Alan's Triumph Related Blog!

O/S Front Door

2012-02-12T17:30:00.002Z

I know it doesn't look like much............ but that's about 5 hours work to get all the weather strips in, the glass in, the quarter-light in, the door locks and handles in and the electric motors lined up and wired..............!!

Still, another step closer................................

Seats

2012-01-29T22:52:00.000Z

Had the call to say that the front Recaro seats were ready the other day. Little road trip down to sunny Bournemouth to collect them today.
If anyone wants any special trimming work doing, I can thoroughly recommend Brian Cates zagatoseven@hotmail.com He has done wonders with my old horrible seats and they look amazing now. We had discussed several options for restoring the original seats, including keeping them looking as per the original photos....... but in the end we both agreed that it looked silly having grey cloth fronts and black vinyl rears. Having collected some NOS Triumph Vinyl seat covers over the years, he used those to create the centre squabs and the rest was done in standard black vinyl......... leather was tempting but what would it match to?
The new headrests were trimmed to match, and then new Recaro badges to finish them off............. amazing.

Here's a reminder of what they looked like, in the bare bones and what I collected today........................ the photo does not do them justice, they really are stunning............ thanks Brian!!

Two posts in one day!?!?

2012-01-22T17:07:00.001Z

Second post of the day?!?!? Well, I thought I had finished for the day, but found another couple of hours this afternoon. So, I did what I wanted and pushed the car out of the garage.............. first time in about 12 months its seen daylight I think!!

You could almost see it blinking in the daylight..........!!

Once I'd put the servo back together again (got it upside down before!!) I then fitted it along with the pedal box.

Slight blunder, the new pedal rubbers I have bought appear to be 2 throttle pedals rubbers instead............ new, correct ones ordered now!!

During the clean up I found the missing piece of trim for below the O/S rear door................ quick polish up and on it goes.......... much better.

Not alot done, but every little helps............................

On it's wheels!

2012-01-22T14:48:00.001Z

Managed to get a couple of hours in the garage this morning. Got the two front brake lines fitted. They are different to a 2000/2500 as the offside front one comes under the car and is clipped to the front cross-member before it goes to the PWDA valve on the nearside inner wing. The nearside one is just a short run, double clipped to the other one.

After that, I then torqued up the front suspension, popped the wheels on then admired by how much I had got the tracking out!! Got both wheels now looking like they point in the same direction and then it could come down on its wheels............. first time since last summer it has actually sat on 4 wheels!!

Next job is to push it outside and have a tidy up of the garage and inside the car. I can't find ANYTHING at the moment, so a general clean up is needed. Then I can fit the refurbed pedal box, the servo and master cylinder and then do the brake lines from the M/C to the PWDA valve and the short run to the rear and the brakes will be finished.
I have the centre of the floorplans and the inner sills to Shutz and then underneath will be done and I can start on the trim!
Meanwhile, here is a reminder of the state of the original front Recaro seats....... hmmmmm, tired springs to mind, missing one headrest and one badge and generally had it! So, a couple of weeks ago they went to the trimmers in Bournemouth. Lovely man by the name of Brian Cates, works from home and does classic trim and upholstery. He came up to drop some other trim off in Kidderminster and swung by mine on the way back to collect the seats. I had sourced 2 new headrests, but in black cloth and 2 new Recaro badges. He is going to strip the seats, rebuild them with new foams and then make new covers out of a mixture of black vinyl, black leather and some original Triumph Diamond Vinyl. This will mean the front seats will still be Recaro's but they will now match the rears. He is also going to recover the new headrests to match. They should be ready next weekend hopefully.

In the meantime he sent me a picture of them stripped down...................oooooo, I hope he knows how to put them back together again!!

Little bits

2012-01-14T17:33:00.000Z

Busy day spent doing............ not a lot really! Went out shopping this morning to get some more brake pipes made up, run out of hand-cleaner, needed some longer rivets, etc etc............ ended up at the tyre bay getting the tyres put on the front rims ready for the car to come down off the stands.

Fished the manifolds out of the citric acid bath.............. that stuff is amazing, not a spec of rust or corrosion anywhere, even the insides are clean and sparkly! Got them dried off with a hot air paint gun, got them hot then sprayed with several good coats of silver VHT paint............. looking good!

Then it was time for a rest! The Audi was looking sorry for itself and needed a good clean. Spent most of this afternoon getting it looking nice again (don't call me the polisher for nothing!!) Washed, clay bar'd, polished, glass, trim....... all done!

Seats needed a clean and a feed, back soft and supple again................ not looking bad for 100k?!!

Managed to clamber over things to get to Libby's original rear bumper too.................

Now all packaged up ready to be couriered up north to help a fellow Lines Estate owner out who needs a bumper just to make it look right rather than perfect.................

Front suspension finishing

2012-01-08T17:00:00.000Z

Managed to get a few hours on the Triumph today, starting with re-assembling the nearside front suspension with the new stub axle after my last "incident" with the old one!! It all flew together quite nicely in the end.

Next it was time to fit the Anti Roll Bar. Bit of head scratching needed to try and work out which way up things should go, but after a while it became obvious...........!

Bar the brake lines, the front suspension is now done!

Reassembled the freshly painted servo with new recon kit, then bolted on the new master cylinder.

Then I remembered that I hadn't done anything with the replacement pedal box. I had to get another one as the original one was an auto and this car is going back to manual. Dug it out of its hiding place, quick wire brush to get rid of some rust,

..... then a few good coats of black paint, should be dry by next weekend to bolt on the servo/master cylinder then I can start doing the front brake pipes.

I then fished the old exhaust manifolds out of its soaking solution....... this stuff it magic!!, bare shiney metal, just ready for some VHT paint. Still some minor surface rust where I had to keep turning them as my bowl wasn't deep enough, but I have some more "special" stuff coming on Monday and I have found a deeper bowel, so another little soak will see them perfect and ready for paint.

Stub axle.... take 2 !

2011-12-31T14:54:00.000Z

Went to see Ted Taylor yesterday and collected the replacement stub axle. In the end we decided it was pointless trying to swap the stub axle, it made more sense to just clean and paint the other spider..... save putting it under any undue stress. Anyway, thank you Ted...... much appreciated. Spent a pleasant few hours talking Range Rovers, doggies and Triumph's!
So today, I cleaned the unit up and then it had a couple of coats of paint..... then hung up to dry.

Whilst I was in a painting mood I also cleaned and painted the bonnet catch assembly..............

................. and the Servo cover.

Mike Weaver had very kindly donated some good exhaust manifolds. The ones supplied with the replacement engine were cracked and the threads in most of the stub holes were shot. Mike gave me a good pair (originals off the 4x4 estate as he he having custom headers built). I stripped them down, wire brushed them and inspected them. All the studs are good, so on with the next process. I made up a few gallons of Bilt Hammer Detox rust killer and dropped them in to soak for a few days...........

Fame again!

2011-12-29T19:56:00.002Z

Got my January 2012 edition of "Triumph World" through yesterday and whilst reading it I found myself in print again!! Simon Goldsworthy (Editor of TW) had contacted me a few months ago as he had an email enquiry from Scott Davison of New Zealand about my car. It was featured back in 2003 when Mike Collins first bought it, and he was wondering what had happened to it. I replied to Simon, and he printed both in the mag! So, if Scott does read this........ Hi Scott, thanks for the interest, get in touch of you want....... easiest way might be to join the Discussion forum on the 2000 Register website and I'm always on there!!

So, back to Libby. spent an hour stripping down the nearside front hub, to get the spider and stub axle assembly out. It's easy when all the bolts are either clean or new and assembled with copper-slip! So, tomorrow I'm going to see Ted who has a new stub axle for me and the right tools to "persuade" the old one out!! Still can't quite believe I snapped the end off with a normal nut in a socket!....... must be stronger than I thought!

One step forward, two steps back!

2011-12-27T17:42:00.001Z

After a long walk in the park, all 3 girls were fast asleep on the sofa.......... so I spent a couple of hours in the garage. First up was to put the rebuilt PWDA switch on the inner wing........ job done!

Then I fitted the new poly bush for the lower steering column.

Then the rebuilt rack and repainted steering link arm could go on. Sounds simple, but took ages to get everything lined up!

This meant that the offside front suspension is now finished (bar fitting the pads!) and the Anti-Roll bar.

Then came the disaster. Whilst fitting the new nut to the end of the stub axle (the one I lost last time!) for some reason is went tight, then end of the stub axle sheared off!!! I have never seen this before. So, I now need to strip down the front nearside suspension again, and replace the stub axle!!!!

I'm Back!! (again!)

2011-11-27T17:38:00.001Z

I'm back!! Not that I've been anywhere, but I just have not done any work on the Triumph since about June! Most of you know why I have been "distracted", but for those that don't the picture below should speak volumes!!

Anyway, back to car-stuff. I got a little carried away with needing some more space now having 2 children, and the Audi A4 estate is not as big as you might think! So, short term temporary experiment to see how we like living with a gas guzzling 4x4, I bought a beast of a Range Rover. Classic softdash LSE with the 4.2 litre engine, on gas. Awesome, simply awesome........ if you can put up with the terrible fuel economy!

So, after a visit to see Mike Weaver yesterday, I don't know whether he shamed me into it or whether it was just the injection of enthusiasm I needed. So this afternoon, after the girls and I had washed Peppa the Range Rover and "Freddie" the Focus ("George", the Audi didn't need doing!) I dusted off my spanners and had a look at the Triumph. Took an hour of so to remind myself where I got to, and to find all the bits! But, a couple of hours later I had 90% of the nearside suspension assembled.

All I need to do to finish the front now is to order a new stub axle nut (got knows where it went to!), then I can attach the one outstanding steering arm, then the rack can go in, anti-roll bar on, couple of brake pipes and the front will be finished!

Despite the fact that 2 hours in the garage is now making me hurt all-over (lack of practice!) I have now found that not only did I enjoy it, but I'm ready for the next bit now!!
More later, hopefully after not quite as long a gap!

Front Suspension

2011-05-15T20:04:00.000+01:00

Friday evening saw me in not so sunny Doncaster with Colin. He offered to build up m front struts for me as he had just done his and could remember what went where! He also very kindly donated some better strut tops and the new thrust washers. So, couple of hours in his garage and they were done....... Pizza time!!

New shocks, new gaiters, new strut top bearings all in nicely powder coated shock tubes, cups and springs............ pretty!

This morning saw me fit the x-member and bolt it up, the I could start putting the suspension together. Spent what seemed like most of the day getting the powder coating off the mating faces and out of all the bolt holes! But, it went together pretty much ok.

New Stag discs and calipers, fully poly bushes, new ball joints, new bearings, all assembled. Just got to do the other side now, then fit the rack and do the brake pipes.

I'm back!

2011-05-08T20:31:00.000+01:00

I'm back!!...... did you all miss me?....... no, didn't think so!

Had a bit of time off from the car, spent my time doing jobs round the house, going on holiday to France in the caravan and various other bits and pieces that just took up all my time........ but, back to the job in hand now!
Masked and shutzed the last wheel arch. What a messy job, I@ll be glad when this is done! Just the floor pans to do now!

The rack was rebuilt thanks to EJ Wards. Being as it was a low mileage car I wanted my rack rebuilt rather than exchanged so it took a little longer than usual. Quick coat of paint and its as good as new.

All the front suspension is now back from the powder coaters. I borrowed Brian's press and pressed the new bottom ball joints into the lower arms and fitted the new polybushes.

The front crossmember, now powder coated, needed some minor assembly. Rubber bump stops to be refitted and new steering rack bushes. These are the only bushes on the car that are not Poly. I don't like the poly bushes in the rack, I find it gives too much "kick" to the steering, so standard rubber bushes are in there now.

Then, polished up and refitted the gutter trims on the offside, and 2 of the door trims before it was time for dinner. Not bad for about 4 hours work this afternoon!

Small parts painting, shutz and a bit more chrome!

2011-04-02T19:01:00.001+01:00

Cleaning and painting some smaller parts today. The front suspension is not back from the powder coaters yet so I'm a bit lost for things to do! Had lots of little things to do, so I thought I could do the odd bit and then move around as things dried, waited for re-coat etc. So, out with the bench grinder and cleaned up the other front hub, towbar spreader plate, the handbrake compensator, steering coupling and the two front brake hose brackets. Few coats of gloss black and all is well.

Whilst I was doing that, Bradley was cleaning bolts for me................. bless.

Doesn't take long, but makes it so much easier when it comes to put it all back together.

Whilst the paint was drying, I masked up the front n/s arch (o/s had some rust cure still drying) and sprayed the inner arch with shutz.

That shouldn't rust again in a hurry!

Then the postie arrived, with a parcel containing some NOS front chrome horse shoes. They looked sooooo nice I couldn't resist fitting them (again, using the Mike Weaver style with no clips!) then cleaned and polished the 2 stainless steel trims and fitted those.

New chrome on this car does really look very nice!!

Front shocks and crossmember

2011-03-20T17:36:00.000Z

Went shopping first today. I managed to break 2 of my big 1/2 inch drive sockets yesterday, so I went to Halfords with the intention of just buying 2 new sockets. After a bit of negotiation and a flash of the old Halfords trade card, I ended up buying a complete new Halfords Professional 1/2 drive set. Bargain price and its really good quality (plus another drawer in the cabinet filled too!)

Took out the rest of the suspension, mainly the steering rack and crossmember so the front is now totally empty and ready for cleaning and shutzing.

After a few hours of fiddling, the front struts are apart. Springs new powder coating, shocks are shot and the strut tops are unbonding. Thanks to Colin Radford I have a set waiting for me in Doncaster to collect so I just need some new thrust washers and gaiters and those will be ready.

Once that was done I then stripped the crossmember down. Lots of small rivets holding the brake pipe clips to it (Stag system, so the n/s front brake pipe goes under the engine rather than behind it), the steering mount bushes (little swines those are I can tell you!) and the bump stops......... now it just needs powder coating.

Also stripped the tow bar down, so I now have a pile of bits to go to the blasters. Still need to get the ball joints out of the track arms and the seized bolt in the steering arm to hub so a trip to Brian's and some serious heat and a 10 ton press and we should be fine!

Front end stripping

2011-03-19T17:51:00.001Z

Time to start stripping the front suspension down. Normally, I would have thought a couple of hours would have got this done............. oh how wrong I was! Every bolt was rusted, seized, rounded or just horrible... it fought me every step of the way! In the end, I got it all out with only one bolt holding the steering arm to the spider just not playing..... need to drop that in to Brian's and get some Oxy-acetylene on that I think! Now got another pile of bits for shot blasting, tomorrow I'll strip down the legs and get those ready to go.

The hubs and spiders I decided not to have powder coated, I just thought there is too much potential to get powder coat where you don't want it. So, I spent a happy few hours with the rotary wire brush until I got them clean...............

............. then a bit of masking and a few coats of spray smoothrite and they look as good as new!

