Clean shot

Spent the morning cleaning the Caterham wheels - that took more than 2 hours - but they did look a lot better. So about 30 mins each.

I even got the black sticky residue off that I'd been trying to remove for years.

Then in the afternoon the shooting began. Pretty happy with the result - and virtually no bad reflection of the lights etc. - even if there is a slight distortion due to the lens I think.

Then I started up the Imp up (first time) and swapped them over to re-shoot that. It did smell a bit of petrol though. Happy with the pic though.

Finally as the Aston had been shuffled several times I took it for a run.

Covering up and shooting Seven

Started by changing the battery in the Golf - that worked well.

Then cleaned the Caterham ahead of taking pictures in the garage, but first then went for petrol etc. via the paper-bank.

Then I detailed it and put on some polish, before getting ready.

But before that I tried to make the cover for the Golf.

Not terrible - but needs improving.

Then taking the pictures revealed that the wheels were just too dirty to be acceptable.

Dash in the sunshine

Alpine out and cars moved around for the next photo shoot.

Also having discussed it with James at TCMH I might send the Imp away for a couple of months to get fixed.

Best from yesterday

A day of cleaning (the house) and seeing family - a bit on sorting out the car pics. Here is the best Alpine one and in focus too.

Lockdown is easing slowly too.

Working on the Aston it was obvious that the interior  windows reflect both the loft hatch and the white sheet.

Swapping things around

Attended to the smallest engine in the fleet after cutting the lawn. Did a bit of a clean and service, added oil and hoovered tonnes of grass out of the insides.

Yes that's an axle stand under the lawnmower.

PM took the Aston out saving the planet again - BUT horror the bottle bank was so full I could not even squeeze one in. (I really should have taken a pic.) Anyway I found another one just down the road. Lots in fact.

Then shot the Alpine in the garage again - trying to get it in focus and avoid reflections. Also the Aston, but that reflected the white sheet from above. Dho - we'll see what I can do. Decided to leave them the other way round too - what a rebel.

Talking of which the Gov is in a spin as the most senior adviser (Cummings - he of Brexit and getting Boris elected) broke lock down rules ... ish. But won't resign. So the rest of the country is giving up too - as we head for 40k dead.

Around and Swede back

After sailing home. Quick dash back less full.

Swede down ...

SAAB with all the sailing kit to the boat.

Better - but not in focus ?

Washed the Aston and it took a long time to get the mud off - still not all cleared from around the wheels.

Later in the afternoon I decided to suspend a white sheet from the ceiling and shot the Alpine again.

Success - far less reflections - but I think it was a bit out of focus. I should be able to fix that though.

Still reflecting

Tried again to photograph the Alpine to reduce the reflections of the flash.

Larger diffusers seemed to produce larger blocks of reflection...

Alpine time to shine

MK7 run out first thing then Photography again - this time the Alpine after a quick detail.

Looked good - and I can now see all the rust I need to attack.

Right Third Time ?

Put the E-type back together this morning. I found the lower pipe was nowhere near the same shape or size as the replacement (bottom).

The top pipe still needed to be shortened a little but it all went in place fine. Amazing what the right parts can do to make a job easier.

While I was under there I noticed the stone grill for the radiator was loose at the two bottom corners so I fabricated fittings to stop it rattling. Made no difference on the test run to the noises though ! However there was no water on the garage floor after 8 miles of hot running.

Aston to the recycling pm just for the fun.

Doing the can-can

Stared the day by checking the Imp fuel filter which was filthy and full of rust - so I tried to clean it out with WD40 and got most of the crud out.

Then checked the spark plugs. One socket was full of oil - so I cleaned it out. The others were not so bad but all had a residue around them - the plugs were basically a nice normal light sooty colour though.

Turned out they were normal size NGK AB-6 which after a little finessing of the ratchet attachment came out easily - working from the passenger side.

Then excuses for taking the cars out 1 to 3.

1. Pop out in the SAAB to fill the to boat petrol can up
2. Alpine for a refill and top up the 2 spare 97 octane cans
3. Caterham to marina to deliver #1 can.

At the marina I found the barrier down but the Caterham just fitted underneath with a little lifting.

Two car family

Warm start with the dial showing 16 deg before 8:45 am when I took the SAAB followed bu the Mk7 down to the boat for a day out.

Whil afloat I made contact with Abbotts (not really working) and TCMH who are just re-starting so I might make progress with the Imp soon.

Oh and on our return we found we'd got our own digger !

Our first Adventure

Well the day started by getting the E-type on the ramps. It looked great in the dappled sunlight as I moved it around.

So after an couple of hours the old pipe was off. How it should fit is a mystery I'll solve when the replacement arrives. Can't believe it lasted at all.

The Ferrari out and about (after adding petrol) and delivered to Grimaldi - of course it started first turn of the key. Nice Testerossa outside and lots of nice cars inside as usual.

Home again (Mk7) and decided to take the Imp out. Run out to the farm lay-by again went fine, it whined a bit and seemed to knock a little (like the Caterham) when pressing on. We did just shy of 50 mph (at 3200 rpm) and that was enough for me.

But on the way back the car suddenly dropped onto three cylinders, then two. I swung off the main road and onto the smaller roads - Whoa ! The steering is a bit quick - I'll have to watch that I though as we skidded around the corner.

On the small roads she seemed to drop on and off the full quota of cylinders. We made it about a mile from home and then it seemed to be about to die - luckily as I made a lay-by.

I thought it might be fouled plugs (I still think they might be a bit sooty) but I noticed the clicking from the petrol pump as we stopped. I tested it and yes it clicked non-stop.

Now remember those 2 petrol can's I emptied into the Ferrari - I walked home and refilled them at the petrol station and about an hour later we were safely back home.

