Month: November 2022

When we first saw Agnetha in the museum it looked like she had a broken spark plug. I didn’t think this would be a huge problem but after she was delivered I realised something else was going on. Yes, she does have a broken spark plug but lodged inside was a lump of Wakandan steel that was impossible to extract or drill out. After removing the alternator I found part of a broken tool lodged in the mounting bracket, and the broken end matched perfectly the lump of Captain America’s shield that was sticking out of the spark plug hole.

The tool has “YATO” branding which is a popular Polish toolmaker. I’m not sure how popular they are in Sweden, and I’ve no proof either way that someone smashed a piece of toolsteel into my block in *this* country or Sweden, so no point pointing the finger (even though I’m absolutely pointing the finger).

In any case the engine, although advertised as turning, was only able to turn a couple of degrees and it has been stood for some 33 years, so I bought the car knowing it would probably involve an engine rebuild. I’ve never taken the head off an engine before, let alone rebuilt one, but what could be better to learn on than a seized A-series? “Off with her head!”

Taking the head off was a great workout. This video from All Things Alex was really helpful. In terms of engine rotation (or lack of) it looks like number 3 cylinder is holding everything back – possibly some corrosion around the piston rings? The other cylinders seem to be free. I’ve left them to soak in WD40 and we’ll come back to deconstructing that lot another day. The valves are crusty as hell – I will probably replace them along with the springs. But the rocker assembly is in good nick.

Getting the tool out was easy – just went in from the combustion chamber end with a screwdriver and smacked it with a hammer – ping! I tried to drill the remains of the spark plug itself and get it to turn with a bolt, but it seems to have become one with the head. I will probably have to drill the whole thing out and replace the thread with a repair kit. Then give the head a good clean, repaint it, replace the valves, polish and it should be good as new.

TL/DR: Still no headlight wipers!

The ongoing troubleshooting with the electrics are all related to corrosion between terminals and switch contacts, and in some cases disintegration of the plastics – this is understandable after 33 years of neglect and I’m amazed it isn’t worse. In most cases, e.g. the door switches and interior lighting, I’ve been able to get things working by cleaning up the corrosion with a wire brush and sandpaper. For the interior lights there has been a subtle retromod: LED lights now provide much brighter illumination and should be less of a drain on the battery.

The indicator and wiper stalks, lighting switch and hazard warning switch are more problematic. Some of the terminals have quite severe corrosion and the plastic casings aren’t holding together anymore – resulting in entire circuits dropping out, arcing and alarmingly hot wires!

I had a go at cleaning up the hazard switch and indicator stalks but I don’t think they’re any better off and probably won’t put up with much when we’re on out on the open road. The hazard switch and stalks are nothing special – just generic BL components – so I’ve ordered replacements from Mini Spares in the UK, but I was able to save the lighting switch with some solder, dollops of hot glue and a bit of crimping. It now works perfectly and no longer doubles as an electric toaster… and for the first time both dashboard illumination lights come on!

Finally I hacked a mounting plate to allow both horns to be installed, for all that 2-tone goodness. It sounds great but more importantly it looks good too – very cheeky. A full demo will be included in the forthcoming walk-around video.

As for loose ends, the faulty indicator flasher was replaced and it works, intermittently. Most likely it’ll settle down when the stalks, hazard switch have been replaced. There’s also something not quite right about the ignition switch, so all of those things are conspiring to produce a lot of gremlins. Hopefully in Part 3 we’ll have all that buttoned up!

The day after Agnetha was delivered I disconnected the starter motor (the engine isn’t seized but neither does it rotate!), connected a battery to see if anything worked, and nothing did. I made new battery cables from a set of 500A jump leads (because economy), tried again, still nothing. I cleaned up the main fuse box – the fuses were all good but everything was covered in a thin layer of surface corrosion. Still nothing. Then I started taking things apart.

The loom was in good condition although where-ever there was a connector it was the same story with corrosion. I took apart the ignition switch which was cacked-up with 46 years of congealed dead skin, cleaned it with turps and a wire brush, same with the hazard light switch. Then things started to happen. The oil warning light came on.

Then the dipped beam and main beam started working, and after a little persuasion the windscreen wipers started turning as well. Quite incredible for a car that was last tested in 1988 and hasn’t seen a road since 1989! There are also signs of past modifications – two dangling connectors hang out of the grill – they’re connected to the main beam so presumably someone long ago needed a few extra candles to piece the long dark nights of the arctic circle, and they probably looked good too. Various attempts at installing a radio too…

“But what about the frickin’ headlight wipers?!” cried the internet.

These don’t work – yet. The switchgear and satisfyingly clicky relay are fine. The washer pump is jammed but can probably be freed up if I clean it, and there seems to be a discontinuity somewhere in the wiring. The main problem (but also probably not serious) is the connector to the limit switch on the motor, which is severely corroded. I need to open it up and perhaps it can be reconnected. Failing that it just seems like an ordinary BL/Lucas wiper motor so shouldn’t be a problem to replace if it’s properly dead.

There’s no debate that a car’s not a car unless it has a horn. Agnetha had some aftermarket cheapo thingy that was full of mud and the diaphragm had hardned so all it did was make a crappy “dunk-dunk” noise. So I splashed out, bought a 2-tone (red and black to make the car faster), and fitted the 510 Hz unit – maybe I’ll fit both one day – but for now it has a very cheeky “PARRRP” which suits her nicely.

I’m going to take a short break now but here’s a to-do list for Part 2:

• Short-circuit on front side-lights
• Corroded external light fittings and bulbs
• Replace faulty indicator flasher unit
• Rear lights, number-plate lights, break lights, reverse lights
• Missing/not working dashboard lights
• Windscreen washer pump
• Headlight washer pump
• Headlight washer motor
• LH door switch
• Make a walkaround/demo video when the headlight wipers work

Basically a lot on chin-stroking, multimeter beeping, industrial language, and Dremeling – living the best life!