In the end, the front end stripdown, excluding wire brush and painting took 5 hours!!!!!! 5 hours I ask you, why do we do these silly things?!?!

Rear finished, bit of bling, bit of polishing!

2011-03-12T18:05:00.000Z

Busy day today. Got the rear end finished. Brakes built up with new shoes, springs and cylinders. New handbrake cable fitted with stainless fittings, Polybush spring mounts top and bottom, new coil over shocks, original powder coated springs, driveshafts coupled up and the brake lines finished.

Even though I'm trying NOT to build a show car, and I blame Mike Weaver for making me do it to this standard, I do have to say it looks superb! Mike is'nt making me do anything, but I love the way his car is turning out and I find myself trying to keep to a similar standard!!

I managed to pick up a rechromed fuel filler cap at Stoneleigh last weekend. Bit of a bargain as there a couple of ripples in the chrome...... not that you'd noticed unless you look closely! Built it up with the original lock and springs, just needs the inner seal, which I'd forgotten about and just ordered off fleabay!

Fitted the NOS number plate lamp chrome trim (another Stoneleigh bargain from Mr Dolphin) and then fiddled and fitted the NOS boot lock.

Then managed to get the new fuel cap in.................. oooooooooooooooo , shiney bits!

Gutter trims next. Mine were badly dented, but a salvaged set just needed cleaning up. The resident polisher Bradley seen here at work with the polishing mop in the bench grinder.

Wonderful little tool this, from crusty to shiney in about 5 seconds!

The concentration on his face............. and they call me "the polisher" !!!!

Gutter trims on one side, had to modify the vinyl roof a bit, needed trimming back about 2mm just to allow the gutter trim to sit properly. Then we lowered the car down, pushed it outside and turned it round.

Then got the front up in the air ready to start stripping the front down

Crusty and 'orrible.......... this won't take too much to get it looking pretty.

The discs, apart from having surface corrosion, actually look like they were replaced not long before the car was laid up. No lip at all, so if anyone wants a decent set of MKII front discs that will probably be ok with a light skim, let me know! This is having Stag brakes on the front end so I don't need them.

I couldn't resist finishing off the day with a bit of bling. Bought a leather Mountey steering wheel off ebay, which cleaned up really well (only cost £10!), coupled to an astrali hub I had hanging about, with the front of a stag wheel to fit the badge......... that looks better!

Wheel clearance

2011-03-08T19:06:00.000Z

Time to trial fit the wheels on the back. The recon driveshafts were fitted, drums bolted back on (no brakes or springs in yet) The brakes couldn't be fitted as I needed some adjusters (thanks Mike Weaver for supplying the correct set!) and I left the springs out so that I could lift the wheel into various positions to check the clearance on the wheel arches to determine the offset required for the 2nd set of wheels.

Even if I do say so myself, these wheels do look good on here! Yes, I know it ought to have gold minilights on, but I just can't find anyone who will make them for a reasonable price and I just don't like them! I've always wanted a set of Revvies, so now I have got some!

There is about 20mm of clearance at running and full load heights, so I could get the wheels made with an extra 20mm of offset. Considered using some spacers, but then the wheel studs would need to be longer and I don't want to open that can of worms! They actually fill the arches quite nicely, and although I could get a set made further out, there is a clearance problem on the inner arch. Where it has been modified, it sloped down to meet the outer arch, and with the wheel space 20mm out, on full compression, it could foul the inner arch.

Thanks to Colin Radford who spotted this! So, this being the case, and the fact that they look just fine, shall be ordering another set identical to this and running with matches wheels (which makes more sense anyway.)
Brakes, springs and shocks next..................

Rear Suspension Part II

2011-02-26T19:01:00.000Z

Fitted the new rear brakes lines and Aeroquip hoses, added a couple more clips to be safe!

Then, bolted the box sections to the diff nosepiece and then it was time to fit it!

Assisted by Bradley, as ever, had to wait for him to finish taking photos before we could get the whole assembly under the car!

Then, built up the brake back plates. New wheel cylinders, clips and handbrake gaitors.

So, the back end is all ready to have the brakes built up, drivehsafts in, and then I can try the new wheels on the back to see how much clearance I have.

We also managed to fish the wire down the inside of the tailgate for the number plate lights. Then cleaned (well, Bradley polished it to be honest!) the light assembly up and wired it up the screwed it in.

Wheels and Tyres

2011-02-23T19:11:00.001Z

Well, busy and productive day today, if a little expensive! I was expecting a call anytime soon to say that the first 2 alloy wheels I ordered were ready for collection, so I have been thinking about tyres alot recently! The size I wanted (205/65/15) would keep the same rolling radius as 185/14 (i.e, original Stag Wheels) and they are a little expensive so I've been shopping around for the right deal. I was in Stoke on Trent for business today and on the way back I remembered a little independent tyre dealer I used to use when I was at University nearby in the mid 1990's. I managed to remember where it was and dropped in. They are still trading and they even remembered me! His opening words where, "That's a bit of an improvement to that old Triumph you had!".................... I decided not to judge him too much!
Long story short, he had a matched set of 4 on the shelf, and they had been ordered but never collected so he was willing to cut a deal on them. Not exactly high brand, but made under licence by Avon, so a decent make. All 4, in the boot of the Audi, £38 each! Bargain!

On the way back home the phone rang, and it was Revolution Wheels to say that my 5 spoke Revvies were ready for collection! Deep joy, especially as I was about 2 miles from the turn off for Tamworth! 10 minutes later I arrived at SCC/Revolution and handed over my credit card....... again! we had a chat and it turns out they make bottom ball joints for the Stag/2000 range on the same premises. As an apology for the 4 week wait (which didn't bother me, but I wasn't going to tell him that!) he gave me a pair! That's £25 saved then! We loaded the boxes into the car, which by now was getting rather full!, and I trundled home, determined not to look at the wheels until I got home.

Purists, look away now. This is final proof that there will be no gold minilights on my car! I am so chuffed with these, I have always wanted a set and now I have got the first 2 and I'm over the moon with them. they are going to look the mutt's nut's on Libby!

So, these are actually the one for the front in 7x15. I am going to reassemble and install the rear suspension (minus springs and shocks) and then fit these wheels and tyres on the back, to measure the new offset needed to fill the flared rear arches. Then I can order the rears from Revolution to get ones that fill the arches but don't catch. Ordered a set of nuts of fleabay to hold them on........ can't wait to get them on and see what they look like!

Rear Suspension assembly

2011-02-20T17:00:00.002Z

So, the plan for today was the re-assemble all the rear suspension and the refit to the car................. well, that didn't happen!

I under estimated how long it would take to put it all back together! Found the right brake pipe clips, snpped 3 but managed to get the 4 in I needed! Then assembled the exhaust hangers.......... what a fiddly job that is! Then it was the rear rubber mounts, 4 bolts, easy!

Then had to fit the trailing arms to the box sections. Anyone who says it is easy has either never done it before, or is a liar!!! After hours of persuading (gently, didn't want to damage the new powder coating!) I got them all together.

I got the diff nosepiece back from Witor's the other day, so that could be fitted to the diff and the back mounting plate bolted on.

After that I spend another hour or so trying to coax the number plate wiring down the tailgate and gave up when it started to get dark!! There must be a simple way to do this, but at the moment its evading me!!

Bend the brake lines to shape, they just need fitting then the rear suspension can go on..............

Worked for hours, accomplished very little!

2011-02-12T18:41:00.000Z

Seem to have had a busy full day, but I don't feel I've actually got anywhere!
Got the rear suspension back from the powder coaters in the week, so I spent a few hours putting the bushes in the trailing arms, replacing the bungs and putting new brake pipe clips on. They do look lovely (thanks to Mr Weaver for the tip on the trailing arms!)

Then, got under the car and finished off the shutzing. The whole of the back of the car is done now. Could have put the new brake lines on, but the clips I ordered haven't arrived yet, so that'll have to wait until later. Still haven't got the driveshafts or the diff nosepiece back from being rebuilt yet, so nothing more to do on the rear suspension until then.

So, started picking up bits of stainless trim, running them through the bench polisher and clipping them on! Well worth the polishing wheel in the bench grinder, no time at all all the corrosion is gone and they look sparkly and almost new.

Had to drill out the holes (full of paint!) and then riveted the B post trims back on (having been polished first!) Shiney chrome and stainless steel does look wonderful next to the new red paint.

While the polishing wheel was out, I cleaned up the PDWA switch and the rear brake pipe splitter. They are both made of brass so came up very well. Fitted the rear one ready for the new brake lines.

Cleaned and refitted the fuel line.

Then did the 2 bits of stainless steel trim on the rear wings and got one of the new rear door handles on.

Had enough and it was getting dark by then. More later I hope!

Diff's back!

2011-02-06T18:32:00.000Z

Diff was ready for collection so I tootled over to Coventry to collect it. The gear set was perfect as expected and its just had a clean, new bearings and seals. It had also been cleaned in a tank, so it was all ready when I got it home for a quick final clean and then painting. Nice black coating on the diff, silver on the rear casing and the rear carrier still to be collected from powder coating in black.

The rust proofer was now ready to be coated having been left for a week to cure. I only got the chance to do one side arch, but I masked it up carefully and that's now had two good coats of shutz.

Also managed to get the rear brake pipes made up. My friendly local autofactors make them up for me, so I now have the kit to do the rear. So, just got to mask and spray the other arch, then I can fit the brake lines. By this time I should have the driveshafts and the rear suspension back too, which means I can fit the rear up next weekend. The wheels should be here soon too, so I can start trial fitting them to the newly built rear to check and measure the clearances to have the custom rear wheels made! Who said this was going to be easy?!

Breakers, Diffs and boot floors

2011-01-31T18:40:00.000Z

Forgot to upload these! Couple of weekends ago I popped over to see Marc Cheney to rob some bits of his breaker 2.5PI estate. Its been sitting for many many years now and its looking very sad. It did yield some useful bits of trim that I was missing. Got the stainless steel gutter trims (mine were bent), some salvaged trim clips, and some interior trim which was AWOL on mine.

We were planning to have a go at starting it as its got a very special PI engine which is destined to go in Marc's MKI estate (when he gets round to it!) But, some missing components and a very wet garage which led to a very wet engine, we decided to give that a miss!

Right, back up to date now! Dropped the diff off at Mick Papworth on Saturday. He popped the back off and declared it to be a very good useable 3.45:1 diff. Just what I was hoping to hear! As a precaution, due to 34 years standing he's going to strip it and replace all the bearings and seals for me. Then its just a coat of paint and it can go back in.

Sunday I started cleaning off the underneath with a rotary wire brush. Its very nice under there, couple of patches of surface rust which needed killing off with my favorite Bilt Hamer products. Whilst that was drying between coats I decided to indulge myself and start putting some shiney bits on! New rivet clips for the tailgate and rear wings first. They all needed drilling out and then riveting in place. Simple job, still took an hour though!

The rust cure needs to dry for 48 hours, but the boot floor was perfect. after a clean up and masking I shutzed the boot floor with my usual Waxoyl shutz.

Looks pretty and will keep it nice and protected!

Late night stripping!

2011-01-26T21:55:00.000Z

I don't usually do late night spannering (unless its pre-RBRR emergency!) but having the rear suspension on the floor was too much of a temptation. Spent a happy hour stripping it down so that it can be dropped off at to be shot blasted and powder coated on the way to work in the morning.
Took longer than expected! So many things to come off (brake pipe clips, rubber bungs, trailing arm bushes, exhaust mounts etc) but its all done and in the boot of the car now.

Diff nosepiece is winging its way to Mr Witor to be......... ahem...... "Witorised" ! Blasted, strengthened, new bearings and seals and a Stag flange to be fitted. By the time that comes back the suspension should be back from the powder coaters. Diff needs to go next and driveshafts need to go to Earlparts for refurb.

Rear Suspension

2011-01-23T17:04:00.000Z

Finally got some time today, so I started work on stripping the suspension off. Rear first I think. Got the back up in the air and started undoing things.

Its all there, light coating of rust, primer and overspray!!.......... nice Spax rear shocks. shame they are knackered! Note the Stag rear brakes (wider drums)

When I got the springs out, (standard PI estate rears I think) I found that it has some "home-made" spacers to lift the suspension up a bit. Look like a coil has been cut off the bottom of another set, hammered flat and then popped in the trailing arms. So, do I leave them in, go back to standard height or use Witor's Polybushes +7mm spacers?............ I think I'll use the original ones.

After several hours of seized bolts the whole rear suspension was on the deck. So, trailing arms, box sections and back plate to be powder coated, diff off to be checked and worked on as needed, drums need painting and driveshafts to Earlparts to be recon'd.

Underneath looks good. Needs a quick wirebrush and then shutzing.

Back home

2011-01-01T13:53:00.001Z

Borrowed a Range Rover and a trailer and went to collect Libby from the paintshop. This was the first time I had seen the car since it was painted, only seen photos up to now. They don't do it justice, it is simply stunning!
Rangie made short work of towing it home, even managed to back it up my steep drive. Now safely tucked up in the garage. Next job, Dinitrol cavity wax and underbody shutzing.

Ready to collect

2010-12-22T19:26:00.000Z

Despite the awful weather here in the Midlands, my team have really cracked on with the car, to the point where it is now ready to come home! Only problem is, until the 16 inches of snow melts....... it can't! We live in top of a hill, ontop of a hill with a sloping drive, so its got to stay where it is for the moment. Between Christmas and New Year hopefully we should get it home.
So, the car has been assembled, flatted, polished and mopped. The trimmer has been in and put on a new vinyl roof and a new headlining and the sunroof has been reassembled ready to drop back in.
Feast you eyes over this and drool.............. I know I am!!

A quick plug and a huge thank you to Brian Chrimes @ Just Classics, Lol (The Trimmer) and everyone else who has helped get her this far.................

Finally, its painted!

2010-12-19T18:33:00.001Z

Its finally painted! Been waiting ages for a slot at the paintshop, but now its finally done. Enjoy!

Put the doors, bonnet and tailgate on, then the trimmer is doing the vinyl roof (hence why no paint on the roof!), the black headlining and the sunroof, then it should be coming home. Weather depending, hopefully around the new year!

RBRR, and post RBRR repairs!

2010-10-11T17:20:00.001+01:00

So, the RBRR is over......... and what an epic trip that was! I seem to have missed off the last minute repairs so I thought I'd do a quick one about the whole thing!

I still wasn't happy with the front brakes, the discs were shot.... but new front 2000 discs are really expensive. A quick negotiate with my favorite Stag supplier (EJ Wards of Leicester) and some agreement from Craig saw new Stag discs, pads and good used Stag calipers on the car. What a difference! Anyone who has standard 2000 front brakes, do this upgrade. Discs are £30 each, the pads are the same and you can pick up good used calipers for about £20 each. You need to cut down the bolts which hold the hub to the disc by about 10mm, as the stag disc is not quite as deep in the mounting holes, and you must have 14" or bigger wheels, but what an improvement!

