Austin Seven Ulster type thing.
Discussion
My eldest son has taken an interest in my late father in laws Austin Seven Ulster type thing which has been sat for decades in a barn, not a "barn find" as it wasn't lost, just a little forgotten. We arent sure what it is really, dont think its an original Ulster, word is its a fifties built replica, not sure what chassis but it has a lower front end and the front and rear wheels are different sizes.
Believe he raced it in the seventies, it isnt road registered, its blue with no mudguards and a pointy back end.
Anyway, he changed the oil having spoke to the bloke who used to maintain it, did some other bits and we put fuel in the carb bowls, made sure it had a spark by getting a shock of the dynamo
and did some other messing and lo and behold, it lives, it fire up and ran quite happilly, if quite noisy and lumpy, soudned fairly potent for what it is.
Will try and get a photo up, and the video he took, plan is to get it running and driving properly, apparently it overheats quite easily so looking into getting an electric fan.
Will need to get a 6 volt battery to run the electric fuel pump, some of the fuel pipe looks iffy, it needs a couple of gaskets and we need to check the brakes and clutch. Its in pretty good nick as it been in a heated, dry barn, mainly just dusty and suffering from lack of use.
We were wondering if it could be made road legal and what it would need, not that I would relish him driving it on the road, doesn't look that safe !
Any tips or info gratefully received.
Believe he raced it in the seventies, it isnt road registered, its blue with no mudguards and a pointy back end.
Anyway, he changed the oil having spoke to the bloke who used to maintain it, did some other bits and we put fuel in the carb bowls, made sure it had a spark by getting a shock of the dynamo
and did some other messing and lo and behold, it lives, it fire up and ran quite happilly, if quite noisy and lumpy, soudned fairly potent for what it is.Will try and get a photo up, and the video he took, plan is to get it running and driving properly, apparently it overheats quite easily so looking into getting an electric fan.
Will need to get a 6 volt battery to run the electric fuel pump, some of the fuel pipe looks iffy, it needs a couple of gaskets and we need to check the brakes and clutch. Its in pretty good nick as it been in a heated, dry barn, mainly just dusty and suffering from lack of use.
We were wondering if it could be made road legal and what it would need, not that I would relish him driving it on the road, doesn't look that safe !
Any tips or info gratefully received.
OH YES!
If it was big on the racing scene, chances are it might be known within the historic racing circles. I'd try the austin 7 register or maybe even the vscc.
Registration is a very tricky one that I don't know enough about, but essentially you're gonna struggle unless it's already registered, now or historically.
If it was big on the racing scene, chances are it might be known within the historic racing circles. I'd try the austin 7 register or maybe even the vscc.
Registration is a very tricky one that I don't know enough about, but essentially you're gonna struggle unless it's already registered, now or historically.
I think as long as it's all about right as far as being "in period" for the chassis and major mechanicals, you should be able to register it as a "reconstructed classic vehicle", have a look into that perhaps?
Still plenty of support about for these, active clubs and so on, and lots of information about.
One note on the brakes - if it's still on cable brakes, you could do a hydraulic conversion using Morris Minor bits. My dad has a Ruby with that setup, carried out by a previous owner in the long distant past.
Still plenty of support about for these, active clubs and so on, and lots of information about.
One note on the brakes - if it's still on cable brakes, you could do a hydraulic conversion using Morris Minor bits. My dad has a Ruby with that setup, carried out by a previous owner in the long distant past.
Ambleton said:
OH YES!
If it was big on the racing scene, chances are it might be known within the historic racing circles. I'd try the austin 7 register or maybe even the vscc.
Registration is a very tricky one that I don't know enough about, but essentially you're gonna struggle unless it's already registered, now or historically.
Not sure if it was big, apparently he had couple over the years and did a few races, but dont think he did that many, I have been with my wife since 1991 and it was around then, today is the first time i have heard it run.If it was big on the racing scene, chances are it might be known within the historic racing circles. I'd try the austin 7 register or maybe even the vscc.
Registration is a very tricky one that I don't know enough about, but essentially you're gonna struggle unless it's already registered, now or historically.
One step at a time, need to get it up and running properly.
Will sort a photo when I sort my photobucket account out, they have taken my money but still keep saying my account is suspended.
InitialDave said:
I think as long as it's all about right as far as being "in period" for the chassis and major mechanicals, you should be able to register it as a "reconstructed classic vehicle", have a look into that perhaps?
Still plenty of support about for these, active clubs and so on, and lots of information about.
One note on the brakes - if it's still on cable brakes, you could do a hydraulic conversion using Morris Minor bits. My dad has a Ruby with that setup, carried out by a previous owner in the long distant past.
