Early Doors

I had started on the Riley by 8:30 - after a 6:00 am start and a run on the two wheel member of the fleet.

I thought I would start with a temporary fix (bodge) so I put foil tape around the loose joints of the oil breather. We'll see if it works for a bit.

Then I decided to give the Imp a three stage detail - so treated it to a wipe over, a polish and then a wax.

Oddly when I was hoovering out the car and checked under one of the seats, I actually found the missing nut to hold the clock in - so I swapped it back - that's a tiny, tiny job but it made me feel good.

So waxing was finished by 10:15. 

It looked shiny and smells of wax when you go into the garage now. Amazing what you get done when you get up at 6:00 AM - so what next? 

Gardening actually.

PM was admin and then a SAAB run to Harkstead for jobs and tea. Then the rain came back - so that was that.

More Mysterious Marks

I started on the Alpine again first thing in the morning and decided to continue from the rear panel across to the boot and noticed more mysterious marks on the rear valance - odd. The boot looked especially swirly too. I guess it's a very flat panel. I followed my checklist and had the four stages all laid out in the shed.

The rear was all done by 10:45 - looking much better but it's hard work. One door and front wings done by 12:00. After lunch the bonnet and door - all done by 2:00. After which I moved the car into the sun again for the wax to 'set'.

Late afternoon I went took the Talbot out. It stared quite well considering it's been almost three weeks. 

Still looking stately. I was really testing the new seal for the radiator cap - so around the block we went in 24 degrees of heat. No sign of any weep or leeks or sprays on the windscreen - so we'll say that's done.

I was going to take the Alpine out later to save the planet, but we got a Harkstead call so I went there.

The car is going well although the rear closures for the soft top are rattling a bit - I'll have to see what I need to do for that.

ION: John D phoned about another auction, but interestingly he said the Alvis was not that good and needed work.

66 Not Out

I moved the cars out and parked Alpine in the sun first thing to help dry it off if there is any moisture left. I also moved the Mk2 as well to clear the space for work.

Then Mk2 to Harkstead to baby sit BT engineers - until they realised they could not upgrade to telephone due to the power lines (?) and then they went away to think again.

After getting back I moved the Alpine back as the clouds loomed to do a bit of polishing.

However before that I tried to get the Talbot radiator cap seal in place. I'd checked and the kit I had bought (strangely a part of the kit of the brake repair kit for the brakes for a Ford Cortina MK4) fitted. It looked like it did.

First I had to remove the old one - which was harder than I expected - but all in all only a 30 min job.

Then I did a bit of 'glassing'. Four (8) passes on each section. Wash and dry the panel (2), then cut it with the new style T-cut to carefully remove the scratches and clean it off (2), then apply polish and buff that off (2) and finally the wax - dark Dodo wax to hide as many imperfections as I could and buff that off too (2).

I started with the offside rear. I think 90% of the scratches came out with the first buffing and it was radiating when I'd finished. So 15-20 mins per panel/section. That's a half day for the rest of the car.

Then it was time to get the broken lawn mower to try and fix for the allotment. So SAAB of course. Here it is: 

After two hour I'd got the frame sitting correctly and found the broken starter cord. I'd also discovered that the starter had been replaced and riveted on and the choke connection was all loose. Not sure it's worth sorting but we'll see.

Finally Alpine out to drop off a payment at Phil's in Harkstead.

I took the long way home. I'm getting used to it again - but I must calibrate, as I forget it is 66 years old.

As is the Driver.

It's our Navy !

Monday we woke to virtually no wind so we started with a gentle potter by diesel. Exiting the Deben we were passed by lots of small ships with a Royal Navy ensign, like this one.

That's what's left of our Navy we thought.

Home again and late afternoon I unloaded the trailer. I noticed the MK2 needed water when I moved it to get past - looks like it's leaking near here and spraying about looking at the staining.

I'll have to investigate.

G2R - Once more

Packing for the trip first thing.

Light load though.

We were passed by the Stenner Line as we left.

We should be on that in a couple of weeks time (well the night crossing) bound for Germany in the Alpine.

Perhaps we'll be treated to a nice sunset like we were tonight.

So I'd better got on sorting the car out.

We're Keeping the Ferrari

So we better use it. So we did.

