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.