MG
The Classic Marque

Anton
It might pay to measure your crank pulley diameter, I think they're just under 35.5 dia.
and the groove the seal fits in is 9mm wide
a seal 35x47x9mm might fit better----

Yes, sorry - vacuum on both sides of the diaphragm, not atmospheric pressure. As politicians like to say, 'I mis-spoke'...!
So yesterday I started off by trying the brake pedal and it felt normal, not going solid on the next push (I had previously released the presure via the servo outlet union). I started the engjne and again, the pedal felt quite normal, and no locked wheels this time - it ...

On a car used in motorsport the cap is meant to be of the non-venting type and the engine breathing should be into an oil catch tank (1L for speed events).

Bill, your comment reminded me that some years ago Mrs. M told me she'd be furious if I died and left her to clear out my workshop!

Things have moved on and I have a bigger garage and a crowded but slightly more organised workshop.

I have, however, begun to dispose of stuff. £60 worth of mixed scrap metal to the scrap yard (much more satisfying than the council dump) and flogged...

Must have been a hard thing to do Willy. Things stay more or less the same for years and years then suddenly there has to be a major change. In my case my wife doesn't want to be left with a load of "clutter" in the event of my demise.

Of course I could be the one to survive longer.....

A problem arose with Payen gasket as we went into Covid lockdown.
Built a half engine as recipient wanted to isolate and finish it himself.
He apparently fitted the HG and filled the engine with water after first torquing the head down.
He retired for the night intent on running up to temp in the morn. Next day the sump was full of water.
I used to put mileage on an engine before a ret...

Never had an issue with Payen gaskets.
Gold standard is Cometic but the downside is they only come into their own if the head and block have both been machined dead flat and true.
Payen are a bit more forgiving.

The filler cap is not the only entry point for air into the crankcase. Something that is easy to overlook is the dipstick. It's supposed to seal in the tube. And the tube is supposed to seal in the drilling in the block.
Easy and cheap to check and eliminate with a couple of O rings.
Just a thought.
By the way I salute your innovative thinking with the air pump. I don't think that's...

You can also buy spring assisted struts. Combine that with a remote boot release and you could have a bonnet that opens gracefully at the press of a button!
Of course in the good old days of breakers' yards that you climbed around in you could probably have found all the necessary components. Except perhaps the remote as they hadn't invented them then!

You can also buy spring assisted struts. Combine that with a remote boot release and you could have a bonnet that opens gracefully at the press of a button!
Of course in the good old days of breakers' yards that you climbed around in you could probably have found all the necessary components. Except perhaps the remote as they hadn't invented them then!

You could add a buzzer or bell ...