Gilbert the Gilbern - The Ongoing Story

[delta]

Mike came over today with his amaizing Gilbern . We got the box out and hopefully found the problem . Luke Wos is sorting out a new starter . Full report next week but 99% think it’s sorted .

[Peter Mallett]

Great news.

[grantp]

Excellent.

[delta]

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Well I had a great time meeting and helping Mike, "Top chap". Today he came and collected his Gilbern with a V8 Chevy engine running perfect and starting. We had a little help from our Tenth friends, Alan Morgan, MG David with me and Mike. happy days. Good old Luke Wos made us a new starter. Wosp starters. Thank you Luke.

[grantp]

Fantastic.

[justracing]

Quite a unique machine, well done everyone

[E.B]

Brilliant job all. Great looking piece of kit. Look forward to some on track reports in the future. Best of luck

[MikeL]

Ready for its first run tomorrow. To say that I'm a bit apprehensive would be an understatement, so many unknowns!

[Mike Harte]

That's a huge credit to you considering how it was just a year ago. Enjoy your day tomorrow.

[Peter Mallett]

Sadly I couldn't make it this year. Good luck.

[John Elwin]

Bon chance!

[justracing]

Wished i could be there just to witness first hand your incredibe transformation of such an iconic vehicle, unfortunately a prior hospital appointment awaits. great job, go well.

[Gerard C]

More likely restoration, resurrection or back to its former glory JR… How was she MikeL?

[MikeL]

Not as planned I'm sorry to say, it would not go into gear. I had only run the car on axle stands, what I had not noticed in my garage was that with the pedal depressed the wheels continued to turn. I found out this morning that with the car on it's wheels it was impossible to engage any gear. Various people helped out, in particular Richard of Westbourne Motorsport, the slave actuates the lever arm via a rod about 30cm long. Richard had a hunch that the orientation of the rod was wrong causing the arm to twist. He welded a plate to the slave mounting bracket to make the rod horizontal but this did not solve the problem. Somehow the clutch plate is not separating and it looks like the box will have to come off again to figure out what is, or is not, going on. Great shame. On the plus side, at 97db it did pass the noise test!

[Gerard C]

Sorry to hear this, Mike. It sounds like you have several issues with accessories located on the bell housing.

[delta]

Think I know what to do . So sorry Mike . We should have tried at Delta HQ. Never gave it any thought

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by MikeL

Not as planned I'm sorry to say, it would not go into gear. I had only run the car on axle stands, what I had not noticed in my garage was that with the pedal depressed the wheels continued to turn. I found out this morning that with the car on it's wheels it was impossible to engage any gear. Various people helped out, in particular Richard of Westbourne Motorsport, the slave actuates the lever arm via a rod about 30cm long. Richard had a hunch that the orientation of the rod was wrong causing the arm to twist. He welded a plate to the slave mounting bracket to make the rod horizontal but this did not solve the problem. Somehow the clutch plate is not separating and it looks like the box will have to come off again to figure out what is, or is not, going on. Great shame. On the plus side, at 97db it did pass the noise test!

Did "you" put the clutch on the engine ?

[MikeL]

No, not guilty! The clutch was already fitted. The arm aperture in the bell housing is quite large but you can't really see what is going on, or not as the case may be. I'm told that the arm pivots on a ball type joint as against as a fork action, it may be that this is allowing the intended movement to be diluted.

[Gerard C]

Mike, I bought an endoscope and I'm amazed by how much helpful it can be. First use is of course when you want to check the valves and piston heads following a "moment of enthousiasm", aka overrevving. They go for cheap now, mine is a Depstech, small diameter with leds surrounding the camera. Just have to load the ap, connect it to your smartphone and be aware of what's going on in any hiden and dark place.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by MikeL

No, not guilty! The clutch was already fitted. The arm aperture in the bell housing is quite large but you can't really see what is going on, or not as the case may be. I'm told that the arm pivots on a ball type joint as against as a fork action, it may be that this is allowing the intended movement to be diluted.

Why I asked was "is the drive plate fitted the correct way round" ? seen it many times over the years. However I don't know what clutch plate it has, and if it makes any difference on the type that is fitted, it certainly does on road cars.
Last year my nephew phoned me up, he had just put a new clutch in his car and it would not go into gear. I said "I expect that you've put the clutch plate in the wrong way round", the next day he phoned back and said "you was right". What made me chuckle is that he works for Mclaren !!!

[MikeL]

With many thanks to Ian, the clutch is now fixed. I have a track day booked this week, hopefully I will be able get a reasonable amount of time to see how things pan out. There are bound to be more challenges!

[delta]

Sorry I should of posted. Tricky one this. Poor Mike L its not his fault. Looks like we need a smaller dia clutch slave cylinder. We are about 10 mm short on throw. The car has a E Type Gearbox. The best option would be to fit an internal clutch release system. This is what we have used on all the E Types we have built.Anyway with some cut and shut I made a new push rod. Sorted out reverse gate and gave the car a blast up the road. Woo Hoo she sure does go.
Good Luck Mike.

[bauble]

It sounds as if you need he services of my wife, Iain, she can find fault with everything, everywhere, and everybody any anytime.

[Peter Mallett]

Mike L in his V8 Gilbern. Suffered from brake and temperature problems but making progress.

[kartman24]

Non starter for the race on Sunday, i guess from the reasons that Peter commented on.