rocker cover fasteners

I turned a couple of hand nuts for the rocker box on the spitfire during the week. They replace the domed nuts that currently hold the cover on. They are made form stainless steel so they should stay looking good for a fair time.

TSSC open weekend

I went along to the TSSC open weekend today. The headquarters of the club is well worth a visit if you get the chance. There is plenty of interesting things to see from pristine cars, cut away chassis, working garage, literature, club shop etc. I have posted a few pics below to show a few of the goodies on display.

I took the Spitfire to give her a good run and despite the heavy rain all the way there and back she performed beautifully.

Science museum

Rover turbine powered car

Rolls Royce Merlin engine

Well We have just come back home after a weekend away in London. While we were there we visited the science museum a favourite haunt of mine as a child. The place has changed so much since I was last there, but it is still just as exciting as I remember it. I thought I would post a few photos. It is sad to think how engineers were really appreciated up till a relatively few years ago.

Wet Patch

I left the Spitfire out in the rainy weather today in the safe knowledge the new hardtop would keep her safe and warm! unfortunately that was for from the reality when I returned to the car. The front windscreen seal had leaked like a sieve and the water had collected on both of the seats. It wasn't a pleasant ride home with damp trousers. I have posted a question on the TSSC website to see if anyone has any experience of this and if so how to avoid a repeat performance. I have noticed on the Rimmer brothers part list the windscreen seal looks like it is shaped to fit the top of the windscreen were as the seal i have is square section dense foam, which doesn't appear to follow the contours on the windscreen trim. It looks like I may have to order the Rimmer seal to see if that fits better.

On the road

I took the Spitfire out for its first run in a year today. It was just how I remember the car. She drives great and is so much fun, I had a big smile on my face the whole time I was out. I chose a route that was mainly country roads with plenty of twists and turns. The car handles perfectly, I don't know where this myth about spitfires not being able to corner comes from but I have never had any issues even when driving fairly rapidly around the twisty lanes. All I need now is for the weather to be kind to me over the next few days and I will be having a lot more fun!

were back on the road again

Well the car has passed it's MOT today. so it's just the tax to get tomorrow and were all legal once more. I can't wait to go for a long drive tomorrow.

Revenge of the speed hump

brakes away

I managed to fit the new parts for the Spitfires front brakes after work today. I have replaced the discs, pads and used a new fitting kit, and not a moment to soon as the old pads fell apart as I took them off. It only took 1 1/2 hours to change both sides, just as well as it was getting dark by the time i finished. I just have to get the car re-tested tomorrow and its back on the road.

NEC Classic show

I went along to the Classic car show on at the NEC at the weekend. Its good to see so many people supporting our hobby, The halls were packed. I managed to pick up a few bits for the Spitfire, A pair of new discs, front pads and fitting kit. There was a special offer on the Rimmer stand, the delivery and vat were paid on orders placed at the show. I have to say the service from Rimmers has been first class as the parts arrived this morning. I will be fitting them tomorrow and then taking the car for its mot re-test on thursday. The car failed its first test on front brakes out of balance so hopefully this will cure the fault.

All weather motoring is here

I picked up the bargain of the century yesterday on ebay. I got a brand new hard top for the spitfire for £100, It is perfect not a mark on it. So from now on its dry and hopefully a warmer driving all the way.

I'm able to stop anytime

I finally got around to ordering and fitting the new parts for the rear brakes on the TR4. A new wheel cylinder, spring back plates, spring clips and shoes were all fitted. The brakes were bled using an easy bleed container and this has got most of the air out but the pedal is still a bit soft. I am going to try a new vacuum pump tomorrow to see if that is more effecient. In the meantime I am mobile again, so its back to car shows at the weekends.

Car swap

I finally got to buy insurance for the TR4A this week, so I have had a change of daily car. The spitfire has been put into temporary storage for the winter and the TR4A is put into service. The TR hasn't been started for a while so I was pleased when it fired up after a couple of turns of the key. All that was needed to get her ready for the road was a quick checkover and some fresh petrol in the tank. I am looking forward to being able to get into the car a bit easier, the spitfire is a bit tight to get in with the top up and now the winter is here that's more often than not.

Alternator repairs

I had to strip down the alternator on the spitfire today as I have noticed the red charging light coming on lately. After disconnecting the battery and removing the wires from the back of the alternator I removed the plastic cover over the brush housing. There was a lot of muck and debris in the brush area. I removed the brushes and gave them a good clean up along with the whole of the back of the alternator, using wd40, the brushes were then refitted and the cover put back on. I took the car for a spin and the light is not showing any more.

Apart from the alternator I haven't done any other jobs on the cars. The TR4A is in the garage at the moment until I renew the insurance next week. I was readin in one of the classic mags that you now have to send your tax disc back to DVLC and declare sorn if you don't have your car insured or you will recieve a £100 fine. Hopefully this hasn't come into effect just yet as I still have the car taxed. I geuss I will just have to wait and see if I get anything in the post.

Its been a good day

Two things to report on today, the first is the TR4A passed it's MOT with flying colours. After an anxious wait the tester said those 2 words we all like to hear "it's passed" that's the 2 words classic car owning males like to hear anyway! The only follow up jobs that need attention are a bulb blown on the number plate light and a slight weep on the rear brake drum, as I explained to the tester I have only just changed the wheel cylinder so the dampness could be leftover form the previous leak. While I was there I had a good look under the car and was pleased to see no unseen nasties lurking.

