Alpine still swinging left

Tried to fix the Alpine brakes by resetting the handbrake, removing the spacer and re-aligning it.

It still worked as a handbrake but then again the car still pulls to the left.

Time for the garage to take a look.

Another SAAB short

About 2 miles in total in the trusty SAAB.

Another Nil-Point

Popped in the garage but that was all. Until a late SAAB dash.

Reading not driving

Windy and stormy day - so concentrated on getting through the book about René Dreyfus and the V12 Delahaye 145 that Lucy Schell financed and managed. 

It was aiming to beat the German dominance of racing just before the war and managed it just for a couple of Grand Prix.

This is the best I can find - an earlier 135s that I saw at Le Mans in 2008.

Just Astons

Aston out in the late sun - planet ok again now.

Then long way back to water the allotment - I do wonder if anyone notices the series of flash cars that turn up.

Did wonder what's happening with the Riley - but that will have to wait.

Yachts and Ferraris

Golf Mk7 down to the yacht for a day sail (not allowed overnight until 4th July...). Then out and around the block in the Ferrari - via the allotment.

Not all glamour then.

Going well - starting well - but did skip a bit on the long fast stretch over the tram lines. Mind you I got a yell of appreciation from boys on bikes and a thumbs up from a BMW ... so that's quits then.

4 clicks good - 8 clicks worse

Changed the Alpine suspension by 8 clicks but it felt too hard.

Round the block it was jumping a bit and seemed more harsher. I'll back off 4 clicks when I get a chance and try again. It also got very hot (well it was 26 deg) on the way back - need to look at that cooling.

Well that's it then

It must be over as the last daily briefing had been broadcast and the 2m is now 1m with pubs etc. opening in the next few days.

Also as the water works eased outside the house, the electricity board dug the road up - again. I thought we'd get a skip to join in.

After a quick run round the block and water the allotment.

Small bump in the road

Ferrari out for a very short drive as I'd forgotten the traffic would be bad. 

Hit a pidgin on the way - well there was a bump - but we both seemed to get away with it.

 

Return of one

Golf MK2 back from it's travels.

In fine form - although the oil warning buzzer did sound once - to be silenced by a quick 'tap' on the panel - points to a dodgy connection.

Nothing for me though.

There is always someone coming around the bend

Today that person was me - and the 4x4 trying to overtake two cars nearly ended it for us all. She looked very shocked too. Anyway that was the journey home from the shops and bottle bank in the Aston.

So we went via the allotment for a rest.

Earlier on we'd had 2 lifts in the MK7 and gone out in the Ferrari - which did not start - twice - then off it went. Goes well but that's not the problem. But is is clean.

Mind you the tracker was set off in the Aston so we're all going backwards again.

Small jobs and some progress

Went to paint the E-type door only to find a bit more rust than I had thought, but I'll leave that alone and just do the door. 

Good news is that Eddie from TCMH phoned to say the speedo should be fixed (it was a misfitting connection on the gearbox) and the electrics and fuel gauge were progressing. The only problem is that everyone is overflowing with work and it will take weeks to fix the tank.

In the afternoon the seal for the bonnet arrived so I glued that on in the afternoon - I think the glue is white though so I'll need to clean that up.

Then a run across to Harkstead in the Alpine and back via the post office.

On to the fith (or sixth)

Started with checking the oil in the Caterham - it was fine.

Always amuses me to prop the bonnet up.

Then changed the oil filter on the Alpine and found the oil was a bit low. So topped it up again.

Finally looked at the E-Type charging. I almost substituted one of my old regulators to see if it would fix it. Then when I found the old one was completely different remembered that it was a 'special' one for the Alternator. So I decided to just buy another  - but phoned them first.

Good thing as the 'box' is effectively a dummy with a big fuse. They asked me to return the Dynator as the regulator is built into it - so it's in the post. Car off the road for a while now then - oh and I'm loosing count of the new units I've fitted.

Then Alpine in the afternoon to the boat.

I noticed I'd knocked off the connection to the temp gauge - so that got fixed on my return.

Utility and happy ending

SAAB out first thing again to Harkstead for the whole day.

Alpine filter and E-type still on the back burner.

But I did get the Ferrari out late PM (started first time) to get a thumbs up, a flash and 'we're not worthy' from some village children.

German to Swede

MK7 down to the boat for a day out.

While we were out the jib mechanism jammed and despite taking it apart I could not fix it. Just like the cars. 

Alpine filter arrived though. Then late pm run in the Seven to drop supplies off in Harkstead in the evening sunshine, before taking the long long way back. 

Wrong DIY

Monday turned into a DIY day but not the one I had planned - so the E-Type will have to wait.

SAAB to shops first thing to find empty shelves - and no wood.

Then pm to the allotment - so the car smells of garlic now - but that's not so bad.

12 - 8 = 4

So we stared with 12 cylinders and the Aston out first thing in the sunshine - yes saving the planet again.