So, the RBRR. Bradley and I met up with Team Marshall/Bennett and trundled down to Enfield in convoy (not before I managed to get a speeding ticket 4 miles from home!!?!), had a leisurely dinner at the Plough and set off about 6.45pm at the back of the pack (that'll teach us to get there nice and early, parked right at the back!!) No major drama apart from the obvious high oil consumption. Noting how much we used to get to London I was already worried and reinforcements came from all over the country. Huge thank you to Amanda Johnson, Lord Sorbington and RoyBoy who very graciously met me at various parts of the country to top me up with 20/50 oil!

Early hours of Saturday morning saw us at Edinburgh Airport (1 gallon of oil down already!!)

Seaview Hotel @ John O'Goats........ what a lovely sight it was!

As usual, their breakfast was a work of art, excellent service, dodgy sausages though!

By now we had also teamed up with Team Radford. Colin, Bill and young Master Callum who was along for the ride in Amanda's lovely 2500 S Estate, fresh from the bodyshop with some new metal where before there was air and filler!

Bradley enjoyed it though!

Lovely scenery!

By early hours of Sunday morning, the exhaust sounded like it had fallen off. Some quick repairs soon saw it even worse, which was when we discovered a flippin' big hole in the pipe just before the silencer. Oh well, next 1000 miles of deafness then!

Lands End, Sunday morning

Teams Torrey Canyon (!) and Radford at Lands End, before a wonderful breakfast and back to London via the southern counties.

So, final analysis. Fuel gauge stopped working at first fill up, speedo cable snapped at Corbridge, Exhaust fell off at Lancaster, car filled with water all the time, U/J in driveshaft clicking, overdrive intermittently not working and worst of all, 9 gallons of oil in 2300 miles!! The good news was that we did it, made it all the way round, got all the signatures we needed and managed to get 27mpg, which it of a manual PI being driven like it was on fire.............. ain't all that bad!

In the car park after the run, I offered to pay Dave Marshall £100 towards his charity if he shaved his head. The next day he came to see me and accepted!! So, Saturday 30th October 2010, Dave will be shaved to raise more money for MIND. So far, we have over £200 in pledges.............. any more gratefully received please! Go to http://www.justgiving.com/dave-marshall2

Wednesday saw me at Brians workshop, borrowing the truck ramp out side to take off the horrible exhaust...... look, huge hole!!

the top mouunt was clearly too tight, the rear mount had snapped and pulled this one out of the pipe.

Quick bit of stainless migging and it was back on................ how quiet is it now?!?! (well, its still noisy as its a sports system, but compared to before............... phew!)

Whilst we were there, popped round the corner to the paintshop to have a look at Libby. Almost ready for primer and looking very sharp and straight!! I can't wait to get her back and put her together!!

On the way home, popped into the "other" paintshop to have a sneaky peak at Mike Weavers car. I am totally stunned as its been a long time since I saw this one. Be in paint in 2 weeks, then due on the 2000 Register stand at the NEC in November. Come and look at this, its awesome!!

As for Alfie and Smartie, 2 weeks together and already they're the best of friends!!

Done!

2010-09-27T22:39:00.000+01:00

Duff injector was actually a broken injector! Then end had fallen off......... I have never seen that before. The little pin end was missing, presumed chucked out the exhaust. To be sure I waved my little magnet on a stick down the spark plug hole and it came out empty. So, spare injector in No5.......... and it still didn't work! I then swapped 5 and 1 over to see if it was injector or poppet valve and they all work now!! No idea, but since its working I'll leave it alone.

We're done and ready for the RBRR on Friday.................... well, nearly. Just got to pack the boot and put in the tools and spares and THEN we're ready!

Had a quick trip to Lynton in North Devon on Sunday evening. Alfie was 9 weeks old and now ready to leave his Mum. So, here he is!! He is little cracker, has no fear of anything and best of all, he and Smartie seem to be getting along really well. Presently, they are both curled up, fast asleep, with Alfie lying ontop of Smartie!!!.............. so cute!

So, wish us luck, I'll report back probably on Monday evening after a few hours well deserved rest and deliver the post RBRR '10 low-down...................!

RBRR ' 10 prep.... again!

2010-09-25T23:58:00.000+01:00

Last full day to get the PI ready for the RBRR on Saturday, but managed to get a head start on Friday night by taking out the diff, replacing the leaking front seal and re-fitting all in one evening. Tough job, hair full of EP90, but it was done.

Sills creaked a bit, but a very large piece of wood as a brace, and it didn't fall off and the doors still open so it must be ok!

This morning saw a driveway full of Triumphs. Bradley's Red 2500 in the background and Dave Marshall's Saffron 2000 on the right. He needed a bit of help and guidance so we worked on both cars together. Dave's needed a cooling system flush, a few hose clips replacing and an engine mounting sorted. After that a quick check on gearbox oil levels and he was done!

After the meeting unit was reset, and the broken rack clamp sorted it was time for a but of cleaning. Wash, polish and a good interior valet and it looks excellent and shiney!

Meanwhile, Dave was puzzled by a spark plug and usually "just wopped them in"......... I had to explain about plug gaps and intervene prior to him fitting them!

Whilst I was distracted helping Dave, Bradley started polishing the wiper arms........... that boy needs help!

But, his work did not go un-noticed................ clean PI !!!

A few stickers later and its almost ready.

Then a quick trip to Brian's (most of you will recognise this ramp as the one that the V8 Estate is being built on!) as he had the equipment to weld up the huge crack in the stainless exhaust. I can hear myself think now! We thought that was it and we were ready..................

But, on the way home, one injector stopped working and the flasher relay packed up........... more to do tomorrow now!

RBRR '10 Prep

2010-09-19T22:20:00.000+01:00

So, the PI arrived home........... but the engine was in pieces and in the boot. Good start! The head was off and stripped due to excessive valve guide wear and we just didn't have the time to get it done properly. Luckily I had a spare PI head in on the shelf (like you do!) so we decided to bung that on and get it running.

First things first, cleanliness is next to godliness........... well nearly, but it needs to be clean when you're doing a head gasket. The block face was cleaned (yes, I did plug up the cam follower holes first!) then finally cleaned with thinners to get it sparkling.

The head studs were covered in gunk. Quick whizz on the wire wheel in the bench grinder (my favorite toy!) and all is peachy! Please note, all these photo's taken by my able assistant Bradley (also RBRR '10 co-pilot. Greatful thanks for the help, stubby fingers, coffee making, tool fetching, cleaning and of course the odd photo here and there!)

Clean and shiney......... who says I have a problem?!! Anyway, when they are this clean you can just wind them in by hand! Simples!

Also, the head was checked and cleaned up......... although as it turns out, not checked well enough. We don't have photos as it was terminal sense of humour time, but............. once we got the engine assembled and fitted the rocker shaft, it snapped a rocker arm. Caused by the valves which had siezed solid on 5 chambers. So, head off again, valves out, cleaned, de-rusted, lapped in and refitted........ so there was a 24hr time delay between some of these pictures......... but you get the idea!!

Head case or Head gasket? Answer on a postcard too........................

See, they do wind in by hand if they are clean and shiney!! That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!

As I mentioned earlier, this is take 2............... after a minor bit of adjustment!

Soon comes together.

I hadn't realised how bold this logo was on the back of my spannering T shirt!! Good quote though!

Finally, its all back together and working. Needed some new throttle return springs, the inlet manifolds were out of alignment so it ran like a pig and only 3 injectors were working, but with a few tweeks and plenty of swearing it ran like a dream!

Moving on to the next weekend.............. had it running for about 30 minutes, retorqued the head, reset the tappents, did and oil and filter change, changed both front wheel bearings, topped up the gearbox and diff oils, greased every nipple I could find (fnarr!), wired in the fogs, re-wired in the spots, put back the battery clamps, air filter housing and strut brace. Meanwhile Bradley handled the important parts. He fitted a stereo and some rear speakers! Top job! Checked to make sure the ipods worked and all is looking rosy for Team 81 on the RBRR!

Just needs a good clean! So, MOT on Monday evening and then it just needs a tax disc and some miles! It still runs a bit strange, feels very hesitant but I think its just down to the fueling. Checked with Andy Roberts today and I've set the metering unit clearances too tight (only 3 thou out, but that makes all the difference!) so I'll re-do it and if its still not right I may be taking a trip to Reading next Saturday to get it set up by someone who actually knows what he's doing!!!

Needs a pair of wiper blades, and we're going to do a final oil and filter change and put some decent VR1 in before the off next Friday!! (oh, of course, a wash and polish too!, didn't think I'd forget that now did you?!)

Couple of new additions to the family

2010-09-05T18:05:00.000+01:00

Been away for the week on holiday. Started out at Weston Super Mare for the Bank Holiday weekend, then on to North Devon for the rest of the week. Now totally chilled and ready for (almost!) anything. Weston super Mare is/was the home of Atlantic Garages and my new best friend Ian "Del" Lines. I thought I ought to go and find where my car was built. The garage has gone and been replaced by some retirement apartments, but they kept the name "Manilla Place", which is like a small mews off the main Atlantic Road on the seafront in Weston.

You can just see the new buildings in the background behind the red car, the bar on the right is still called Atlantic Bar............. this was where my baby was built!

Whilst in Devon, we found the first of the new additions to our family. Meet Alfie. He's a 6 week old Cocker Spaniel puppy, and he is adorable! He's too young to be taken from his mother at the moment, so we've got to go back to Devon in about 3 weeks to collect him. He will be the ideal playmate for our mad Border Collie and we're hoping it might calm her down a little!!

So, home and unpacked...... time to go and get the 2nd addition. This is the car that I shall be doing the 2010 Round Britain Run in, in 3 weeks time!! Gulp. Engine in bits, singing wheel bearings, no MOT and needs a good going over and service............... this should be fun!

My trusty A frame and the Audi made short work of hauling it the huge 4 miles home, and now its tucked up in the garage awaiting a large delivery of bits!

Latest news on Libby................. bodywork done, due in the paintshop next week!

PI gone...... sob!

2010-08-15T17:05:00.001+01:00

I agonised over this for months............. but, the PI had to go. I just didn't use it enough, it was far too good for what I wanted a Triumph for, Sam didn't like it and I needed the space.......... so, it had to go. I only got it back from the paint shop the week before after it had both sides re-painted due to the paint going a bit thin on a couple of doors and some minor rust on the bottom of the front wheel arches.

I was really impressed with the work from the paintshop. Wrighton's of Redditch for anyone who wants to know. Top job, good price and the colour match is excellent. I put an advert in Six Appeal and on the CT website and on Piston-Heads. Within 48 hours I had had couple of low offers, but a call from a lovely chap who was a professional Stag dealer who wanted a 2500 for himself was the winner. He spent quite a lot of time looking over the car and made an offer which suited us both.

The car was going to his house in Cornwall, so rather than a long drive, he elected to have it collected and delivered south on a truck.

And then, my beautiful PI drive out of my life in a cloud of diesel smoke...........

As I saw it drive away I nearly chased after him with a change of heart................ but, logic prevailed and off it went. Sob.

Setting Door Gaps and Sunroof

2010-07-18T19:41:00.000+01:00

Spent the day on Saturday at Brian's doing some fettling work. Grateful assistance from Bradley, as usual, hanging doors is much easier with 2! So, first things first, new hinge pins for the drivers door. The door was loose and the top pin was broken, causing the bottom one to wear badly. 2 new pins, and the door now works!

The rest of the car was now in bare metal, but all of the doors were off....... time to re-hang and set the door gaps. They were pretty horrible before, and much time was spent door on/door off/door on/door off until we had the gaps set just right.

The only disappointment was the new passenger side rear door. We bolted it on and its just totally the wrong shape and size! Not enough metal at the bottom, too much at the top. We considered the time it would take to remake all the sides and wire roll them, versus the time it would take to repair the original door which fits very well. Its only the bottom 3" of the skin that needs replacing the frame is perfect and in the end this is what we decided to do. Over to Brian to make up the new skin repair section now!....... hence why in the photo below its the only part of the car not in bare metal!

Both sides are now finished. The passenger side sill was no where near as bad as the drivers side. Only needed minor repair work to the front and rear strengthener and a new outer sill. The pulled rear arch was pretty bad, just like the other side, but thats now all in new metal and lead.

The rear valance had some dents in, which are now tapped out and leaded. 2 new holes were drilled in the lower valance to take the twin electrics of the towbar wiring (originally had only one and in a silly place!)

Now time to look at the sunroof. It is fitted with an electric steel sliding "Helandia" sunroof which was fitted by Bristol Coachworks. We were very concerned about this as the roof swage lines had been removed and judging from the previous bodges we found........ gulp! Also, the electrics had not been tested. All we knew is that it didn't sit shut properly, but it didn't leak. We found the power feed for the roof (unfused!!!....... that'll be changed then!) and powered it up from a slave battery, held our breaths and pushed the switch............ gentle hum of a motor and it slid fully open!!!! Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo yes!!. It won't shut though!!
So, with the roof open we could remove the rest of the vinyl roof (still no rust found!) and the tired black headlining. This revealed the conversion and some interesting fitment details. We were hoping to be able to drop the whole "cassette" out and work on it.......... only to find that its actually bonded to the roof and the metal bent round it......... so, its staying put then!

After much head scratching, we eventually found the hidden screws that allow the whole sliding section to be removed. Allowing the top bit to be trimmed in Vinyl and the bottom bit to be trimmed with the new headlining. We found all the relays and electrics and we think after some testing, its just a relay playing up, so it should be an easy fix. Powering up the motor directly and it works (open and shut) just fine.

So, finish of the rear arch, finish off the front arch, but more lead work and then its off to the painters!

Bodyshop update

2010-06-30T23:43:00.001+01:00

Popped into the bodyshop yesterday as I had the day off work, winding down from holiday before I go back! I needed to drop the new rear door in, and was greeted by the sight of a nearly bare metal shell! The paint work had lots of microblistering in, and we decided it would be best to bare metal most of the car just to make sure there were no nasties under the old paint.

Interesting to see how the car was built. The whole of the top of the rear wings is lead....... very careful paint removal here, don't really want to have to re-lead the whole car!

Some big dents in the bonnet. Badly filled, now tapped out and leaded and looking as good as new! Strange, a blue bonnet underneath the red paint...........secondhand original?

Sill finished and leaded........... the door shuts are PERFECT now.......... they look wrong on here because they are not bolted in, just resting on the catches!!

Detail of the repaired flared rear wheel arch....... now all metal and lead as opposed to filler and rust!

Also got to see the newly built radiator....... nice job! Brian's keeping it as he needs it to make up the missing mounting bracket for the bottom mount...... looks like Del only fitted one bracket rather than two........ bodger!

Update from the bodyshop and a little trip out!

2010-06-11T21:55:00.003+01:00

Its slow going at the bodyshop........ always knew it would be though!! This job is being fitted in around other more expensive jobs to keep the costs down. (thank god!!)

