Austin A35 Project

Post pictures and stories about your cars both present and past. Also post up "blogs" on your restoration projects - the more pictures the better! Note: blog-type threads often get few replies, but are often read by many members, and provide interest and motivation to other enthusiasts so don't be disappointed if you don't get many replies.
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gazza82
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2015 7:38 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire
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Re: Austin A35 Project

#131 Post by gazza82 »

Test
"If you're driving on the edge ... you're leaving too much room!"

Retirement Project: '59 Austin A35 2-door with 1330cc Midget engine and many upgrades
Said goodbye: got '98 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TSpark to 210K miles before tin worm struck
rich.
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Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:18 pm

Re: Austin A35 Project

#132 Post by rich. »

Test! :scared:
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gazza82
Posts: 444
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Re: Austin A35 Project

#133 Post by gazza82 »

Forum had a problem which meant no-one could post. Thanks to TerryG it'ss now back so I'll get thinking about an update to the A35 project!!!
"If you're driving on the edge ... you're leaving too much room!"

Retirement Project: '59 Austin A35 2-door with 1330cc Midget engine and many upgrades
Said goodbye: got '98 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TSpark to 210K miles before tin worm struck
rich.
Posts: 6893
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:18 pm

Re: Austin A35 Project

#134 Post by rich. »

gazza82 wrote: Sat Apr 26, 2025 6:30 pm Forum had a problem which meant no-one could post. Thanks to TerryG it'ss now back so I'll get thinking about an update to the A35 project!!!
Lots of photos too please :thumbs:
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gazza82
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Re: Austin A35 Project

#135 Post by gazza82 »

I'll try and catch up with the project but much has been converting the manual clutch to an hydraulic operation and with the dash ... which I redesigned in 1979 and am now tweaking that.

But I did spend the last couple of days learning how to make brake pipes. I'm replacing the old master cylinder that is mounted under the floor with a split-circuit Metro/Rover 100 master cylinder with an integrated servo. This will then feed via two balance valves to the two rear brake cylinders. At the same I have installed the Metro pedalbox and converted the cable clutch pedal to operate a hydraulic master cylinder. They are in place so I started to add some pipework.

My first brake pipe tool proved useless .. it didn't go as small as 3/16" pipe. The second, cheap one, didn't flare without damaging the pipe surface above the flare. Then I picked up a used Sealey kit which works a treat. A few test flaress led to getting the first two pipes made up and in place. Some of the bends are with a proper bender, some just by hand.
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It then occured to me ... would the steering arms miss as they run close to the firewall.

A bit more gentle persuasion and yes!

I need to fit a spacer behind each balance valve .. my 1/2" ones are too wide and they need the extra support.
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Oh .. and swap the pipes at the balance valves to feed into the opposite sides! Did it from memory .. which obviously isn't what it was. I did consider that when making the pipes so that shouldn't be an issue.

Then strip it all out to fill some holes where I moved the balance valves and clean up and paint the firewall.
"If you're driving on the edge ... you're leaving too much room!"

Retirement Project: '59 Austin A35 2-door with 1330cc Midget engine and many upgrades
Said goodbye: got '98 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TSpark to 210K miles before tin worm struck
rich.
Posts: 6893
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:18 pm

Re: Austin A35 Project

#136 Post by rich. »

Smart job mate :thumbs:
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gazza82
Posts: 444
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Location: Buckinghamshire
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Re: Austin A35 Project

#137 Post by gazza82 »

rich. wrote: Sun May 25, 2025 8:04 pm Smart job mate :thumbs:
Thank you!

Have also made a clutch pipe.

And plans afoot for the hoses, etc. Not cheap, but completely one-off.

Looking and Car Builder Solutions for parts but I keep seeing other bits I need ( ie want! ) :D ;)
"If you're driving on the edge ... you're leaving too much room!"

Retirement Project: '59 Austin A35 2-door with 1330cc Midget engine and many upgrades
Said goodbye: got '98 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TSpark to 210K miles before tin worm struck
User avatar
gazza82
Posts: 444
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2015 7:38 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire
Contact:

Re: Austin A35 Project

#138 Post by gazza82 »

Started to fit the o/s sill. Like many cars these were spot-welded so plug-welding and will also weld along top and bottom edges.
"If you're driving on the edge ... you're leaving too much room!"

Retirement Project: '59 Austin A35 2-door with 1330cc Midget engine and many upgrades
Said goodbye: got '98 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TSpark to 210K miles before tin worm struck
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