RobSA project Bella

[RobSA]

Well finally some work is being done on Bella.
The moving house, getting used to new role at work and finding a new partner (she is great ) has finally settled enough for me to start looking at getting Bella ready for this years Nationals.

The radiator has just been finished by Holden Hill Radiators, brilliant job. I was basically got ripped off by Gawler radiators before the last Nationals which saw Bella suffer chronic overheating problems amongst other problems. It turns out the radiator was nearly 95% blocked how on earth did it even run !!!!

Next on the list is rebuild of the starter motor and alternator.
Might also have to look at the brakes this time around as the master cylinder reservoir is only half full (it evaporates right )

Anyhow roll on July when the replacement engine goes in with hopefully a little help from the Bellett faithful over here.

So until the next update

Cheers
Rob

[Farmer]

Great news Rob, nice your planets are aligning.
It will be great to catch up, and early indications are there will be plenty to catch up with.

Cheers & keep us posted,
Matt.

[mrflibbles]

sorry to hear about the first job on the radiator, sucks to get work done and then have to do it again.
We will get some work done to bella very soon!

[oz_toffa]

i am spending the next 2 weekends collecting all the bits together for the Bellett Blitz day.

we will have brake parts, radiator hoses, water pumps, fuel pumps, coolant, you name it, we will bring it.

did i mention tools and tools or even more tools!!!



YEAH..


OZ

[RobSA]

I better make sure I have the BBQ and food ready

Cheers
Rob

[pa_man]

Get those boys workin hard Rob!!

[RobSA]

After what seems and eternity the day for Bella's engine change came.

The weather while being rather ordinary (passing showers and hail) didn't deter the 6 that turned up to help me with the change over.
The procedure was me get everything set so the guys could get going on Bella, organize the food for BBQ'ing and try and keep everyone sorted with tools equipment and drinks.

At this point it would be remiss of me to not thank Steve for cooking a fantastic BBQ.
Jill and Steve for keeping us supplied with coffee, tea, biscuits and cake.
Chris, Josh and Paul for the mobile tool shops and Bellett parts stores.

Essentially I had an old engine out of another wreck that appeared to be okay, compression test showed 150psi across all 4 cylinders (tick).
Next remove the transmission, clutch and flywheel to remove the rear welsh plugs (just as well as one was just rust), then drag it outside and flush it with the hose to get all the crap out of it.
Bring back inside, and remove Bella's dead engine (0 psi across 4 cylinders).
The guys had been busy and the engine was ready to come out pretty quickly.

During the engine removal and installation a small issue with the block and tackle had everyone running for cover when the whole thing dropped a couple of inches
A quick change to chain and d-shackle made everyone feel a whole lot safer.

So engine in fit new exhaust, and weld up, this time my ability to weld paper thin exhaust deserted me and had to bodge it up just to get the car running (nearly).
Unfortunately the Sprint battery, though showing a full charge was crapped. Change to another battery brought fuel instantly up to the carby, unfortunately it seems that something isn't quite right with the manifolds and subsequently not enough vacuum to pull the fuel into the engine means more work on another day.

No photos from me as I was too busy running around the others may have some to put up later.

Again many thanks to Steve, Chris, Paul, Josh, Jill, Shelagh, Jeanie and Mum for all the help and entertainment.

Cheers
Rob

[mrflibbles]

no problem rob, happy to lend a hand where i can! was sweet to hear her run again (even though we had to pour fuel in to the carby!) wont be too long and she will be on the road again!
was a good day with some good guys!
thanks for lunch!

[pa_man]

I was a good day, Good People, Good Food and hearing Bella come to life again!!
Some REALLY BAD humour and the occasional Unidentifiable odour!!
All in all a great time!

[oz_toffa]

We all had a great day, if not pretty busy

but i did manage to get a few pics...

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The Donor Car with easy engine removal access kit as factory fitted

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Engine and gearbox awaits

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Whats going on here???

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Nothing wrong with that Welsh Plug!

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Who is doing all the work..

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some rust repairs

[oz_toffa]

and the last for the day

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Motley crew 1

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Motlye crew 2

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i know this goes somewhere?

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Rob powered Bellett

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Still hard at it

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nearly ready to fire her up

[redback]

Wish I was there to help - looked like you guys had a great time.

[mrflibbles]

i was just making sure the smoke didnt escape the distributor there, you know they dont work once the smoke comes out...

[oz_toffa]

thought you were the electrical connection between the engine and the Dizzy with those special conductive gloves on???

[RobSA]

Thanks for the pictures Oz.

Still a bit of aways to go but much more enthused now the engine change has been done.

Cheers
Rob

[BULLITT]

all that work and not a beer in sight well done guys ..i wonder how many other car clubs have that mateship looks like a few hours work involved cheers davo

[oz_toffa]

your right Davo. We reckoned about 3 weekends work for one guy was done in a day!
and the hard jobs like engine re-fit are so difficult when your doing aligning, block and tackle, and gearbox fitting in one movement. 3 people make it real easy. Gearbox input shafts make really good clutch aligning tools!!
We all had a great day, only one or 2 bits of skin knuckles, and its well on the way toward the Nationals now.

OZ

[GTtoo]

Bella, Bella, oh so Stella . Such a magnificent effort there guys. And it's great to see her on the way back. Fantastic reading. Also good to know things are looking up for you, Rob.

Bravo, Bravo

[Farmer]

Ah, it's good to have mates! You fellas are rockin' the Bellett world!
Extra hands are always good, even when things don't happen any faster. Someone can say, "hang on, where's this go?" before you get too far.

We will look forward to a fresh Bella at Merimbula.
Cheers, Matt.

[RobSA]

Well it has been awhile.
Life has a way of getting in the way.

Anyhow just to update everyone.
No Bella (this Bella anyway) will not be at the Nationals.

It has been a bit difficult to get the exhaust sorted with illness, injury and work getting in the way.
Nethertheless the extractors are with a workshop getting put back into shape.
They are bent in multiple directions so at the flanges nothing sits square, not an easy job, might have been easier to cut the flanges off and start again !!!

Looking forward to seeing the Bellett faithful when you all come to town.

Cheers
Rob