So, one side it now done. Rear arch has been rebuilt (properly, undoing the Del Lines Bodges as we go!) Now all metal and lead, rather than little metal and loads of filler!

Sill is on, just a small repair to do on the front arch where the big dent was. In an ideal world, it ought to have new front half wings. But, being as they are not available at the moment, and I can't afford it either we have elected to dig out the rot, patch and lead them up. In a few years time, they will probably want doing and by then half wings should be back available.

Also had a little time to play with the Radiator. The original car had a MKI engine and a MKI Radiator (Stag units of course) and being as I am using a MKII engine and MKII cooling system, the filler neck on this is too long and fouls the bonnet. Andy modified his bonnet, but he lent me the original radiator from Janey and it has a modified neck. Slightly shorter and over to the side a little....... so everything clears nicely.

You can only get shots like this when its up on ramps and theres no engine in....... you can see where the problem would have been. So, easy fix, we had this radiator rebuilt with a modern 4 core in is, new sides and reused the original top. Looks very nice (so I'm told, havent' actually see it yet!) and at £150 its about the same as a standard 3 core exchange rad.......... bargain!

So to the little trip. The one door on the car that is bad is the nearside rear. Estate doors don't come up very often so we were going to have to re-skin it................. that is until I found a factory original brand new estate rear door on ebay!! Had a bid and won it for £30!!! (seriously, £30!!!!) Only problem was it was a little jaunt to pick it up. So Wednesday evening saw Sam and I walking down the beach............ so come on clever people, where was I?

Fish 'n' Chips for tea................ mmmmmmmmmm.

And after lots of miles........ one brand new rust free perfect Estate rear door!!

And for those who don't know, Redditch to Brighton and back in an evening is a VERY long way!!

Rot and Filler

2010-04-22T15:39:00.001+01:00

Update from the bodyshop......... more rot and some filler!

Discovered how the rear arches were pulled, which had puzzled quite a few of us for a while. The rear wing was cut where it joins the rear valance and by the edge of the rear pillar, and the inner was cut behind the arch lip. Pulled out, then plated over and filled........ badly!! Behind this mass of filler is now just rot!

So, all cut out.

Not much left of the orignal metal here!

New inner sill sections

Jacking points will not be reinstated. Waste of time, never jack on the sill anyway.

Rather than replace the strengthener, we elected to repair it. Using brackets made up to reinforce it to the inner. This make is very strong, but allows access to get waxoil and anti corrosive protection into both sides of the box section.

This sides nearly done, dread to think what the other side will be like!

Off to the Bodyshop!!

2010-04-19T17:57:00.000+01:00

The day had finally arrived, Libby was going to the bodyshop to have the bodyshell restored. I wish I had the time, skill and patience of Mike Weaver who is doing the 4x4 Stag Estate.............. but I don't! So, I have to pay someone to do it for me!

Collected the trailer, hired from my usual place about 2 miles from the bodyshop........ but 40 miles from home!

As usual, greatful assistance from Bradley................saw it loaded and strapped down in no time.

Once at Brian's, he wipped the screen out for me........ I was dubious about doing this as I have never taken a screen out before and didn't want to break the very rare sundym plus top tint screen!

I turned my back for 5 minutes, and by the time the straps were folded up and put back in the boot, the screen was out!!....... clever chap this is!

Quick push on the ramps and he's off already, the tailgate fit was a bit off........ couple of minor tweaks and it fits like a glove now.......... would be better if it fitted like a tailgate............. d'oh!

Up on ramps gave us all a chance to have a good look underneath. It is as good as we hoped. Here we can clearly see the rear floor modifications, done to allow the twin silencers of the Stag exhaust system.

Inner sills look good...............

By the time we took the trailer back and got home, Colin and Amanda were already there. They were coming down for the WCR40 at Gaydon on Sunday, and staying the night with us. Very pleasant evening, with Sam's home made Spag-Bol......mmmmmmmmmm.
However, we washed the cars before dinner, and I caught Colin with a very suspicious looking bottle........ hmmmmmm

On the way home from work, I dropped in to see Brian............... one sill is off and the rusty bits all in bare metal!!!!............. he really doesn't hang about does he!?!? Anyway, all in all, pretty good.

Inner sill rotted at the bottom, but all pretty good for an original shell.

Front arch which was badly crushed now straight..... just needs a repair now.

Even the roof is good......... we were worried about what was lurking under the vinyl roof...... but its all good!

Final bits to take off

2010-04-10T17:03:00.001+01:00

Final fews bits to do to Libby before she goes to the bodyshop. Got to remove one more piece of glass, rear bumper and towbar and remove all the gunky insulation from the inside of the bonnet.

Glass was easy....... 20 minutes and it was out.

Bumper was a swine!! All the captives were no longer captive, had to resort to a mixture of drills, junior hacksaws and an angle grinder............. 2 hours later it was finally off!!

Scraper, some petrol and lots of elbow grease soon saw the inside of the bonnet nice and clean and ready for prep/paint.......... note, MY side is done, Bradley somewhat lacking in enthusiasm!

On a lighter note, it was the Mother-In-Laws (the "out-laws" as I call them!) birthday today! (Happy Birthday Di..... I know she reads this!) so we took her out for dinner last night to the Harvester........... mmmmmm, Mixed Grill!! Anyway, we got the staff to put a candle in her Ice Cream Sundae..........!!!

After weeks of Sam playing me up and hiding my favorite cuddly Giraffe, George........... (long story, don't ask) I warned her she did it again I would have my revenge. She hid it again, so I hung her favorite teddy bear..............

Normal service will be resumed soon, Libby hopefully going to the bodyshop next weekend...... fingers crossed!

Easter Break

2010-04-06T00:21:00.000+01:00

Well, its bank holiday weekend again which means 2 things. Camping weekend with the gang, and predictably awful weather forecast for the whole of the weekend! Probably booking to go to the West Wales coast not such a good idea for April then!

Anyway, after a very very long trip on Friday, we all arrived at the site I found, just outside Harlech in Wales. Stunning scenery and a nice quiet little site. Soon got set up and then the fun could begin........... Fish 'n' Chips and beer anyone?

Next morning we woke up to glorious sunshine, not a hint of the torrential rain that was forecast! The views from the site were amazing........ rolling hills and snow topped mountains.

Saturday we went to Port Meirion, the weird village where "The Prisoner" was filmed. Most excellent and interesting day. Sunday we decided to take trip out to Barmouth and the coast road. First thing I found was the biggest Ice-Cream Sundae I had ever seen!!.......... didn't taste very nice though!

Our very own Dave Marshall then toyed with the idea of buying a new hat to cover his receding hairline, he was tempted with this one, but we managed to talk him out of it..............

This cafe was full to bursting, not a spare seat to be had............ all we wanted was a nice cup of tea, but judging from its name, we wondered what else they sold................?

Quick hit on the beach, Dave and Jemma decided to go for a paddle. I offered Dave a bet. Strip off naked and jump in the sea (beyond crotch level!) and I would not only pay his site fees but pick up the bill for dinner that night. He was tempted, until Jemma reminded him she had a use for some of his "parts" later that evening...... he wussed out.

Back to the site, and time to introduce our mascot for the weekend. This is Scooby, the site's Border Collie. Sooooooooo cute, played fetch for hours. Tried to steal her, but I think she liked it there!

Monday morning, after a very wet and windy night it was time to pack up and head home. The trio ready to depart.............. agreeing to meet up at Oswesty Services for a light lunch.

........... and we all made it. Despite being pulled over by the Police, I was not the last to arrive!

Yes ok, ok........ I know. The number plates on my car are not strictly legal as there is'nt a space where there should be one.............but honestly, do the Police in this country have NOTHING better to do than to waste time pulling me over and spending time and money processing default notices because of a space in a number plate?!?! I know the APNR system recognizes it 'cos I got a speeding ticket off a camera last year! So, I have to put the correct plates on, take it to an MOT station, get a form signed and then send it off to the Police in Wales................. So, here is what Plod found so offensive...............

............verses what it now has to read. I know there is a right way and a wrong way, and I understand that we have rules and laws for a reason........... but, next time you see a number plate with italics, or black and silvers on a new car, or bits of tape and screws deforming charactors......... ask yourself, was mine really that bad?!! Or, next time your car gets stolen, or rammed by an uninsured driver, the reason why they can't catch them is because they are busy wasting time and OUR money on things like this............

Daft or what................

Unique bits!

2010-03-31T20:03:00.000+01:00

Been a bit quiet here............. no work on Libby, waiting for its slot at the bodyshop. Hopefully will be going in the next couple of weeks.

I managed to finally find out what the missing badges were off the rear wings. From the pictures out of "Motor", I could see that it should be a small chrome badge with "stag" on it......... just couldn't work out what it was!

After some research I discovered that Federal Spec MKI Stags (USA Market) had rear cruise lights fitted to the rear wings with a small stag badge underneath........ like below!

Now I knew what they were, it was just a case of finding them! Tracked down a supplier in America who could get me a set......... just don't ask how much including shipping, VAT and Import Duties!! They arrived this morning, so that is now all the unique difficult to find bits done, everything else is either 2000 or Stag bits now! Also, managed to find a MKI airbox and some cam covers, already blasted and powder coated........

Playing with Moderns and spending money!

2010-03-08T18:39:00.000Z

Managed to get in from work at a sensible time today, so I thought I would take advantage of the nice weather and get some work done outside.

We bought Sam a new Focus and collected it last week. Time for another set of my excellent parking sensors. I've done this job on about 12 different cars now, but I was nervous about this one as its the first brand spanking new car I attempted to drill holes in! I spent longer than usual measuring to make sure I got it right, then got the drill out.................. gulp!

But, it all worked ok in the end! The set of sensors are my usual £20.00 ebay specials, but they work so well! chose the silver ones to match the paintwork, and they are 100% perfect match!!

Ford Option, £400.00, Hour and a half and £20.00............. job done.

Also, recovering from the Triumph show at Stoneleigh on Sunday. Excellent show, great to catch up with so many friends and meet some new ones. Made a few purchases for Libby. Managed to find a set of Monroe Gas shocks and Load Levelers for the rears......... £120 for the lot! Bargain, and should help keep the back end steady when towing.

The best buy has to be the badges. I needed the special 3 Litre badge which is off an Austin 3 Litre......... very rare car and the badge seems to be rarer. I did buy one off ebay, but it was quite grotty. Found this along with 2 brand new Triumph badges and the Chrome V8 badge all at the same stall!! How lucky is that?

No more progress with Libby at the moment, I'm waiting for my "slot" at the bodyshop. Was due to go last Saturday, but it got put back a while................

Aha........... Floors!

2010-02-13T17:30:00.000Z

Finally found the floors!! Seats and carpets out, bit of fiddling to get the C post trims off and hey presto, we have a floor!

Amazingly, its perfect!!........ not a spec of rust in sight. Just crying out for some "Dyna-mat".

Started sanding the exterior paintwork. Deal with the bodyshop was for me to do most of the prep........... well, 2 hours later I decided I would rather pay more money and have them do it....... I HATE bodywork!!

So, got the glass out of the rear door on the n/s.......... total pain to do, but just got to do the other side, and then its ready to go to the bodyshop. Aiming for the 6th March...... pending on another car being finished on time.

Bit more

2010-02-06T15:11:00.000Z

Did a bit more today..... only an hour or so, but every little helps! Took out the passengers side parcel shelf (what a swine!!) and the side trims so that I could get to the wiring in the door (interior light, electric windows and speakers) to pull it back inside the car.

Then continued under the bonnet and removed the airhorns and brake PDA assembly, so this side is now ready for the bodyshop.

Engine Pt1

2010-01-31T23:41:00.002Z

Just had an email from Andy Roberts, he is very kindly rebuilding the engine for Libby. He sent me some photos and an update on the initial strip down and assessment of the engine. I've just copied and pasted his email and pictures.................... thanks Andy!

I thought you might like to know how I’m getting on with the engine – LF25961HE.

I’ve removed the heads. ALL the studs came out!! Just had a brief worry with the last one (there’s always one) but after a bit of gentle persuasion it unscrewed. Three cheers for Churchill tool S350. There’s lots of gasket goo everywhere, and the heads have been well skimmed, but they don’t look (at first sight) to be too bad.

One of the plugs (No. 7) was almost half way out, and from the gloop all around it I would say it had been running like that for a while. Four of the bores had water in them, but I think that was probably a result of the previous owner’s attempts at cleaning things. Some of the plugs were oily (one of them was very bad) but from looking at the state of the combustion chambers it seems likely that it was running OK. However there were signs of a gasket leak into the water way at the rear of the LH head and impending leaks elsewhere, so it’s just as well that you decided to overhaul it. The bucket tappets all seem to be reasonably good but I haven’t inspected them in any great detail yet. Both cams look good, although there is slight wear in the camshaft bearing housings – not unusual, – but I might try to get them scraped.

I then stripped the rest of the engine down to just a block assembly. The right hand timing chain was on its last legs, but the left hand one is OK! All the chain guides are OK. Both tensioners are OK too, so why one chain should be worn out is a bit of a mystery. All the sprockets seem to be OK, but I’ll be double-checking the right hand ones just in case that’s the problem. Rear oil seal is shot. There’s a bad wear ridge on the rear of the crank where the oil seal runs, so we might have to do something about that – fit a sleeve, perhaps. I haven’t inspected the oil pump yet, but I have taken it off.

I’m guessing that it hasn’t been rebored, and I’m also guessing that it still doesn’t need to be. But that will become clearer once I’ve stripped the bottom end. I’m pretty sure we’ll want to fit new rings though.

Oh, I almost forgot… there’s loads of crap in the sump – but I’ve seen worse.

....... and yet still more!

2010-01-30T18:08:00.001Z

I hope this is getting close to finishing stripping............. I'm running out of room to put things!!!

Rear estate glass today. Nasty job, convinced I was going to break the glass, but a bit of percy, and lots of time drilling out hidden rivets in weird places soon had them out. Then the inside trim round each wing and the tailgate........ fiddly work today!

Having learnt on one side, the other was much easier.

Seats next, 4 bolts and out they come. Very neat frame that have obviously been made just for this car. Seat themselves are sound, just need re-trimming. I think, due to space, the front and rear seats might have to get thrown up in the loft!!!............ you just don't expect this much stuff when stripping a car!!!!

The moved onto the rest of the boot. Lock, trim etc... then the tank. Amazingly, it was half full of fuel!! Genuine 1979 stuff!! Bit of fiddling and out it came to be emptied into Jerry cans......... trip to the oil dump in the morning I think.

Tried to start getting the rear bumper off but the captives have gone and are well rusted. Angle grinder time I think!

.......and still more!

2010-01-24T17:01:00.000Z

Same old same old............ taking more trim and bits off. Carried on with the rear today. Lights, trim, loads more rivets to drill out...... good job I bought a new rivet gun the other day.......... going to have to put loads back after the paint is done!

