Showers, Shims and Gauge Shenanigans

5:00 am start for me and Mr. E today as we're off to the Hampton Court Concours. Third time down there but not since 2019.

I took a different route and arrived about two and a half hours later. The E-type running well and with the exception of the ammeter [and now the fuel gauge] it gave me no concerns. 

Of course it rained - slightly at first and then heavily twice more on the way. It was even raining as James and I met up in the holding area after I'd slogged my way through the early morning Kingston traffic. Wax did its job though and it hardly looked dirty.

Quite cool and cloudy during the day but lots of interesting cars. We got a sneak peek at an Aston Martin Valkyrie - complete with gravel in the ducts - before the crowds turned up.

There was also the five Bentley's there that had featured in Octane so I had a good look at the Sports Coupe that looked a bit like TAS - it was huge though - much bigger in all dimensions and with a dark roof looks less svelte too.

Passing a company setting 'investment products' in cars James spotted a close replica of part of my collection. A Ferrari (well a 328) an Aston Martin V12 Vantage and an E-type FHC. 

The chap said that V12 Vantages were going up again - but I'm not sure - and the E-type is going down - but the Ferrari probably has some more headroom.

We also spotted a vintage car showing its shims - which excited me ! It was a 1922 Ballot 2 LS - a race car in its day with a 4-cylinder, twin-overhead-cam 1944cc engine. But it was the shims that got the picture.

It amused/bemused the owners wife who was standing by the car too - so I explained what they were and why I was happy to see them.

About 4:00 we'd had enough but were told we might have to stay until 6:00, but we pottered down the grass/service road and then out between the crowds and no one seemed to mind. I dropped James at the station, set the sat nav on the phone and went off. The route to the A3 seemed different - so different it took me directly to the M25. In the slow parts the charging did not seem to keep up with the fan draw - oh and the petrol gauge just hovered around the quarter to the half mark all the time.

The M25 was lumpy bumpy and noisy - but we sped along it - charging all the way until Junction 2 to 1a. Stop-start traffic and slow running had me a bit worried but we got over the bridge and away OK again. 

So what about fuel ? Well I thought we'd done 250+ miles before, so I decided to go for it and see what the gauge did ? Around Colchester it seemed to start working [well it went under the quarter mark at last] so I kept going. 

I got home as the daylight went but home at last - safe and sound around 7:00 pm.

Just shy of 240 miles and still petrol showing on the gauge - I'll keep running it and see what happens.

Double Clean

E-Type's turn first thing for a wash and brush up.

I gave it for full works as well as a thick layer of polish.

So much so when I had put it away in the garage I could smell the polish. I did the roof three times as it is not as good as the bonnet - mind you it's not been re-sprayed three times. Overall it came up well.

After that we swapped it for the Alpine.

Which looked quite good before I had washed it. I did the wheels and blacked the tyres but not sure it added much. After a good wash I tinkered again for a few hours while I waited for the flasher unit to arrive. I added a thicker rubber under one side of the boot hinge and completed the poppers for the boot divider. I then thought I'd tackle the window felts.

The first one took about an hour - complete with dropping three clips into the void and taking the panel off yet again. By opening the clips a bit I managed to get them to fit eventually.

The second one only took ten minutes as I opened each clip before I started.

I also looked at how to fit the outer rubber but that defeated me. As I finished the part turned up. It did not work - in fact it rattled when I took it out of the box. Bugger. But at least I did a job I was not expecting to be so 'easy'.

Badge Engineering

AM Alpine work again. This time I started with bleeding the brakes - which seemed fine ?

Then I screwed in the new flasher relay and the water spray pump.

I think I might get a replacement Lucas flasher unit though. Then I also re-aligned the drivers door and fitted smaller rubber seal that I had in stock. It fitted much better but the broken fitting needs replacing.

I then tried to fix the bonnet catch. It had no captive huts to screw into sit foxed me really. I managed to get it to catch one side and got the bonnet to stay down (and come back up) but it's not correct. I finished by changing the fan switch.

Then Harkstead in the MK7 and back.

I then looked at the Alpine and decided to do the badges to save time tomorrow. 

Some were bent with broken pins and others did not want to fit so I stuck them all down with clear sealant.

It looks better, although I need to give it a clean and there are lots and lots of jobs still to do.

I then took the E-type out to get petrol. 

Lots of red in the background now again I noticed. It took 40+ litres but the fuel gauge hardly moved unlike the ammeter.

The fuel gauge has done this before, but I'll have to watch it with the long run on Saturday.

Interior Refit

A full eight hour day working on the Alpine - cleaning the interior (twice) in the morning and fitting the carpets and door cards in the afternoon. I did fix the door mechanism and noticed they had broken the door catch and not fitted the lock mechanism correctly either. I put the heat shield/sound deadening on the gear box tunnel at the end of the morning though.

Then in the afternoon I replaced the interior carpets and door cards. Finishing off with the cubby on the transmission tunnel. All that took several hours too but the loft is looking a bit emptier.

