Marina Caliper

[StuartK]

Hi all,
      I need some advice, I have managed to knacker the thread in the the brake pipe entry on a new caliper which I have just put on my MK3 Marina Dog (replaced drums) What are my options? Has anyone ever used a helicoil to get over the problem, although I expect this wouldn't be advisable where brake fluid and pressure are involved? If my only option is a new caliper, does anyone know of a reasonably priced source (a quick gander at fleabay comes up at 90 quid for a pair) or are they used on any other car which might provide a cheaper source?

Cheers
StuartK

[istreatf]

Hi Stu - I do not see an easy remedy for this one apart from a new unit. You might be able to get a specialist to drill out and put a bigger connection on to it but I think that is a bad idea. A specialist might be able to recover and re-tap the thread - a better solution - depending on how badly the thread is damaged - but it must be a specialist otherwise the tiniest mount of swarfe inside the caliper and it will fail with unpredictable but serious consequences as you no doubt appreciate.
The caliper was used on several cars of the era but they are all just as expensive - the Triumph range for a start used them (spitfire - herald etc) amongst others.

[Nigel Haldane]

I would tap the hole out to the next available size but you would need to see if a metric thread is larger. Are you going on to a flexie pipe or a solid? The other option would be to put a sleve in, this is to tap the hole out bigger and screw a piece of metal in with the original thread in it. a nice engineering firm may do this for you. The pistons can be removed so all the swarf can be removed.
 I don't think this is a job for a helicoil although that are very good and they have worked well on thread repairs I have done. A caliper is quite small and there are better options to repair it I have used helicoils on large engines that couldn't be put on a driller but your caliper isn't a hard repair. I know of some places in Birmingham that may do the job for you but i have just checked you status and you are in cambridge so a bit of a drive. i have had a quick search try these chaps but it looks like a big place that may not do oneoffs M & J Engineering

[John dee]

How about getting the hole welded up and a new hole drilled tappped and threaded in?

marina parts prices are starting to get properly daft now. But I suppose we have to bear in mind that this 'Donor' car is a classic in its own right now!

[John dee]

Further to my previous message I have checked the stats and there are now only 294 Marinas still running around on UK roads (with tax disc's) and a further 408 on SORN. I wonder how many of those 408 will be stripped down cars that were going to be Kits and will never hit the road again?

[istreatf]

Unlikely, as you have to re-SORN the damned things every 12 months. I would think that there are more in garages scattered around that were taken off the road before the SORN process started. One of my neighbours is rebuilding a fairly late model Minor van, and is going to put it back on the road with a totally different van V5 which is much older and a non- suffix or prefix plate - tax free of course. Totally illegal of course, but there is no way to prove it is not legitimate, and more importantly there is no way to prove it is legitimate either.
As far as Marina spares go, well I have not had to buy any recently as my mileage seems to go down every year. When my fuel tank goes it is going to be replaced by an alloy one, but being a kit, who needs Marina spares? Nice Zetec engine, Jag rear axle, coilovers with double wishbones on the front and modern discs all round - nothing left of the Marina! OR get an electric conversion for £3.5k all in and forget about road tax etc if you can get your head around the paperwork. Don't think I could get to Stoneleigh in one go though......

[Nigel Haldane]

John I know it sounds easy but welding and re-tapping would be just as exspensive or more than a tapped sleve

[StuartK]

Hi Guys,
        Sorry a reply has taken so long I have been PCless for a few weeks. Thanks for the advice and suggestions, in the end I roped in a neighbour who is an engineer of long standing and we went for the Helicoil option. Everything appears to be OK but not road tested as yet.
         I also made some wheel dollies out of 2x2 with a cheap job lot of 16 x castors (£15 on ebay) and I can push the old bulldog around in the recently extended garage.  Amazingly with a different carb, manifolds, distributor etc; there doesn't appear to be any leaks and once the fuel was drawn through she started first time. I think I must have earned a few brownie points from him upstairs somewhere along the line! I thought that all I would need to do was check the wheel alignment and go for the MOT but other half has decreed that the seats need recovering and some of the carpet needs replacing. (Anyone know of a good inexpensive re-upholsterer/seat coverer) I will keep you posted on the progress and you never know I might. make Detling next year

Cheers Stuart