Cracking Run

Time to head home but first I spotted the very odd Tiger in the car park.

Then saying our farewells we left about 10:15 with me driving - this time on the main roads.

So by 12:00 we were already at Cambridge services where we chatted to an interested couple. His brother had 2 Ginettas !

Then Chris took over for the final run through the leafy lanes back his home.

Checking the MK2 the crack has advanced about an inch after two days just sitting in the open - odd.

However the car started fine - although the oil buzzer keeps going off [hit the dash] and the passenger window is sticking again. Add them to the list.

Bombing Along

AM was the trip out to the Vulcan bomber. Better than last time I'd been as we had a proper guided tour. Then they allowed the cars to get a picture in front of the bomber. Here is John's.

I snapped away for a while and chatting to them arranged for the Rapier to have a exclusive picture on its own.

Back and the concourse was all Tigers - of all shapes and sizes but all basically Tigers. My favorite was the 1925's Land Speed Record Holder - The supercharged V12 Sunbeam Tiger.

Amongst the 100+ Tigers to choose from.

Going West - Slowly

MK2 up to Gleveing to meet Chris and the Rapier - off to Tiger Town today.

I'd marked the crack with a dot - so we'll see how it gets on. No movement on the run up I was glad to see.

So the run was OK until we hit Cambridge - roadworks and two accidents.

The car started to heat up - as did we - and eventually I decided to turn off and go on the small roads - only to hit more holdups - so we stopped for lunch. Not good as it was three hours since I arrives and only 60 miles down.

After lunch the roads had cleared and we lolloped along sedately but eat up the miles - arriving after A-Road antics about four hours later.

Quite a few Tigers there already - but only one Rapier.

In the evening I was introduced to a chap who knew the Talbot, Rowland, even had a picture of TAS on his phone and told me in no uncertain terms I needed to Join the STD. Finally he showed me his cars - both pre-war and post - UK and on international tours/rallies/hill climbs etc. - a different league I suspected.

Clips and Cracks

Alpine work again - so back down to the Chicken farm in the MK2 to fit the front grill.

That fitted ok - even if it seems to have changed shape a bit ?

Then I tried the chrome top strip. I worked out what I had to do from the parts in the pots, although some of the fittings were totally inaccessible and I did not have enough - so they are on order - but it is starting to get there.

Then on the A14 going to look for fittings in the Golf, a lorry through up a big stone and 'CRACK' there we are with 6 inches of cracked windscreen.

The problem is as James holds the policy they won't talk to me about it. Not that I have any time this side of the week - or next !

Then Harkstead by MK7 for tea and a rest.

Golf Gremlins, Tiger Tantrums and Puzzle Solved

Check first thing and James (and the SAAB we assume) made Glasto.

The mid morning off to the Heath and as I have no SAAB and there were no on street parking places I had to pay. 

Of course it failed to start, but then off to Glevering for "Tiger Time". Always odd to be told to park in the garden - but I pulled up next to Chris' Rapier as instructed.

Then after a jaunt in the hot sun for lunch in the said Rootes four seater convertible we went to get the Tiger. DON'T DRIVE IT - was Ron [the mechanic's] instruction - it's terrible. Oh.

Here I am in the Rapier about to follow Chris - we drove it back down the drive. It seemed OK - if a bit hot and rough so we decided to do a test drive and see for ourselves. So off I went.

10 mins in and everything was OK except for the gear box not engaging - but that was passable. Then the shuddering began. Out of the blue it just shook when you tried to slow down. Oh and the brakes started to come on themselves. I managed to get home after stalling once.

Later John turned up and I went with him as he did the same test drive. Same thing - fine for a bit then shaking all over the place and eventually brakes deciding to come on themselves.

So that's it - last roll of the dice - something is happening and we're not taking the Tiger to the party.

Home again I decided to get the Alpine grill back together - that was more simple once I had worked out the top and bottom bars. 

Although I still maintain they must have has children to assemble the things the nuts are so small. I wonder if it will fit ?

Glue is not Conductive then ?

Town first thing in the MK2 - then off to see the Alpine for the rest of the morning.

The first shock was that doors, boot and bonnet were back on - and the window and door mechanisms are in - plus Lee has finished trimming the dash top. 

So all in all lots of progress as you can see.

So I set to work on my jobs. First take the light cluster off that has 'shed' both of the bolts to keep it attached. That took almost half an hour to get it off - of course everything kept spinning. Eventually I did it though. Then I glued the bolts back on - twice in fact - but they stuck eventually. 

