The Triumph Experience Owner Journals

Springtime (May-June 1984)

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:04:21 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

4th May 1984: 107,605, 1,186 indicated.

6th May 1984: 107,806, 1,387 indicated, 28.04 mpg, (this with Twin Webers & 8-port head)

9th May 1984: TSSC East Berkshire & Hants & Surrey Area Meets on the same night!

10th May 1984: TSSC Thames Area Meet
108,039, 1,620 indicated, 25.75 mpg, 184.1p/g

15th May 1984: 108,229, 1,810 indicated, 27.53 mpg, 184.1p/g

19th May 1984: TSSC International Concours - MOTEC, Telford, Shropshire, 108,411, 1,992 indicated, 28.30 mpg, 181.9p/g

20th May 1984: 108,562, 2,143 indicated, 23.27 mpg, 184.1p/g

24th May 1984: TSSC Thames Area Meet

25th May 1984: 108,719, 2,300 indicated, 25.32 mpg

26th May 1984: Went to 'Rod run' on Essex with Ben Verwer (the Swerver)

27th May 1984: so much rain that all cars got stuck in the mud, 2 to 2.5 feet deep at the field entrance - got lifted/pushed out - typical English Bank Holiday, 108,843, 2,424 indicated.

29th May 1984: Went to Greenwich Autos for Brake Pads
Topped up front trunnions with EP90 oil, inspected old front brake pads, tightened LH front wheel bearing, must replace both soon
108,977, 2,558 indicated.

30th May 1984: Adjusted rear brake shoes - after 5,803 miles, topped up differential with Castrol EP90 oil, 109,034, 2,615 indicated.

1st June 1984: 109,043, 2,624 indicated, 25.33 mpg, 36.23 Ltr 184.1p/g.

2nd June 1984: Went to Greenwich Autos

3rd June 1984: Replaced front brake pads, both sides, replaced LH front wheel bearings., n.b. front pads still had some lining left, but were last changed on 2 April 1983 at 14,924 miles ago.
109,124, 2,705 Indicated.

8th June 1984: 109,210, 2,791 indicated, 22.16 mpg, 34.26 Ltr 186.4p/g.

9th June 1984: 109,377, 2,958 indicated, 24.89 mpg, 30.50 Ltr 186.4p/g

13th June 1984: TSSC Hants & Surrey Area Meet, Pirbright, Surrey
109,555, 3,136, 22.37 mpg, 36.18 Ltr, 184.1p/g

14th June 1984: TSSC Thames Area Meet

19th June 1984: TSSC West Kent Area Meet & boot sale, The Grasshopper, Westerham, Kent
I was stopped for speeding, Rose Hill, Mitcham - got let off on 2 July 1984 - they referred to the Herald as a 'Sports Car' in the police letter!

21st June 1984: 109,723, 3,304 indicated, 22.36 mpg, 186.4p/g.

22nd June 1984: TSSC Kent Area Camping weekend at Paddock wood, Kent

23rd June 1984: 109,732.

24th June 1984: 109,863, Practical Classics Bromley Pageant of Motoring, Norman Park, Bromley, Kent - KGF on display on TSSC stand

30th June 1984: North Weald Bassett Fighter Day, Essex
109,960, 3,541 indicated, 25.00 mpg, 43.08 Ltr, 184.5p/g

<19840500b SAH exhaust system, International Concours, MOTEC>

<19840609a with Ben Verwer's 6 pot Spitfire, Kent>

Posted 2012-05-17 00:04:21 by Léon Guyot

Water Pump

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:15:50 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Got the water pump off this morning and the darn fan clutch does not want to cooperate with my removal attempts. I will see if the auto part store will loan a tool I can use to help with the removal and install on new pump.

Pulled radiator and flushed it thoroughly, it also gives me plenty of access to the water pump.

Posted 2012-05-16 16:15:50 by Anthony Kurilla

April 1984

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:30:33 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

3rd April 1984: 24.70 Ltr, 184.1p/g

6th April 1984: 24.70 Ltr, 184.1p/g

7th April 1984: My first motoring offence - speeding ticket on M4 Motorway (90mph), actually 93mph, good thing he didn't see me 10 minutes earlier at 107mph! (I was testing out the mods on an empty M4 motorway early in the morning on a Sunday in Wiltshire! (oh, youthful enthusiasm)

7th April 1984: TSSC Test day at Castle Combe race track, Wiltshire. Herald put up a very good time, but today. Discovered that it could do with wider wheels/tyres, and brakes that work faster!
n.b. tore LH rear tyre from rim! It was a new Pirelli P3
24.70 Ltr, 12.35 Ltr.

11th April 1984: TSSC Hants & Surrey Area Meet
My first broken windscreen.
At night, Flying stone from oncoming Datsun smashed my windscreen - got glass in my finger, 24.70 Ltr

12th April 1984: TSSC Thames Area Meet - The Winning Post Pub.

13th April 1984: 24.70 Ltr

14th-15th April 1984: TSSC Thames Area - South of England Meet # 3 at Chessington Zoo, Surrey

17th April 1984: 24.70 Ltr

19th April 1984: 24.70 Ltr

21st April 1984: 107,500, Renewed Kenlowe Electric fan Thermostat

22nd April 1984: 846 miles, 17.76 Ltr
TSSC Thames Area visit to Goodwood, Sussex & test day, 24.70 Ltr

26th April 1984: TSSC Thames Area Meet - The Winning Post Pub.