Then down to 8 cylinders and the Ferrari off for a run - she started first time - several times. Hard to get in and out though through the roadworks.

Then finally the balance - 4 cylinders - the Caterham around the block - via a small drop off.

One more gone

Morning run to Harkstead in the SAAB - cleaner now it's been ran on for a few days.

The waved bye bye to James in the MK2.

Later run to the beach in the SAAB and back - just as the thunder arrived.

Oldies but Goodies

After the weather decided to turn rainy I polished the E-type anyway - in prep for afternoon club meeting.

Two locations and five groups - everyone made sure social distending was observed - even if the cars did not. We were almost all retired too. Oh and someone even recognised my car from the magazine.

It was raining there are back - but hard to tell - as the car dried off on the run.

Only issue is that the car was constantly charging - really high.

Alpine back on 4 wheels

Spent about an hour under the car re-setting the clutch thrust bar (or what ever it is called).

Then refitted the wheels - including tightening the wheel bearing nut on the LHS which felt a little loose. I also cleaned the wire wheels a bit.

A test drive will have to wait until I've replaced the oil filter.

Wheels back but no work

Rain most of the day - but the tyres were ready pm.

Escaped from the village in the SAAB - and that was far quicker to write than to do - to collect them.

About 15 mins for the mile.

Start work on another one

Shuffled the cars around and put the Caterham in the garage.

Then I spent the morning working on the Alpine - jacked up both sides quickly and drained the old oil out. While I was at it I thought I'd swap to blue antifreeze but I found I'd already done that.

Anyway pm SAAB run to the garage to get two new tyres for the front wheels -  while I was at it, I did notice the near side seemed to have a bit of play in it.

Final run in the dying sunshine in a very dusty E-Type.

Back it goes

Imp collected in the van and on the way back to TCMH today. I suspect it will be August before I see her again.

Poor chap (Drew) had to fight he way through the roadworks to get to us as they were digging right outside when he arrived.

Then a utility run to save the planet - in the trusty SAAB - I was not sure I'd get the swing in the Aston.

Back to the 1970's

Ferrari on the drive for the latest charity event.

Made it look more period Polaroid too.

Interestingly it started first time every time. It takes about 30 seconds to re-set the alarm when you get in - so I've had plenty of time once in to get going. If the alarm is armed you can't hear the fuel pump start up - which I always can. So I suspect it is not the alarm - unless it disables something first.

Autumn comes early

Welcome rain though for the garden - as us oldies say.

Made contact with the local Riley club though (he has several 9's.

Oh and utility ride in the Mk7.

One job done and another job added

I finally got the new registration document for the Ferrari In the post and yes - it is now a Historic Vehicle.

I also found that the Riley club magazine has written up the replacement to the Hobson Telegauge (e.g. fuel gauge) so I'm aiming to get one fitted to the Imp when the tank is out.

However in pandemic news it's sad to note that UK Covid deaths have now hit 40k - but the good news is that new infections are falling consistently.

Should they be red ?

I fitted the clean headlight covers to the Imp ready for it to be picked up on Monday.

Not sure the grey looks right - so perhaps I should re-make them in black or red to match the car ?

Also the roadwork stretch as far as the eye can see again - but we can currently get past - which I did in the SAAB to water the plants at the allotment. in the evening.

A case of Roxanne ?

I mean is it the Red light issue ? Do I take so long to get into the Ferrari and start it, that the alarm has cut back in to immobilise the car ?

Anyway she started first time today and I managed to get the 308 out past all the roadworks that are across the drive - thankfully mostly on the opposite part of the road this time.

Great drive though with the engine pulling nicely when I popped it into third.

Before this I'd washed the filthy headlight covers for the Imp (twice) which changed colour from black to grey. The water was black when I had finished though.

I also changed the fuel filter on the Imp to one of the right size and finally touched up the light pod on the 308 where the screws had clipped the paint.

Not Fixed

The Ferrari failed to start twice out of seven times today.

This is the door closing on it in resignation.

I'll monitor it over the next few weeks.

Full compliment of toys again

Or 4/4/8/6.

Moved the Imp and the Caterham around as Grimaldi phoned to say the car was done - and therefore it needed to go in the brick garage.

I also put the second cover on the Caterham to see if I can keep the dust off.

Then Mk7 down there and back in the Ferrari in the afternoon - the starting problem put down to poor wiring connections and a bad relay - we'll see - it started at the petrol station so fingers crossed. It was sooo clean as well when I picked it up it seemed like a new car.

Also several toys to look at as normal. How about this 'wrapped' Lamborghini Gallado ?

Or the brace of F40's one of which I sat in - that was hard to get into but great when there.

So next on the list is sending the Imp away for the fuel tank and speedo to be fixed.

Then final sunset dash in the E-type that's back to being very dusty.

Overall in May I did 389 miles vs just 87 in April - still low but creeping up.