Club Triumph

I replaced the horrendously noisy diff in the Spitfire for an unknown one lent by good old (not as old as me mind) Clifty Clive.

What a difference! I got rather wet and cold doing it, but am dead chuffed with the result.  

A fairly easy and quick one for me today: I replaced a rear brake hose. The tough one will come hopefully sooner rather than later: taking the car off the road for sorely needed welding in the front area of the chassis. But that has to wait until I get another car to "replace" it temporarily. (I've got the car lined up, but it's a bit tangled in estate legalities at the moment!)

I'm up to a few bits and pieces, but I've just replaced the nasty rusty catch plates/strikers on the Spit.
One set-screw was missing on the drivers side (no wonder the ruddy door rattled). All OK now, and a rewarding little job.



Yes, it does look like more bling though.  

Replaced the temperature system with a 74degC bellows thermostat, correct sender unit and correct gauge. Removed the voltage stabiliser. It's working but before I got her up to themperature the front carb flooded again. Twice. Really stumped as to why.
I also fitted my restored 1 piece rear light trims - correct for a '60 coupe. It was a nasty job removing the 3 piece trims and even nastier fitting the onesies. Still, managed it with only 1 small paint chip.
If the weather is good next Sunday, they'll make their debut at the TSSC South of England Meet.

I showed it to my Girlfriend and tried to explain why in real life restoring a car is not like "American Hotrod" and isn't something that happens over a period of weeks.  

Quoted from Stu 1986

I showed it to my Girlfriend

I have had an oil leak for a while now which seems to come from the join between cylinder head and block and flows down the side of the block along most of the length of the join. So today I removed the cylinder head to look at the head gasket but there did not seem to be much wrong with it except a little emulsification around one stud. I have replaced gasket and placed head back on, no mean feat when attempting it on your own without removing manifolds and carbs, had to winch it off and on again. Will tighten it down tomorrow replace valve gear, reconnect water pump, carb cables and fuel lines.
Will also check for crank end float before putting rad back on, I am hoping the rumbling noise when in neutral is the clutch release bearing and not the crank thrust washers. Rumbles when clutch pedal is up and disappears when clutch pedal is depressed so I have my doubts.  

I might go out in a bit and sand that lot back. Or, I might get ready for work. Not sure which is more important.

Replaced rocker gear onto head after replacing head gasket yesterday, reset valve clearances. Also checked crankshaft endfloat 0.010 inch so not as bad as I had feared, rumbling noise may well be clutch release bearing, will have to investigate at a later date.

Nice job Ferny, and I hope you sanded that lot back.
I'm swapping my MX5 seats out and my Spitfire seats back in. Very good idea.

Seats done, bolts in, dead chuffed. Mr MOT man better wear his number ones next month or I shan't let him sit in it, so there.



Meantime, instead of saving up for the differential it needs, I just had to treat myself to a little more bling with the last of my hard-earned. I've had to sort out the door rattle and the bonnet fit, so while about it I bought myself a "Nice Little Bling Kit" and some slides in Mirror Stainless from a charming gentleman called Paul Copeland, buyright777 on the 'bay. No I have no connection with him except to say he's a very nice bloke.



Pretty eh? The bonnet fits too, and closes nicely. Winner.
Memsahib keeps muttering about Corsa's and chavs though, so I think I'll have to wean off the bling for a bit.  

Just for Mr. Smithy as I don't think he has seen under DollyRoo's bonnett.

No I did not do this! Former owner did. No! I would not do this!

Bill, that's, umm, quite special.
I wouldn't do that either (in fact I sold a chrome rocker cover to a nice German gentleman a little while back); I like a few highlights of bling, a bit here and there so to speak, not great solid masses of chrome. I have to say, that's quite something though. I bet you have to get the Autosol out often.
That heater blower/hair dryer(!) has to be seen to be believed!  

Erm, can't say I'm a fan of your new bling, smithy...

No Peter? Well, I haven't gone into shock I must say!  
Nope, this Magpie thing isn't for everyone. I can't see you polishing up the S/S before you go through your Autosolo's mate. But maybe you do?  

Well, I only do one autosolo each year, which is about how often the Herald gets washed....

Well I drove mine.  Went to Horsell near Woking via Marks and Spencer, Brooklands (very excellent Butcher's there - Prince and Son), bought some Horsell Royals which I swear are the best sausages ever.  Note to oneself, must start a sausage thread (pfnar, pfnar)......

Despite the various and many sightings of Triumphs on this and the TSSC website, no one ever sees me, reckon me and the Herald must be invisible!  

Mark

I didn't see you...


(I am in Sussex at the moment though...)

Mark, are you coming to the Haslemere Car Show?

When is it Aaron?

M.

27th of May, at Lions Green (although you have to register).