30th April 1984: Obtained a replacement tyre

<19840400b Wimbledon, Le Mans Tune>

<19840407f2 Castle Combe Race Circuit with Justin Barwick>

Posted 2012-05-15 23:30:33 by Léon Guyot

March 1984

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:13:45 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

1st March 1984: TSSC Thames Area meet, The Winning Post Pub, Great West Road, Chiswick

4th March 1984: My 25th Birthday

8th March 1984: Third Anniversary of buying the Herald

11th March 1984: 105,492, 20,354 indicated, 31.88 mpg

14th March 1984: Speedometer broke and the angle drive also snapped.
Telephoned SAH, and attended TSSC Hants & Surrey Area Meet

15th March 1984: TSSC Thames Area meet, The Winning Post Pub, Great West Road, Chiswick

17th March 1984: 184.10p/g

19th March 1984: Went to SAH in Leighton Buzzard with Herald & all parts for fitting, including 8-port head, twin 40DCOE Webers etc.
SAH supplied & fitted their 'fast road' camshaft of 30/70/70/30

20th March 1984: TSSC West Kent Area meet in Richard Francis' 1966 S-type Jaguar -wonderful!!!

22nd March 1984: Went to SAH to collect Herald, on train via Euston.
When Léon asked Chris Bull, the SAH workshop manager,how it went, he just grinned and said "not bad!"
What a revelation! 0-60 in 10.6 seconds, and a top speed of 107 mph from about 100 bhp at the flywheel.
Absolutely fantastic & a real transformation, however, brakes were still standard discs at the front, although the leaky plastic bodied and sloping brake master cylinder had been replaced with a vertical aluminium master cylinder from a Wolseley.
actually purchased new at an autojumble. An SAH dual box mild steel exhaust system was also fitted, although the centre pipe was about 4 inches too short and kept falling off, much to the general amusment of TSSC members.

23rd March 1984: 38.10 Ltr, 184.1p/g

24th March 1984: Bristol Classic Car Show, Avon, 30.87 Ltr, 184.1p/g

29th March 1984: TSSC Thames Area Meet - The Winning Post Pub, 24.70 Ltr

31st March 1984: Replaced speedometer with brand new Spitfire Mk.3 (4.11:1) item and new angle drive from Unipart.
Mileage covered without speedo' - approx 579 miles, also with spare speedo' - approx 348 miles.

31st March 1984:
Mileage check:
1) vehicle: 106,419 miles,
2) engine: 45,168 miles,
3) gearbox: 7,548 miles,
4) odometer: zero miles.

<19840301a Leith Hill, Surrey>

<19840324a Bristol Classic Car Show>

Posted 2012-05-15 23:13:45 by Léon Guyot

She Is Dressed Again.

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:45:02 -0700

Joel Fedchenko's Journal --

Your right I should have been posting pictures. My wife designed the paint scheme(stole the look from the early Vettes,my wife is a BowTie girl), and helped me paint it on.

<going to be a head turner.>

<door hanging 011>

Posted 2012-05-15 11:45:02 by Joel Fedchenko

Onto Electrics

Tue, 15 May 2012 03:10:50 -0700

Gary Woolf's Journal --

could not get right side indicators to work front or back so to investigate deeper

<DSCN0811>

Posted 2012-05-15 03:10:50 by Gary Woolf

Bleeding Brakes!

Mon, 14 May 2012 20:38:36 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

I bought a power bleeder attachment for my compressor and it definitely got those puppies empty. Not worth beans in refilling. I used a 2 x 4 as a partner to press on brake while I bled each one in order of farthest from the master cylinder. Brakes feel good now! Now I need to adjust the hand brake then move on to the water pump. I should be pretty much road worthy after that.

Posted 2012-05-14 20:38:36 by Anthony Kurilla

Winter 1983/84

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:55:53 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

12th January 1984: 103,708, 18,570 indicated, 187.9p/g

19th January 1984: Took Tachometer to Speedy Cables, Islington, London

20th January 1984: Went to Tridon for parts, Thornton Heath, Surrey

20th January 1984: 18,671 indiacted, 30.81 mpg, 183.7p/g

21st January 1984: TSSC Winter Weekend, Fosse Manor, Gloucestershire -icy!

22nd January 1984: 18,931 indicated, 259.6, 34.30 mpg, 183.7p/g

27th January 1984: Telephoned Microdynamics, Caterham, Surrey

28th January 1984: Visited Microdynamics for distributor, then Mitcham Motors for Spark Plugs, then Baldyne Engineering, with my 1200 8-port cylinder-head, 19,152 indicated, 31.22 mpg, 183.7p/g

29th January 1984: Visited Paul Lucas in Chalfont St.Giles for Oil Cooler parts

29th January 1984: TSSC Wessex Area meet, New Forest, nr. Fordingbridge, Hants, 29.01.1984, 19,369 indicated, 183.0p/g

30th January 1984: Telephoned Speedy Cables

31st January 1984: Telephoned Baldynes re: Cylinder-Head

2nd January 1984: Telephoned Baldynes re: Cylinder-Head

3rd January 1984: Telephoned Baldynes re: Cylinder-Head
104,647, 19,509 indicated, 33.63 mpg, 183.7p/g

4th February 1984: Collected new Camshaft chainwheel from Tridon, then to Mitcham Motors for Spark Plugs, Jubilee Clips and mounting brackets, then collected Cylinder-Head from Baldynes.

9th February 1984: Telephoned Tridon & SAH and went to London Car Club in Chiswick High Road.

12th February 1984: TSSC Thames Area photo-call, Richmond Park, Surrey
19,727 indicated, 1,056.20, 29.31 mpg, 179.6p/g.

