Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire Special
" Sidd "
Workshop Diary The Start September 2020 to 2021
Sidd’s diary charting the start of the Journey.
December 2021
Brakes continued
Brakes are still the main focus this month with the stripping and cleaning of the one calliper we have here at the moment. Investigation via the internet has revealed the same brakes callipers were fitted to Rover P4 & P5 which will make sourcing parts easier. New brake hoses have been bought and a hand brake from a 1936 17hp model has been found to fit hopefully on the outside of the cockpit. We’re still trying to source new discs as they are different from the ones fitted to Rovers . We may have to retain the original pads and disc for the time being for use when moving around the yard under its own power , maybe next year.
November 2021
Brakes
November dropping the engine block off to the machine shop is on hold for the moment so we have moved on to other jobs. After a short visit to the barn the near side front wheel station was disassembled to allow the disc and caliper to be removed. The discs and brake hoses will have to be replaced but the brake caliper hopefully can be reconditioned. Unfortunately while removing the steering arm to facilitate caliper removal the castle nut split so a new version was made in stainless steel.
September 2021
Instruments
September and after a visit to the Beaulieu Autojumble we have started assembling the dashboards instruments and ordered a few parts from the owners club.
Also a few parts brought back form the barn for cleaning and painting.
August 2021
Engine Removal
August was just going to be a few little jobs with limited time in the barn, then we thought what the hell and proceeded to remove and strip the engine. Removal was a reasonably simple process particularly as there is no body work to damage . Stripping the engine was another matter, as the engine was seized the torque converter could not be removed till the engine could turn. Our previous efforts had resulting in 4 of the pistons moving with a gentle tap unfortunately the remaining 2 needed help from a block of wood and a very large hammer.
Next step is cleaning and inspection of the block, crank, camshaft, conrods etc. From first glance the camshaft looks ok, the crank will require a grind, small end bushes will be replaced and have already been ordered but the big question is the state of the cylinder bores which unfortunately doesn’t look good.
On the plus side the puncture was fixed in the now spare tyre by the replacement of the inner tube.
May 2021
Fire
May and a return trip to the barn and another attempt to free off the pistons in the block. The block was warmed through by burning petrol in each cylinder, the end result was that 4 pistons are letting the diesel pass by the rings which should aid removal hopefully in July.
All joints were lubricated and the near side front wheel swapped for the spare due to a puncture.
April 2021
Mascot
Quiet month on the car only real progress was the purchase of the mascot for the bonnet.
March 2021
Starter motor, dynamo, fuel pump etc.
Remaining ancillaries removed from engine for cleaning and overhaul, radiator found in another barn and parts stored with the car.
Fuel pump exchanged with new one. Starter motor found to be seized and brush springs broken, replaced springs un-seized and painted. Dynamo bearings very worn, replaced bearings cleaned and painted. H.T. leads replaced and new modern suppressed plug caps obtained.
February 2021
Cylinder head & Water pump
Cylinder head cleaned , skimmed and new valve seats cut. Valves and water pump parts supplied by Armstrong Siddeley owners club.
January 2021
Rocker cover
Rocker cover cleaned and painted, new nuts made to hold it down and distributor finished with new cap, points, rotor and condenser.
December 2020
Carburettors
Carburettors finished. Water pump stripped and found to require new seal and bearing assembly.
November 2020
Cylinder head strip
The car had obviously been left outside in the rain with air filters and rotor cap off allowing water into the carbs and then then the cylinders.
Cylinder head stripped and cleaned, valve seats and valves will have to be replaced. Distributor cleaned and unseized. Both carbs being cleaned and re-plated and painted
October 2020
Start of the job
Workshop manual and parts book found on eBay and so our journey with “Sidd” begins!
First job engine strip down and inspection. Pistons seized and old oil congealed every where else. Parts for refurbishment then taken back to our workshop for the winter.
A small Armstrong Siddeley oil pressure gauge turned up on eBay and we just had to have it , not sure if it’s from a car or one of the companies other products .
September 2020
As Found, The Start Of A Long Journey.
The car as found in a Alex’s barn needing a little TLC and a lot of body work. Due to the state of it and also it being an automatic it was left and ignored but as it has a log book and the engine, transmission, drive train, chassis, steering and brakes are all original Armstrong Siddeley finishing it needed to be done.
Alex purchased the car as part of a job lot of vehicles a few years beforehand and as we’re very old friend he has agreed that “Sidd” will have a home somewhere at his place for as long as needed.
