The car touched the ground today - first time since the engine was fitted.

I do like the hot rod, low rider look but I think this is a little low... don't you think



Put it up in the air again and noticed the adjusting bolt for the torsion bars had drooped. Put it back in place and lowered to the floor. Checked the heights (275mm from centre of torsion bar to ground) and it was still a little slow. Up again, another adjustment and it sits at the correct height now. I have not left much for the adjustment but looking at the access, it wouldn't be too hard to remove the adjusters and reposition them later.



A little bit of a polish and it comes up a treat for now. As I keep mentioning, the bodywork and paint if for next year



And now the front is looking like a Traction, bumper on.

Before



After

Has your neighbour seen it lately?

Yesterday, he sneaked into he garage and I caught him just staring - hoping to pick him up next week for a drive.

looks like it but it's a Ford...

My new parts arrived today. The middle section of exhaust, new master cylinders, new spindle and turbine for the water pump, plus the seals and a couple of bleed nipples.



So on with the water pump first - the two spindles and turbine side by side. The new one is a lot better and is already attached to the spindle



Placed everything back on the engine and filled with coolant. Seems to be holding very well so far, not a spec of water coming out. Job Done

The exhaust went on OK, I placed the rear on axle stands and bolted it on. It is not the best fit for an exhaust but it is solid and is not knocking. I thing the silencer box needs to be a little wider to fit nicely. Another Job Done

But here is the Issue I have now - I put in the new Brake Master Cylinder - I bled each wheel in turn about 4 or 5 times. The pedal is slack, no resistance at all,as if there was a leak. I have checked and no leak - even the old master cylinder put the brakes on although it leaked form the front push rod.
But then the pedal goes solid - no movement at all. Then it releases and is spongy again with zero pressure i.e. zero brakes. I am using DOT 4 liquid. All the brake lines are new and as I said it worked perfectly the other day albeit the master cylinder leaked. So are there different types of master cylinder, could this be a wrong 'un?? This is very near the same as a 2CV set up.

But no brakes didn't stop me have a play. I actually drove him out of the garage under his own steam. Few near misses on the walls as this is a bloody big car compared to my little AZU van.

A few splutters from the exhaust, no leaks so far from the water pump and no visible oil leaks just yet.

This is the first time this car has moved for a long time. Just need it to stop now..... any ideas there

My 2 pumps..
Bleed brakes, till fluid is completely bubble free.
Else Master Cylinder is the most likely problem.

No bubbles at all - and Master Cylinder brand new arrgh

I will take it off tomorrow and compare with the old one.... annoying as fluid is stripping my paintwork

May not be relevant, but if the master cylinder internals are anything like those on an A series, there needs to be some free play on the pushrod which acts on the piston.
( Free play = get hold of pushrod and see if it rattles around a bit... )

Had the same problem with my 2cv and lnadrover. After bleeding with a eezibleed tool it worked. The eezibleed forces more brakefluid through the lines and it takes airbubbles with it. The pedal moves only a little quantity of fluid.