66 and Not Out

Well I did go out - first thing to check that I'd get out of the latest roadworks for jobs PM. Then I applied for my OAP Bus Pass. Will I ever use it ?

Then PM when I did leave for Harkstead in the trusty SAAB I faced this.

 

But that was a tease as it was actually open. What was not open was the road actually going to Harkstead.

The back road was in bad condition -  muddy, flooded and rutted. Ho Hum. Anyway into the van we got the passenger - but at least the weather had cheered up a bit and he rain had stopped.

Then Ipswich and back and finally tea and cake - oh and a little admin.

So another day in Paradise.

Under and Over

I got under the E-type to clean it at last. Starting at the back I found it filthy both sides. It was also stained somehow which was impossible to remove. I gave it a clean, a T-Cut, a spray and eventually a polish.

It came up well, although I noticed a bit of a rusty bit on the left that I need to patch in the warm. I also cleared out gutters under the back wheels again. This was just from one side - again.

That explains the noise as I drove it away - the stones being thrown up. I then went along both sides and got most of the muck off.

Finally I did the top bodywork and put the bubble back on top. It's going to be cold again next week so we'll leave it covered over.

Wheels Within Wheels

We started with a quick run in the dirty SAAB to the allotment to pump up the barrow tyre.

Then it got a bit of a clean - inside but not out. Then the tyes, water, oil and wash got a check and correction - esp the slightly flat front tyre. The cordless pump is slow but very handy.

Next I moved the Aston wheels and put then in the new garage - they fit fine.

I also tried to get rid of the scrap wheels I've accumulated through the ECR - but although some people said they wanted them nothing firm as of yet. Then PM off to Harkstead for jobs. The 'water' light was flashing on the Golf dash so I topped that up too.

Then the run there and back in the fading sunshine.

ION: One year today of Mr T. - that means three more to go.

Mr. W plays up

Today's first job was to unload the trailer and then clean it. We moved it and bent the trailer tailgate. Bloody hell.

Anyway before cleaning it I packed the SAAB with items for the dump run in the afternoon.

By the time I'd done that there was not that much so I thought I'd go strait away. I added 5 car batteries of the seven I have and re-booked for later the morning - but setting off I thought I was cutting it a bit fine. Of course when I got there they were compacting so I ended up in the queue.

When I got back I jet washed the trailer and got rid of most of the crap - but the cardboard was stuck hard. 

After lunch the sun came out and so did the E-type. 

Where to go - well B&Q.

On leaving we had an issue. The fob would not turn the immobiliser off. I tried several times - and even tried the manual method. Eventually it went out and we got home. Odd.

I got all the fobs out and tried them in the garage - none worked but I found that if I turn the ignition on and the light stayed on but then put the fob under the dash it went out. We'll have to monitor.

Shit Out - Shit In

But before that ...

I uncovered the E-type to work on it and found that the bubble was in the way still. So I hung it from the middle which seemed to work - although compromised the doors a bit.

Starting with the plugs - #1 and #2 were a bit dirty but fine - not sure what miles we've done since I cleaned them last ? #3 was sootier though as was 6. This is 3.

It was early October I cleaned them off last. Less than 150 miles ago - so running a bit rich but it's all been short runs this year.

The water was fine - although there was a small pool under the car. Oil full - if a little black. No change in the clutch or brake fluid levels either. Finally tyres and three out of four needed a bit of air.

So about an hour later I'd done the checks, but as the fan had only been going an hour I pottered for a bit longer.

Before driving out I put a second knot in the string holding the bubble up and hey-presto it does not sit on the car any more !

Then I thought I'd just get it out ...

... and go around the block as it was a bit sunny. So I did. A couple of small stutters but it was still cold. Ran well overall and needs more. Oh and it needs a clean. I also noticed the fuel gauge seems to be showing less fuel that I though we had. Ummm.

Then PM - Shit out.

We managed to get the trailer onto the car and off to the allotment. The read lights need attention but were 'ok' for the run. Then once we'd got it cleared out I went off to Stutton to collect a BBQ and ended up trying to fit a headlight bulb in the A3. What a bugger of a job - eventually Oli managed to get it in.

Then we loaded the trailer and I came back with even more crap. 

Well a secondhand BBQ at least.

ION: Trump is determined to take control of Greenland whatever Europe want and go to war with Europe economically if not militarily (at the moment).

Card (board) carrying Member

As planned I checked the Talbot water first thing and yes it's low - although hard to actually see in there squeezed in the bubble.

It needed just shy of two pints - but the red markers were still aligned so probably just natural depletion over the months. In fact not sure when I checked it last ?

