: Isle of Wight

Thanks for all your kind words of support. I had intended to go to Beaulieu but just could not face the long haul after spending Friday night/ Saturday morning with a migraine. Saturday afternoon was spent sleeping in an armchair but still felt pretty crap. Ahh, the joys of migraines!

Anyway, went to a local vintage show at Long Melford on Sunday and spoke to some nice A7 owners and took lots of photos. It was a great day in the sunshine. One chap had clocked up hundreds of thousand miles over the years in his Austin!

I'm out of my comfort zone with the engine, but going to pull it apart to see exactly what I have. There is a bit of a clonk when you turn it over and there is play on the camshaft but as nothing has been done right (two pistons are back to front for instance) I don't know whether there is a major issue or just bad workmanship. Hoping for the latter, but have a nagging thought it's the former.

Onwards and upwards!

Location: Suffolk/Essex border

Humm,

Looks like an eBay dispute/return is not possible because:

It's a car, and
I did not use PayPal.

Doh! Caveat emptor springs to mind. Still going to seek further advice though.

Anyway, dropped the steering arms off for crack testing at ELB in Sudbury. Hopefully all is well. Starting to get to grips with the task ahead of me. It's daunting but reckon still do-able. Need more beer though.

Location: Suffolk/Essex border

Tony

You may not know about the A7ca archives. That's the Austin 7 Clubs Association. The archives are digitised on line and contain the cards listing changes to the cars and dates. There are the spares catalogues which show most of the car parts down to nuts and washers and give their part numbers.

You will sadly have now learned to ASK first then act......there are many many good helpful people in 7 circles.

Get stuck in and just pretend you got it as a challenge......you are on the right course to becoming an A7 expert.
Get to club meetings and find out the books you would benefit from.....the A7 Companion etc.

Dennis

Location: W Devon

Hi

Personally I would probably rebuild the non engine components and think about rebuilding the engine to something special. The amount of work to do a full fast road engine really means that starting for a bag of bits or full engine in my experience is little different.

David