13th February 1984: Telephoned Mitcham Motors

14th February 1984: Telephoned Speedy Cables

15th February 1984: Telephoned Tridon, Microdynamics & Mitcham Motors

16th February 1984: TSSC Thames Area meet, The Winning Post Public House, Great West Road, Chiswick

17th February 1984: Telephoned SAH at Leighton Buzzard

18th February 1984: Went to Mitcham Motors and Tridon

20th February 1984: Collected parts from SAH-Leighton Buzzard & ordered Camshaft, 105,144, 20,006 indicated, 31.48 mpg, 179.6p/g

20th February 1984: Mileage check:
1) vehicle: 105,175 miles,
2) engine: 43,924 miles,
3) gearbox: 6,304 miles,
4) odometer: 20,037 miles, (indicated)
since last year: 12,479 miles

24th February 1984: Telephoned Chris Bull, workshop manager at SAH, Leighton Buzzard.

<19840122a, Stow-On-The-Wold, Glos, with John Cudmore>

<19840204b pair of ultra rare 8-port 1200 heads>

Posted 2012-05-14 16:55:53 by Léon Guyot

Firewall And A-Post Weirdness

Sun, 13 May 2012 07:21:06 -0700

My 76 Spit Refurbishment --

My new outer rockers arrived on Friday! They are 18 gauge, and appear to be nicely made. I'll see how they work when the time comes to get them on. I also scored a brand new rear lower valance panel on ebay on the cheap.

I removed most of the outer rocker panel yesterday, and found that the lower A-post support panel is home made. It's a smooth piece of sheet that was brazed to the 2x3 tube. Under this panel is another piece of metal that has been bent and formed to make the lower door hinge area, and part of the footwell area.
I removed some patches on the firewall corner after seeing some more bad brazes and uncovered a whole bunch of rivets and brazing.

At this point I've got to decide what I'm going to do with the 2x3 tube. If the car has been modified too much to make it work by the PO, then it may be too much work for me to put it right.
I'm fairly certain that the tube is screwing up the front A-post/firewall area dimensions. I've definitely got to remove the angle iron piece, so perhaps I can at least cut the front part of the box tube off.

I did finally see why the rust out was so bad. In my previous post I had a shot of the firewall. There was a piece of sheet metal that was bent over the angle iron frame support. This was not brazed or welded to anything. Any water or crud that was flinging up from the road was going under this metal, and then seeping in along the angle iron into the rocker panel areas.

Oddly enough, the inner sill (or perhaps the floor pan) behind the box tube has been feeling solid when I stab at it with a screwdriver. I think it is time to brace the door, and support the floor to remove the box tube and see just what is going on there.

<The home made lower A-post support panel cut open. This exposed the home made sheet metal door hinge support "box">

<The firewall weirdness. There is no rhyme or reason for this hammered in area. It was skinned over with another patch.>

Posted 2012-05-13 07:21:06 by Eric G

Drum Brakes On!

Sat, 12 May 2012 16:18:25 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Finished installing shoes for rear now I just need to bleed them tomorrow and then adjust. Water pump will be next.

Posted 2012-05-12 16:18:25 by Anthony Kurilla

Leaf Spring Refurbed & On

Fri, 11 May 2012 21:00:58 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Finished installation of my refurbished spring and got my other parts for fun tomorrow and Sunday. Brakes tomorrow and Water Pump Sunday.

Posted 2012-05-11 21:00:58 by Anthony Kurilla

Painted Leaf Spring

Thu, 10 May 2012 21:02:42 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Cleaned and painted spring after mounting all 8 nylon washers. I used a dab of glue to hold into place. I also painted the drums and differential cover access plate. Now just waiting for more coats o paint on other side of spring and for my parts to show.

Posted 2012-05-10 21:02:42 by Anthony Kurilla

Engine Is Alive

Thu, 10 May 2012 19:01:34 -0700

Mark Freece's Journal --

Well had some major problems getting the plugs to spark. Ended up putting a new coil, points and condenser. But she fired right up. After I felt great about that I connected the gas tank line and put about 4 gallons of gas in the tank, called it a night. Woke up the next day only to find out there was a hairline crack in the tank and only had about a gallon left. Ahhhhh! now my garage has a distinctive odor of gas (I got a head ache!).

Just ordered a new tank from VB but at least it's running!

Posted 2012-05-10 19:01:34 by Mark Freece

Disassembly Continues

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:04:52 -0700

Todd Gaulin's Journal --

Removed both rear wheels and brake drums. Removed bolts between diff and both axle shafts. Removed access cover for leaf spring and removed studs for spring. Disconnected bottom shock mounts, radius rods, spring bushings break lines, disconnected both e-brake cables and removed both axle shafts. Found one bad u-joint on the drivers side shaft. Removed nuts from front diff mounts. Everything went smooth until I got to the long bolt at the back of the diff. I got the bolt out ok, but the damn thing wouldn't come out. After trying a few things I finally got it out using a crowbar in the little gap above the rear bushing between the diff and the frame and jacking the front of the diff.
I put the diff on the bench and removed the bolts from the stub shafts and removed them. I removed the bolts connecting the carrier to the housing and had difficulty separating them. I pounded away with a flathead screwdriver and then discovered I needed something wider. Borrowed a wedge from my neighbor and got it apart. Nothing obvious is wrong with the diff, but there seems to be a slight stutter when turning the pinion. I think I need to put in new bearings and seals.

