Ashley 750, an Austin 7 Special

Ashley 750, an Austin 7 Special This page covers the (very slow) rebuild and use of my Austin 7 based Ashley 750, bought in 1987.

Nice to take both cars out on a run for coffee and cake yesterday afternoon.
06/10/2024

Nice to take both cars out on a run for coffee and cake yesterday afternoon.

Nice run out in the Chummy yesterday to the Motor Museum yesterday to meet with the Midlands Austin 7 Club.
30/09/2024

Nice run out in the Chummy yesterday to the Motor Museum yesterday to meet with the Midlands Austin 7 Club.

Poppy, the 1929 Tourer with the Ashley and in its new home 😁.
18/08/2024

Poppy, the 1929 Tourer with the Ashley and in its new home 😁.

On its way from the Isle of Wight to join the Ashley in Warwickshire.
18/08/2024

On its way from the Isle of Wight to join the Ashley in Warwickshire.

20/05/2024

Removed one of the gears and rotating the camshaft with a socket, it looks like all the valve gear is ok.
So it seems the cause was the camshaft gear failing.

So I pulled the engine out yesterday and after a prolonged battle with the vee pulley on the end of the camshaft I was a...
19/05/2024

So I pulled the engine out yesterday and after a prolonged battle with the vee pulley on the end of the camshaft I was able to get the engine front cover off.
The camshaft gear as failed and broken into 2 parts.
Now assessing the level of strip down required and if it is significant, do I replace other parts whilst I am at it to end up with a stronger engine.

It was all going so well until the engine stopped on the journey home. Now waiting for a recovery truck 😭
05/05/2024

It was all going so well until the engine stopped on the journey home. Now waiting for a recovery truck 😭

At the Donington Historic Festival with the FSCC.
05/05/2024

At the Donington Historic Festival with the FSCC.

Out and about on Drive It Day with Coventry Classic Car Club .Ended up at Industry and Supply in Weedon for coffee.Great...
21/04/2024

Out and about on Drive It Day with Coventry Classic Car Club .
Ended up at Industry and Supply in Weedon for coffee.
Great to see lots of classics on the road.

Update on the rebuild of the steering.The old turned down hubs were replaced with later Semi-Girling and new bushes and ...
21/04/2024

Update on the rebuild of the steering.
The old turned down hubs were replaced with later Semi-Girling and new bushes and king pins were fitted. Welch plugs were installed which popped straight out again when I tried to grease them. Ended up applying solder over them which seems to have done the trick - fingers crossed!!
A new track rod was build from a spare Ford Pop one I had in the shed. This was extended slightly and fitted with rod ends.
After reassembly the toe-in was set using the string method, which worked pretty well.
Steering definitely feels better on full lock and the grease is now getting to the bottom bushes.

Finished removing the stub axles yesterday and then set about dismantling them.Interesting to find the top of the kingpi...
21/01/2024

Finished removing the stub axles yesterday and then set about dismantling them.
Interesting to find the top of the kingpin hole had originally been sealed by soldering on a piece of copper and the bottom had been left open to the elements
Turned out one of the kingpins actually had solder in the bore, so no wonder grease was not getting to the lower bush!!
Now need to work out a better way to seal the top and bottom. There is evidence of threads in the top of the hole, but the upper bush is covering most of it.

I have noticed when greasing the kingpins that I get grease coming out from the top bush, but not from the bottom.I susp...
15/01/2024

I have noticed when greasing the kingpins that I get grease coming out from the top bush, but not from the bottom.
I suspect that some of the holes in the kingpins are blocked by old grease that has hardened.
So I spent a few hours in the garage yesterday afternoon starting to dismantle the Bowdenex suspension in order to remove the stub axles and investigate what is going on.

Address

Heritage Motor Centre Banbury Road Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ
Solihull

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