The side panels are in very good condition. These are usually rot-spots in estates, so I'm very pleasantly surprised to find these are perfect.

Found another piece of unique trim.... the estate glass window trims are satin black to match the black headlining rather than the usual cream. Bit tatty, so they'll need redoing. They seem to just be painted, but I think powder coating them will get a better finish.

Back onto doors, nearside now. Easier than last time as I now know exactly how to take everything apart. front ones flew apart.............

Rear didn't take too long either!

Getting close now. Estate glass, seats, carpets and minor bits of trim and a few more bits under the bonnet and it'll be ready to go to the bodyshop.......... running out of room to store bits now!

.........and more

2010-01-23T16:35:00.001Z

So, more stripping of Libby today. Got the front bumper off eventually. The bolts were well rusted up and they'd been soaking in WD40 for days! Bumper looks pretty good, should re-chrome well. Whilst I was there got the autobox oil cooler out (not needed, going back to manual) and the old twin cooling fans (not needed either, going to use a modern Kenlow)

Then, pushed it out onto the drive and turned it round to put it back in the garage the other way round

This means I can now get at the n/s doors to strip them!

Next problem, the boot catch has broken so it wouldn't open. Bradley volunteered to undo the trim clips to get at the catch from the inside. No jokes about Bradley being bent over my back seat please!

Turns out the plastic clip that holds the release gear together has snapped....... need a new one of those then!

"let me out!!"

So, once we got that open, cut out the rear screen rubber and removed (very carefully!) the tailgate glass.

That'll do for now!

Stripping again!

2010-01-17T16:38:00.002Z

Now that all the snow has gone.................and boy did we have alot!!, it was time to crack on with stripping Libby.

We had visitors yesterday (more Triumphy people!!) I was reminded that Libby was still covered in salt and muck from the trip back from Switzerland, so first things first, pushed her outside and jetwashed all the muck and grime off. I have to say, she looks better already!

Door trims and glass first. This presented the first problem. To remove the front door glass you need to lower the window........ but we have electric front windows and an unknown wiring loom! So, but of fiddling with a jump start pack and down the window comes!

Bit of fiddling and faffing (plus some grazed fingers and the front door was empty. Apart from the electric window mechanism. I know it went in, but I can't get it out......... so it can stay there!! I know it works, so that'll do for me!

Back door was quite easy, but I have decided to leave the glass in. With the stop channel removed, the glass sits well down in the door and out of the way enough to paint the surround. removing estate rear door windows is a whole world of pain I can do without....... this seems like a sensible compromise.

After that I drilled out all of the chrome trim clips on the door surrounds to make the paint job easier....... more later!

Gotta start sometime............

2009-12-31T18:14:00.001Z

Well, it was time to start! I was hoping to have spent some of my holiday taking Libby apart, but I came down with the lurgy and just didn't feel up to it.

So, this afternoon we started to strip some bits of. Got my roll of freezer bags and marker pens........... even a fresh notebook to make sure I remember where everything goes!..... how organised!

Assisting by the ever keen Bradley, I started taking off the side chrome trims whilst he got on with front grill and lights.............

I ended up finishing my bit, so I started on the front too.

Front end stripped...... except for the bumper. Seized bolts, leaving them soaking in penetrating fluid overnight.

Its amazing the collection of bits you get from such a short burst of work! Anyway, front end stripped, all exterior chrome trim off, top grill, wipers, wiper spindles, side repeater lights, wiper motor and washer bottle all now off and stored away.

Next job...... push the car out and do the bumpers, glass and interior.

In the back of the picture of Bradley is an Rental Truck............. on Sunday heading to London to collect a stag engine and gearbox, then off to Reading to drop the engine at Andy's to be rebuilt............it's all happening I tell you!!

So, is it any good?

2009-12-23T20:30:00.004Z

So, time to see what I have bought, plus a few details on some of the interesting bits.

First off, the engine build plate, special tuning engine....... same as Andy Roberts Stag Saloon, which is kind of handy as he is building the engine to the same spec!

Engine bay. Note the engine mounts, the stag brake master cylinder, dual circuit brake lines and the PDWA switch (and corresponding light on the dash shown later), air horns and altered wiring loom.

Check out the flare on those rear arches!!! Standard Stag alloys look lost, hence the 15x7 Minilights on the way!

Underneath is perfect, it looks like this all over.............

Any 2000 buff will tell you, you don't see inner arches like this very often!

This is the tricky bit. Nasty dent on the front wheel arch............. might pull out, failing that it might need a back arch.

Note the uncut doorcards for the window winders............ this has electric windows!....... even the wood is pretty good!

Recaro seats.......... need some minor trim work on the faces, but the foams are perfect.

Original 8 track!! How cool is that?!!?

Perfect rear seats..........

Under the rear seat......... usually rusty on estates!

Battery tray, Stag item....... rusty, but only surface scabs.

Black headlining........... pretty good, couple of nicks, might replace it whilst the glass is out. Note the sunroof, no leaks at all!

More detail on those rear arches....... must be a good 4 inches between the tyre and the arch!

Stag front indicator repeaters

Original number plates with Ian Lines Motorsports on

You can just make out the outline of the "V8" and "3 litre" badges on the back.

and here is the proof, that it is DEL33. The build sheet from Ian Lines.

All in all, I'm as chuffed as a chuffed thing!

DEL33 comes home

2009-12-22T20:57:00.007Z

In June 1992 I bought my first decent Triumph. It was a Tahiti Blue 2500S and I loved it! In the boot the previous owner left me some back issues of "Six Appeal", the 2000/2500/2.5 Register Club Magazine and I read them from cover to cover in one night! In those magazines I saw a reprint of an article that appeared in the November 1972 issue of "Motor" and it was all about DEL33, a Lines Stag Estate.

From that moment on, to me, one of these cars was the holy grail, and I vowed one day I would have one. Even if I had to build a replica............ after all, there was no chance of finding a real one was there?

From the same set of magazines I learnt about the Register, and I joined at the National in Woolacombe a few weeks later......... the rest, as they say, is history!

Below are some pictures of DEL33, the car that to me, was the ultimate 2000 derivative.

So, fast forward to earlier this year and I decided that 17 years was long enough to wait. Having been in and around the only 2 other surviving Lines cars ("Janey", Andy Roberts Stag Saloon and TNH10, Andy's old Stag Estate) and knew that I still wanted one. The first stage was to part with my beloved Yellow estate. 2 estates just didn't seem right, space and money would be needed!

With the yellow beast with its new owner, the hunt was on for a decent MKII Estate bodyshell to start converting it to Lines Spec. That was until a camping weekend with Andy Roberts, who persuaded me that it would be far better to restore an original Lines car than build a replica.

Great idea, but where do you find such a beast??

Couple of months later, I got an email from Andy. He had tracked down Mike Collins, the current owner of DEL33.................... and would I like to go and collect it???

I had to sit down.

The actual car I had drooled over 17 years ago was for sale!?!? All I had to do was ring Mike and strike a deal............. I didn't take long to think about that one I can tell you!

So, after several chats on the phone with Mike, we settled on a deal and the car was mine. There were some issues. Mike had the car shipped to Spain, to Del Lines himself for him to restore it. He removed the engine, gearbox, exhaust and wheels, then did a runner............ so the car was now incomplete. That doesn't bother me at all........ easy to find items! It was also no longer DEL33 and now on LYB864K........ but has all the paperwork to verify it is the right car.........bring it on!!

Oh, did I mention that Mike and Libby (as she is now called) lived in Roggliswil, in Switzerland?

So, 11am Thursday morning finds me and my intrepid co-pilot Bradley sitting on the docks at Dover in the trusty Audi and a hired car trailer....... the game is on!

As soon as we got off the ferry, it started snowing. Bad sign we thought........... first accident after only 10 miles, fortunately the driver of this HGV was fine........ ouch!

We are such children............ for some reason we found this haulage companies name hilarious!

Like I said........... children!

So, after getting lost and stuck in traffic for what seemed like hours we arrived at our Thursday night halt, a Kyriad Hotel in Reims.......... and still snowing. Lovely steak dinner, followed by a snowball fight in the carpark.

We decided to build a snowman, like you do, and built it in the middle of the trailer...... I wonder how long he will last in the morning?

Next morning it had stopped snowing but the nights fall had deposited a couple of inches that was now frozen........made for an interesting trip out of the carpark.......... but once onto the French Peage toll roads they were wonderfully clear.

For those of you who know me best, and think that my cars are always immaculate, just check out how dirty this is! Mind you, I was crying inside and Bradley had to forcibly restrain me from washing it several times.

768 miles later we arrived at Mike house, he was still at work but would be home soon............. I got my first glance of Libby. Covered in snow and looking very sorry for herself....... but, very very solid.

That night Mike and his wife Martha took us into the town and to their local pub run by another British Ex-Pat. A Micro-brewery called Hasli-Bier....... and very good Beer it was too. Glasses were a touch on the large side for me though...............

The next morning we woke up with slightly sore heads, more snow and this wonderful view from the balcony. I can certainly see why Mike and Martha like it here.

We pushed the Triumph onto the road and loaded her up onto the trailer. Easy with a winch!

4 new Ratchet straps, one for each wheel and the winch still attached, just in case. By the time we had done this we were freezing cold......... it was Minus 8 Deg C! So, inside for a warming coffee, sort out the paperwork and then bid them a farewell. We have agreed to come back in Libby when she is finished.

Heading home it got progressively colder and colder until it peaked at -14.5 degrees!!!

Due to the snow, the channel tunnel chaos, the ferry chaos and the general disaster that seemed to have struck everywhere, we decided to forgo the Reims stop over and head straight for Calais and see if we could get an earlier ferry back. No problems and by 2am on Sunday morning we were heading back for blighty. Note that the snow on the bonnet is still Swiss snow!

9am Sunday found us napping at South Mimms Services, quick stop at Oxford for lunch..........

Back home by 1pm. I had rung some friends to help get the car up the drive. My drive is too steep to back the trailer up, so it had to be pushed up. Many thanks to Dave Marshall, Colin Marshall, Steve Bosworth, Craig Bennet and of course Bradley for putting up with my awful music for over 1600 miles!

But, it was all worth it...... Libby is home and in the garage........ pass me a spanner!

How happy am I?...............

Strip down, then off to the bodyshop for some minor fettling and then painting. Then to the trim shop for a new vinyl roof. Hopefully, the engine shouldn't be far behind that.......... more later!

Clearing some space..................

2009-12-05T22:18:00.004Z

I just noticed how long it was since I last updated my blog!!! Sorry about that, been busy...........!

So, first off........ its official. I have the BEST wife in the world!! She took me Christmas shopping a few weeks ago and bought me my present!!

How about this then? Top wife!! Nice big tool cabinet. Spent a very pleasant few hours polishing all my spanners and finding places for things!

So, to making space. Some of you will know why and what I am making space for!! Those of you who don't yet know....... watch this space and all will be revealed in about 2 weeks!

"Eric", the Scottish PI has gone to a new home. It needed an MOT first. Nothing major, headlight aim, handbrake and front flexihoses........... simple really! Bradley (featured on here quite a bit!) took an immediate liking to Eric and pestered me ever since then to sell him Eric........... so I did!

The more observant of you will have noticed that Eric is the car I am entered into the 2010 RBRR in, but being as Bradley is my co-pilot it really doesn't matter who owns the car (this was Bradley's argument for buying it when I protested it was by Round Britain Car!!) Anyway, we are hoping to change our RBRR entry to a different car..... again, more in about 2 weeks!!

So, MOT and sold. Bradley was overjoyed at having another 2500, he took it home and polished it! (I think he may have been hanging around me too often).... anyway, I have to say, being as I never even washed it, never mind polished it, in the time I owned it.... it came up really well!

So, bit more space needed........ time for Sam's Moggy to go...........................

Yeah, right!!! Sam would get rid of me before she got rid of her Moggy. She has owned "Madison" since she was 18, so its safe to say its not going anywhere!

It did go to Lichfield today, to spend the winter at my Mum's house. My Mum has a big double garage and we usually keep the Moggy in her garage for the winter, as we usually have more cars than garages! So, little trip this morning. I took it for an MOT on Wednesday, and was horrified to find it had done 107 miles since its last MOT............ 70 of those were the trip to and from my Mum's last year!!

Still needed a bit more room......... caravan to go now!! Back to my Mum's!!! She has a proper caravan "pad" down the side of her house, tucked away nice and safe so our caravan usually spends the winter there too!!
First time I had towed with the new Audi and I was very surprised how good it was. Nice and stable, plenty of power and very relaxing............. fantastic!!

So, that's it for now............ more updates just before Christmas when I will introduce the latest project......!

Oot 'n' Aboot

2009-08-12T19:30:00.002+01:00

Like the title? Say it with a Scottish Brogue and you get the idea!.. having a McTriumph is starting to get to me I think!

Poking around Eric the other day I discovered why it handles so well........ its got Spax allround and the front end is Polybushed! The trailing arms could do with polybushing and the driveshafts are a bit sticky....... normal big 6 twitchy back end! The more I find on this car, the bigger bargain it becomes!

I did a photoshoot with Practical Classics last week, and one of the other guys who was there emailed me this photo.................... can anyone work out what we were trying to do?? Answers, well..... look on the front cover of the October 2009 issue of Practical Classics and you'll find out (due out mid Sept!)

Last night is was our local classic car meet. Hundreds and hundreds of classics of all shapes and sizes for an informal evening meet........ 2nd Tuesday at Becketts Farm (A435 on the B'ham side of the M42 if anyone fancies popping down one evening!) Sam decided she would come and bring the Moggy...... thats TWICE in one week its been out!! I took Eric along............

Malcolm was there in his MKI that I was working on last Sunday. the non running turned out to be a dodgy set of points...... so we replaced them with a luminition kit he had bought... job done! Also met up with Tony Edgeworth, another of our 2000 owning friends......... and Sam's parents were there. Her Mum took her Stag and her Dad bought his PI estate........... see, I married good stock!

Tinkering.........

2009-08-08T18:55:00.004+01:00

So, MOT time for the Red PI.............. ummmmmm, oh yeah........ got 2 Red PI's now!! (I mean the nice one, not Eric the McTriumph!!)

Sailed through, advisory on one rear wheel bearing which has some play in it.............. time to do both driveshafts then I think!

Nice piccie of both of them on the drive. (note, one is clean and polished, one is not!)

So today tinkered with Eric. Popped over to see Craig and blagged a servo from him and changed the servo........... wahay! We have brakes that work now! Abley assisted by my nephew Adam (working weekends at Sam's hotel as a waiter and spends moost Friday nights/Saturday mornings with us now) and Bradley................. in this shot Adam is taking off the air filter housing (he's gotta learn spannering sometime!) and Bradley, nicely displaying his "Car tinkerer's Arse" just finishing connecting up the servo.

