Washy, Flashy and Stucky

Started by washing the Aston - it was just a bit mucky nothing bad - but it came up well. Checking the oil it's used about 1/2 a litre in over 1k miles. Fine.

I then washed the Mk7 Golf. That was very dirty but again came up well too.

I then used the space to try to photograph the E-Type. It's a bit bigger than the Imp but I'm getting used to the flashes - I still need a better middle one though.

... and all the time the trees just shed crap on the Aston - by the time I had finished that and lunch it was very dirty again - so I took it to the bottle bank to blow the shit off it. That worked fine and gave me a bit of normality. The bottle bank was almost full, unlike Waitrose which was empty - although I needed to queue for 10 mins to get in.

Then I decided to fill the Aston tank on the way home, but the car had other ideas.

Yep - the prat in the Aston can't get the petrol cap open. Anyway I went home and remembered the emergency pull cord in the boot - that did it and then it worked fine. So I greased the fitting and went back to fill up. Fine - petrol is cheaper too now.

Two trips out in a day - unheard of during lock down. Oh and the Aston tripped over 23k on the first run.

More shuffling and a film

Cleaned the ash off the E-type in the morning, then applied a good layer of polish. It looked much better but you can still see all the scratches etc. on the roof - in the right light.

Mind you from a distance ...

Noticed the growing set of rally plaques as well.

Then moved the Imp back into the wooden garage after trying to do a video of starting it.

at least I have some space now.

I did my best

Well I was up and out early, detailed the E-type - it still sounds a bit rough when starting up - it needs a run. I also made up a poster board and pinned details of the car on the fence for the people who flocked to us.

Well at least I met a few new people when I was trying to take pics - but the light was pretty shitty so not the greatest set. Especially as the chap opposite decided to have a smoky bomb fire which was covering the car in ash - and then it started to rain. It raised 10k nation wide.

The B/W pic worked well though.

Flash of inspiration

Jacked the Imp up and took the wheel off. My spinner removal tool works well - well when you hit it in the correct direction.

Not too sure it was the right place but it worked. I also cleaned under the arch and the cross member.

Used the new reflectors and flash mounts to get better pictures of the Imp late afternoon. A lot better.

It's quicker now

More colouring in - or colourising.

Colouring in

So another rainy day so lots of Imp admin writing up the notes - 30 ish pages now.

Then colorised the old pic of an Imp I've been working on.

Came out quite nice.

Also looked at the miles for last month. I did 87 and Jana 154 - so the cars are not being used which backs up the government request. Usually 1000+.

Luckily Boris is back (not 100% by the display today) but he says we're passing the peak. So just another few months in isolation ...

SAAB Escape and 308 News

Lots more rain (at last) to water the garden and all the veg the country has been planting.

So car adventures limited to a SAAB run to drop something off at Mum's. Though despite the rain the car is filthy.

Later I saw Grimaldi pop up in the phone book when looking for someone else - so I gave them a ring - and they are open and working !

Sounds like I need to turn my attention to the Italian now then.

Ah - back to normal weather

Rain most of the day prevented even 'on the drive' pottering.

Played with photos and found another rally to attend though.

At home on Sunday.

Non-Car Pottering

Clearing up - with a short SAAB run to put some more plants into my Mums at Harkstead.

Then playing with the Alpine pics.

I do like the washed out look - but it only works on some pictures.

I am thinking of a 'Coventry's Finest' group shot now though...

'Don't even think of Driving it' Day

After polishing the Alpine it was time for a SAAB dash for jobs (Beans at my Mum's).

Then it was time for Lockdown Sunday and the best Drive it Day weather for years.

So I spent some time spent just sitting with the car reading. Then taking more pictures.

Then thought I'd 'just' try the aerial shot so built a rig and put it in the tree. Two hours, three lenses and two cameras later I had taken this.

It needed a bit of perspective correction - but I think it worked well.

Spinners

I made a couple of wire wheel spinner removal tools.

The bottom one is the real tool and the top ones got cut in half and bolted to the main one so that the ears hit the wood better.

I even stained one so that it looked more authentic/classy.

Well it's covered now

Made up the cover for the Alpine out of the salvaged cover.

Started inside with a 20 foot central seam. Not easy nor well done. So I ended up doing the rest outside.

As I say - it's covered ... but I'll not be changing jobs soon. Although I may have to make Covid-19 masks soon.

Another own goal saved

Well after yesterday's missing nut and washer what did I discover when I went to fit the new pipe to the E-type ?

1. A huge groove in the old pipe just cutting through the pipe

2. The new pipe was far too long (as was the one I took off)

3. It's a BLOODY BASTARD to fit

4. The car won't start if you have knocked a wire off the distributor (spotted quickly t mu credit)

All done now though - including undoing the Dynator - and after testing up to temperature and heat sinking plus looking tonight there were no drips.

