Ringing in the New Year.

I thought today would let me get the pistons in but the world had other plans.

Step one was to polish the pistons. This was only to remove the oxide rather than make them pretty. Once cleaned I stamped the crowns with the cylinder number only because the previous ones were. It was then a quick job to knock the gudgeon pins in.

I turned my attention to the piston rings. The NOS crowns had been provided with rings in a Britpart ball joint box and so I have no idea who made them. Nevertheless I opened them and started to fit. First of all i noticed that the oil control ring didn’t have the spring coil. We’re they meant to? Who knows! I therefore have ordered some OEM rings. Genuine rings were 62 quid a set – I am not marrying the pistons so a baulked at that.

Pistons on hold I went back to the rear axle. I had largely cleaned it but it needed a bit more wire brushing.

With the axle brushed I washed it down with pre prep and set about it with red oxide primer.

Now I’ll have to paint the diff pan white so I am wondering if I do the whole thing in chassis black and then paint it white or just paint it white. The first option may involve a lot of white!