I keep finding things I'm not happy with though and that they did not do correctly, but I guess that's what you get with people that don't know Alpines - or even Rootes cars - do the work. I keep finding things that I should have replaced/repaired years ago so I have a lot of learning to get it correct I thought.

At the end of the day I went to fill her up with petrol - it made some odd noises on the run and I'm sure something fell out of the dash onto the floor but we'll investigate that. She looked good though.

Also the indicators were intermittent - and the solenoid was red hot when I went to make sure it was in ok - odd.

Packing - Always Packing

So off we go again - a few hours packing and getting the tent down.

Rub back fine but I did start to nod after only 20 miles. One day we will have hobbies that don't entail a lack of sleep followed by physical exertion.

One Day.

Old ones

Monday we just did a couple of short hope for walks. I did notice Antony and I had by far the oldets cars in the car park.

By quite a margin I suspect.

When we got back to the camp site there seemed to be quite a fire raging - so I climbed on to the top of Steve's camper to get a better look.

So now I have found a use for them.

Just Shit ! A Parking App

So Sunday and a quick run to the castle followed by almost most of the rest of the morning trying to get the parking app to work.

In the end a nice young chap (in a Porsche) looked at it and thought we needed to update our credit cad billing address ! That worked.

Anyway the vintage Renault I thought we're see was covered up - but I did find a photo of it in the servants quarters.

A 1908 Renault type VB I think. After a further tour we set off home to find a nice red Sports car in car park next to us too. Research tells me that the period photograph that shows the current Duke’s grandfather and father travelling in the car in 1936 alongside the castle walls. 

A Toyota Supra Pro. Finally we passed a nice road sign again. So I popped out to take a snap.

Possible a bit cheesy !

Saturday is Space Day

So we went to the National Space Museum as it was raining hard Saturday.

Fine and busy but after several hours we needed a break and went across the road to the Pumping Station. Back in time really - and found a 'local' car in amongst the exhibits. 

It was a Clyde motor car from 1908 - with a three-cylinder engine and chain-driven rear axle. They also had an advertising sign selling battery re-charging. 

Again we have gone full circle.

They all do that Sir - Not !

Started packing for camping in the rain, some early rain anyway. I did put the drip tray under the Alpine - I think it's from the gearbox - but it needs a good clean under there.

Then Roberto phoned - the Ferrari is done ! Well not really but the carbs are on. Looking very good too - and expensive no doubt.

The delay is that he was testing the installation and hit the starter motor problem - yes it stays on - and yes he's never seen that one. It was traced to a fault in the starter motor - I should have reported it the first time it happened but the units only come with a six month warrantee anyway so it was probably too late even then. So I've ordered a new high torque unit. It should all be done next week. So where do so put it ... it's only been there since mid June but felt longer.

Run up to Nottingham was ok if a bit stop/start but at least the wind died down so we could put up the tent.

Less work Today

So ... nothing first thing. That was a change.

Then after lunch I decided to spray the window winder mechanism with grease - it seemed to make a difference - but also a bit of a mess on the window - but it will clean off when I get the rest of the muck off.

A bit of pottering before taking the SAAB for a wash and petrol. Then off to Harkstead for a quick visit. Home again we put the top box back on.

Finally I put another two gallons of petrol in the Alpine - started her up and put it away in the bubble. That will keep it 'clean' while we're off.

A Bastard of a Job Done

First job this morning was to put the SAAB back together again.

It was already missing four screws but I managed to find some to fit. All done by about 10:00.

Then I turned my attention to the Alpine. I had planned to wash it out again, but I decided to do the window channels instead. After looking at the one I had and decided I needed more and if possible deeper channel too, I got back into the SAAB and off we went again.

So eventually I started on the Alpine - it still looks good - if a bit dirty. So I did the off side which went in eventually and I was about done in a couple of hours. Although I did jamb the windows but I had left the torch in there !

The near side not so simple. Fist the door cap really would not fit - even after bashing the door with a club hammer - so I eventually found the really poor one I had on it originally and cut that about until it fitted. Just. I did find a few machine screws to fix it though.

Then I worked on the runners. After I jammed it again there was a loud 'ping/clonk' and it looked like the window was sitting incorrectly. I thought the mechanism had slipped a tooth on the winder mechanism. So the window came out and so did the winder mechanism. No evidence it would have slipped so I put it back. Then I spent two frustrating hours trying to get the window back in as well.

Around 5:00 pm I got Jana to help me and it was in in about ten minutes. Then it fell off the rail again. How I laughed. Actually I forced it back on and kept going.

About 7:00 they were both done. Here is one.

So about seven and a half hours on three window channels - at least they seem to work now though. That was going to be a hard job when ever I did it - so from now on it is 'Easy Street'. 

Ho Ho Ho.

24 Hours Later

Up early and I had transferred all the tools and parts across to the MK2 Golf [which started fine] by 8:30.

I arrived by 9:30, phoned Ed and waited.  Lee already had the car up in the air and was putting more dyno seal in it so I left him alone and waited for the trailor.

After Lee had finished I started unpacking my tools and did the easy things - i.e. try to trace the electrical charging issue. I did not make much progress but eliminated simple things. 