Posted 2012-05-10 18:04:52 by Todd Gaulin

November To December 1983

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:04:32 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

5th November 1983: 16,484 indicated, 2360.1 engine, 34.50 mpg, 183.7p/g

6th November 1983: TSSC Thames Area/Hants & Surrey Area's visit Brighton Classic Car Show on day of Emancipation Run

13th November 1983: 16,816 indicated, 2692.5 engine, 30.68 mpg, 183.7p/g

20th November 1983: TSSC AGM, 102,170, 17,032 indicated, 2907.7 engine, 39.67 mpg, 183.7p/g

26th November 1983: 17,360 indicated, 3235.8 engine, 31.70 mpg 183.7p/g

3rd December 1983: Changed Oil in Gearbox/Overdrive

December 1983: Léon purchased some rare tuning parts from an advert in the TSSC Courier magazine
i.e. a couple of 'eight port' 1200 cylinder heads in rusty condition c/w an original set of tubular steel exhaust manifolds, a pair of alloy inlet manifolds, two dual choke Weber 40DCOE sidedraught carburettors, and an old oil cooler kit, all from a chap called Paul Lucas, who was then racing an early Spitfire fairly seriously - but had recently changed over to a 1300 engine.

10th December 1983: 17,593 indicated

11th December 1983: 17,594 indicated, 29.12 mpg

18th December 1983: 17,848 indicated, 254.2, 33.30 mpg, 183.7p/g

22th December 1983: Changed LH wiper wheelbox - took me 4½ hours

24th December 1983: 103,231, 18,093 indicated, 33.03 mpg, 183.7p/g

24th December 1983: Mileage check:
1) vehicle: 103,231 miles,
2) engine: 41,980 miles,
3) gearbox: 4,360 miles,
4) odometer: 18,093 miles
since last year: 11,436 miles

28th December 1983: Planned next years country drive for South of England Meet - around pretty bits of Surrey

29th December 1983: Checked rear brake shoes which need changing after 14,100 miles, i.e. since 19th August 1982 and only 2 leading shoes worn.

30th December 1983: Went to work by car this am, changed brake shoes this pm, took 4 hours to replace all 4 shoes (18,287 miles)

30th December 1983: 103,466, 18,328, 733.9, 30.80 mpg, 183.7p/g

Costs in 1983 HERALD

Parts & Labour £1,415.96
Road Tax £170
Insurance £88.90
MOT Test £9.00
TSSC Subs £11
AA/RAC Subs £36.50
Petrol £566.85
Grand Total £2,298.21

Average Value £819 (Practical Classics)
Net Income £4,257.43
% spent on car(s) 54%

VITESSE

parts and labour £4

<19831106, Brighton Marina, Sussex>

<19831204, Syon House, Syon Park, Middlesex>

Posted 2012-05-10 00:04:32 by Léon Guyot

October 1983

Wed, 09 May 2012 23:45:16 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

4th October 1983: Herald to SAH (Dunham & Haines) workshops, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, for Suspension work, including shortest front springs 5 degrees decambered rear transverse leaf spring, dual front anti-roll bars and Spax adjustable dampers all round. Combined with the new Pirelli tyres, KGF now handled beautifully, rather like a roller skate, i.e. hard, but you could throw her into corners with abandon!

4th October 1983: 99,756, 14,618 indicated, 493.7 engine, 26.28 mpg 183.7p/g

7th October 1983: 100,042, 14,904 indicated, 780.5 engine, 36.39 mpg 183.7p/g

10th October 1983: 15,106 indicated, 982.1 engine, 30.08 mpg, 183.7p/g

12th October 1983: 15,300 indicated, 1175.9 engine, 32.05 mpg, 183.7p/g

15th October 1983: 15,545 indicated, 1421.5 engine, 34.22 mpg, 182.8p/g

20th October 1983: 15,772 indicated, 183.8p/g

21st October 1983: 15,835 indicated, 1711.3 engine, 27.75 mpg, 183.7p/g

22nd October 1983: Herald made her track debut today at Mallory Park, Leicestershire to try out new SAH suspension modifications
TR4A and out drove a GT6-2, admittedly a tired out one! - Great Fun!
If the tyres don't squeal all the way around, then you're not trying hard enough!

22nd October 1983: 16,043 indicated, 34.57 mpg, 183.7p/g

22nd October 1983: n.b. last 1,551 miles at an average of 32.33 mpg, also total mileage covered in October 1983 = 1,865 miles.

Some unfortunate side effects of the latest mods were the tendency to ground the exhaust system, slung beneath the chassis on later Heralds, also the rapid wearing of the inside edges of the rear tyres, not to mention the very hard Spax dampers loosening one's teeth etc!

29th October 1983: 16,313 indicated, 34.43 mpg, 183.7p/g

<19831022h, Mallory Park, Leicestershire>

<19831022x, Mallory Park, Leicestershire>

Posted 2012-05-09 23:45:16 by Léon Guyot

September 1983

Wed, 09 May 2012 23:24:19 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

10th September 1983: 2 miles, Round Great Bookham Village, Surrey.

10th September 1983: 19 miles, Great Bookham to Wimbledon

13th September 1983: 44 miles, Wimbledon to Orpington to Wimbledon

14th September 1983: 68 miles, Wimbledon to Pirbright to Wimbledon

14th September 1983: 99,062, 14,315 indicated, 37,811 engine, 183.7p/g

15th September 1983: 21 miles, Wimbledon to Whitton to Wimbledon

16th September 1983: Mr.Smyth, LVLO Inspector called to look at Herald.

17th September 1983: 2 miles, Wimbledon to Merton Park

17th September 1983: 9 miles, Merton Park to A3 (Esher turnoff) and back

17th September 1983: 9 miles, To Merton Park

17th September 1983: 2 miles, Merton Park to Wimbledon

18th September 1983: Waxoyld car outside Richard Andrews' Dad's garage in Merton Park

18th September 1983: 30 miles, Wimbledon to Walton-on-Thames to Uxbridge, Middlesex.