Oh and the own goal ? I'd threaded the fan belt incorrectly on the tensioner when I fitted the Dynator - this caused it to tension out (onto the pipe) and not in. Here it is correctly positioned and sitting well away from the old pipe still showing the groove.

Not bad though. I fitted that belt in November 2016, so it took almost three and a half years and 2500 miles to eat through the pipe.

More 'Roll than 'Rattle now

A morning under the Alpine to look for the cause of the noises.

Twin trolley jacks works well too - one each side.Not hard to spot the missing nut and washer though.

What was interesting was why - did I just forget to fit it ? On a test drive to deliver food to Mum I'd forgotten what I was looking out for - which was good - noises all gone.

You can see how dirty it's getting though.

Oh and the missing E-Type part turned up: twice. Firstly at home and then later at the old Smart421 offices !

A very Nice Man

I gave John Dovey (Freston Riley man) a ring about my foolish purchase. He thought I was a lucky man to find an Imp and went away to look it up in the book.

He rang back said it was in there and kindly offered me his copy.

Q for the B - and Grinning Fool 2

SAAB out again to get wood. Found three bags of compost in the boot from a while ago too.

Queue at B and Q was huge even before they opened.

Also found the Imp staring in some Instagram pics from TCMH, including this one.

The clocks tell a story

Hopped into a filthy SAAB to deliver shopping to Mum in Harkstead.

Noticed the clock was wrong - I'd not used it since the clocks changed... is that right ? Yep last SAAB journey was 23rd March - before the lockdown.

Also investigated Imp gauges. Seem no two are alike !

Er ... so Magneto or Not ?

Worked on the details of the Imp book. Found out that I did not know if I was running a Magneto or not. Originally they did.

I don't think I am though. But we'll see.

Banking on no roadblocks

Took Jana to the bank in the Aston ... It needed a run and she was doing a job - so OK I thought.

Crap parking - as I wanted some shade - but as you can see we were not the only one out and about.

Oh and lock-down announced for another three weeks to fight Covid-19.

Getting close to the gear

Looking for the gearbox number so crawled under the dash - again.

Not sure which of the many numbers it was.

Submitted my form to the Riley Register though.

Potting up and pottering

Not much car action but was collating all the Imp data I have found. Various sources and various versions of the truth.

PM though James showed me our poster being used in their advert - fame again ...

Another little fix

Replaced the odd fitting under the imp dash to stop a rattle.

When I get to start driving again ...

Oh and the E-type leaked most of the water out of the radiator - well it will help me empty it when the pipe arrives.

Got one good one

Found it impossible to turn the Imp around in the garage - it must be possible ?

Anyway ended up with one good picture after another few hours (if you forget the reflections).

OK I had to photoshop it a bit to get rid of the floor etc. but it is sharp and in focus.

Leaks, Waxing and more Photos

Decided to look for the E-Type water leak first thing so I could move the cars around again.

After about 30 mins I had found it - the lower water pump pulley seems to have eaten through the side of the pipe.

So one is on order - we'll see if it fits better as I can't see how the pulley has moved.

Then waxed the Imp with high quality dark was. Came up well although the garage lights reveal all the imperfections in the paint.

Then decided to try to build a 'garage studio'.

Moved the Aston out and had to take pictures of that first though.

Then maneuvered the Imp into position after hanging up the black dust sheets. Not sure I shot any decent pictures but it's a start.

Popping out to polish the Imp

Tried to have a relaxing day but could not avoid getting the Imp polished. Not sure I had any decent polish though but it is a start.

Not sure you can tell though.

Next we'll add the wax.

To quote Pink Floyd - That's a Nice Pair

Worked on the Imp first thing clamping the loose oil pipes etc. Also noticed they had used a DIY fitting on another pipe so secured that.

While under the dash I spotted the DIY clamp for the new Speedo cable and the poor wiring. Taped up the wiring and now have more parts on order to secure the Speedo cable.

Quite enjoyable to sort the little problems out.

Then washed the car - much quicker than I had expected - but then it is small. Then took pictures of the Imp and the E-type. Some quite nice ones.

Moved the Imp into the brick garage as it's easier to get in and out - however the E-type is rather large for the wooden one...

Finally when all dry I spent ten mins touching up about 6 stone chips and painted in some other bits  - as it seems to be the same colour.

Another very clean car

Caterham's turn to get clean today. The 50mm lens makes it look very good too.

Then run to deliver shopping to Harklstead - I did go the longer way round to avoid the burst water main though.

Finished the models as well.

Two wheels to the sea and cleaning up

Started the day just after 7:00 with a cycle (my permitted single session of exercise) down to the boat.

The boat looked good - clean and ready to go - oh well. Then cycled back (that seemed quicker) so a total of about 16 miles. On blissfully quiet roads.

Then spent most of the rest of the day cleaning the underside of the Imp.

From mud to paintwork again.

Also 'fixed' the number plate holes so it looks better - than it did - as you can see.

But not perfect - and finding a screw to stop the side light rattling.