Then Ed arrived [with a car on the trailer for me] then it took about 30 mins to get the SAAB on the trailer (including me taking bits off the car and screwing the tow hitch in) - but at least I know where it is now. I even had to winch the car onto the bed as it took so long and Ed was knackered doing it - as was I by the end.

Off he went just before 11:00 with the car on the back and I got back to work.

So what next ? Lee suggested fitting the new battery as that had arrived so I did - nothing changed. Then I thought I'd better check the earth on the regulator - fine. Next was to take the voltage from the dynamo. Ah - you can't get to the connections without getting burnet from the exhaust pipe so I decided to take the regulator off and do it from those connections.

Eventually after part dismantling the regulator and unscrewing the solenoid I had enough room to get a decent connection and guess what - 14v ! All fine. So I put it all back together again and it was perfect - no charging issues at all. We suspected I'd just shaken a loose wire closed so Lee wanted to re-do them all - but I decided to chance it. 

Next I took the Diesel SAAB back to Abbotts and chatted to Ed etc. Yes it was the crank sensor and yes it was quick to replace, but not very easy to do in a car park. But we're back on the road again. The only problem being by then I had three cars at Lee's again.

Next step was a test drive in the Alpine - Lee suggested the farm yard. That done I did about three miles on the road. Fine but 1. I had no indicators, petrol or temperature gauge and no horn; 2. I did the run with the hand brake on ! 

After a bit of fiddling and checking the wiring diagram it turned out the common feed was the ignition switch - so a bit of a jiggle and they were all back on. So I decided to chance a drive the car home. Lee was a bit shocked - "what now ?" he said. So at 2:40 the "Alpine had left the building".

The run was noisy, bumpy, the windows rattled, dirt flew up, the suspension crashed, and the carbs are still too 'racy' but we made it. 

Then four runs later to get the other cars and we were done. Lee seemed genuinely sad to see it go when I said goodbye. 

Unpacking took an hour and then we were stable again. 

Lots of work to do still, but six of the seven keys back on the hooks this evening. 

A Mad Day

Off early to work on the Alpine. Arrived by 9:30 and found that Lee had done the door so that shuts. Although not opens as the fitting seems to be broken.

After adding two [and eventually three] gallons of fuel and pumping out the old petrol I gave it a go starting. After several squirts of car cleaner she started and ran fine. Battery a bit shagged as suspected and I needed to use my boost pack - so a new one is on order - but happy days.

I then spent the next hour or so adding oil to the gearbox [and the floor] but that was fine too.

After lunch I spent far too long getting the wiper and washers in and working after fixed up the fan and the washer spray. So all good - and as the other cars were moved about I started her again and went outside.

It was then I noticed that the charge light was on - some times quite red and other times a little red - but quite on. I swapped over the ammeter wires but nothing worked. So it appears I have another car with charging problems - although I did not notice it when I first started her up ...

I tinkered with the horn as the relay was stuck again in case it was that - but no. Lee gave me a new relay though so that's done but the charging problem remained. That will wait until tomorrow I thought as it was 5:30 and I had worked for about 7.5 hours.

I'd packed up the SAAB and off we went. But no. It refused to start. 'Gosh' I thought. I phoned Jana who set off to get me. I also phoned Ed Abbott to book the car in for the next day - but  he kindly came out with parts - while I waited I took the SAAB apart as instructed.

However two parts swapped in and nothing worked so Ed said he's come and get the car tomorrow morning. Then I got a lift home with all the tools etc.

The final bit of madness was a picture I was sent. 

Yes that's us at the Alderson fate - not sure how we got on the front cover though. 

So a mad/bad/frustrating day but as I say - "you don't have stories to tell by staying at home reading the Daily Telegraph". It is just some days that I wish I had.

The 60's and the Shims

So AM the MK2 turned up again - safe and sound. Almost no starting problems reported either.

But we'll pack it away again for now. I noticed that I rigged up the button in March after a temporary wire solution in February. On well.

Then I packed the SAAB for tomorrow - lots and lots of tools - but I am sure I'll need something 'not on the van'.

Then an E-type run I thought. A quick call in at Stutton first. 

I let the kids play in the car and then went around the block - great run too. Seems to be going well - if a bit thirsty. Heat and charging OK so hopefully London will be a good run in the early morning air. On the way back an old bloke with an old classic bike and a beard waved to me. Then five minutes later he tuned up on my drive ? It was Ed !

He was on his great looking 650cc Triumph Bonneville from the 1960's. Nice compliment to the E-type of the same era too.

Earlier I had done some more Riley wheel wobble research on the Riley forum - that gave me an avenue to explore. A strange 10 mph effect only on a few bumpy roads was mentioned. I also looked at my blog after my first test run after getting the car back on the road on February 19th which said:

“I'd just take it up the road for a few hundred yards - only for the steering to be almost uncontrollable - someone had not bothered to deflate the tyres back down.”

Ah - perhaps I need to put the shims back in that Blue Diamond took out to correct the camber and stop the resonance setting in. Here they are.

So refitting them between the front springs and the axel is now on the list. But which way around ?