18th September 1983: 6 miles, Uxbridge to Hayes to Ealing (Ealing-M40/J2-Hayes-Wimbledon= 8 + 13 + 4 + 5 +12)

19th September 1983: 9 miles, Wimbledon-Morden(4)-Raynes Park(1)-Wimbledon(4)

20th September 1983: Speedo Cable now refitted with correct angle drive, so mileage without cable = 391 miles

20th September 1983: Tonight, Petrol hose split and I lost about 1.75 gallons. New Addington, Surrey.
TSSC West Kent Area members came to rescue when I phoned them at the Meeting.

21st September 1983: 99,365, 14,227 indicated, 103.5 miles on engine 183.7p/g

25the September 1983: TSSC East Kent Area day trip to France, camping at Hawthorne Farm campsite near Martin, Kent

The Triumphs stayed behind whilst we went over to Bologne on the 'Herald of Free Enterprise'

25th September 1983: 99,630, 14,492 indicated, 367.7, 37.32 mpg 183.7p/g

25th September 1983: On way home, visited Seabrook-on-Sea (on A259), Kent. (between Hythe & Folkestone)

<19830925a, Hawthorne Farm, near Martin, Kent>

<19830925b, Seabrook-on-Sea, Kent>

Posted 2012-05-09 23:24:19 by Léon Guyot

Pulled Leaf Spring

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:19:24 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Since the car was up on stands already, I thought I'd try to implement the quick Spitfire sag remedy using the Nylon washers from Lowes. Got the spring out and cleaned pretty well then put in the washers. Think I will RTV seal it with a dab and then paint the spring tomorrow. I should be ready for a re-install then I can finish the drum brakes and do my water pump too. Also going to use some Lithium Grease on the spring to see how that helps.

Posted 2012-05-09 21:19:24 by Anthony Kurilla

Finally Fixing The Rear End Problems

Wed, 09 May 2012 19:27:36 -0700

Todd Gaulin's Journal --

Finally got around to fixing the vibration and noise coming from the rear end of my car. I've always had it and lived with it up till now. I put the car away for the winter 3 years ago when the vibration seemed a little more pronounced. So this weekend I started tearing things apart. It's been a while since I've done any major repairs and I was much younger then and not as wise. I started out by removing the rear driveshaft bolts then realizing I needed to remove the exhaust pipe. I seem to remember that mounting the muffler was a pain in the ass but the other option was unbolting the header from the block. Decided on the muffler mounts and after disconnecting the pipe clamp at the front of the car, I removed the exhaust. I made not that the front adapter pipe look REALLY shabby. I'll have to replace that. On to the front driveshaft bolts. Whoops, they are above the crossmember. I didn't have any wrenches to go around a corner and there was no access from the other side. I didn't want to do it, but I disassembled the center support for the dash and removed the tunnel cover to access the driveshaft bolts. The driveshaft came out and both u-joints look good. Damn, forgot to mark the ends like it says in the book. Oh well, I probably had it in wrong when I had it apart last time.

Posted 2012-05-09 19:27:36 by Todd Gaulin

Drum Brakes Removed

Tue, 08 May 2012 20:21:48 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Got the drums off the car and OMG, what a mess. The shoes appeared to be melting and all the years of crud, abuse , etc were staring at me. It is a wonder the car could stop. I would love to rebuild the entire rear-end but that will need to be at a later date. Want to get rid of the Spit-sag and improve the handling, but fresh brakes and new wheel cylinders will have to do.

I also ordered the water pump so I can replace the one that is about to die on me before it actually does. I discovered what looks to be a home-made drain plug for the differential. It does not look good but I do not want to touch something when it is not leaking. It does look ghetto though so I may have to touch it eventually. I will check my diff.fluid level and consistency to see what is what.

I still need several more rounds of cleaning to get all the crud off the back-plate and around axles, so the drum will be at least clean and ready for the new cylinders.

Posted 2012-05-08 20:21:48 by Anthony Kurilla

Car Is About Completed

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:38:12 -0700

Dave B's Journal --

The new Ford mags wheels make the spitfire look right at home parked amongst today's cars. The front end modification make it look more sporty in my opinion. Will start driving it for the first time later this week. Still a few odds and ends to do on the inside.

<Picture 220>	<Picture 227>	<Picture 231>
<Picture 230>

Posted 2012-05-08 17:38:12 by Dave B

Wheel Adapters

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:29:32 -0700

Dave B's Journal --

Well I installed my new lug bolts and wheel adapter today without any problems. I replaced the original lugs bolts (3/8) to larger 12 x 1.5 . With the adapters installed I can now install my 15 inch Ford Focus 4 x 108 bolt rims.

<old and new>

<adapter cnc machined>

<Ford Focus mags wheels installed>

Posted 2012-05-08 17:29:32 by Dave B

7000 MILES LATER

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:26:03 -0700

Denny Roper's Journal --

I'VE BEEN DRIVING OLE GREEN TO WORK (75 MILES RT) NOW ALMOST EVERY DAY SINCE THE WEATHER HAS TURNED. SHE IS GETTING 27 MILES PER AND RUNNING GREAT. GETTING READY TO START REPLACING SOME SUSPENSION PARTS AND TAKE HER ON A ROAD TRIP. I'VE SINCE BOUGHT A 1974 DATSUN 260Z THAT WAS COMPLETELY RESTORED AROUND 1990. I THINK I MIGHT TRY TO TRADER IT OFF FOR ANOTHER TR6 WITH A HARD TOP. MIGHT BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT MORE IN THE WINTER. THE Z CAR HAS A GREAT HEATER BUT IS NOT GETTING DRIVEN AS MUCH SINCE THE TOP GOES DOWN ON THE TR6. LOTS OF LITTLE THINGS TO DO TO OLE GREEN YET, JUST TRYING TO FIND THE TIME. ALWAYS AN ISSUE.

