Fast Marina Magazine

"Do you want another Marina?" he said.

I should have hung up right there.
But no - like a w**ker I asked for more details.
1981 1700 saloon - one owner until 2011.
How much?
$200.
Hmmm.
I went and looked at it.
Lifted the bonnet and immediately noticed the alternator that I sold to a mechanic recently after he bought a Mk3 with bits missing.
Same car.
Has dents in a few panels - must have been parking by ear...
It seems I now own it.
Will possibly recover it this weekend and take some photos.
Seems to have had some anti-rust treatment at some stage, and is all the better for it.
Guess I needed a white one....

One thing that puzzles me.
The mechanical fuel pump is present, but has no lines attached.
There is an SU electric pump fitted, but has no lines attached.
The fuel line appears in the engine bay and runs directly to the carb.
The guy who phoned me said it was driven there, and then he reversed it into the parking space where I viewed it.
?
Maybe they have pressurised the fuel tank....

May be running on the fuel in the carb float chamber, can get a fair way on it before it poops out. Depends on where it was driven.

Kilroy

Has the last owner fitted a pump inside the fuel tank, so it looks like it's just pumping out of nothing?



Chris

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Hey Kilroy, maybe its possessed - like a Marina Herbie

downsizing ??
it's a disease kilroy

don't ever find a cure

Was it this one off TradeMe, at Rocky Point Service Station?

Indeed it is.
Get this.
It has no less than 3 fuel pumps.!
I checked in with Rocky Point Garage today, and got some history.
The mechanic said it had a bit of a knock in the engine - I asked if it was bearings - he thought it might be camshaft.
Came home and fired it up.
Really bad knock when it first fired, but oil pressure good and quiet when running.
It appears that the gearbox mount has expired, and that is where the noise seems to be coming from.
Cam timing was one tooth out on the cambelt.
Distributor was incorrectly positioned - the points would not set below 30 thou.
Looks as though I will be able to make some quick improvements then.!

Ran out of light, so more exploring tomorrow.

Gary.

Well done Bryan..

The car had no keys, so someone had removed the steering lock, and just kept the end part with switch so it could be started manually - that is - once a year...

The alternator seen on the floor is one I had reconditioned and sold to the garage who placed the ad. They sold the car on without fitting any of the bits I provided, including a steering lock/ignition switch with key, which fortunately survived and I have now fitted it.
The front seatbelts have been removed, and it only had 3 wheels - was sitting on a poorly fitting space-saver wheel from god knows what.
Today I fired it up again after retiming both camshaft and distributor. Runs quite well, and the knock is definitely from the gearbox mount.
Probably won't be driving it until that is sorted. May have to consult Rimmer Bros for some new mounts. Have heaps of Mk2 mounts, but no Mk3.
I have correctly fitted the alternator now, and am repairing the wiring loom so that I can connect it up.
Quite pleased with progress so far, and promise to take photos as soon as I can - ie - when the rain stops.

Spent more of today getting a wof for a mate's car. Failed first time for handbrake and wheel bearing issues, so I repaired both and took it back for a pass.
Owner is coming over tonight to collect it. It is the 1300 saloon I recently posted about - belonged to an old guy who maintained it well. His family sold it off when he died, and my mate bought it. Drives beautifully. Hard to believe it is a 1300.

Having stated the above, I find the driving experience between the Mk3's and all earlier versions to be quite different. In a good way.
I find the steering and the cornering a lot more predictable.
Guess I will be sticking with Mk3's then..

Cheers all.

Kilroy

The gearbox bush is Triumph part number TKC1044, it is used on Dolomite, TR7, TR8, SD1 as well as MK3 Marina and Ital.

The SD1 also has a harder rubber option for the diesel version TKC2642.

With these options you might find some in NZ?



Chris

Sent from my iPhone

Thanks for the input Chris.

Sad fact is - even if such parts were available locally, it is doubtful that they would be able to supply them in the same time that Rimmers can.
Plus - I feel I owe them some trade for all the catalogues they send me..

Thanks Bryan, nothing like a few pics to keep it interesting

Gary.

Drove it tonight after connecting up the alternator and redoing the coil wiring.
It seems the knock is from somewhere in the engine after all - helps to have another pair of ears.
Left front wheel bearing is really bad to the point that you can't hear anything else.
Reverse gear is shagged.

Otherwise pretty good...

So ten minutes under the bonnet and she'll be fine.



Chris

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