Next the column bush. There is a large grommet type bush that holds the column steady as it passes through the bulkhead. When this is worn, the column moves around............ remains of the old one next to the new polybush one and you can clearly see why the steering column was wobbling about!!

After that I straightened up the steering wheel (3 splines out......... I HATE not having a straight wheel!) and then sorted the stereo out so that it feeds from an ignitioned live rather than direct off the battery.

Then Sam announced that she was going to use the Moggy to take Adam to work........... I nearly fell off my perch.......... she was actually going to DRIVE it!!!!!............... so out it came from the garage and off she went......... nice trial run for the new rear shocks.

Handles much better now, but the exhaust is clonking on the new rear crossmember, needs some slight adjustment but apart from that, its great!

Tomorrow, off into Birmingham to help and old longstanding 2000 Register member, Malcolm Hadley. His MKI is playing up and he can't get it to start............... he's getting frustrated with it so I offered to go across and have a look. It'll be something simple (I hope!)...........

Busy Busy.............!

2009-08-02T18:35:00.007+01:00

Very busy and hectic few weeks! Apologies for the lack of updates, but this is the first time I've had chance to sit down and plug my camera into the PC!

So, few weekends ago, I went to the Doncaster Rotary Club Show in....... um, well,... Doncaster. (where did you think it would be?.... Croydon?!?!) Dave Marshall brought his Saffron 2000, I took the Yellow Estate and we met up with Colin and Amanda Radford in their Carmine S Estate.

Another reason for going was to deliver the Yellow Estate to Tim and Shirley Pickett, who live quite near........ they are now the proud owners of Yellow, and here they are at the start of what I hope will be a long and happy relationship!

The sun was out and Dave decided it was time for his 2000's annual clean. He was even spotted with a bottle of Autoglym........... see proof below............. another Polisher!!! Seriously, it did look quite good when he'd finished.......... but then I had to say that as he was giving me a lift home! Shame he spoilt the day by setting fire to it at the end of his road!!!

After that, it was time for a camping weekend to try out the new Caravan. I am soooooooo in love with this, its fantastic! Esepcially love the fact that it has a separate bedroom with a fixed double bed in it!! No more scabbling around at Drunk o'clock trying to assemble a bed! Anyway, camping weekend in Oxford with Brian and Jenny, Andy and Maggie.

If you look in the background (left) you can see our new van (skylight open with silver vectra estate across the front............... foreground (right) is Andy and Maggie in our old caravan! They bought it off us and they were having a shake down weekend in their new van too!! Now look foreground (left) and you will see Brian and Jenny in our old old caravan which they bought of us about 3 years ago!!! All 3 generations of our caravans all parked together.............. very weird!!

The same weekend it was Sam's Birthday! Happy ummmmmmm,......... well,....... over 21 again birthday Sam!! When we go away as a group, Sam always bakes a cake (I love being married to a chef!!) but being was it was her birthday, I decided it would be wrong for her to have to make her own, so I MADE A CAKE!!!!!! All on my own!!! Tasted pretty good and doesn't look too bad for a first ever attempt at baking a cake!!

So, to more recent events. Flew to Edinburgh yesterday to collect the latest Ebay purchase. Bit of an impulse purchase.... my excuse being that I needed a car for the RBRR, and the Lines V8 Estate project is going to take longer than anticipated now that I have decided to find and restore an original car rather than building a replica.

So, Bradley and I flew to Edinburgh and had a very pleasant trip back. Few issues with the car sort out. The gearbox mount is shot, the wheels haven't been balanced, the overdrive did work but packed up at Carlisle and the steering feels vague and notchy. But apart from that, its a corker!!

As recompense for having a day away, I promised to do some work to Sam's Morris Minor Traveller today...............

I realise that although Sam has had this car since she was 18....... I have yet to introduce you all to it as it has been "forgotten" about whilst being parked in my Mum's garage! So, a little later than anticipated, here is "Madison"....... a 1970 Moggy Traveller, and its Sam's pride and joy!

Over the years we have slowly been improving it. The wood has all been replaced, couple of new panels, painting. Last year I re build all the front suspension and brakes all round. Next to do was the rear suspension. I bought Sam an upgrade kit to convert the bouncy back end from lever arm dampers to telescopic shocks............ and today it finally got fitted!

I was most impressed with the quality of the kit. All parts were Zinc plated, every nut and bolt in the right place and even the shocks were GAZ units! Consists of a long bar to bolt to the underside of the car, drop plates and various shackles. Being as each Moggy is slightly different you do need to modify the kit to suit. I had to shorten the bar, and re-drill a few holes that were out slightly.
But there it is! Have't had the chance to take it for a ride yet....... but a quick bounce shows a much improved rear end!! Axles needs a coat of paint and the leaf springs need a grease. Then its a quick service, grease the nipples, fit a new set of modern inertia reel seat belts and then the front seats are going to the trim shop for some new covers.............. then all Sam has to do is DRIVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, after playing with the moggy, had a couple of hours free to have a look at the Scottish PI.... now called Eric............!

Dave popped round this morning with a gearbox mount for me, so I popped that in. I have never seen a mounting that has actually come apart............. old one and new one side by side!!

Great improvement but still feels a little grumbly. I'm thinking about using an original metalastic second hand bush to see if it helps. Spent a short time setting the engine up.... it just didn't feel right yesterday. Timing was set about 10 degress AFTER TDC, point gap was out, and the carbs were totally out of balance and the throttles set up wrong. Bit of tinkering and it feels much better!

That's all for now.......... more later!

Fixing Studs and other stuff.......

2009-07-07T23:58:00.004+01:00

Finally got round to sorting out the stripped thread in the trailing arm of the yellow estate (got to get it done, the new owner is picking her up on Saturday!

So, popped the driveshaft out and inspected the hole.......... no thread at all!

Carefully cut the new thread with the cutting tool, and inserted a 5/16 UNF Helicoil......... carefully as it had to be done perfectly straight otherwise the hub would not have fitted back on.... but, it did....... all done!

On Sunday Sam and I took the Red PI out to the Club Triumph National day at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu....... fantastic day, lovely weather and a really interesting place to look round. Handed my trophy back in (Car of the Show 2008) and then promptly saw it handed over to a very stunning TR3.........
I was experimenting with the settings on the metering unit, so I filled it to the brim and then set off heading for Beaulieu, planning for a refill on the way back......... sitting at a steady 70mph (most of the way!) I was stunned to see home get closer and closer with the fuel gauge still not registering empty!
By the time we got him, this is what it looked like........ 289 miles... filled it back up and it took 10.83 gallons...... working out to 27mpg (not bad for an AUTO PI!) Strangely the fuel light was on all the time, but if the tank holds 14.5 gallons, I still had 3 gallons left, enough to do another 75 miles. I'll try that agin and then empty the tank, add a gallon back in and bend the fuel sender unit to read empty.

The day before (Saturday) was fun! We took delivery of our new caravan in the morning, and for a few hours we had the old one (background) and the new one together on the drive. One of our neighbours suggested that if we actually started talking to each other, perhaps we could have just one van, rather than one each........!!

Anyway, emptied all the stuff from the old to the new, then I took the old one to deliver it to its new owners in Reading...... even got fed some home made Rhubarb Crumble for my efforts .................. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Busted studs.....

2009-06-11T18:12:00.004+01:00

Last time I used the yellow estate (and its been a while!!) I was getting a ticking noise coming from the rear offside wheel..... must look at that, I though.

Well, finally I have a date to have the broken windscreen replaced, Saturday............ and then Sam reminded me that I still had the noise to look at first.

So, this afternoon I jacked the car up, popped the wheel and drum off to have a look and discovered the remains of a stud in the bottom of the drum assembly........

Closer inspection revealed one stud missing which holds the hub/backplate assembly to the trailing arm..... whoops!! Slightly important stud then!

I tried to put a new stud in, but as I suspected the thread has gone in the trailing arm. The proper fix would be to strip it down and helicoil the trailing arm.......... but I just don't have time to do that before Saturday morning when its got to be at the windscreen place in Worcester by 9am................. I found a long bolt the right size and it was just long enough to catch the remains of the thread at the end............ then I checked the other 5 and they are all still tight, so that'll do for the moment!

Quick shot of the cracked windscreen........ hopefully on Saturday I can post one of an uncracked windscreen!

Finished!!!!

2009-04-03T17:07:00.002+01:00

So, the brakes were still a bit juddery......... I concluded the discs were shot......... on closer inspection............ they were!!

Luckliy, I had a new set of discs in stock.........so on they went.

Brakes now transformed. Smooth, progressive and no wobbles!

I then had to fit a towbar to it....... part of the agreement with the new owner. Got one from Canley's, rub down and 2 coats of black smoothrite......... one fitted towbar!

Bradley managed to keep himslef occupied by cleaning the interior........ he really has turned into a polisher!

We then went out for a spin, and then remembered I hadn't checked the oil level in the diff. Stopped at the local garage, bought some EP90, and chucked it in........... thanks to Dave for volunteering to crawl underneath and top it up!Then we took the car back to the original owners....... Roy and Edith. They were amazed at how good it looked and how quickly we had got it done. I took them out for a little ride in it...... Roy was close to tears............... but, he was glad he had seen it finished, and that it is back on the road.

However, on the way home the fuel blockage reappeared again. On closer inspection, the tank was full of debris again!!

Tank out again, this time I pressure washer washed it and then left it cooking on the lawn overnight with a mixture of Caustic Soda and water. Good swill out and the inside of the tank is now clean and shiney....... rather than black and gloopy!

Popped the tank back in this afternoon............ took it for a run...... all good.

Taking it out again tonight to put a few more miles on it and then its going to its new home on Saturday................ providing the test drive turns out ok!!!

New Tyres, New MOT....... one breakdown!

2009-03-26T18:30:00.003Z

So........ I decided that the fuel starvation problem was due to a clogged up tank...... I took out the fuel gauge sender unit and had a peek inside with a torch (not a lit match as suggested by some!) and found a load a gunk at the bottom........ just due to the car standing with fuel in it for so long I guess.

So, I undid the union on the bottom of the tank and............... nothing. Hmmmm. Gave it a prod with a screwdriver and fuel started to pour out.... okay, definatly gunked up then.

I then removed the tank, taped up the vents, put some de-greaser in it and gave it a shake....... just look at what came out!!!!!!!

That could be why it kept stopping then!! Did that a couple of times, then popped the tank back in and put a couple of gallons of fresh fuel in and all seemed well.

I then went to my friendly local tyre place as the tyres I had ordered were now in. 4 new 185/70/13's (compromise as the original 175/80/13's not available!) and on they went. It did confuse the fitters a bit, especially as they couldn't find the car in their wheel nut torque guide! But, all done. Then went next door, and collected the MOT certificate!! She's road legal!!

All is not well though.... on the way home.. cough, splutter cough stop......... bugger! No fuel at the pump again!

I managed to get it home and jacked it up again, undid the union and this time the fuel gushed out of the tank.... so its not that then! On the advice of a Register member I took off the small length of rubber hose that connects the metal union to the main fuel line..........blocked solid with gunk...... ahhhhhhhhhh. So, new bit of fuel pipe, couple of clips..... refilled the tank and its seems to have cured it!

So, all I need to do now is to get it taxed, have to go to a VRO office to do it as it was off the road when it went tax free....... classification needs changing and you can't do that online or at a post office!!

Then, I can go for a proper blast!

Bit of cleaning to do on the interior, tow bar fitting and she's finished!

MOT........ FAIL !!

2009-03-24T17:38:00.002Z

MOT this afternoon, and it failed.

On tyres and a steering rack gaiter!!!!

New tyres on order, ready for Thursday, gaiter is on the shelf so all should be well!

We do have a problem with fuel starvation...... don't know if the pump I put on is as bad as the original or if there is still a blockage in the tank. Going to put a brand new pump on and try it, failing that its tank out and a good clean out!

Ready for MOT !!!!

2009-03-22T20:11:00.004Z

The blue 2000 is now ready for an MOT!

Stripped the front brakes today, thinking I would have to put new discs on. The discs were rusty but when I inspected them..... no wear ridges or lips at all. I cleaned them up and put new pads in and also changed the bleed nipples as the originals were all chewed up. All good now!

New (well, good second hand!) Master cylinder as the original had perished seals and was weeping a bit, then bled all the brakes again. I also fitted another fuel pump as the original one was just too gummed up to work properly. Now running like a dream! Quick oil and filter change and its done and ready for MOT....... then a trip to the tyre fitters for a new set of treads and its ready for a new home.

Bradley was helping out again............ but he seemed more interested in polishing the front bumper than anything else........... even Dave Marshall had to get his hands dirty and changed a headlight........... made him polish the chrome headlamp retaining rings before he put it back on though, I think he was a bit upset about that. Polishing just does'nt come as natural to him as it does to Bradley or myself!!

Look at the concentration om Bradley's face as he polishes the bumper............!!

Had a break for an hour to fit some parking sensors to the back of Dave's Shitroen..... Easy job using my favorite £25.00 ebay kits.......... looks like factory and should stop him stuffing the towbar into things!

So, MOT hopefully this week and see what happens...............

Nearly finished!

2009-03-15T10:32:00.003Z

So, what do you think the most useful tool you have in your toolbox is??........

9/16th Spanner?

1/2" spanner?

Flippin' big hammer?

All wrong.

When working on Triumph's, I have discovered that you need a "Bradley" (not to be confused with a Bradall, that's a sharp pointy thing for poking holes in things with.) A Bradley is a very useful "spanner-monkey". Excellent for reaching hard to get at bolt due to its very long reach, does exactly as it is told and makes excellent coffee!!

Anyway, more work on the 2000 yesterday, aided by Bradley.

First stop was finishing off fitting and cleaning the carbs and cleaning out (yet again!) the fuel pump. Its all gummed up with slime and sticky old fuel and its just not pumping as well as it should. I fitted an in-line fuel filter just before the pump to try and help, but it wasn't happenening.

So, we drained the tank and then blew threw all the fuel lines with an air hose and soooooooo much rubbish and goo came out, it must be okay now.

This is what was living in the petrol tank......... pretending to be fuel........ it actually RAN on this stuff (not very well I must admit!)

So, with fresh fuel in a clean lines up it started and ran perfectly! Bradley then spent a few hours replacing the indicator switch I got from Stoneleigh last weekend. Should have taken a couple of minutes, but getting it lined up with the cowling took some time. We had right hand indicators, but no left, then left but no right......... but now its all fine.

Next problem....... stuck clutch. I was dreading this, as I had an awful feeling that the gearbox was going to have to come out. So, we started it up and left it running for a while to get it nice and hot. Back end up on stands, Bradley in the passengers seat hold the clutch down with his right foot, me in the drivers seat with the throttle and the brakes. Bit of power, progressively harder braking and then the clutch let go and freed off on the first go!!!

I couldn't believe it!!!!

Bradley was pretty stunned too!! (or did he just sit on the old indicator stalk?)

So, for the first time in 19 years, it moved under its own steam. Took it for a little tootle (well, down the drive and round the end of the cul-de-sac!) and all is well.