However the Ferrari was a little hard to start - well second turn of the key - but it’s been almost 2 weeks somehow. Then as I left it sitting on the drive warming up to close the garage door and turn the lights off were they bangs ? Just from across the road I was glad to say. 

We flew around the block and stopped at the EE petrol station to make notes.

I noticed the fuel gauge looked low - given that we'd only done 80 miles on a full tank, we'll have to watch that. Is the petrol going down a little quick ? 

Good run though - just around the block but keeping adding miles. 

Then a work call so SAAB and trailer in play for more of the Stutton detritus. 

PM we were off the party - so I dithered. The sensible choice was the MK7 Golf. But I decided not and cleaned the E-type and took that instead. So many times I opt out of the nice cars and play safe. Here we are at the secret location in deepest Suffolk.

The best car in the car park - IISSM - even better than those locked in the storage unit behind us I thought on the way home. Appreciated too by a couple of chaps.

Finally a business unit stop over on the way back.

We were picking up a Kebab supper ... but looking $1M.

ION: I looked at the auction and the Alvis only went for £20k. Bloody Hell. However earlier in the day I'd reasoned I was only buying it because I thought it would be cheap and that's not why I buy my cars. 

I'll just use mine more to use up the cash !

Clean Start - and Starting

Having left everything in a bit of a mess while I had to dump and run yesterday I started by cleaning everything up tidying up putting everything away and giving myself a clean start to the day. The weather had turned back again and now we're expecting showers all day so that elusive test drive will still have to wait.

Everything back in and vacuumed by 10:00 and then the door ... which unfortunately has already chipped the edge. 

Oh well I can touch that in when I do the rear valance.

I added shims to the drivers door and it stopped clipping the front ring - but sticks out a bit more. I suspect I need to put the shims in the other set of hinges.

I finally cleaned the tonneau.

PM I started her up. It started first time after a week of sitting which was good. It sounded different with a slight mechanical noise from there the bonnet - odd. I opened the bonnet and checked the oil. Right down on Empty and also the sensor had already fallen off.

I put in 2 pints - which on checking was a bit too much - and stuck the sensor on the rocker box cover for now.

The drive was ... fine. Actually we went well in the sunshine. The car drove better but the steering still has a slightly 'dead' spot in the center, mind you it is 66 years old. 

At the petrol station I got an 'Assume car mate' from the young chap in an Audi next to me and 'I bet the paintwork is better than when new" from an older chap in a Jag.

After filling up with petrol the 'stuttering' came back for a little but cleared up quickly. At home, the temperature gauge showed about 140 where as the remote thermometer was more like 180 - both fine. 

I need to drive it more now to get used to it. At least the indicator now stays on.

I then treated myself to a run out in the E-type.

That went even better - but then in 1964 it was about £2,000 and the Alpine was about £700.

More Alpine Progress

I started by spotting I'd trapped the wires in the steering column cover - no wonder it did not fit 100% when I did late yesterday. Points to being knackered after all this and sloppy.

However that was almost easy to fix and no damage done I hope.

I then got distracted with the temperature gauge. I decided to put a couple of grommets in where the wires go through the bulkhead. Then I stuck the temperature probe to the back of the block which is as far as the wires would realistically reach. Of course I should do it properly, but I think time is running against me. Then Nigel popped round with the van so I dropped him back home before lunch.

PM the rain came back - yes even more heavy rain - but I finished the housing for the substitute temperature gauge which did not look too add.

I'd left a gap to one side for the Smith gauge I intend to try to make, but again later. I then set to work on vacuuming the car and refitting carpets. I decided to cut new under carpets but they are a bit thick.

Time will tell, but at least I got most of them down before it was time to stop. The car is looking better now and I'll finish them off and do the door tomorrow. 

Then a Harkstead visit to drop the van off and stay for tea.

In the evening I finished the Imp video from th clips they sent me. I think it came out well.

Legal at Least

It was a surprisingly cold start for June - but I was back at the Alpine just after 9:00. Loosing the will to do much more though. 

Starting with the steering I realised the wire in the middle was supposed to be the contact point after all so I replaced it with a bolt I could adjust.

Try as I might I could not get it aligned and realised that the cut out to centre the boss was in the wrong position so I did have to take the steering wheel off to reverse it after all. However it looks like new glue on the wheel boss - and it moves a bit in the fitting. I decided not to try to get it off at this point in case I rip it apart.

