1989 Austin Maestro 700 L Van 1.3 to 2.0 Turbo

[alexhatcher]

Oct 31, 2016 10:55:05 GMT rblote said:

I really like this panelvan. The work you put into it is awesome. Buuuut
I have been biting my tongue for some time now but I have to ask, I don't want to be rude but
are you gonna fix the rust in the doors? I know it's not my business and just ignore my nosiness but I just can't not ask you. I like your car so much and blah blah blah etc etc

Cheers

The thing is the doors have rusted from the inside out so would need while new bittoms. Therefore it's probably easier getting different doors. If some come up I'm sure I'll get them. But at the end of the day I've done the bits that matter on the sills and rear arches and it's my daily throughout the winter so not too bothered at the moment

Also I paint cars and do bodywork as a job and I'm too busy doing everyone elses restorations!

[alexhatcher]

Vans been doing great at daily duties have a few issues (as always!) the main one being since swapping the box.

Basically it's great for round town and flat areas, and amazing on the motorway due to the new diff ratio is 4.25 as apposed to the old 4.6. so I can go on the motorway at 3250 rpm doing 75! But it is now slightly less effective on the hills, and the Speedo is a bit out. Anyway the solution is smaller wheel/tyre diameter. Know I've looked up the options for the existing 16's and id need 205 40's which are about 200 plus fitting. However I do have a set of 14x7 5 spoke revolution alloys laying around that I had bought originally for it, and I got thinking about maybe putting them on with 185 55's. There's are about 100 a set so half the price of the 16's.

Whatever way I go it would obviously lower the ground clearance and open the arch gap so I would have to lower the suspension a bit more to compensate. So lower all round, win win

Have been thinking about it for a while now, will the 16's look too big with less sidewall but would the 14's look too small. I was leaning towards the small wheel low body ground clearance look possibly , but let me know your opinions and if anyone could do a Photoshop for me I'd be grateful!

[alexhatcher]

www.dropbox.com/s/wg1st4x2i7pdzrd/IMG_20161202_150139.jpg?dl=0

This is one of the revolution wheels, I held it up to the 16s and it just fits inside the first lip. But the centre bit is basically the same size so may not look too small. Will refurbish a couple and try and get some part works fitted just to try them out

[alexhatcher]

The van has been on winter duties so fitted some front mud flaps as the low offset of the wheels meant that the mud went literally all the way up the side! Other than that haven't done anything to it apart from tweaking bits here and there to make it run better, has some proper poke now I've got used to it, hats off to the little A series I'm going to book it in for a tune up after Christmas as after 3k rpm there's no more power on full throttle (miss-fire like a soft cut limiter), can sort of get past it on half throttle but its frustrating as I know there's so much more to give! I reckon its either the cheapy air filter (I plan to replace anyway) or the wrong needle in the carb. Also I don't think the new ratio to wheel size helps as effectively the engine is having to work a bit harder to get anywhere.

Have started the refurb on the revolutions, I figured if they are no good I can either keep them for an MGB or sell them on I think in a perfect world 15's would suit it best but will see whats the revo's are like. (Happy to swap the wheels on the van if anyone has and 4x114 wheels?)






Got some snow the other week too and could resist a picture

[alexhatcher]

Happy New year everyone, cant believe its been almost a year since I started this thread!

Done a few things over the holidays, although I didn't really have much time off , I found out that my mate could change tyres at his new job for me for free! I had the old volvo alloys laying around and some tyres that werent being used and happened to be pretty much the right diameter for the new gearbox ratio, so I took a trip up there and had them fitted, drives loads better as its in the power band now instead of just under it And is still good on motorways sitting at just over 3000 going 70, also sits lower to the ground; ideal. Have been thinking about wheels and I'm probably going to stay with the ones I have on, maybe do re paint of the centres to something more exciting but thats a bit distant at the moment, so will get some 205 40's and see what they are like.

Also I did some research and got a slightly richer needle for the carb (BDL) This made the engine rev a bit more before the miss fire. however I treated myself to a new air filter after Christmas, the ram pipe and sock combo who says socks are a bad present! This free'd a good chuck of ponies and had got some real power after 3k rpm (where it lacked before) The combination of the needle, air filter and smaller wheels diameter makes for a proper pokey motor now. It even smells nicer. like a the smell of when i was taken out in a dolomite sprint racecar, a proper old car engine smell I reckon the cheapo pancake filter was restricting it as it smelt rubbish and rich (even with the mixture right).