Then I set the fan heater on the sump of the smaller 1930's member of the collection for a couple of hours - as I watched for the roads to dry and got on with more Garage DIY. That done the car started quite easily so I left it to warm up as I tidied the tools away.

PM we set off around the block - but first we called in to Nigel's to drop off the auction catalogues John gave me. Luckily I could get off the road.

It went well around the block - so I kept it about 50 for most of the way - sounding quite rorty too. Home and it was a quick SAAB run to the allotment.

Back home I put the Imp away properly. I did notice the zip on the bubble was hard to do up though - so I'll have to watch that.

So what next ?

Clean Youngster and Dirty Elder

First task of the day was to clean the youngster on the team - The Aston.

Nappy in play and the car made the bucket of water very very black but came up well. I still need to do the windows but that was that for today as ...

I wanted to re-hang the garage door. I managed that [although it did fall on me once] and it's better - how much better we'll see later when it dries out - but they both close properly now. I need to line it next.

Then what ? The sun was out ... ish ...

About 90 mins on two fan heaters and then we were ready to try. Prime the carb until I could smell the petrol, then one short burst to get some pressure up and full hand throttle (no pumping of the pedal) and she fired second time. Ran well too.

Around the block we went making the car a bit dirty but not that much as the roads had dried and yesterday all the salt was washed away (again). I did notice the temperature was a little high so I should check the water tomorrow. I also noticed it's only done 32 miles since October.

IO [Talbot] N: I seem to have made contact with a (relatively) local chap who has/had both a GO and BGH car !

Er .. Nil Again ?

Rain Rain Rain - so nothing outside - other than helping the animals in 2 by 2.

So a bit of a walk only to find this pot hole and get rained on the way back.

Of course the council will fill it in 30 days ...

Then a bit of research. Here is a photo I though was my father in 'Uncle' Bob's car during the war.

Yes the VSCC thought it is a Blériot-Whippet - but a historian says that it is more like the 1920's ...

Filthy Roads - and that's my Excuse

Actually the day was bright but still cold and wet and yes, the roads were shitty still. They never really dried out.

After lunch I got the Aston out for planet saving and noticed it was damp and how dirty it was. I did notice the garage door was slightly open at the top too as it had expanded in the cold and wet. I'll have to shave that too.

Mind you when I got back and put the car away it was worse.

Caked in salt - so I'll have to get that cleaned asap, but tomorrow it is just raining all day again.

Then we went to get the van again and tuck it up in the garage at Harkstead again for a while.

So sort of glad I did not get any classic or vintage car out today - but hopefully the rain will wash the salt away again tomorrow.

Coast Road by Error

I 'popped' up the the Rootes Norfolk meeting today - via Glevering of course. Trusty SAAB in the gloom and then rain. They have advanced the extra road works up there which now means more closed routes so it took us a bit longer than before. But here we are.

A good meeting, no classic cars - but a few trains.

Like this small Ransoms Loco.

On the way back we tried a new route and were going well until 1. I missed the Ipswich turning and then 2. we took the wrong road south and ended up going via Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

180 mile and 5h of driving later I got back.

Clutching at Gas ?

Warn (8 degrees) but wet start. Dreary and very wet roads though so I decided not to take the Talbot out ... being a coward in many ways.

However I put the Alpine on the fan first thing for an hour or so - tried to turn it over but it had a very weak battery. Odd - I left it warming for another hour or so. When was it last started ? Over a month ago it turns out and we've had some cold weather in between but never the less it was still quite flat.

Good news was the clutch was fine though which was actually the objective of the exercise.

I left it heating for another hour and came back to use the booster back. No luck so I moved booster around and left it running on the battery a bit and then it started to turn over better and fired up after a couple of turns.

I did look at a little run but however it was raining by then. So that's where we stopped. The car sounded great though once warmed and I revved it up just for the fun of it. Child. I used the battery cut off this time in case there is a little drain somewhere in the doggy wiring.

PM it was utility run time and SAAB out for gas. We went to Fox's but they only had a 30m+ mast being delivered and they would not fit Fidra.

Anyway so we went to the Tattingstone Garden Centre and they had one.

Good old SAAB swallowed it easily.

Virtual Touring

It was a grey, dull and cold day that started icy. Glad I did the Talbot yesterday.

The only car action was creating book to be printed from my VW Mini-Me adventure.

That seemed a while ago - 2018 in fact.

NOT ANY MORE !

I was in two minds about working on the Talbot today, but the sun was out and so I said to myself I'd 'just do something' knowing I'd do more.

It was a one degree start as I put both fan heaters on in the Garage and after an hour and a half it was bearable. Actually dressed in four layers it was fine - if a bit cramped in there with the two bubbles.

Ok here we go - lift the floor again. 15-20 mins later the batteries are disconnected and we're ready for stage two. Next check have I blown any if the fuses ? No all the fuses were good. 