I tested everything before putting it together and then put it all back in to test it again in situ. WHAT ? The indicator on that side just lit the red light at the bottom ? It took me another hour to work out what was wrong. The indicator needed an earth whereas the tail lights did not. Glue does not conduct electricity I suspect - so I had to rig up a separate earth wire.

It will be a temporary fix (probably for years if I am honest) but works fine now. I then started my second job - putting the front bumper back on. That was less complex and looks good. I also fitted the front number plate carrier that folds down to let you use the starting handle. That took longer but looks fine too.

I also completed the refit of the boot inners and put the odd bit of chrome back on. Finally I took the plugs out and put some oil in the rocker box - it span over really well - so a bit more oil next time and new fuel and we might even give it a go. Mind you the tyres look a bit flat.

However, that was it then so after more than five and a half hours of work I packed up and came home.

Once back I started work on sanding down the grill I had dismantled before. That was fine so while I waited for the paint to come I tried to dry fit it back ... Er not sure how that all fits together !

Anyway the paint turned up a bit later and I gave it a couple of coats - it looks OK already but will do more coats tomorrow. So that's another hour.

Meanwhile in Brixton ...

Yep - James rang - the SAAB had a flat [nail in tyre] and he was supposed to be off at midnight. Luckily London has 24h tyre fitters [for a price] so we ended up with two new tyres - which to be honest were needed - but at what cost ?

A Tale of two Cities

A few tinkering jobs first thing - and a picture from James of the SAAB on the street in London.

Then off to get the very small nuts and bolts. Took the MK2 - it did not start but went well. The chap in the shop liked it and he even had what I wanted.

Mind you it did not start there either. It was quite hot though.

Mind you 2. Ipswich is not a City either.

Front and Back - plus lots of shuffling

Started on the SAAB first thing as James was going to borrow it for a few days. I started by cleaning out the boot and the mess the manure had left it in.

Then moved to the front and did the water - none needed, Oil - about a litre needed, washer fluid - about 5 litres and finally did the tyres - all ok but I gave the rears a bit more air.

Then I cleaned the bubble floor where the Talbot and the Ferrari had dropped. Next was the Imp - I had been meaning to clean it for quite a while - so it got both a clean and a wax.

That came up well, but I need another go later to find the bits I missed. A little jaunt to warm it through and back into the garage it went.

Next I took the Alpine grill to pieces. I had to cut off several of the small nuts and bolts as they were rusted on but it will give me better access to spray it again.

Then I took the SAAB out to pick up James and hand him the keys. Felt a bit odd. After lunch to put the top box on. After moving the Aston and Talbot out. The Talbot started after a few goes but roared into life when it did.

Then we moved the Alpine hard top into the bubble ahead of taking it down to Lee's - which I can't do as I have just given James the SAAB. Odd to see it drive away - as if someone had bought it.

All the time the Aston had been waiting patiently [getting more dusty and covered in leaves] as had the Talbot in the car port [keeping clean].

It fits very well so I might box that one in to make a garage for it.

Finally Talbot around the block in the late sunshine.

I did notice it is still dirty underneath and the wheels need more of a clean. Oddly two people let me go in front of them as I turned out - one from our drive and another at the Brantham junction - Class I thought !

One Step Forward

So sailed back and get in just before the rain. Spotted a really nice white Alfa Romeo Montreal at the marina when we got back. Always been on my list.

Always heard they were complex, unreliable and not as fast as they looked. 

Then after Golf back home I decided to tackle one of my unreliable fleet. I thought I'd look at the E-type brake lights as it was still early. Having tested the broken wire it was luckily what I thought.

So from start to finish it probably only took 20 minutes. That's better. Only several more problems on several more cars to go.

Martin Saves the Day - Not

Well I thought I had anyway.

G2R down to the boat for an overnight sail. 

Always surprises me how much stuff we take.

So what was the problem ? No power in the batteries as they had been left on for a month. So we were going nowhere. However I suggested it would start as the engine has a separate battery. It did. 'I knew that' I was told a bit later. Ho Hum.

Good run though - although we did end up tangling the cruising shoot some how.

Little jaunts

MK7 ride to Harkstead - and then not a lot of interest.

However I did manage to summon the energy to get the Aston out late - it was sunny and the planet needed saving.

Finally Lee phoned - they are progressing with the Alpine and it's time I went back to do some more myself next week.

