Austin Westminster
It’s time for the Westminster’s Live Stage appearance
When we last reported on the Westminster (PC, May 2017), we were frantically preparing it for its starring roll on stage at the Practical Classics Restoration and Classic Car show. We pride ourselves on attention to detail at CBR Motor Bodies, so every last component had to be found, scrubbed, cleaned, refurbished and painted before being either fitted to the car or boxed up ready to be fitted at the show.
The intention was to get the Westminster to a point where it could run at the show. Missing gear selector components meant that we wouldn’t be able to drive the car off stage at the end, but there was a huge amount to be getting on with.
The first stage session saw the brakes rebuilt and fitted. New shoes, springs and cylinders went on before the original drums slid over the top. Bleeding the brakes in the front-of-stage holding area led to cries of panic as a 4-way T-piece with only three pipes connected sprang a leak. A quick dash to the Automec stand to collect an appropriate bung saw us back on track, and rapid rag and brake-cleaner action prevented any paint damage.
The twin carburettors went on, fresh from rebuild at Burlen Fuel Systems, but required a large stack of spacers to clear the exhaust manifold scavenged from the single carburettorequipped manual donor car.
Fuel up
This is something that will need to be overcome at a later date. Linkages were fathomed out and connected and smooth throttle and choke operation over the full extent of travel checked and adjustments made as required. With the carbs on, our attention turned to getting fuel to them. We mounted a small auxiliary fuel tank in the absence of the original, and plumbed it to the carbs. Seats went in and fluids came next, with cooling first on the agenda. The refurbished radiator slid into place, new hoses went on and the system was filled with antifreeze. Oil went into the rebuilt engine then rapidly fell out again
‘Three days seems plenty of time on paper. It’s amazing how quickly it goes’
around the edge of the rocker cover. It had been overtightened at some point during its life and had distorted. The flat floor of the NEC was a perfect makeshift anvil and a length of bar a suitable die for the gasketseating flange to be straightened before it could be refitted and filled with oil.
Turnover
Our final scheduled stage session came quickly and, as we pushed the Westminster on stage, we were hurriedly fitting HT leads and making final checks to ensure a good first start. Battery connected, we turned the straight-six over for the first time. Nothing. Not a dicky bird. Lead order was checked and confirmed as correct, and a spare spark plug against the block showed a healthy spark at the HT leads. If we had spark, did we have fuel?
Off with the hose from the carbs and another crank told us that the fuel pump had chosen this moment to give up. A spare was requisitioned from Andrew Bywater who was displaying his Morris Minor hearse nearby… and still nothing. The diaphragm on the new unit was porous and despite merrily ticking away, refused to pump fuel. The clock was ticking and we had minutes to get the car running in front of the crowds of spectators gathered for this historic moment. Gravity feed seemed the only option. Matt Tomkins cable-tied a jerry can to the open bonnet, submerged a hose, then handed over to me to receive a mouthful of petrol before pushing the flowing hose onto the cab feed pipe. Another crank on the starter and the old girl burst into life for the first time in many years.
We’d done it, or so we thought. Three hours later, Danny’s Jensen had been due to appear on stage for its final session. When breaking the engine in outside (PC, June 2017), a small fire plus slipped timing and consequent six-foot flames leaping from the exhaust had attracted the attention of NEC officials. ‘Please don’t start that inside’ came the request. This left a spare slot and a challenge for us. I’d been thinking throughout the show of a way to rig up a rudimentary gear selection. It was out with a selection of offcuts of threaded bar and flat plate, while others fitted the propshaft, connecting the drivetrain at long last.
With minutes to go before curtain-up, we had something that might work. We sourced a new Fuel Flow fuel pump, while careful selection with the brake pedal depressed allowed me to find drive, park and reverse. The team piled in and shot off for a test run before hurtling back through the door and onto the stage to cheers from the crowd. A superb end to the weekend, but by no means the end of this project.
We need you
The car is now back at CBR where we are continuing to put it back together. We still need side trims, grille trims, window surrounds, carpet, gear selector cables and many other parts. If you have anything at all that you think might come in useful for the project, please do get in touch.
practicalclassics@bauermedia.co.uk