Yeah, still cable brakes which are, by all accounts woeful.Still plenty of support about for these, active clubs and so on, and lots of information about.
One note on the brakes - if it's still on cable brakes, you could do a hydraulic conversion using Morris Minor bits. My dad has a Ruby with that setup, carried out by a previous owner in the long distant past.
My son has found a club that meets locally so have suggest he gets in touch.
Need to clear it with my mother in law as its her car but its a shame it just sitting there if he has the nous and enthusiasm to get it going.
It seems like a pedal car, not sure I will fit in it.
Edited by J4CKO on Saturday 15th June 22:47
Looks great! Not sure about the Ulster but the brakes on the "cooking" Sevens weren't just bad - they were dire!
Might be worth flushing out the cooling system as overheating wasn't usually a problem and might save the cost of an electric fan.
We once left a Ruby out facing North in a winter cold spell and having no thermostat the entire cooling system went into reverse, froze and the following morning the core plugs had been forced out and were sitting on little stalks of ice projecting from the block. After thawing out and banging the core plugs back in place the engine was none the worse.
Might be worth flushing out the cooling system as overheating wasn't usually a problem and might save the cost of an electric fan.
We once left a Ruby out facing North in a winter cold spell and having no thermostat the entire cooling system went into reverse, froze and the following morning the core plugs had been forced out and were sitting on little stalks of ice projecting from the block. After thawing out and banging the core plugs back in place the engine was none the worse.
Nice 'find' !
Ulsters - even replicas - are quite sought-after
Couple of recent auctions:
http://classiccars.brightwells.com/viewdetails.php...
https://online.handh.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/cat...
There appears to be a lack of lights on it, are there any about as this may indicate whether it was ever previously registered ?
Ulsters - even replicas - are quite sought-after
Couple of recent auctions:
http://classiccars.brightwells.com/viewdetails.php...
https://online.handh.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/cat...
There appears to be a lack of lights on it, are there any about as this may indicate whether it was ever previously registered ?
Doing a bit of reading to try and learn about the Seven in general, never really been on my radar anythign this old and I am struggling to find the OBD port....
Am I right in saying they dont have engine driven fans ? some do and some dont by the looks of it but not sure what the criteria are, I get the impression there is no water pump and the coolant just moves via convection ?
My son has removed the water manifold and its pretty gunked up inside the block with deposits so it needs flushing through, will need a new gasket as well, suspect also that we may need to take the head off to clean the waterways.
Where is best for Seven spares ?
Am I right in saying they dont have engine driven fans ? some do and some dont by the looks of it but not sure what the criteria are, I get the impression there is no water pump and the coolant just moves via convection ?
My son has removed the water manifold and its pretty gunked up inside the block with deposits so it needs flushing through, will need a new gasket as well, suspect also that we may need to take the head off to clean the waterways.
Where is best for Seven spares ?
J4CKO said:
Doing a bit of reading to try and learn about the Seven in general,
Am I right in saying they dont have engine driven fans ? some do and some dont by the looks of it but not sure what the criteria are, I get the impression there is no water pump and the coolant just moves via convection ?
Normal in older cars and is the reason the top of the radiator is so much higher than the engine. Am I right in saying they dont have engine driven fans ? some do and some dont by the looks of it but not sure what the criteria are, I get the impression there is no water pump and the coolant just moves via convection ?
Hot water from the engine rises to the top, is cooled by the rad, descends and completes the cycle as it is heated in the engine.
It's known as the thermo-syphon.
Edited by CanAm on Sunday 16th June 20:16
J4CKO said:
Am I right in saying they dont have engine driven fans ? some do and some dont by the looks of it but not sure what the criteria are, I get the impression there is no water pump and the coolant just moves via convection ?
They do have fans, that I've seen, but I'd imagine it's unnecessary on track as you're moving fast enough to get good airflow through the rad without one?Also, the aluminium casting the fan is mounted to cracks where the bearing is, so I can see why someone would do without one if not needed.
Yes, as mentioned, it's a thermosiphon cooling system, no pump etc in there.
J4CKO said:
I am struggling to find the OBD port....
It's just above the cup holder.Seriously though, that looks lovely. Is there any sign of mudguards or mountings for them ? If it is critical to your plans to be able to get it road registered then I'd suggest you investigate that before going too far to be certain that you will be able to do so.
Mr Tidy said:
That looks great. 
I hope you do manage to get it registered - it could provide loads of fun on weekends!
Who knows, will see where we get to, we dont own it, so at the moment it is just a case of getting it running and driving, its a shame it sitting there year after year ignored.I hope you do manage to get it registered - it could provide loads of fun on weekends!
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