Talbot makes Tracks - and Mr E gets worse

I started by topping up the water and checking the oil on the Talbot before the run up to see John at Wickham Market. I filled the expansion bottle up about half way and thought that would be a good start. No water in the radiator top though.

No oil was needed - still. Suspicious ? 

Then starting it misbehaved a bit. Turned over but did not fire - then fired on one or two cylinders making a rough sound and finally after a few goes (one clonk) it roared into life. I might have not pumped enough petrol into the carb or pumped too much into the plugs pressing the accelerator too many times.

Or it’s a car from 1933.

After that it was fine but it made me very nervous. I set off though and filled up with petrol again after a few miles. Then I had another look at John's Vauxhall - he's working on it to correct a few nicks - still looks huge. We then looked at the Talbot water temperature and it is reading correctly. The shutter seem to open about 95 though which might be a bit late. However we were able to take the pressure cap off and the radiator cap too without gushes of steam etc.

Then we tried Foppe - he was out but John had made me drive down narrow lanes with grass in the middle - not what I wanted. Then we went to see Chris and his Rapier - the top is still looking great. I was told to park outside of the house and got filthy 'off roading' on the muddy driveway. I also made a few tracks on the lawn. Looked the part though.

Then off to look at the Tiger - but the garage was shut up. So we went back through the mud again and then I headed home to drop John off. Listening to the thumps as mud came of from the tyres.

A good run home but I noticed the oil gauge move around a bit and it sounded like a rumble at 55 mph but then again I am paranoid.

Home and it was apparent that the car needed a good clean. It took over an hour just to get the mud off from the underneath and the tyres.

In doing so I found that each wing has an inner cover - very modern. Then I gave the car a full clean too. That took another 45 mins but was worth it.

Next I tackled the E-type - I had noticed that the power for the fan seemed to be taken from the brake switch. The red wire. I also noticed there was nothing in the other terminal and a loose wire next to it.

Anyway I rigged up a direct connection to the fan and it still had the same effect on the charging. I also tested the brakes and have no rear break lights - I suspect that wire should have been connected then ... another thing to investigate. 

Finally the immobiliser has stopped working again. I also found the 'clicking' noise - it was the relay under the dash - it clicked when I pressed the key in the barrel too - WTF ?

Finally I re-attached the cut-off switch and took the Talbot out around the block again in the dying sunshine. Fine run and I'm getting used to it - and it's noises - I was slightly less apprehensive this time too.

Flash Harry

SAAB AM into town and parking on the street. Well after failing to get into two other spaces.

Home via Harkstead and the small roads - I must have reversed back 10 times in the end to let traffic past. 

Home eventually and I decided to look at the two Talbots - the model and the real one - as the fittings for the indicators had arrived. Model first and I think I'm on diminishing returns so will probably stop after I put the number plates on. Although I need to paint a stripe down the doors.

Then to the lights. I rigged one up and it worked fine from a battery. Then I went through the small fuse box under the front cover to see which were the indicators. Having established that I tried the bulb. Nothing doing. Odd. I then thought it must need an LED bulb. [I'm not convinced it really did on reflection.]

Anyway off I went to get two. Halfords nope - so eventually Wilco. Here we are in the MK2 getting it started again.

I must get that fixed.

So home again and I built the fittings with the LED bulbs. I glued them both together although the one I had cut down is probably a bit weak. However that worked and the bulbs stuck up higher too.

I was able to screw in the first one quite easily having extended the wires. The second would not go in though. It was also the flimsy one so if course that broke and I re-stuck it - twice in fact. But it would not screw up strait. I then though to cut the side flange off so it was a bit thinned - Bob as they say - was then my Uncle. In it went. So I attached all the wires - tested it and it all works.

Well it made me happy - and it only took six and a half hours too.

So it's not that then

Tackled the E-type Dynator in the morning. I guess after swapping it out 7 or eight times I should know how to do it.

In fact I had it done un about 30 mins - including getting the tools etc. That was the easy bit. Out she came for a test drive then.

For a while it was looking good - with normal charging and no problems - and I was feeling happy. Then off it went. I guess when the Kenlow cuts in the charging just goes off the roof again. Now it's not likely to be happening with two of the same unit so is it the fan ? Switching the fan on and off I get the same symptom, but not with the head lights. So I guess the next thing to do is to change out the fan ? Or possibly the relay first ?

Then a B&Q run in the SAAB full of wood.

The miles ticked over to show 150,000 *.

Finally 'tinkering' with the model and a final (I hope) respray.

We'll see on both counts.

* I only noticed that a few days later though.