Jobs left to do.

New Brake Master Cylinder needed (seals perished and weeping)

Change the fuel pump for a better one

Change one headlight

Another oil and filter change

Then, its MOT time!!

More work on the Blue 2000........

2009-03-01T19:58:00.006Z

More work on the Blue 2000 on Saturday. Stripped the rear brakes and replaced the shoes, wheel cylinders, flexihoses and had a couple of new brake pipes made up.

It all came apart alarmingly easiliy, so say it had'nt been touched for over 20 years!

Many thanks to Bradley and Dave for their help!! Much appreciated. Here are the happy minions de-gunking the sliding splines of the driveshafts before re-greasing and replacing!

New copper brake lines and flexihoses. The lines were full of horrible white gooey stuff. But after bleeding through about 1 litre of brake fluid........... clean fluid, no air and a firm pedal! Handbrake set to lock at 4 notches.......... looking good!

We were so impressed with the rear brakes we did, we decided to try and get the engine to fite. The carbs (see earlier posts) were ready and I re-fitted those. I had to draw off loads of stale old fuel which stank but also had set in the fuel line.

I stripped and cleaned out the fuel pump and filters, then after what seemed like hours, we had some fresh fuel coming through to the carbs. Quick check in the dizzy and a new condensor, it fired up, but only on 5 cylinders................. eventually traced to the HT lead on number 5 not being pushed on properly!!

After that, it ran very sweetly! I have to say, it is one of the smoothest sounding engines I have heard in a long time.

So, front brakes, flexihoses and wheel bearings next............ then to sort out the stuck clutch (I do hope I don't have to take the gearbox off!!)

No Polish used........ honest!!

2009-02-24T18:05:00.002Z

Took off one of the carbs this afternoon, and spent a pleasant couple of hours cleaning the gunk off it, and all of the old petrolly waxy crud from the inside. The were all seized up, and full of horrible stuff....... so this really needed to be done.

New gaskets and O rings (Thanks to Mr P at Canley Classics today!), new Diaphrams and a flippin' good scrub and hey presto!!........ clean and working carbs.

Honest, I just cleaned them in de-greaser and gave them a good scrub.......!

I was really tempted to get the autosol out and give them a bit of bling....... but I managed to resist....... aren't I good!!!!

Another one?!??!........

2009-02-22T00:20:00.003Z

Another 2000 arrived at "Polishing Towers" today. 86k, one owner from new 2000 MKII saloon. Very original and unmessed with, but after being in storage for 18 years, very VERY dirty!

But, after a good wash, a gentle rub with cutting compound and severa coats of Autoglym...... the shine returns to reveal the best bodywork I have EVER seen on an unrestored car......... its simply stunning.....

The original dealer sticker is still in the back window, and the previous owner gave me the cheque that he paid for the car, payable to the dealer from the sticker, dated 22nd Sept 1972, the registration date on the Log Book being 21st Sept 1972.... hows about that for history!!

The interior, dusty, but perfect. Clutch not stuck, brakes not seized, but the brake master cylinder suspisiously empty and the carbs sticking and leaking.

So, new wheel cylinders, new flexihoses, new shoes, new pads, strip and clean the carbs, new coolant hoses and fuel lines, maybe an exhaust and a set of tyres, check and reset the front wheel bearings, check out the bushes and u/j's...... and it'll be ready for MOT and a new home.

I am going to enjoy doing this one............

Moving day!

2009-01-24T18:59:00.004Z

Busy day today! A couple of years ago Marc put his MKI 2000 Estate "project" in my barn for storage......... but due to a huge rent rise we are having to give up the barn, so today was moving day for the Triumphs. He has done all the welding on it, new panels and a respray in the original Jasmine Yellow......... its going to look well hard when its finished!!

Also out there was my MKII PI Estate "scrapper"......... it used to be a lovely car, but it has seen better days now...... rotten as a peach! But, the 180bhp TR5 engine, A type manual/overdrive gearbox is still excellent, so the plan is for Marc to fit the engine and gearbox into his MKI.... so oday he got his MKI back and "acquired" a MKII into the bargain!

Here are our "barn finds"......................

Once the green PI estate was out, it didn't look that bad.................. but it is!!

Rather than hiring a trailer, Marc had purchased (very reasonably!) a towing frame. What an excellent piece of kit........... I think I'll be borrowing that in the future!! Clamps onto the suspension arms and away we go!

Trip number one................

Trip number 2!

All in all, a good days work........... now all Marc has to do is to FINISH it!!!

Catching up!

2009-01-18T16:26:00.003Z

Sorry!! Been so busy and I only noticed the other day that I hadn't updated by blog since before the Round Britain Run in October 2008!

So here we go with a quick update on Triumphy things since then!

Sam & I did the 2008 RBRR in the yellow estate. No major issues really apart from a snapped speedo cable and then the Road Angel blew up so we had no idea of any speeds! Many thanks to Brian Millington from the 2000 Register who dug around in his shed, found a speedo cable and then met us at midnight at Oswestry services! Thanks Brian!

The car was unbelieveably filthy afterwards, so not surprisingly, I spent most of the Monday cleaning (and maybe a little polishing!!) the car............ got busted by Sam who took some photos of me to prove what a sad case I really am!

Then in November I was at the NEC show, with the Red PI on the 2000 Register stand. Excellent show, met loads of friends and put up with the usual leg-pulling about polishing!

On New Years Eve, I took a trip down to Wiltshire and met up with some friends from Club Triumph for an informal lunch at a pub. It was flippin' cold and the washers kept freezing (got the car dirty AGAIN!) but a really nice day. Well worth the 280 mile round trip! (note the polish bottles on the floor infront of my car.......... these CT jokers, relentless they are!)
Now the sad news, my Stag has finally been sold. I had it advertised on Piston Heads and it sold quite quickly to another Stag owner from Kidderminster. He wanted a better one and decided that mine was for him. I delivered it to him the other day........... sob!! I do regret this sale, but we had to get rid of one car as we just had too many and not enough space.

Anyway, with the Stag gone it made some space in the garage. Today I had a tidy up and a sort out and then put the yellow estate back in the garage. Its been living outside under a cover for the last 18 months and it was time to bring her back into the warm and dry!

Thats it for now, I promise I'll try and keep things more up to date in future!

Getting there........

2008-09-13T19:41:00.003+01:00

I drove the estate today for the first time since the engine rebuild.......... all I can say is wow.......... I am so pleased with my little self. The engine runs perfectly, good oil pressure, no noises, no rattles and it does seem to pull well............. can't really find out yet as I need to run it in first!

I took it to Craig Bennett's garage for some welding on the front chassis rails. Nothing serious, just a small patch............. what is serious is the huge hole we found in the boot floor....... right under the tank in the "fake" spare wheel well which is a carry-over from the old MKI's. So, next Saturday we are going to take the tank out, cut out the useless "bulge" and re-create a flat boot floor.

It's not an MOT failure, so the MOT is still on for Monday pm. Fingers crossed.

When I got it home I carried on tinkering. The new wood I had re-veneered needing fitting. I'd done the door trims.... (the easy bit!) but I now had to do all the dash and the radio surround.

I'd had the radio surround modified to have the hole a modern stero size, so while I was at it, I put the new stereo and cd changer in.

What a result, I think it looks great!

While I had the dash out I put in an extra 12v cigar lighter on the passengers side parcel shelf. Might come in useful on the RBRR for the Sat Nav, Road Angel and phone charger.

I had a new gerlever trim panel "in stock" so what went on too.

It really has lifted the inside, looks much better now.

Tomorrow is cleaning and (dare I say it...........................) POLISHING time depending on the weather. Then its MOT Monday, tax and then the open road beckons..............!

Engine rebuild......... FINISHED!!!!

2008-09-08T20:25:00.001+01:00

So, put the rad back in, reassembled all the front suspension including the new power rack.

Topped up all the fluid then realised I couldn't put it off any longer, I had to try and start it!

Primed the oil pump, fitted a new filter then turned it on the key with the plugs out................... after a short pause the oil pressure gauge started to climb and hit 75psi just on the starter!!! Wow!!

Put the new plugs in, and tried again................ first turn of the key it fired into life!

I cannot explain the feeling of relief and utter joy at hearing the 6 pot burst into life!!!

The new carbs need fettling, they are stiff and won't open and shut properly, but they just need to lube and working a bit I think. Timing needs to be set, but apart from that its fine!

Ran for a couple of minutes then I think I've run out of fuel........ but it was getting dark so I guess this was a good time to stop!!

I have to admit there have been times when I've wondered if I would ever get it back together again........ but the feeling of hearing it start was worth all the sweat!!!

Engine Rebuild Part MCMXXVXIIX !!

2008-09-06T17:29:00.004+01:00

So, today I needed to get on with putting the engine back together......... so it was raining! Figures.

A bit of playing and here we have a purpose built engine-rebuild-shelter!
All going well, head back on and torqued down
Virtually finished!

All thats left to do is;

Bolt in and connect up the Radiator
Fill with fluids
Change the oil filter
Change the oil pressure relief valve
Reassemble the suspension

Then its ready for firing.

I was planning to have it running today, but the rain wore me down and I'd just had enough!

Not far to go now though!

Rocker Shaft Rebuild

2008-08-27T19:57:00.003+01:00

Sounds simple don't it.................... strip, clean and replace the rocker shaft.

Hmmmmm.

Okay, so, I wrote it all down, exactly which bit goes where............. then halfway through stripping it all down the dog jumped on me, which made me drop the rocker shaft (bits everywhere!) and spill the ice-cream tub of Jizer all over my carefully drawn plan.

Bugger!!

No I don't know which order things go on.....................

Of course I do, I've got another Triumph 6 pot in the garage!

So, off with the rocker cover on the PI, noted down all the positions........... then I could happily clean everything and put it all back together.

The old rocker shaft was worn beyond being worn............ the ridges had their own gravity field they were that big!!

Glad I did it now, looks good, no more slop in the rockers..................

Thats another job done...............

Your Piston's coming to the boil!

2008-08-27T18:06:00.004+01:00

So, collected the new piston from Mr Papworth last night (many thanks Mike!), I met him at The Griff Classic car meet (informal pub car park meeting).

Bumped into our very own Chris Allen, he was dropping his car off to Mike to, and I quote "To shut the bloody thing up"...........new exhaust I think!!

Also was a very tidy MKII PI........... (no not mine!) a white PI BWK581K, which is weird as I used to own (and now Craig Bennett does) BWK14K which is also a white PI............

Anywaay, this evening I had to fit the new piston to the connecting rod........... which won't just push in........ needs to be heated.

So, gudgeon pin in the freezer for 15 minutes, and then I boiled up the piston and the little end of the connecting rod in a sacuepan of water............

At exactly this moment Sam came home and thought I had made a start on dinner................."What are we having then?" she asked.........

I guess my cynical reply of "goujons on Piston on a connecting rod mousse, served with frozen gudgeon pin drizzled in 20/50"............. didn't really go down too well......... opps!!

Anyway, it just slotted in, and the two circlips dropped in, all done in less than a minute!!

Excellent!

Now, to fit it. I was going to do that this evening.......... but I really haven't the drive to do this tonight. I think I'll rebuild the rocker shaft and paint the timing cover this evening............!

Engine Rebuild Part 3.......... Disaster!!!

2008-08-26T17:30:00.003+01:00

So, today the plan was to get the bottom end on the engine back rebuilt.

First problem came when I put the first piston in with its new rings............. it wouldn't move!!

After some checking I found that the box they came in stated 74.8mm diameter.......... when they should be 74.7mm...... hmmmm. When I checked a ring in the bore, guess what........... no ring gap! Bugger!

I spoke to the supplier (no names here!!) and they were very helpful and told me that after checking their entire stock, all the rings were the wrong size and they would have to go back to the manufacturor............ could I wait a few weeks???

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 36 days to the RBRR, no chance!

I then dug around in my stock and found a set of Cords rings............. far better quality (so why didn't I use these in the first place??!?) marked at 74.7mm..... right off we go!!

The bores were de-glazed using a special tool. Got it from Machine Mart for £20 and its wonderful. The bores are now perfect with no shine on them at all. No lip either which is unusual considering the engine has done 150k!!
All was going well, until I got to piston number 6.................. disaster.

Part of the ring valley has broken........... so the piston ring fell out in pieces and a piece of the piston fell out too!!

A quick phone call to Mike Papworth and I'm just off to see him to pick up 1 new Stanpart original 2500S piston.................excellent!

Meanwhile, I got the main bearings and the thrusts in.

So, new piston, ring it, big end in and bolted up, then the oil pump can go on, sump on and the bottom end will be done................

To be continued..............

Stafford TSSC Show

2008-08-16T19:22:00.004+01:00

Went to the TSSC National at Stafford today. To be honest, it was really very quiet........ but the 2000 Register and CT members managed to pad it out a bit!

Engine Rebuild part 2

2008-08-15T20:21:00.001+01:00

Cam's in and timed up.................. thanks to Brian from Just Classics.

Stafford TSSC tomorrow.

Pistons on Sunday.............

Engine Rebuild part I

2008-08-14T19:39:00.002+01:00

So, on the 2004 RBRR the engine in the S estate started to burn severe amounts of oil. I must rebuild that, I thought.

So, in preparation for the 2008 RBRR, I have started.................... (!!! yeah yeah, I know, well I've been busy.......... ok?)

So, after spending loads of cash with Messers Witor, Pearson and EJ Wards..........

Last weekend I took the front suspension off (found the huge amount of play in the front end to be the PAS Rack..............!) dropped the sump and had a look at the bearings.

The shells are worn, but originals.......... so new set of mains and big ends purchased.

The rings (proper Cords oil savers with a Ridge-dodger in the top.......) were an ebay bargain last year. Proper Witor oil pump, new unleaded cylinder head, timing chain, rocker shaft etc etc.

Being as it is a weedy S engine, I decided to give it some ommmmph and bought on of Witors "special" cams...... designed for the S, and the correct needles and jets. Meant to give 30bhp extra............... nice!

This evening, I took the head off. My mate Brian is coming over tomorrow evening to fit and time up the new cam......... I don't even know where to start with that!!

I was surprised to not have one head stud shear or even be difficult to get out............... even more amazing to find the valves have no recession at all (unlike this countries economy!!!) and even more hugley amazing........... I cannot detect the slightest ridge at the top of the bores!!!!

There is a carbon ring at the top, but once that is off.......... perfect!! Its done 150k and the engine has never been apart........... weird!!!

So, tomorrow the cam is being fitted (new cam, cam followers, chain, tensioner, sprockets, bolts and tab washers all at the ready!) then hopefully Saturday I can start doing the rings and shells.

I bought a proper Glaze buster today from Machine mart to de-glaze the bores, then I can fit the new rings, big ends, mains, thrust washers, oil pump and then put the sump back on.

Pop the head on, I'm going to replace every hose under the bonnet as they all look a bit sad.