I did notice a stain on the driveway and up the road so perhaps the tank is leaking worse than I thought.

Glad I did that

We we aiming to visit the boat again and this time I thought the E-type was up to it. I just thought I'd check if there was any water under it. There was not a lot but I took off the radiator cap to refill it and wow ! It just started pouring out.

So I put a tray under it and left it alone and we took the MK7. The boat looked nice in the sunshine at the busy marina though.

After lunch I investigated and found that the new pipe had a gash in it - made by what I suspect is the water pump pulley. (See yesterday's postscript). So an new one is on order and we'll try again - this time from underneath so I can see how to route it.

Then decided to take the Imp out - still a bit scared of it - so topped up the water and checked the oil.

The car drove well and I made a few discoveries - like you don't have to change down sequentially and not to change to third when travelling too fast. I also forgot to worry about the new spinners and got a thumbs up for the Imp from a van driver. 14 miles in all - about a gallon then.

Then I took the Alpine and Caterham out for a run too - can you spot where the Imp sat ...

So I'm glad I a. looked at the E-Type and b. took the Imp out.

A little trip and a little drip

Caterham out and about to Harkstead - the long way around as we are now in the middle of the roadworks.

But we got there - dull day though.

Then thought I'd take the E-type out for a further shakedown ...

Had a great run around the 3/4 block and back - then noticed the small pool of water on the garage floor as I put it away. Investigations show a small leak from the same/similar pipe/location.

Postscript - Did I mention the new noise like a whining rubbing sound ?

Taxing Admin

Spent a lot of the day working on admin - including 6 insurance certificates.

Also it turns out that the DVLA are not working on anything except the reserved occupation's paperwork ! So I taxed the Imp for 6 months.

Mind you the tax disk looked a bit retro - have they gone backwards ?

Oh and the bad news is that there has been a slight increase in infection ...

Another model and Planet saving

Took the model Golf to bits in the morning after working out how.

I also painted it SLOWLY during the day. Now for the difficult but - getting it back together.

Also dash in the dying sun to the bottle bank again. Aston in use and a Tesla drove up and dropped off ... 1 bottle I think.

Here was the final result. Not bad but I might improve the black paint lines.

Spinning and Lockdown Brakedown

Started the day by changing the Riley spinners. Two were old and serviceable, one looked original and one looked worn out - so I did not worry about preserving the patina too much on those. Jacked the car up and the old ones came off after a few taps - using my tool.

Not sure you can tell but they have the Riley logo embossed - probably get told off by the club as they are not original be we'll see. At least they match now.

In the afternoon I decided we'd get the jag out for our trip to the marina. It was accepting visitors having been opened by the lockdown relaxation.

The car looks great on the drive in the sunshine - although a bit lumpy on starting again. I thought a run might help ... however after a mile the misfire was so bad I turned around and came home dejected and we took the MK7. The boat was still looking clean and inviting.

On investigation I found this:

Five slightly sooty plugs and one very WET ONE ! It was sitting in a small pool of oily water - I assume that was a result of water from the burst pipe being splashed around the engine bay by the fan belt. Cleaned and refitted it started first time and was not as lumpy. We'll see, but a quick 8 mile run showed no sign of misfire.

Finally an early evening maintenance dash to Harkstead in the trusty SAAB.

Six and a half

That's the age of the car battery in the Golf Mk2.

It started today but was a bit hesitant so it's on the way out.

More Monochrome to Colour

Stormy day so stayed in and played with colourising another Imp publicity shot.

I also have found one from the same shoot in another source so I may do that too.

The new rules (and slogan) seems to point to the fact that we can go Sailing again.

Relaxing lock down prompts bad weather

Rumors of the lock down being slightly relaxed - as the temperature drops 15 degrees and the winds get stronger. Anyway I did amuse myself producing this pic.

So the announcement was that ...

...lockdown is easing a little. Confusing though it might be but Boris announced we can have more than one exercise a day, go to the park, go back to work (if we can't work from home) see relatives - all of which we must do while staying 2 meters apart.

Oh and France says we're welcome now.

... and the sun shone endlessly - again

But no car action allowed.

Classic Curfew Buster

Spent the morning making a fitting to stop the petrol tank globe falling on the Aston if I hit it.

Then used the white 'shoot through' umbrellas to get a good shot of the Ferrari in the garage with out the reflections on the car.

PM we took the Alpine out and about the long way to Harkstead for a social distanced chat in the garden.

Two chairs fit well.

Then Mk2 to Oliver's - but that would not start - not enough power to even activate the central locking - not a good sign. The battery booster made light work of starting it though and she ran well - even Jana noticed. The car also started after we'd stopped so I'll leave it off charge for several days and see if the battery dies - not sure when I last replaced it ?

Then Started the Ferrari (first time) and left it running while I tried to photograph the Alpine. That did not work so well as the flash's seemed to stop working again ...

Not flash at all

Started the day by detailing the Ferrari as a reward for starting.

Then I made a device to pour the oil out of the large drum. Basic but it should work.

Late afternoon I tried to photograph the 308 as well. The flash guns did not want to go off together though - I've put it down to low batteries in the transmitter ? This is what I managed to get.

Even then I noticed I'd left the bonnet open - dho.

Well I never

Cleaned the SAAB at last and she came up well, so I also blacked the trim and it looked even better.

Also popped the old Alpine cover on the Imp having folded down the windscreen so I'm not sure you could guess what was under there - it's too big but will protect it.

Late afternoon I decided to give the Ferrari a go. I'd been warming it up for several hours on and off so it was ready. It had dropped a bit of oil over the lay up though although in seven months I think it's acceptable.

Anyway, expectations were low but ... it started third turn of the key ! Looked good too if a bit dusty.