1955 Traction 11B "Barn Find" Project

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There is an item in the Tech Doc section on the main site re fuel gauges and testing for resistance Ian – Volume 28 – 2003-4 issue 5 (Nov-Dec) http://traction-owners.co.uk/members_only/technical_articles.shtml

I wish to hell I saved my original float unit. The one I got from Depanoto in the 8os was rubbish. I did get one from the club spares that works reasonably well but did need some fiddling with the arm before it would work with any accuracy.

So yesterday I started on the engine “properly” 😀

I received my new gaskets for the piston barrels and duly inserted them and measured the tolerances and all seems good. I then decided to fit the head in place before flipping over the engine. In the 15/6 English manual it says to do it this way and it makes more sense. Although I think I may have a job flipping it over with the extra weight 🙁

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So now I need to prepare the head. My new coolant tube arrived along with new core plugs. So with a little more cleaning I fitted the pip easily pointed the holes downwards and then sealing (glueing) each end with ultra blue. I also flared the end of the pipe at the water pump end, hoping it won’t move too much.

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And fitted all the new core plugs that I had to remove to get rid of the coolant pipe. Slightly easier than removing them 😆

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So back to the head preparation. I had read about the valve seals needing to be installed just below the split collets and in my gasket pack there were new valve seals. I cannot remember seeing these before when I sent the head to be cleaned, surfaced and new valve seats fitted. They also fitted the new guides and springs. I have a sneaky feeling they did not bother with the seals. I checked number 1 and was correct nothing.

So after putting together a Heath Robinson rig to remove the valve springs I inserted the new seals just under the split collects – so an hour or so just getting me back to square 1. Only close inspection of the head, I don’t think the company actually did anything other than install new valve seats – I am pretty annoyed but if I went back the Frenchies would just sling their arms in the air and “c’est la vie” 👿

Here is what the head looked like when I got the car

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I stripped down the rocker shaft

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And prepared the head for docking 😀 Nice new gaskets and placed the push rods in place.

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And while all that was being done my under floor had a coat of primer and is drying nicely. Stone chip will be adorned tomorrow and then I can get the car back on the lift and off the axle stands.

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So when I come to put in the crank seal assembly the rubber seal is a little short. Now is it supposed to be this length and I need to stretch it or is it just too short. I was going to close it together and superglue the ends to make a complete rubber ring. I have sent a message to CAS in the Netherlands to find out.

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This is the timing chain end and this will not meat the crankcase surface at all.

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