The last weekend of Oct was a picture-perfect autumn backdrop for the Hilton Head Motoring Festival. Situated at the Port Royal Golf, the festival included the Car Club Showcase on Saturday and the Concours de Elegance on Sunday. This was the BCCC’s fourth invitation to the Saturday event and as a club we did not disappoint. Thirteen cars made the trip and were displayed on the first fairway. Upon entering the festival our club was the first one on the left and everyone naturally migrated over to our cars. The Car Club Showcase has several award parts; one is the Crescent Award, where the participants chose their top five cars from the entire field which are then refined into the Top Twenty Five. The other is a judged award where cars are picked from a “Best …” category. The winner is a “Top…” and the runner up is awarded a Palmetto Award. A new award was created this year called the “Port Royal Award” and is given by a committee to the car that exemplifies elegance.
As usual we had a strong showing. Harry Cramer received his 4th Crescent Award with his XK120, which is probably a record. Joining him were Irene Breland in her TR4 and Paul Palmer in his Superperformance Cobra. Millie Horton was awarded the Port Royal Award for her Bentley. Wray and Susanne were gobsmacked to be awarded “Top English, Small” with their newly finished Magnette. All the Top Twenty Five awardees participated in a parade across the checkered square where the Master of Ceremonies spoke about their cars as they were presented their award. The judged awardees went across the checkerboard, received their awards, then formed a chevron display in the middle of the show field for a half hour.
Saturday night found us at the Longhorn Steakhouse for a good meal and good fellowship.
Sunday was the Concours de Elegance and our Club was represented our very own Kevin Kalman with his rare Berkeley. Kevin’s rare car, which is only one of six made, by mere coincidence, was judged by Bill King, a member of the BCCC. Kevin was awarded “Most Significant Microcar” and drove across the checkered square to be presented with his award.
The concours show field was a delight for the eyes with more fantastic cars than could be taken in at one time. Three of my favorites were there, two Desoto Airflows and a Chrysler Airflow. There was just too much to see and not enough time.
With seven awardees out of fifteen cars, the British Car Club of Charleston acquitted itself very well and represented the essence of British Car ownership. Congratulations to the Club!BCCC.
Harry Cramer – Jag XK120
Jane Schmitt and Jim Dove – MG TC EXU
Millie Horton – Bentley R-Type
Wray and Susanne Lemke – MG Magnette
Lewis Hay – Healey 100BN
Steve and Jana Edgington – AH Sprite
Paul Palmer – Superperformance Cobra
Dennis Wunch – Triumph Stag
Irene Breland – Triumph TR4
Bill and Lisa Unger- Jag E-Type
Phil and Rosemary Odom – Jag XJS
Richie and Michelle Hartley – Austin Mini
Gordon Hill – Lotus
Mike Carnell – Vanden Plas Princess
Kevin Kalman – Berkeley
Lemkes and the Queen Mum @ HH 2015a
42 years ago Jim Stewart bought a 1952 MGTD. He dissasembled the car with the plans to do a full up restoration. Then life got in the way. Now, 42 years later, Jim is going to do a complete the restoration.
The last license plate for the MGTD. Yup, 42 years ago!
Dave Rosato and Steve Smith needed to take a ride on the Harley's and Dave needed to try to get the engine unseized. Destination: Jim Stewarts. Here is Steve positioning a floor jack to support the rear of the engine so the transmission can be removed.
Removed the distributor, starter, generator, transmission, water pump, oil pump and the front cover. We also drained about two gallons of Mystery oil from the engine. The camshaft wouldn't rotate either. Jim bought a come-along to pull the engine. There is a large beam running across the garage which will be used. So the plan is to remove the oil pan then the camshaft drive sprockets and chain. Then we can see if either the crankshaft or camshaft will rotate on their own. We'll be able to see what the crankshaft looks like. If the crankshaft still won't rotate, next will be removing the connecting rod bolts and removing one piston at a time.
ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.
8-5-2019 Finished removing the engine (after returning a defective hoist). The other end of the come-along is connected to a very large eye-hook which is screwed into a very large beam on the ceiling. Took all external misc stuff off, dropped the pan and tried to remove timing chain! No Master link and the puller I borrowed wouldn't fit behind the chain.
The engine on the stand. The clutch assembly was removed as well as the oil pan. When I turned the engine over on stand - water ran out! Almost 50 yrs old - not exactly potable!!
Above is the crank shaft. Looks pretty good. It sat in Mystery oil for 42 years.
Now the challenge is getting the timing chain and sprockets off. I borrowed a puller but the arms won't fit behind the chain. I eventually cut the chain and pulled the sprockets. They needed to be replaced anyways.
The cam shaft rotated but the crankshaft still wouldn't. I unbolted all the connecting rods and was able to move pistons 1, 2 and 4, not 3. With the help of a nice piece of oak I was able to get it out. Here it is.
8-16-2019 Port (Cat) City Radiator, AJ & Ed did a great job! Just 2 pinholes - plus they painted it & polished the brass! Awesome!!
The infamous #3 stuck piston. Need to pull the rings and clean it a little.