As luck would have it as I was examining it the logo fell out of the centre of the wheel so I could just flip that. It also gave me access to the screw so I can position that as the contact for the horn.

Three hours later and lots of adjustment I had a workable solution. Just. But if I tighten up the grub screws they makes contact and the horn goes off. Very odd. I left it alone as it was working and went to lunch and came back to find ...

It was not working. After trying again and again it just did not work - especially as the horn relay seemed to stop working too. So I rigged up a separate button and that seemed to work for now.

I tested the indicators and oh - the LHS repeater has stopped again. Oh well - it was looking quite sad by then.

So I decided to put everything back together and call it a day. Most things are 'done' and the carpets etc. are 99% dry. Hopefully we'll have a few hot days with sunshine next week to leave the car to bask in. All I have to do next is:

Vacuum the inside and clean everything, refit the interior after making up new under mats, reset the door and polish out the scratches. Well that will take the rest of the week then. 

PM I got a lift in the MK7 to Manningtree to pick up the missing pills and potter.

It started to look quite threatening and then once home it tipped it down again.

Not the day I'd Planned

AM I was ready to tackle the Alpine jobs again, but a call from Harkstead put paid to that. Jumped into the SAAB and shot up there for a medical based morning.

I did get some time to leave the carpets in the sun before lunch.

They are getting drier.

PM was another run for Drugs to Manningtree.

At least the rain had eased off so I could take a classic. So life is not all Shit I thought. That done it was 4:30 so I re-started on the Alpine. I thought the glove box would be an easy job. I tried a single piece and made a template - but that did not work so I cut it up in to the three pieces it was made with.

Two of them looked like Kipper ties. Anyway that seemed to go OK ish.

The rest of the car got more heat treatment and is slowly drying out. If the weather turns a bit dryer I'll park it in the sun.

I returned to the horn and after trying to fit it several time realised 1. that it has shrunk and the metal plate does not fit, 2. that the wheel was put on the wrong way up - 180 degrees off. I might be able to reverse the fitting though...

However the door has sunk and is now catching too.

But generally after everything a day (well half day) moving forward.

Wet Wet Wet

I started on the Alpine as I suspect time is against me. Immediately I found the front carpets were also dripping wet so out everything came - looks like a full dry out is needed. The under lay was also dripping wet so perhaps making up a new set is easier for that. I took most of the carpets out and set the fan heater on the seat for an hour as I worked.

I did feel as if I was going even further backwards when I took the glovebox out next.

But the unit needed work before and as it is now totally sodden I stripped everything out and we'll refit the lining. The nut for the lock was very hard to turn but came off with DW40 and a bigger nut - hopefully it will fit back on.

The ignition light was easier - I just swapped the bulb holders around to the correct sides - but the indicator repeaters still did not work. Then the LHS indicator decided it was going to work after all.

I also noticed the blower for the heater had been disconnected. During lunch I strung the fan up over the seat - it got quite warm but time will tell if it had dried out.

I fixed the heater fan next - I suspect they had disconnected all my odd wires when the steering column came out. Then I diagnosed a poor earth on the RHS indicator repeater. I fixed that with a direct earth - which made both light flash at once - but only when turning left ? I left that for now.

So the horn ? It was exactly what I thought - the wire was ripped off from where I had soldered it on. I thought I'd do it properly this time and put a wire on the boss and left enough wire to connect everything up. 

But that stopped the metal parts connecting, so I cut it of and re-routed it but whatever I did it would not sit right - so after 2 hours of struggling I gave it a rest. Time to re-think.

£10m in Bikes ?

We were all up at 4:30 am to get ready for the race. 

Of course my phone was constantly buzzing with picture of the Vintage Car Rally though London I was supposed to be on. Ho Hum.

We parked up and walked over to the event start - past this 'car park' of bikes. We estimated about £10 million worth if James' was an average one. 

Here is his bike.

It has electric gears too - yes that's right no wires.

Anyway, having watched the swim and then parked up in the Bolton Octagon NEC Car park which we found was an old one with very tight ramps. Well it opened in 1975. We got round them OK and it looked like the car had a Halo to celebrate when we found a place to park.

The huge hire car was not so lucky and had a scrape. Looking it up later in 1975 the average width of cars was 5' 3" about 1.6m and now they are almost 6' - 1.8m. The Kia Sportive is over 2m if you include the mirrors.