Rebuild the rocker assembly.

Might even give the block a clean and repaint in black engine paint.........

New PAS rack and track rod ends to go on.

Refurb the carbs.

Then its a small spot of welding on the front chassis legs and then off for an MOT, intime to do about 500 miles running before the RBRR...............

Hmmmmmm. Why am I sitting here????? Loads to do!

(sorry, no pictures today........... put everything away before I remembered to get my camera........ more next time......... promise!!

Playing with "moderns"...........

2008-07-27T17:31:00.002+01:00

We collected Sam's new car last week. 07 plate Focus Zetec. My old Mondeo I'd had from new as a company car, then we bought it off the Leasing Company and Sam's been running that for the last 3 years. But, at 122k, it was starting to feel its age........... so we treated ourselves.

I have to say, I am immensly impressed with the Focus. Very roomy, nicely equiped and very comfy.
However, the Mondeo had a "manual-rear-parking-sensor", ......... aka A flippin' big towbar. The new one has an expensive looking rear bumper......... hmmm.

I put parking sensors on my Vectra last year and I have found them very useful so I went back to the same ebay shop and bought another set. £17.99 + p&p............... simple beep-beep ones. Ordered a dark grey rather than black.

The Focus has a grey panel in the rear bumper, and when I looked at a factory fit set (£450!!!!) they were set into this panel............ game on!

I ordered a new plastic panel (£12.05 from the Ford Dealer) and set about fitting them this afternoon.

Took about an hour......... easy peasy!

Ford assume each car will have parking sensors on, so the bumper behind this panel had cutouts already in for the sensors to fit in, there are holes with uncut grommets in behind each one for the wires....... even has the loom spliced by the reversing light ready to take the power feed off! Thanks Mr Ford........ made my life easy.

They even look like factory fit........... for £20 rather than £400!!

Well worth fitting to your "modern" bus.

The kit comes with everything you need, even the correct size hole-saw............ 4 sensors, control box, buzzer and the wiring loom you need.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rear-Car-Parking-Reversing-Sensors-4-Sensor-Buzzer-Kit_W0QQitemZ220259813174QQihZ012QQcategoryZ75330QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

Dodging the rain............

2008-07-19T17:48:00.003+01:00

Rain, rain and yet more rain!! I can't remember that last time I saw the sun!!

Never mind. We took the Red PI to the CT National at Hatton Country world. Great to see so many faces and meet some new ones.

Many thanks to all those who voted me Car of the Show............ the trophy has pride of place on my mantlepiece at the moment.

Last week we attended the Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 Register National in Pickering...... guess what................ MORE RAIN!!!

Excellent few days despite the weather. Came 3rd in the Concours Masterclass, missed 2nd by 1 point......... I obviously didn't polish it enough!

Back home and back to reality. Spent today working on the yellow estate (RBRR is approaching!) and dodging the rain showers.

The new Police Spec gearbox has now had its leak fixed. A small pinhole in the casting which has now been repaired by Canley Classics, so I "threw" the box back in today. I really hate doing gearboxes!!

Once I'd done that, I started to fit my new woodwork. My uncle re-veneered all the wood for the estate and finished it to a high gloss. Looks fanatasic (Thanks Uncle Ray!) Put all the door cappings and the load space trims back in. Just the dash sections to do but torrential rain made me give up and go in.

Just got to do the rest of the wood, do the engine mini-rebuild, new PAS rack, found a couple of patches of grot underneath that will need a small bit of welding to, then MOT.................. Should be done intime for the RBRR............. I hope!

The great Window saga.................

2008-06-20T13:04:00.003+01:00

Ever since I have had the Stag, the drivers side window occasionally falls down. The arm from the electric motor jumps out of its track, so after it happened very quickly and scared the living daylights out of me (huge bang as the window disappears!!) I thought I should do something.

The problem is the plastci bush on the end of the arm was mullered, so I bought a new one from EJ Wards and then set about it.

To get the motor assembly out, you have to lift the entire window frame up by about 6 inches....... not overly difficult but fiddly.

So, here is the offending bush............... mullered does not do it justice!
Heres what is shoud look like!
Simple job to drill out the rivet and replace it with the new one, put the window back together an hey presto......... one working window!!

If only everything in life were this simple..........

New Radiator

2008-06-05T19:07:00.004+01:00

The Radiator on my Stag was starting to weep so I bought a new one whilst at the Prescott Hill Day from EJ Wards (got a special show discount too..... excellent!!)

Finally got round to fitting it the other day. So, many thanks to Sam for her wonderful birthday present of magnetic wing protectors!! Finally got a chance to use them!

It was a bit of a challenge to get the old rad out. To get to the bottom hose you need to remove the battery, to get the battery out you need to remove the PAS pump........ not a simple task but I got it done and the rad out fairly swiftly.
Here's the new one, all shiney and black.......... pretty! I decided it would be prudent to have the uprated Radiator. Not that I have ever had any cooling problems with this car, even with a leaky rad, but I decided it would be prudent. So, I bought a new Supergill 5 row Radiator.
Here's the old one, got to go back to Wards as an exchange........... if he can do anything with it that is!)
All back together, fresh antifreeze and running with no leaks. All I have to do is to put a new pipe on the overflow bottle. For some reason the pipe on new Rad was a smaller diameter than the old one....... not to worry, couple of quid for a new hose should see it all sorted........... the road beckons!!

Prescott Triumph Day

2008-05-23T11:08:00.005+01:00

What a fabulous day that was!! Sun shone, loads of Triumph's and lots of tyre smoke going up the hill climb!

Sam & I took the Red PI and a picnic and had a very pleasant day. I had decided that I was not going to put my car on the hil climb........... that would be irresponsible..................

However, a good friend of mine had engine trouble at his hotel, and his TR6 was out of action, and he had 2 runs up the hill prebooked............ seemed rude to waste them!!

So, up we went, one gently, one a bit harder................great fun!! I want more!!

Above are some pictures, some of mine, some of others.......... and a link to 2 short video footage of mine going up the hill (Thanks to Lee Smart from the 2000 Register for those!)

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff269/dallliiisss/?action=view&current=MOV00120.flv

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff269/dallliiisss/?action=view&current=MOV00121.flv

Highlight of the day has to be being taken for a blast up the hill in Ken Bryants Triumph 2000 with a TVR 4.2l V8EFI beastie.................... you cannot imagine how fast that thing is!!

Crich Show

2008-04-13T18:47:00.002+01:00

Just got back from the Crich show, what a fabulous day!! Really enjoyed it, loads of friends there (some I have never even met in person!!) and loads of Triumphs!

Really looking forward to next year.

Dave Marshall's Saffron 2000 and my PI, resting in the maintenance yard!

Triumph's Triumph's everywhere..........
Lee Godfrey's white MKI PI saloon, and in the background, Tim Picketts Jasmine MKI PI estate......... now how rare is that??? (I think there are only 2 on the road at the moment, 3rd on the way........) and its for sale!!! Offers over £5k I think......... well worth every penny.
Tony Edgeworth's stunning Inca Yellow 2500S Saloon............
David Guzzeta's TR5. Stunning does not do it justice. The panel gaps on this are the best I have EVER seen. Its not polished unused car, but a well used and abused car (how rare is that for a TR5??) but still simply stunning....................

What's the point (the condensed version.....)

2008-04-11T23:18:00.004+01:00

What's the point, the condensed version....................hmmmmm.

Well, I finally got round to fitting electronic ignition to the PI..................(geddit!?!?!?)

I decided after finding quite alot of points scatter that this would be a good idea, plus I hate messing about with points and condensors.................I just don't see the point!!!!

Anyway, I bought one of the "discreet" kits which fits entirely inside the distributor. I chose the one by GEC which was advertised in the latest "Club Torque". Not that I am advertising here, but George Coombs (The man at GEC) is a wonderful bloke, very helpful, even when I managed to somehow order the wrong unit first time round.........oppps!

Anyway, fitted it in about 15 minutes, and that included using heat shrink tubes to hide the 2 wires on show (one to the coil, one to the ballast resistor) This is the unit inside the dizzy, replacing the points and the condensor........

Very neat, and even better is the picture below. Apart from one extra wire from the coil to the ballast resistor, you can't tell if is fitted (ideal for Concours cars!!)

I have not had chance to drive the car yet, but it did start much quicker and cleaner than before and the tickover is certainly much smoother..........I took the opportunity to put in new plugs and run them at 30 thou gap rather than 25 thou (stronger spark now!) and I'm looking forward to seeing how it drives on Sunday when we are taking it to the Marque day at Crich.

Anyway, a few pretty pictures for you, and no, I haven't polished it this week either!!

So, if anyone wants this excellent kit, go to http://www.gecelectronics.com or see the half page advert in the last "Club Torque" magazine.........

Quick Diff Change................

2008-03-15T17:40:00.004Z

The diff in the PI was a bit noisy on overrun so today was a quick diff change!

I had a known good one, and during the week I cleaned and painted it and popped in some new seals just to be safe.

Took it for a test thrash and the difference is amazing, the rumbling on overrun has of course gone, but the whole car is much smoother than it was before.

Time well spent me thinks.

Gave the whole car a onece over, noitcied the front pads were getting low. Being as we're taking it on the 2000 Register trip to Bonn over Easter I decided it might be wise to change them. In went a set of EBC greenstuff I had in stock.........replaced the front flexihoses just in case.

Tomorrow I've just got to change the oil and filter, pack the boot with the "survuval kit" and we're ready for the off................

Now THATS a double garage!

2008-02-02T20:35:00.000Z

Greetings Triumph people!

Today I'm going to talk about decorating and building!

When we first bought our house, the previous owners had extended the ground floor, including adding another single garage onto the side of the original single. One of the first jobs to do was to knock down the wall between the two to give a good sized double.

So, 6 years later and I've finally got round to it!

18ft Steel I beam (got a builder in to do this, wimped it!) and here we go.

But me, being me, couldn't just put the cars back in, so I decided to put a nice ceiling in, paint it, new lights, more sockets, paint the walls, paint the floor, paint the beam and generally get things nice.

So, one side is finished, Stag back in its new shiny home!

Its surprising how much brighter it is with 3 x 58w strip lights and the walls and ceilings painted white...............

So, just got to do the same to the other side now..........................

RBRR 2008

2007-12-06T16:51:00.000Z

We're in! Team 15 for the 2008 RBRR will be Sam & I, in the Yellow 2500S Estate.

Can't wait!

I cannot believe that all 120 places went within a week! It just goes to show what a wonderful event this is.

The charity for this year (RNLI) is an excellent choice.........Lets see how much we can raise!

Bumble................................

2007-11-26T15:26:00.000Z

As promised, this is the introduction to the Stag............or Bumble as she is called (don't blame I didn't name her, named by the previous owner!)

When I was about 6 years old (1978 ish) my Late God-father Les had an Emerald Green Stag. I remember blasting around Castle Bromwich in it and I vowed that one day I would have a Stag.

Fast forward 28 years later and in February 2007 I agreed to buy VML3M, a White 1974 Automatic Stag. Just goes to prove that somethings are worth waiting for!

It all happened at Stoneleigh at the Triumph show. I mentioned to Andy Roberts (well known CT member and President of the 2000 Register) that this year perhaps I might start looking for a Stag. He then mentioned to me that he was in the process of putting his Stag back together so that he could sell it to make way for the Stag Saloon "Janey" to come home from the bodyshop. Several short conversations later and I agreed to buy Bumble.

I went home, rang Sam at work, got shouted at for quite a long time, then she agreed to come to Reading the next night to look at Bumble and do the deal. Next night Sam agreed that it was the right thing to do.............Board Approval and budget application rubber-stamped!

Andy & I then spent the next 4 months finishing off trimming up and fixing the various problems to get it MOT'd and running. We had a huge saga with the Automatic gearbox (in and out 4 times before we got it right!) but eventually Bumble made the trip up to the Midlands in May.

Since then, I have been spending lots of time driving it, and doing the odd improvement here and there. The seats could do with a re-trim, the soft-top is in shreds and I really fancy one of the nice Burr Walnut Dashboards!

The main problem that I have is that being an Auto it revs quite high at speed (4000rpm at 75mph!) so I would really like one of the ZF 4 speed auto conversions. But, at £2k, it will have to wait!

In the meantime, I just loving driving Bumble.............like I said, it took 28 years to get one and it was worth the wait!

How Dumb can you get?

2007-11-24T17:13:00.000Z

I have two admissions to make today.

For the first time EVER, I drove the Stag today with the roof on. I am ashamed..................

Having spent the last glorious 7 months blasting around with the roof down, berating the countless new cars I see be driven with soft-tops in place, today I had to! Chucking it down does not do the weather justice. M40, 80mph...............useless soft-top with water flying in through the various holes/rips..........great fun!

Anyway, I was on my way to see Brian Chrimes at Just Classics in Dunchurch. The automatic gearbox on the Stag has been leaking for ages and I just couldn't find the leak. Brian has a proper 4 post ramp lift and a warm workshop so that was were I was headed to try and find the leak.

After about an hour of cleaning up the AFT fluid that was dripping off everything under the car Brian eventually found the culprit.

If you OVERFILL a BW35 autobox by about 1.5litres, it will blow it back up through the vent pipe, soaking the bulkhead insulation which then deposits the sticky stuff evenly under the car.

D'oh!

So, gearbox drained and re-filled to the correct level, no leaks (apart from the stuff still embedded in the bulkhead soundproofing!)

Like I said, how dumb can you get?

RBRR......................We're on!

2007-11-22T20:06:00.000Z

RBRR (Round Britain Reliability Run for the ill-educated!) fever has hit Triumph-Town again, with the official launch of the 2008 RBRR in aid the the RNLI.

I am exceptionally pleased at next years choice of Charity, as the RNLI is very close to my heart. My Great-Great Grandfather was one of the Founder Members of the RNLI and he, and his Brother and his Son were all RNLI Coxwain's in Barry, Cardiff. My later father's sides of the family are all mariners, and the work of the RNLI crews (who are volunteers, ie don't get paid! for risking their lives to saves others) is a cause well worth supporting. Remembering that the RNLI gets NO funding from this poxy Government and has to be funded solely by Charitable donations. Lets see if we can beat the 2006 total of £50,000 shall we. 100 cars, £600 per car = £60,000................easy init?

Anyway, enough of the flag waiving. Our (that's me and Sam, yes my intrepid co-pilot is my Wonderful Wife!) entry form went in the post yesterday afternoon. Even did it in style and took the Stag out for a blast to post the entry form..............(yes I KNOW the postbox is only 500yds from my house, but for some reason it ended up as a 15 mile blast to the next village to post it!)

So, hopefully, providing Royal Mail doesn't let us down (again!) and the Chin-meister gets back from Delli in once piece to process our application................we're in!

Just got to rebuild the engine, run it in, replace the gearbox, replace the PAS rack and get it through another MOT and the Yellow Peril will be ready to go!