Not a lot gets past you boys, does it?
We're making slow progress with the head. We've decided to replace the exhaust valves, which involves getting some in from the States. And whilst we wait for them we're building the low ratio diff complete with quick change carrier.
We'll try this short diff on a twistier circuit like Brands or maybe a hill climb, before deciding whether it's a permanent fixture or not.
In the meantime I was sent this unusual overhead shot taken at Goodwood's last meeting.

send some pics of the Diff work, Mark. Would be interested to see whats involved.

No problem Glen, should be able to get a pic or two this weekend, just waiting for a couple of bits to come over from Finland.
At the beginning of the year a car mag took a load of pictures of Rolie, but to my knowledge haven't bothered to do the article...maybe they still will later...it was one of the wettest January days I've seen for ages.
Anyway I thought some of you might like to see some of the better shots taken.


Every time the car's driven it lets go of more coarse red sand...you can see it in this shot of the tank. I reckon over the last couple of years I've collected a few kilos of Aussie soil....do you want it back Greg?


Out of the rain.


Action

Love the last pic - Slideways!!!!!!!

Is the bum fodder for the passenger or the driver .gricey

Driver....he's getting on a bit Gricey, you know!
Glen, you asked in the 'leakage' topic which oil we use. I've always used Valvoline VR1 20/50 in all my competition cars, old and new.
The extra cool head's coming along...

Should be plumbed in this week, and we test on the 20th...really looking forward to it.

interesting.... mine just has a recess in the head there, waiting for it to be tapped out (HUGE tap though)
Looks like yours had a plug in it already and you drilled and tapped the centre of it.

I hope it helps a lot with cooling. Thanks for oil info too...

can you take a picture of the head gasket on the block for me, especially the region where the oil O ring is? Unless its already buttoned up that is.
I bought the additive and will be doing an oil and filter change this week and adding the 'sealer'. Then about a 150okm+ run on th e weekend should help it get started i hope.

glenn

Yes, the threaded plug was a real bonus, making the job a whole lot easier.
And yes, the head is now bolted down, but have a look on page 22 of this thread, there's a pretty good shot of the block and gasket.
In the development process of the car we've got through a lot of head gaskets, all of which have come from Ari in Finland (see shot of the boot above with the Fun Motors sticker)...he's always taped a new O ring in with each gasket, and nagged me to remember replacing it.....I'm glad he did, as I was unaware they could be a problem. Paljon kiitoksia Ari.

Good luck with the seal softener, let us know of the progress.

Mark

thanks Mark. Changed to oil, i used same oil which is what i have in 'stock' on special sale here. Added the Wynns also. Boy, that is thick stuff !
Will advise how it goes. There is also a small leak out of the timing chain area too. I suspect that the head tension has been lost over the years too perhaps. I got the head gasket out to look at... can see the O ring in there. Do you put sealant around that area also ? The gasket only cost about US$8.50 on ebay! Post $18. Can't find them that cheap anymore.

Yep, just a hint of sealant Glen.
Wednesday's test didn't go to plan I'm afraid to say. We immediately lost a cylinder, and proceeded to spit out coolant.
Lots of head scratching, compression testing, plug swapping, radiator raising followed, but we made no headway.
I'm disappointed, but the toys are not scattered all round the pram.
At least it was a nice day!

Rollie is identical to my first Bellett! A 65 model and he's still in the paddock although I'm told it's just way too much work to bring him back to life

That's a shame Simmy...although, never say never.

Incidentally, a little bit more footage of the last race meeting at Goodwood has recently surfaced, for those of you only after Belletty interest, it's in the first seconds and then, briefly at about a minute. Although I do suggest that you hang on to about 1min 20 secs for the sound of the flat 12 Matra screaming past. Magnificent.
http://youtu.be/9HcPK1Pyqik

Ha....it turns out that Retro Cars magazine published the Bellett article in last month's (November) issue. I think it's pretty good and not too misleading.
Here's a scan of the first page..I think I rather like the 'Greased from the East'

You guys have pretty much seen it all and know the story, but I scan the other 3 pages if you like.

SCAN SCAN SCAN all good reading. Thanks Mark

MORE MORE MORE - can I have some more please?? Great story!!!

Coming up.

High 5's all round, that is sensational Mark.
Excellent article and pics, you must be chuffed.

Fantastic

Wow! What a great read...a very concise and well written article by Daniel Bevis

they even spelt Bellett correctly