After that we wandered around the town center most - which was much nicer with a touch of Bath but far more packed together. So six hours, twenty five minutes and forty seconds later it was all over. Well James and his mate Will had finished and we found our way out of the town, to lunch and thence headed off.

255 miles later, via Leeds and one quick stop we were home. A very long day.

Bolton - Twinned with Belfast in the 1980's

Rain and more rain followed by rain. Well we were heading up North - off to Bolton to see James do a half Ironman. So there I was packing in drizzle at 7:30 am then through lots of rain on the run.

We had a quick stop at Rugby services to swap drivers - they were actually quite nice and well worth using again. The weather was also improving a bit as we went North West. We were there by 1:00 so a decent run never the less.

As to Bolton ? The area the Air B&B and the roads into the event location reminded me of Belfast in the 1980's - looking at the number of flags on the lamp posts. No wonder they call it 'Dangerous Corner'. 

All it needed was a Bobby Sands mural. Turned out we were on the edge of the Makerfield constituency - as we were reminded by the 'Vote Andy for Us' signs scattered around.

I looked it up - the last time I went to Bolton it was in January 2010 with work to see the Council with KCOM. I took the train that time to save the carbon. I (well the company) spent £350 on that. 

77 Days Later

No not a Horror Film - but the number of days the Alpine was away.

AM it was pottering - although I did put the new tiles down - amongst other small jobs.

However they don't quite sit 100% right. I'll try laying them all from the midpoint to the front and see if they work better. Or just see if they just settle.

PM I chased Coltec again and they said ... one last test drive ! However they rang back to say that it was fine (not counting the soaking wet seat) so we set a time to pick it up, which got quickly revised as it looked like rain.

However on arriving there it was. Looking clean and inviting. So how was it ?

The good news is that the jobs are done, the steering and brakes are much better and the car seems less prone to heat.

However there are a few snags to add to my preparation list. Like the horn does not work, the ignition warning light is wired to the indicator bulb and the seat and center glove box are soaking wet. Oh and there is another chip in the rear valance.

But overall I'm pleased - and the bill was very reasonable too.

The drive back was a bit scary - only because I've not driven the car for over three months and the steering is a bit tight so does not self-center as it did before, but we flew along.

I'm not sure the Speedo is any more accurate but it does not 'flicker' any more. The wrap on the exhaust is quite subtle and my first impressions are that it has helped keep the heat down as we got very little slow running 'lumpiness' even after 20 mins queuing in traffic.

I was a bit concerned that the temperature gauge was not working at all but I checked the temperature when we got home and it was fine after 10 mins sitting - in fact the engine did not seem that hot when I opened the bonnet.

So here we are - home again.

A full complement of toys again. Now given that we are full up, what do we think of getting another vintage car ... Madness ? Yes me too - Madness.

Floored and Alpine Inching Forward

More shed/store work in the morning but it's coming to an end.

I also checked on the Alpine with a call first thing - but got no answer. Then I got a message saying 'it's back together and being tested, but rain stopped play. Perhaps Today  !'. However 'Today' was stormy, very wet and very windy so I did not think it would be done - perhaps tomorrow.

I did pop out and collect 7 garage floor tiles - black not gray I noticed ... whilst there I spotted a garage working on odd Land Rovers that did tuning.

On the run there and back I noticed the SAAB seemed to loose power a bit at times. No 'CEL' flashes though. Odd - and a little disturbing.

Home again and after packing up the tools and pottering it was job time. So SAAB back out to save the planet.

Of course this will be one of the last trips as the new recycling bins will take glass. What am I going to do with the Aston then ?

Mini Dash and ... Chats

Very early (6:15 am) start to get the new garden equipment store done as much as I could before the rain set in. In the morning I did have a very short SAAB dash in the village - only to find the object I was picking up was far too big.

Then I just watched the water fall from the sky - oh and no one called to say the Alpine was ready - so we'll chase in the morning - again.

Well the evening was the RGEA meeting and a few brave chaos made it in their classics.

I think this is an Austin Cambridge - but at least two Rootes cars turned up too - whiles I had the SAAB.

I also chatted to a member (Rich) who I had sent to see Coltec - he'd had a great long chat and drive with them. I 'joked' they preferred to do that rather than my car !