A new challenger 'The Beast from the East'

[rotarypower]

Cheers James, I'm looking towards just replacing them all, down the line I still have vague plans for some form of independent rear suspension, researching different options, looking at other custom builds in other cars like MGs to see how other people achieve it.
This would also give me better brake options & a somewhat normal wheel PCD.

But for the moment I need to get it driving well in its current form, after which I may decide that its fine the way it is.

Not much to add since my last update, I've been driving it sporadically since its winter, mainly to keep things from seizing up, the diff & rear axle really need a rebuilt, bearings replacing & backlash setting. I don't have the tools or a decent work area to do it so I'm probably going to find someone who can do it for me, as soon as I can find someone I can trust.

Incidentally my heater is not very good, is this just how they are, or a sign its clogged up? It gets warm, but it takes quite a while of driving to actually warm up the car & I can never describe it as hot.
All my other cars generally get pretty warm before driving all that far, my Accord Type R reaches nuclear inferno levels when its properly warmed up.

[ian65]

Rotarys run hot and the heaters are usually very good, sounds like yours is either clogged up or the heater valve isn’t opening up fully

[Hobbawobba]

I currently had my whole rear end down the back of my house in bits . It isn't too bad taking everything apart. Speed Academy have a pretty good video on diff's aye


Yeah my heater gets pretty intense aye. Might be worth draining the coolant then flushing and backflushing the heater coolant lines?

Here is a good thread Ian made a while back also. viewtopic.php?f=23&t=377

[rotarypower]

I'll give that a go, thought it might be blocked, but I know old car heaters are sometimes a bit pish so I thought I'd ask before I went to the trouble.

Might look into doing the axle myself, just don't have a press or anything, or room in the garage for one!
I'll have a watch of that video now.

[danny]

When I took the heater apart a few weeks ago, it was totaly blocked. Coolant was free to flow, but allmost no air could get through. Filled up with insects, sand, leaves, etc.

All nice and clean now.

[rotarypower]

Guess its dashboard out time then .

Might see if its possible to fit some kind of pollen filter while I'm in there.

[Richardnz]

This is awesome. Thank you

[rotarypower]

Gave the heater core a flush today, didn't seem clogged at all, ran water through it in both directions until it was crystal clear.
Does seem to have improved it, after 20 mins of driving it was starting to get quite hot inside and another 20 mins later on the way home I even hard to turn it down.

I reckon its still gunked up with leaves though.

Also fixed the door lock actuator (the inside cabin one), for some reason they were both disconnected and cable tied up. Really annoying having to use the key separately for each door.
They'd also bent it and it took me ages to get the alignment correct again.

[Hobbawobba]

Glad to hear it's helped out aye! Maybe one day in summer you can get the interior out and check out the rest hahah

[rotarypower]

To be honest the more I do this the more I think I just need to take it off the road & have an intensive 'fix everything' mission.
If I had a garage to put it in then I wouldn't hesitate, but at the moment I'm just fixing stuff piecemeal and can't really have it immobile for too long.