Classic Bentley Refurb

[flyingphil]

I have been asked to strip this down so that it can be retrimmed and generally refurbished. The chassis wants returning to standard condition after the modifications for its last outing (Peking to Paris Rally 2013) and then to rebuild it for a UK outing at Easter.
It is certainly an education working on this classic 6 1/2 litre "Speed Six" Bentley!

[duncanmartin]

I think I know the owner of that (well, maybe worked for is more accurate)! What a car.

[inspektor]

A small world. I work in that workshop doing them Audi's in the last pic. I've had the pleasure of seeing this beaut every day for the last couple of weeks.
It is a fine machine.

[tony21tq]

Bookmarked. I love these cars. I cant wait to see what you do to this one.

[Sinky]

NICE! Needs sharks teeth tho. IMO

[flyingphil]

Thanks for the comments Guys. I wasn't quite sure whether there would be much interest in this "other end" of our hobby from this forum!
Anyway I have been removing body mounting bolts today. There were three in the front bulkhead which needed four aluminium plates removing. The casting also carries the main wiring loom so it is nicely out of the way. On the other side the accelerator linkage runs through the plate - and what a fiendishly complex system that is. Chromed bell cranks and levers to the magneto - and a rod through to the other side which also has bell cranks to the second magneto and the three SU carbs! The magneto advance also has a manual control from the steering wheel hub.....On the dashboard you can select Left mag, Right mag or both!


Needless to say one of the coachbolts (It has an Ash frame so woodwork techniques....) had a totally inaccessible bolt underneath - unless I took out the brake servo - major job! So in the end I had to drill the head off - and yes, it was hidden under the dash, behind the gearlever..................

[raymond63]

One of my absolute favourites since Mr. Steed was on TV with it, made this when I was 12 yo..

[Seth]

Will watch this with interest. Was apparently fitted with a diesel engine in the 1950s! (while presumably still with its original body)

link

Let me know if they want the time clock servicing

[mdh]

So hwats the plan? Slam it, run it on banded 13" steels? ;-)

[flyingphil]

Thanks Guys - and Seth that link is fascinating!
More stripping down done pics to follow later.

[flyingphil]

Here are the latest pictures showing how the trim is removed using a very nifty sharp forked curved bladed "screwdriver"







Next job is to disconnect wires from switches and cables/tubes from gauges.



Current situation.

[flyingphil]

Today finally saw the bodyshell removed from the chassis. Very frustrating as there were two very well hidden fixings to the front bulkhead. One was a bracket for an underdash "cubbyhole tray", the other a bolt behind the accelerator pedal which didn't go through the bulkhead casting but went into a tapped hole.....

[mdh]

Awesome project! I think I'd be too scared to work on it!

[Seth]

Now just bolt a drivers seat back on, a mechanics seat offset a little backwards and you're ready to go!

Jan 11, 2014 6:00:43 GMT flyingphil said:

Thanks Guys - and Seth that link is fascinating!

I came across it trying to find something out about the Bentley from which I had the dash clock before Christmas Sadly it was also a chopped up old saloon.

[jim]

Bookmarked! I have loved old bentleys since I was given a corgi model as a kid. I am envious of your job - good luck to you!

[flyingphil]

Thanks mdh, Seth and Jim.
I have been smartening up the outside of the "cubby" tray - the inside will be trimmed with some off cuts from the retrimming.


Then the dashboard was removed from the bodyshell and the doors were stripped ready for paint.



The chassis plate was then removed so that the crack in the chassis could be looked at in more detail. It is from the top of the chassis through the engine mounting hole ( I expect) This is a surprising place to have a crack and I don't know how long it has been there - it was one of the reasons for the refurb though.

[Frankenhealey]

Phil, you get all the good jobs

[flyingphil]

Thanks Ian
Well the bad news is that the engine can only be lifted about 5mm to access that area of the chassis. The worse news is that to take the engine out is about a 5 day job...... so we are looking at plan "C".
In the meantime, for those who like dirty pictures - of a mechanical type...... here are details of the clutch arrangement and brake system!

[sciclone]

Goodness me, that looks complicated. I like the fact that it's being preserved, but I can see why miniaturisation took off.

[smeden]

Nice old beast! Saw one running at the Copenhagen Classic Grand Prix! Scarry top speed Down the straight :-)