Page 113 - IT'S A RUM LIFE BOOK TWO "BOSTON 1960 TO 1970"

By Sunday lunchtime we had taken over the whole area in
front of our home. The old engine was out and new (second-
hand) engine hanging suspended over the engine bay.
Things had gone remarkably well so far, although the
whole project was causing some concern on the estate. I took
great pains to explain to close neighbours that this was really
not my new job and the pioneering poles pointing skywards
like some huge wigwam structure without its cover would
soon be gone again; fingers crossed.
The “new” engine was from a Rover 100, a little bit newer
and more modern in design.
Being “new” to Rover ownership myself I was surprised to
find the starter motor fitted on the opposite side of the engine
and there was no ready-made hole for it to fit into where the
engine joined the gearbox! Being ingenious types, Peter and I
got our heads together and decided that the quickest way out
of the dilemma was to make a hole.
A row of small holes were drilled into the gearbox fitting,
(it's called a bell housing for those of mechanical bent) and we
then carefully joined up all the little holes and slid the engine
into place.
Everything else fitted and by tea time and certainly before
Ruth arrived home from work, the sheer legs were down and
the car road tested to ensure everything worked.
I was on the road again. You will be able to meet Peter once
again in the chapter about our “First MG” when Peter’s
intrepid and undaunted sense of adventure, come to my aid
once more.
Sufficient to say at this stage, that the Training went well
and I duly began to work out of Lincoln District Office for Fred
Popham and the Firestone Company. My territory covered the
whole of South Lincolnshire below Lincoln and eventually was
to stretch into Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

113