Fast Marina Magazine

I have this cartoonish image in my mind of the motor roaring out through the grille....

I am sure nobody is wondering - but I will explain anyway.
The position of the wipers.
I get very annoyed with odd noises when I am driving - stuff sliding about - rattles from the dashboard - suspension clunks etc.
The wipers when set to park at the very bottom of the screen have a nasty habit of slapping against the screen rubber on every stroke.
It used to put me off using them - and that became a navigation hazard - so instead I fit them to stop where you see them.

No more noise..

I only like the noise that comes out the pipe you see.

That's fine until you use a silicon coating like Rainex, other brands are available, that allow rain to move across the screen at the slightest provocation.
Unfortunately the wipers react in the same manner and will come to rest wherever is the slipperiest!

Due to weather related limitations, play has slowed on the van.

Mostly I have been adjusting timing and mixture settings to get it running as well as possible.
The main problem with driving it at present is the state of the gearbox - with 2nd gear being particularly difficult to engage without complaint.
I can tell by the feel of the gearlever, that there is not enough resistance in the 1st/2nd selection - meaning that the springs have broken inside the 1st/2nd engagement sleeve.
The symptoms are similar to worn synchros - but are definitely not.
As the van gearbox has lower ratios in the lower gears, I am not interested in repairing it.
I shall simply concentrate on getting the new engine and gearbox ready for transplant.
Unfortunately - this manoeuvre also involves fitting a new wiring loom, different heater, new dashboard, lighting relays, and a number of Mk3 saloon bits.
I have all the parts, but it will mean significant time off the road during the process - and I am in the process of repairing my Mk3 estate - so I need to complete that before I can take the van off the road.

Meantime, I am enjoying the use of it - albeit a tad underpowered for my liking.

Looks the part though...





Such a lot of fun this is...

Looks really good on those wheels.


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Cheers Chris - I am liking the wheels also.
They need sandblasting and powder coating - will do so when the current tyres expire.
Not too far off that as it happens.

Today being Saturday was an opportunity to move various projects forward.
Weather was agreeable for a change.

I am eternally grateful that Austin/Rover et al managed to standardise the panels on various different models.
So it is that this late model Marina van also has the captive threads for things like roadlights.
The holes are all in place behind the grille - so all that is required is to run a tap through the paint-laden threads..





.. and then bolt up the brackets removed from my trusty but rusty Mk3 estate..






Then I bolt on the cibie roadlights - seriously good for night driving these...







After which it is just a matter of fitting a saloon or estate grille...







And there you go...

And again...

A relatively fine Sunday for the win.
Today I achieved the perfect outcome as far as the most desirable ride height for the van goes.

I do enjoy being scientific about such things - as I require my results to be repeatable.
So - how do you arrive at the most desirable ride height for a 575 van destined for a rather exciting engine transplant.?

Like this.

Take a 575 van in standard trim as far as weight goes.
Add a pair of Mk3 saloon 2-leaf rear springs.
Also add;
1 x iceberg lettuce @ NZ$2.99 from Countdown
400gms of tomatoes @ NZ$2.78 from Countdown
1 x medium container of premium coleslaw @ NZ$2.50 from Countdown
700gms chicken breasts boneless/skinless @ NZ$8.00 from Countdown
1 x bottle of Lindauer Brut bubbly @ NZ$10.99 from Countdown
2 x 4 litre Castrol GTX @ NZ$60 the pair from Repco
2 x denim jeans @ NZ$99.00 the pair from Hallensteins
4 x 40 litre bags of compost @ NZ$19.00 the lot from The Warehouse
4 x 40 litre bags of bark chip @ NZ$34.00 the lot from The Warehouse

It looks quite a bit like this;





And the ride height looks like this;





And this:





So - any time I want - I can re-establish the correct ride height just by collecting that same array of stuff.

Simple eh.?

I like your style Kilroy....
You're a gem....
One possible flaw i can see .... might be the straw that break's the camel's back...

You have't loaded the 4 xxxx yet.....
Gil...

SLOW ITAL wrote:I like your style Kilroy....
You're a gem....
One possible flaw i can see .... might be the straw that break's the camel's back...

You have't loaded the 4 xxxx yet.....
Gil...

How full was the fuel tank?

Now you mention it - fuel tank almost empty.

Used it all up dragging that lot home...

Pride cometh...

So I am cruising off to work - holding up the traffic.
I catch a glimpse of an orange blur just along the left edge of my bonnet as I pass a parked vehicle.
Then there is a huge impact and the van rears up in the air and bumps about as I rapidly brake to a stop.
WTF..??!!

A large dog has bolted out from concealment and run straight into the left front of my van - it was beneath my field of vision and I did not even know what had happened until people ran out onto the road behind me...





So here I am - feeling sorry for the dog owner - who by law should have had the dog on a leash - but at the same time - my vehicle has suffered damage and I feel a tad resentful right now.
A passing Council Animal Control person who happens to be in the area stops to assist, and points out to the dog handler that they are now responsible for the damage to the van.
They agree and give me their contact details.
Two days later they come around to view the van and immediately begin accusing me of speeding and all manner of other stupidness.
I don't get angry much - but I managed to let this be the exception.
I gave them a clear view of things inasmuch as their crap management has cost the life of a good animal - and involved me at the same time.
I rounded it off by making very clear that "off" was the direction in which they should be effing.
I realised that no matter what they agreed to - there was no way in hell these people were ever going to be responsible for their actions.
Total loss then.