<BUFFED OUT>

<WILD PIC>

Posted 2012-05-08 11:26:03 by denny roper

August 1983

Sun, 06 May 2012 20:21:31 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

1st August 1983: 98,735, 13,988 indicated, MOT test passed at Phoenix Motors, South Wimbledon

1st August 1983: Attempted to get Herald re-registered as 1967 LG, but DVLC wouldn't wear it, so neither did the Herald, which got KGF21A instead.

7th August 1983: 98,871, 14,124 indicated, Last recorded mileage on original engine GA220654HE, this (original) engine now showing signs of despair.

7th August 1983: Round the back of Police apartments in Hammersmith, West London, Engine, Gearbox & Propshaft all removed.

8th August 1983: Went to Hammersmith by train to work on engine bay etc,

10th August 1983: Went to Hammersmith by train to work on engine bay etc.

11th August 1983: Went to Hammersmith by train to work on engine bay etc.

12th August 1983: Went to Hammersmith by train to work on engine bay etc.

13th August 1983: To Hammersmith, also carried out partial respray of bulkhead area

13th August 1983: Replacement Engine: GA233148HE, (from very rusty 1200 Estate) & D-type Overdrive Gearbox/Sliding Joint Propshaft fitted.

14th August 1983: Finishing off engine fitting etc, added 2.2 gallons of petrol from can.

15th August 1983: Herald finally restarted, after Bruce Jopling (TSSC Thames Area) helped to track down airlock in fuel line, added 2.72 gallons of petrol.

16th August 1983: Herald 'tuned' n.b. To calculate correct engine mileage, add 23,496 miles to indicated figure of 14,124 on odometer,
because replacement engine has covered 37,620 miles on fitting.

17th August 1983: Herald back home with its' newly allocated registration of KGF 21A

17th August 1983: 98,889, 14,142 indicated, 37,638, 16.96 mpg due to tuning etc.

17th August 1983: problem with speedo cable, it failed to record the following journeys, due to no angle drive on overdrive, thanks to Gareth Thomas.

18th August 1983: 5 miles: New Malden to Wimbledon
18th August 1983: 25 miles: Westerham to Wimbledon
19th August 1983: 10 miles: Wimbledon to Roehampton to Wimbledon
19th August 1983: 50 miles: Wimbledon to Whitton to Wimbledon & twice round A316 'circuit'
19th August 1983: 18 miles: Wimbledon to Bookham

<19830812a, Hammersmith, London>

<19830817f, Wimbledon, London>

Posted 2012-05-06 20:21:31 by Léon Guyot

Summer 1983

Sun, 06 May 2012 20:06:33 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

3rd July 1983: Easthampstead Park Autosunday, Bracknell, Berkshire -Herald won 3rd prize in Concours

5th July 1983: 97,735, 12,988 indicated, Best MPG 23.95, 179.1p/g

10th July 1983: Classic Car Show at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire

13th July 1983: TSSC Hants & Surrey Area Meeting,The Royal Oak, Pirbright, Surrey

13th July 1983: 97,922, 13,175 indicated, Best MPG 22.00, 183.7p/g

14th July 1983: 98,021, Herald First registered 16 years ago today

16th July 1983: TSSC Anglia Area BBQ weekend, Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire.
My smokey engine stopped half way through the driving test and wouldn't restart so I got the wooden spoon!
98,129, 13,382 indicated, Best MPG 27.14, 183.7p/g.
of the above drove Orpington-Whittlesford, 70 miles in 45 minutes,
10.35-11.10am, therefore average 93 mph and that with a worn engine!

17th July 1983: 98,344, 13,597 indicated, Best MPG 26.32, 183.7p/g
drove home via Brighton, Sussex, just to visit the seaside in such nice sunny weather!

23rd July 1983: 98,531, 13,784 indicated, Best MPG 23.98, 183.7p/g
Started stripping, inspecting & cleaning the spare low mileage Herald 1200-II Estate Engine which I bought for £9, and fitted the brand new petrol pump that I had paid £4 for on 25th June '83.

30th July 1983: 98,679, 13,932 indicated, Best MPG 18.12 Smoking Well!, 183.7p/g

30th July 1983: Herald Steam Cleaned underneath & some fibreglass came off the back of the LH front Outrigger!

<19830717a, Brighton, Sussex>

<19830730a, Feltham, Middlesex>

Posted 2012-05-06 20:06:33 by Léon Guyot

More Metal Removal

Sun, 06 May 2012 16:21:01 -0700

My 76 Spit Refurbishment --

This weekend I managed to get more little scraps of metal off of the car. In many places I find I have to first break apart brazed pieces, and then drill out the spot welds on the leftovers of original pieces. It's very time consuming. Today I bought a little air powered cutoff tool that will help out.

I started cutting out the rocker panels to see how bad it is inside, and found a 2x3 box tube inside. Out front of the body tub are angle iron pieces on the frame outriggers. I suspect these are welded to the box tubes that run behind the rocker panels. I didn't remove too much of the rocker as I want to wait until the new panels arrive to get a more accurate idea of how much needs to be cut out.

At the front of the car, the firewall has some smaller patches on it, again brazed. These actually don't seem too bad so I may see about grinding the brazing down and if they are solid with no holes, leave them as they are. Some will have to be replaced simply because they are new metal on top of old.

I found the frame has been patched with sheet steel at the very front where the towing T-slot is, so now the body will definitely be coming off to see how bad it really is. I figure I'll do what body work I can with the body on the frame, and then when it's off I can check the hidden areas.

<The patched frame and hole. 20 gauge steel won't cut it....>

<The firewall is in fairly decent shape!>

Posted 2012-05-06 16:21:01 by Eric G

The Beginning

Sat, 05 May 2012 15:46:09 -0700

My 76 Spit Refurbishment --

This was my first car, bought with saved up after school job money. It was always a fun car, but the low HP and lack of passenger space eventually found it left abandoned in favour of a 1981 Monte Carlo.