However the poor connection I made was instantly loose and virtually fell out before I could undo the bar holding the wires in.

The blue female fitting I had bought was far too small, but the yellow was correct so I re-did the connection with that. It felt OK at first but when I put the wire into the connection and reconnected it - well it just fell off again. Odd. So I did it again and eventually we had a good connection both ends.

We still had that odd spare blue wire but we had everything else back and firm.

I tried fitting the battery cut off and thought I had some success the strain it was put under actually bent the whole unit so that the fitting wouldn't work.

I also discovered if you connect the front battery, then the power is in the system and the ignition comes on so obviously the second battery is just for the boost which might explain why that needs more to be charged or is it the other way round ?

Anyway by 12:00 I'd finished putting the car back together - so start or leave it ? Oh go on no guts no glory. It was a bit hesitant to start but ...

NO RED LIGHT

OK it looks 'on' in the picture but it is not. So we might have fixed the final broken car and the team is fully functional again - for now.

Funny thing was, looking at my first volume of LDOTC what did I find ? The Talbot that we saw that Drive it Day at Kersey Mill. "Rewarded by a great Talbot" I wrote - and look at us now. 

Gloomy - Me ?

All day working on the Imp book to finish it off as heavy rain fell and the wind blew.

The best bit of the morning was the VdP group Facebook post of the Talbot Ulster VdP - a bigger version of the one in the VdP book.

I finished the Imp book though, so we'll see how it turns out.

Later it was a run in the gloom to Harkstead.

Lots of admin and Tech jobs. Well someone has to do it.

I also spotted the Alpine at the NEC in the club mag. 

Not the best of pictures - but it is nice t see it in the mag again.

10 Red Lights

Off to clear the boat this morning - before Storm Goretti arrives. The roadworks in the village had moved down a bit, but then there were another 4 sets on the road to Shotley to get through before we got to the boat.

It was a quick job to load up though - easier than before it seemed. Then 5 sets of red light home too.

Of course it was off to Harkstead for jobs in the afternoon. So I jumped into the 39 year old classic car.

The Golf was cold, a bit fugged up but still going well.

VAN DOWN !

We returned the van first thing and noticed most of the snow has gone for now.

RGEA meeting this evening though so SAAB pressed into service as its cold and dreary but we're not really expecting much more snow for a while - just rain and the coming storm.

Talking of which ...

ION: In something strangely like a video clip from a PC game like Call of Duty, the US show how they boarded and seized two oil tankers in international waters.

Battery Boy

Walked to Harkstead to pick up the van first thing. There it was.

It was in the garage but as expected only  j   u   s   t    started. It was so low it zero'ed the clock. I thought I'd better fit a new battery.

So PM off we went to collect it only to find ...

Without warning the bloody road is closed again.

Back again and the battery was quite easy to fit. 

One side was an automatic quick release fitting and the other was a really tiny nut - 8 mm I think.

Exciting stuff.

Snow Day !

Wow Snow ! Well a little smattering - but it means most of the country comes to a halt.

Anyway - not a classic car day so SAAB out instead.

Up to Harkstead in fact - but I'd not counted on it being quite frozen. Not really a problem though.

ION: Yes 2025 was the hottest year on record - again.

There is Always One

Another bitterly cold day - but nice and sunny. 

I decided to fix the MK2 boot catch first. so off came the five plastic 'studs' that hold it on with a small screwdriver. Of course one went 'ping' and disappeared into the gravel - but I think that was the broken one anyway.

That revealed the mechanism. 

It's the fitting to the left under the serial number on the lock that doesn't move. The bar that pulls/pushes it is attached to the spindle that the little white fitting is on. I greased both bits and it quickly freed up and worked fine again.

I put the cover back on and as I had a similar stud it looks fine.

I last fixed that in October 2020 - and I don't think the hole I found will actually let lubricant get to the mechanism.

PM I wanted to do my bit for the planet.

So off we went - the roads were very 'white' with the salt, but quite dry. When I got to the bottle bank the key would not come out again. Too cold I guessed - about 20 taps and prods and it did pop out.

The car could do with a wash now though.

Booting It - and Boots on the Ground

A very cold and frosty day but no snow. Roads looked very salty and bad though so no Vintage Ventures today.

Instead an afternoon MK2 run to Stutton.

The only problem is that the boot would not stay shut. Ah that happened before - in October 2020 in fact - so I hope it is the same fault. Just a stuck/dirty internal catch.

ION: Trump decides to initiate regime change in Venezuela, launching a military assault to capture President Nicolas Maduro and extracted him to the US. They are now going to 'run the country' including re-starting the Oil production ... it seems to have been flawless. What happens next ?