Well, I've got the engine back in the "infamous" Ami service lookalike, all mated up to a later drum brake gearbox. All I'm struggling with now is the clutch cable. As some of you probably know, the original cable is adjustable at the gearbox end, and is about two inches shorter than the later cable. I didn't think this was going to be a problem - how different can a cable intended for an LHD Ami 8 be? - but it turns out that it is.

I can't get the clutch cable short enough to engage the clutch, it takes up the slack in the release arm but that's about it. I've tried fitting the old cable to the new gearbox and adjusting it lying on my back under the car: unsurprisingly, that didn't work. I've tried fitting an RHD cable: see above, and I've tried adjusting the LHD cable right to its limit, still with no joy.

As I see it now, my only option is to send off the cable to someone who makes Bowden cables and ask them to make me one which is two or three inches shoter but otherwise identical. Unless any of you lot have any ideas ...

That's where I'm confused. The pedal gear is a 2 pedal bulkhead mounted affair, not the Ami8 three pedal box, But I was convinced the Ami8 cable I gave to RT would do the job.

RT, I hope you don't think too badly of me, I was *convinced* the parts I bought and passed onto you would be fine for the job, but it seems none of it is any use.

I feel terribly guilty, and I wish I done the thing myself before selling it to you, not only would I be much wiser, you'd be using the car by now.