I was telling a friend of mine about the Spitfire a few years after I had bought it, and he was interested in buying it. I told him I'd give it a once over and he could buy it. A bicycle or some other clutter in the garage fell over, hit the rear fender, and knocked a piece of car out. It was a chunk of bondo, and exposed a really bad brazing job that had warped the panel. I told my friend that he probably didn't want this car (I wouldn't have sold it to him in that shape) and so I began tearing it down about 10 years ago.

Over the years I had bought a house which really dented the repair budget, although ebay was always a good place for deals. Seven years ago I was moving here to Florida, so I partially assembled the car and drove down here with it inside the U-Haul truck, towing the Monte Carlo behind on a car trailer.

Now I'm trying to get back to fixing the old car up and getting it driving again. Since it's stripped down I figured I might as well finish what I had started.

The previous owner had spent a small fortune on mechanical components but when it came to the body work, it was shortcut city. Many rusted panels were simply wrapped over with fresh metal and brazed on. The bondo was on so thick that I had no idea that the lower rear fender just behind the B-post, had that little transition from the wheel arch to the flat panel.

So, hopefully I will have some more journal entries with progress. Right now I am doing a bit of investigation to see how bad the body really is. I must admit I have given up a few times and then gone right back to it, so it can't be that bad lol.

As it stands now, I will have to replace the lower section of the rear inner fender, outer wheel well lip, and outer fender. I've ordered rocker panels from ebay, I suspect they might need a bit of fitting as they were pretty cheap price wise.

I'm going to get a bead roller. I have been reading up and watching tutorial videos, and this machine will do quite a bit to save money. (Besides it's purchase cost.)

Sorry about the length of this entry, I just thought it would be good to know the story to this point! Here is the rear drivers side as it looks right now.

<Rear fender area after removal of previous owners sandwich wrapping patchwork>

<The upper and front parts of the inner fender and wheel arch are surface rusty but very solid!>

Posted 2012-05-05 15:46:09 by Eric G

Spring Into Summer 1983

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:04 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

27th May 1983: 95,540, 10,793 indicated, Best MPG 35.20, Dover, Kent 179.0p/g
Herald's first foray onto foreign shores:
Standard-Triumph International Rally 8 (STIR VIII) around Europe & met Corrie Oosterom & Paul Higler of the Triumph Dolomite Club, NL, from Utrecht.
Dad & I went together & camped, and it rained, a lot!

29th May 1983, 95,783, 11,036 indicated, Best MPG 32.25 Arnhem, Holland, 170.0p/g

30th May 1983, 95,832, 11,085 indicated, Best MPG 28.26 Arnhem, Holland, 174.0p/g

31st May 1983, 96,084, 11,337 indicated, Best MPG 35.29 Nassau, West Germany, 174.0p/g

1st June 1983, 96,291, 11,544 indicated, Best MPG 33.58 Luxembourg, 143.9p/g

2nd June 1983, Topped up from spare can with 10 litres on the north of Brussels ring road, near Grimbergen,Belgium

2nd June 1983, 11,835 indicated, Topped up near Aalst, Belgium with 20 litres, paid for in West German Deutschmarks.

3rd June 1983, 96,733, 11,986 indicated, Best MPG 32.16 Wimbledon, 179.1p/g

8th June 1983, TSSC Hants & Surrey Area Meeting,The Royal Oak, Pirbright, Surrey

9th June 1983, TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Winning Post, Brentford, Middlesex.

10th June 1983: 96,975, 12,228 indicated, Best MPG 26.11, 177.9p/g

n.b. Average Fuel Consumption over last 7,538 miles = 26.38 MPG, Best = 38.20 MPG, Worst = 18.09 MPG
Touring Average over 1,278 miles = 33.66 MPG.

12th June 1983: Syon Park, Middlesex, Autojumble

18th June 1983: 97,128, 12,381 indicated, Best MPG 21.49, 177.9p/g

19th June 1983: Gurston Down Hillclimb near Salisbury, Wiltshire to watch TSSC participation, with Carolyn.

21st June 1983: TSSC West Kent Area Meeting,The Grasshopper P.H.,Westerham, Kent, 97,374, 12,627 indicated, Best MPG 29.45 179.1p/g.

25th June 1983: TSSC East Kent/West Kent Camping weekend and Concours, Paddock Wood, Kent (near Orpington).
Herald won Concours based on condition/age/mileage, despite clapped-out engine/gearbox.

26th June 1983: visit to Practical Classics Bromley Pageant of Motoring at Norman Park, Bromley, Kent.
97,569, 12,822 indicated, Best MPG 23.37, 179.1p/g.

<19830527m, Belgium>

<19830530f, Lahnstein, West Germany>

Posted 2012-05-05 00:00:04 by Léon Guyot

The 4A

Fri, 04 May 2012 17:25:21 -0700

John McLaughlin's Journal --

I purchased the car in April 1966 from Brittanic Motors on Brighton Ave in Boston for $3395! The car had wire wheels a radio and heater It became the daily driver for 4 years. Did some of the 24hour Winter rallies that were popular back in the day when gas prices were much lower does anyone remember .35/gal premium?I had 4 snow tires and a set of chains for winter driving.In 2008 I sold it sothat I could buy one of those German "P" cars. Nothing wrong with the "P"car in fact I really liked driving it but Doing anythig on the car was more labor intensive than with working on the TR. In those 88,000 miles of owneership I had rebuilt everything except the engine, transmission and rear diff. When it required rust repairs I took it to a shop familiar with TRs. While it was at the shop I asked that the car be checked out, was the frame sound and could it be repaired not to concours shape but all rust removed and repaired and repainted. It could and this was done. It went through 3 tops, I converted to disc wheels,put on a "Formula" steering and had one clutch replacement.The car was so easy to work on that quite often I'd go out to the garage just to "fiddle". Yeah,I miss it.I did sell the "P" car after 4 years.

