ardea pickup.........THING!

[chugga boom]

if all else fails i'll get a crown wheel and pinion made, my dad recons about a thousand pounds to have them made as a 1 off, i cant really see any demand for a batch to be made  , i would prefere if i didn't have to spend that kind of money on an axle so fingers crossed the aprilia bits will fit 

[DavidLaver]

To make replicas of the Austin 7 single seaters its common practice (as much as such things ever can be) to chop an axle up and remake with an offset such that the prop runs down the side rather than under the seat.   The short half shaft is easy enough, and the long half shaft is cut and the extra length put in with sleeve joints.   

It sounds drastic, is going to depend on the exact shape and weldability of the case, maybe you'd make up the longer half shafts from scratch or find the Appia ones fitted...

Something to ponder before writing a cheque for a grand.

David

[chugga boom]

hmmm maybe, i'll bare it in mind, axle is being cleaned at the moment ready to strip, i'm really hoping the aprilia crownwheel etc will fit

[chugga boom]

work has commenced on striping the rear axle, we had to make a puller to remove the half shafts but everything else was straight forward enough, my dad now has the diff and is currently dismantling a standard irs type aprilia diff to hopefully swap the crown wheel and pinion over, we powerwashed the axle complete after a good soaking with alloy wheel cleaner ( works a treat on rust grime and alloy diffs and drums) dismantled all the brakes which (1st impressions) look in really good condition, all the nuts and bolts are soaking in neat alloy wheel cleaner over night to make them like new again,

[chugga boom]

more........

[DavidLaver]

....fingers crossed....

[fay66]

Looking good, hope everything swaps over ok I take it the oil needed changing

Brian
8227

[chugga boom]

the oil was suprisingly clean, i've re-used it, recycled been green whatever you want to call it........... it provided about 10 mins worth of heating in the unit 

[Sliding Pillar]

James. if you are using old engine oil for heating I have about 10, 25Litre drums of old engine oil that you are welcome to. There used to be a local garage I gave it to, but that is now a housing estate! and the local recycling center get a bit funny if you try to recycle more than 5l at a time!  Ade.

[chugga boom]

Thanks ade i always collect it though the year and burn it this time of year so if its a problem for you to get rid of send it my way  we will have to sort something out for when your either up hear or i'm down near you to collect it , 10x25lr drums is about a weeks heating so well worth me having, thanks for the offer and i'll definatly take you up on it , james

[chugga boom]

done a little more this weekend, rubbed down the rear inner wings , spray sealed them, re etched them, then colour (atlast !!), also finished cleaning the rear axle casing ready for paint and then painted it into colour, the plan is to refit the diff then fit the axle to the car, then fit the shafts brakes etc so i can tighten everything propperly as it goes together, anyway here's some pics and of the products i use

[chugga boom]

more...............

[LanciAlan]

Whats the black paint you're using on the axle and do you use anything under it?

In the past I've just rotary wire-brushed various bits of suspension hardware like this and put Hammerite on but it always seems to rust through in service, even when I apply 2 coats with a brush.

[chugga boom]

its good old black 2pack, i used a di grinder with sanding attachement to clean it up 1st, then etch prima, then 2k prima then gloss, i do it in a way thats called "wet on wet" which meens as the 1st paint is just dry "to touch" you put the second paint on without rubbing down between then the same again when the prima is just about dry or skinned over straight on with the black, as the paints haven't fully cured the adhease to each other with no need to rub down between coats, this method is no use whatsoever on body work but works a treat on things like the axle and under the arches also saves alot of time and effort, i've also had excellent results with dulux bare metal prima >undercoat >gloss on chassis and axles in the past and the rust doesn't seem to come back, 2k has a slightly better shine to it and stays shiney longer however the dulux is more durable and less likely to chip off as it doesn't cure hard like 2k, hammerite if i'm honest i've never really liked , never found it to last as well as the other 2 ways that i've mentioned , hope this helps 

[LanciAlan]

Thanks Chugga

2 pack is beyond my technical reach but I do agree with you on how underwhelmed I have been with the properties of Hammer5hite  - probably one of those products that is deliberately targeted only at DIY people like me 'cos the trade has a better answer that is either cheaper, better or, as in your case, more dangerous. I will revert to good old Dulux type stuff in future.

I have been generally restraining myself on your pickup threads of late because I feel a bit responsible for the latest affliction .... even the added humor of the photos from the "Where's Warby?" thread cannot adequately compensate for how shocked and horrified I felt when I saw the first pictures of it over Christmas. So far I have really just been trying to figure out how to deal with these emotions and my heavy guilt before venturing any opinion as such on the whole situation.

In the meantime however, I will leave you with the words "broderie" and "gruyere" and the following images and a sincere apology.

Alan