The second report is on the Club Triumph Eastern fun day and picnic. The picnic was held at the country park on Mersea Island. We all met up as usual at the services at Boreham on the A12 at about 10.00 am and then drove in a convoy down to Mersea Island. On the way we passed through Maldon, Goldhanger, Tollyshunt and various other pretty villages. In the main the journey was uneventful apart from a stretch of newly re-surfaced road which had loose chippings for about 2 miles, this would have been no problem apart from the 4 wheel drive cars traveling in the opposite direction at about 50 mph throwing chippings up everywhere. Once at the country park it was all hands to the pumps to unload the cars of all our picnic equipment, food and of course games. There were more kites, badminton racquets, baseball bats and balls and of course that old favorite swingball's than people to play them. It was all good fun with kites divebombing the unsuspecting picnickers (Jaime you must learn to play nicely) and sponge rockets flying all over the place, still boys will be boys even when their all grown up. After all the fun with the games we all settled down to a nice picnic lunch, some of us that is, Adrian seemed to think a picnic consisted of a full seven course banquet, that's what happens when you let a man go shopping. We stayed until around 2.00pm, and as our country needed us, or at least the England football team did as they were playing at 4.00pm and we had an hour and fifteen minute journey home we daren't leave it any later. It was a good day out and as Jaime said " it was nice to go out to a social event rather than another car show."

Spitfire manifold

I put the new exhaust gasket on the Spitfire today. I used a bit of exhaust assembly paste on the face of the gasket to help seal the gasket. When I started the car I can't see any sign of the gasket blowing. I took the car for a spin and the engine sounds a little quieter than previously. I think I might take it along to the club triumph eastern picnic at East Mersea island tomorrow.

MOT time

Well I have booked the TR4A in for its MOT test on Monday so I thought I had better get my act together and have a look at a few jobs that need doing. The first was to sort out the main beam on the headlights. The main beam was making the ammeter swing right over to -30 amps when I operated the dip switch, indicating a short circuit, after removing the the dip switch and taking off both the headlamp units I put the multimeter from the blue/white wire to earth and it showed a short circuit, so the short must be in the wiring to the lights, i then took the wire leading upto the switch off and lost the short circuit. So at least I had isolated the problem to the wiring leading to the column switch. It turned out there was a break in the wiring on the main beam wire that was going down to earth. I had to solder another wire to the light switch and re-route the wiring to avoid it chafing on the steering column. The other job was to bleed the brake circuit as the brake pedal was still a bit soft after i changed the rear wheel cylinder.

It's been a some time

Well It's been quite a while since my last blog. I have been busy with work and other commitments! well that's my excuse but really I have just been enjoying driving the TR4A. I have not got around to drilling the inlet manifold for the spitfire as of yet. I must get my finger out and take it into work to drill the old water pipe out. On a brighter note the TR4A is running well and we have enjoyed quite a few outings lately. Apart from the disappointment of going to the Enfield pageant and finding it had been cancelled all of our trips out have been good ones. We recently visited Audley end house near stanstead and had a great day looking around and to top it all there was a meeting of the Morgan owners club holding a picnic in the grounds. I will sign off for now and hopefully it won't be so long to my next installment

Top Gear - Boating challenge

I just watched Top Gear boating challenge and I haven't laughed so much in ages. The sight of the Toybota going under the waves was hilarious. Jeremy Clarkson thought he had the challenge under his belt when his car sunk only to see James May float into view in his converted Triumph Herald sailboat. When James sailed upto the slipway everyone was amazed when the car engine started and blew Jeremy's effort out of the water! I have to say I think the James herald sailcar was a whole lot more stylish than either Jeremy's Toybota - Toyota hilux with a large outboard engine strapped to the back or Richard Hammonds Damper van - a camper van wrapped in a narrow boat.
It just goes to show how adaptable Triumph cars can be one day the king of the road and the next king of the reservior.
Top Gear gets better every week with the outrageous challenges and topical car chat.

Updates to Blog

Since it has been raining pretty much all day today I thought I would do a bit of tidying up on the Blog. I have added a section on the side bar for links to non triumph traders, mainly accessory dealers anything from racing cams to fasteners. I have also made the links open in a new window, so no more having to navigate back to my blog. If anyone would like me to add a link to their website please email me the link and I will add it. I have also added a link to email me directly, so any comments there's no excuse I have all the base's covered - guestbook, email, and comments below each blog entry.

Spitfire repairs

I finished work at a reasonable time today so thought I would take the opportunity to do some work on the Spitfire. The first job was to fit the petrol filter I bought last week. I put the filter in the flexible tube before the fuel pump. No real issues in fitting the filter. The second job was to fit a new exhaust gasket, to cure the exhaust leak that's been driving me mad for ages. I removed the carburetor and the inlet manifold, which is quite badly corroded around the water pipe connections. I may have a go at drilling the old pipe out and replacing it with a stainless pipe, I've seen these advertised on eBay so it can't be that difficult to do. The exhaust manifold had enough movement to allow me to slip the old gasket off the cylinder head. I will put it all back together tomorrow after I have cleaned the carbs and had a go at drilling the water pipe.