Got one of those cool reflection shots on boxing day too Made me want to keep the 16's

[aldershotrover]

Looks awesome! I have sent you a message ref. The rear lowering blocks. Am after a bit of advice as to where to purchase them

[leaky]

I might be biased cause I have had a fair few sets on different things over the years but what about banded steels for it? I think they suit commercial vehicles so well.

[alexhatcher]

Jan 10, 2017 17:32:14 GMT leaky said:

I might be biased cause I have had a fair few sets on different things over the years but what about banded steels for it? I think they suit commercial vehicles so well.

Yeah is a proven method for coolness! Have pretty much decided to keep the ones that are on it though As I managed to get some tyres cheaper also probably going to give them a proper refurb and re paint at some point. Also I have a thing with polished aluminium, Love a good shiny dish!

[alexhatcher]

Took the van up the motorway to see a friend last weekend, this was the first time on it since the new air filter and wheel size change. It was so good, I could overtake and accelerate with ease as it sits bang on the power band. Could blast along in the outside lane all day if I wanted too and the van feels like it wants to aswell! Pulls all the way up to 70 and beyond (although I wouldn't exceed the speed limit of course ) Whilst I was with my friend we went out for a drive around Weston Super Mare where he lives, and he even commented on how I could kinda keep up with his Volvo 940 turbo! All in all i'm over the moon with how its running

New tyres turned up for the 16's today, going to get some great lows with these profiles May need a sump guard though!





Cheers Guys

[vulgalour]

Rubber bands! Did you let on what the new wheels are going to be or did I miss that post?

[alexhatcher]

Jan 12, 2017 19:12:17 GMT vulgalour said:

Rubber bands! Did you let on what the new wheels are going to be or did I miss that post?

Just going to keep the ones I have on it , possibly give the centres a re paint and get some winter wheels as the salt and mud isn't doing them any favours!

[alexhatcher]

Got my friend to put the new tyres on yesterday, they look great. Perfect amount of stretch and still within the legal size for an 8j, make the wheels look great. Had a bit of an issue with one of the beads sealing as a ham fisted moron had been let loose on them before, and taken to the inside lip. So he's going to get some bead sealer and have a go with that.

Will post some pictures when I test them

[alexhatcher]

Got the wheels back with the new tyres on and had a few hours so had a go at fitting them.

This is what they look like compared to the others and what they look like on the rim.





They make the rim look much better I think

Anyway, I was going to put on the old volvo ones as winter wheels as the salt is not mixing well with bare alloy!

First I tried it on the front, which I knew would fit fine but just seeing how much I could wind the coilover down



Could get a good inch down I think (need to make a sump/downpipe guard as they are close enough to the ground as it is)






Then the back...



They are perfect as I would just buy an extra inch lowering block and stack it on the current 2 inch ones. I reckon I could probably go lower but more than 3 inches of lowering blocks would be a bit silly I think. Possibly look into getting the springs themselves lowered (?) but that can wait till another day!




So finally after an evening of swapping wheels about I've ended up with the dreary winter beater look...

Might look better with more lows




Thanks again

[alexhatcher]

Fitted a mk1 Golf splitter to the van the other night, tried to go for the jdm chin spoiler look. Turned out well, need to give it a dust over with some black as its more like grey at the moment and will get some pics.

Also ordered some more lowering blocks for the back

Looking for some thick checker plate to make a sump guard to...

[alexhatcher]

More lows purchased

[alexhatcher]

As promised a picture of the splitter, annoyingly the cheap aerosol I used just faded so will get another one and do it again when I get 5 minutes. I think it will fit in much better when its proper black not grey, and when I put the wider wheels back on...

In less interesting news I changed the brake shoes on the back and found that one of pistons was seized so free'd it off but have ordered new ones.





(tried to make it look more black by making it greyscale)


Also what are your opinions on sump guard material, I was thinking some thick aluminium checker plate, 3mm, 5mm?

Thanks 

[Mercdan68]

5mm to be safe?? Love this van looks spot on

[düdo]

alexhatcher queried

Also what are your opinions on sump guard material, I was thinking some thick aluminium checker plate, 3mm, 5mm?

An old heavy duty baking tray. Roasted like a Samurai sword! And you won't have to cut it.

Great van. Like the new lower profile tyres.

[WoodyMercW114]

Love this build, ever thought of bagging it ?

[alexhatcher]

Feb 7, 2017 22:55:46 GMT WoodyMercW114 said:

Love this build, ever thought of bagging it ?

Has crossed my mind but I can't throw any more money in to it! I think I'll be happy enough with the stance on the new tyres though if I suddenly came across a large sum of money I would mind...