I stripped all the bent bits off that I could.
I have spare grille, bumper, indicators etc - but the lower valance has been folded under, popping the guard out and slightly lowering the top edge of the guard itself.





As it happens, there is a panelbeater just around the corner from my house, so it was time to meet him.
Turned out to be a nice chap who was happy to help.
He viewed it this morning and said it would take him 4 hours to straighten and prime it.
Cost would be about NZ$200.

I am happy with that, and made it clear I had quite a bit more work for him if he wanted.
Hopefully this will happen - he is just so close by it would be brilliant to let him handle all my needs with 4 Marinas.

So - that was a crease in the plans.
Most annoying - but I am most relieved that I shall not be dealing with disagreeable people.
I have decided to think that the dog simply wanted to get away from those people - and chose me to do it for him.

C'est la vie.

Cheers all.

People like that just don't get it and never will. Sad about your van and the dog and the hassle you have due to said scum. But pleased you got a good fix on your newest motor

I think you are right, the dog was running away from the hell hole those dead beats called home.
Keep up the good work Kilroy.

I was wondering where this post had gone.
And here it is..

The van has not died - it has come back - then gone again.
Now it is coming back again.
Slowly.

The panel repairs were completed successfully and the van was put back into service with the original grille seeing the replacement had been damaged.
I fitted a Mk3 sedan bumper, and my second set of Superlites with new tyres.



While I was enjoying the use of it on a daily basis, the gearbox was pretty naff, and the power delivery was underwhelming.
But I knew all that.
I just could not decide which powerplant to install considering that I had both auto and manual options - plus the untested and incomplete race engine.
The van itself chose to bring matters to a head.
It blew a head gasket again.
End of attempting to nurse the 1275 A series any further.
About the same time my white Mk3 sedan came to and end when considerable rust in both front guards stopped play - but also because I had been paid out by the Insurance and they had taken the plates.
This prompted me to choose to utilise all the parts from the Mk3 to complete the rebuild.
I have been making steady progress - well until the weather got really nasty - but I have managed to stop a few leaks and am preparing to drop the engine/transmission.
Currently various panels and doors are getting the treatment.
The fitted doors - all 4 - were ill-fitting and drafty, as well as the fact that the front two both leaked into the footwell.
I swapped the rust-treated drivers door from the sedan first.
I am undecided about trim options, but quite like the matte black window frame and could even contemplate leaving the stainless trim below the window in place.
I think the black door mirrors may look ok too when it is all cleaned up and painted..



My next project is to fit bolt-on seat runners from a Mk2 sedan so that I can fit my cloth seats - and this needs to be done before adding the soundproofing and carpets from the donor car.
I needed to be sure all leaks were gone before subjecting any carpet to the mix.
After that the entire dashboard and wiring loom will need to be transposed - I shall need to draw a deep breath at this point, as both vehicles will subsequently need to be pushed around the yard to effect work.

Roll on Summer...

Cheers.

Oh.

This thread probably needs moving to "Readers Projects" if anyone has a mind to..

Thanks.

Sunday.
And a promise of a sunny one to boot - as the frost gradually thawed away.
Going to be a Marina day.!




Main project today would be convincing a pair of doors to swap sides of the carpark.





The white sedan is being the donor of just about everything in the cockpit for the revival of the van.
Drivers door made the change some weeks ago, but weather has dissuaded any outside activity since then.
First thing was to whip the door off the sedan.





The door then got the rustkill process - it is wonderfully sound - only surface stuff to discourage.
I will trial fit this and see if it cures all the water leaks. Both doors will come off again for painting when I know they fit up ok.





While that was drying I removed the door from the van. An ill-fitting job with a few gungey bits which will be best gone.
The van was obviously a different colour when new. I will paint the door opening during the final fit.





First fit looks good - apart from the spotty bits. I ripped the trim strip off as the surface underneath will need attention before paint.
Hinges on this door are perfect, and the close is just brilliant. Closes with no contact other than the click of the latch, and seals great against the trim which was also swapped.
Most happy with it - although the bog in the lower guard will need dealing to..





By now the day had progressed somewhat, so we decided it was time to play...

We seldom go into the centre of Christchurch city - it is still a sad sight despite the intervening years.
We have disappeared off the "recent disasters" list on a world scale, but the recovery is slow to the point that it may never entirely happen.
The best way to explore is by bike..





We found a carpark in the main street - about 3 blocks from the centre of the Square.
This would have been impossible pre-quakes, even on a Sunday.
Even though much of the shopping area is still housed in shipping containers, some effort has been put into creating people spaces..





It is difficult to navigate around the city because most of the landmarks are gone.
In a typical Kiwi way, little bars and cafes have popped up amongst the carnage, and on a day like this they were full of happy people.
We stopped for a beer and a bourbon.
No scotch today..





There are still many shipping containers being used to prop up old facades while the Insurance companies dither over whether or not the buildings will be resurrected.
And this is 5 years on.!
The locals manage to make a joke of it despite the continuing heartbreak for many..





We headed back home before the temperature began to plummet, and by close of play I had the dash out of the van..





Very pleased with todays progress, and shall keep the heat on.
I think the screen will have to come out of the van, so that will allow me to fit the bits of vinyl trim that hide the pillars.
Fortunately, the van has a new screen rubber, but I suspect that at least some of the water leaks may be getting in around the screen.
A good day in all.
Cheers guys.