Posted 2012-05-04 17:25:21 by John McLaughlin

April-May 1983

Wed, 02 May 2012 22:18:17 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

5th April 1983: 94,352 Rear drum brake slave cylinders renewed

14th April 1983: 94,352, 9,605 indicated, Best MPG 21.16, 179.1p/g

17th April 1983: TSSC Thames Area Second South of England Meet, B.L.Heritage Collection, Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex.

26th April 1983: 94,544, 9,797 indicated, Best MPG 23.44, 177.9p/g.

1st May 1983: Dad & I cleaned front Calipers and painted four Herald Wheels in Silver Hammerite.

2nd May 1983: Sutton & Cheam Lions Transport Spectacular, Cheam Park, Surrey

6th May 1983: 94,724, 9,977 indicated, Best MPG 23.81, 177.9p/g.

8th May 1983, TSSC West Kent Area Treasure Hunt - around Kent

9th May 1983: 94,925, 10,178 indicated, Best MPG 23.95, 179.1p/g.

9th May 1983: TSSC East Kent Area Meeting, Detling, Kent

14th May 1983: TSSC International Concours Meeting, Donington Park Race Circuit, East Midlands.
15th May 1983: as above

17th May 1983: 95,128, 10,381 indicated, Best MPG 25.06, 179.1p/g.

21st May 1983: 95,323, 10,576 indicated, Best MPG 24.93, 179.0p/g

26th May 1983, 95,446, 10,699 indicated, Best MPG 20.57, 179.1p/g
Low reading due to car being tuned whilst stationary.

<19830417b, Wimbledon, London>

<19830417d, Syon Park, Middlesex>

Posted 2012-05-02 22:18:17 by Léon Guyot

Spring 1983

Wed, 02 May 2012 22:05:12 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

8th March 1983: 93,324, 8,577 indicated,Best MPG 19.04, 166.9p/g

9th March 1983: TSSC Hants & Surrey Area Meeting,The Royal Oak, Pirbright, Surrey.

12th March 1983: 93,440, 8,693 indicated,Best MPG 28.04, 166.0p/g

I believed, in error, that I had put in two-star petrol, but poor running was due to something else!

13th March 1983: TSSC Thames Area run down to TSSC Race day at Goodwood circuit, Sussex, met at The Winning Post first.

13th March 1983: 93,450, 8,703 indicated, 166.9p/g

19th March 1983: Just completed modifications to dashboard, including refitting it to car.

19th March 1983: 93,611, 8,864 indicated, Best MPG 22.77, 165.5p/g

19th March 1983: (above whilst out of tune & running on jammed choke!)

20th March 1983: TSSC Sussex Area Meet, The Five Bells, Chailey, Sussex.

20th March 1983: 93,776, 9,029 indicated, Best MPG 20.42, Average MPG 25.52

26th March 1983: Note: Low reading of 20.42 mpg above due to tuning whilst car standing still with engine running

26th March 1983: On last run, car travelled London to Bristol,
119 miles in one and a half hours averaging 80 mph, the first 25 minutes of which was from Wimbledon to the M4,
i.e.Wimbledon:8.04am, Bristol (East):9.34 am, for Bristol Classic Car Show, 93,983, 9,236 indicated, Best MPG 28.78, 166.9p/g

29th March 1983: 94,184, 9,437 indicated, Best MPG 30.97, 167.9p/g

<19830309a, The Royal Oak, Pirbright, Surrey>

<19830313d, Goodwood Racetrack, Sussex>

Posted 2012-05-02 22:05:12 by Léon Guyot

Winter/Spring 1983

Tue, 01 May 2012 23:22:21 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

3rd January 1983: 92,064, 7,317 indicated, Best MPG 29.36 Average MPG 27.09, 166.9p/g.

8th January 1983: 92,213, 7,466 indicated, Best MPG 27.54 Average MPG 27.12, 167.9p/g.

9th January 1983: 92,377, 7,630 indicated, Best MPG 30.26 167.7p/g.

16th January 1983: 92,500, 7,753 indicated, Best MPG 20.86 166.4p/g.

18th January 1983: 92,500, Automec Copper Brake Pipes fitted.

21st January 1983: 92,696, 7,949 indicated, Best MPG 27.35 164.6p/g.

30th January 1983: 92,810, 8,063 indicated, Best MPG 20.29 162.3p/g.

9th February 1983: 92,895, 8,148 indicated, Best MPG 18.09 Icy Conditions, 168.9p/g.

9th February 1983: TSSC Hants & Surrey Area Meeting,The Royal Oak, Pirbright, Surrey.

13th February 1983: TSSC Thames Area St.Valentine's Photocall, Richmond Park, Surrey, in the snow.

15th February 1983: 93,037, 8,290 indicated, Best MPG 23.77 167.9p/g.

15th February 1983: TSSC West Kent Area Meeting,The Grasshopper P.H.,Westerham, Kent (I began dating Carolyn).

20th February 1983: 93,203, 8,456 indicated, Best MPG 24.12 168.7p/g.

3rd March 1983: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Winning Post, Brentford, Middlesex,

4th March 1983: My 24th Birthday.

5th March 1983: Fitted Vitesse Mk.2 Reversing lamp to Herald and resprayed part of bootlid in upstairs spare bedroom - undercoated

<19830109b Wimbledon, London>

<19830122, Langley, Berkshire>

Posted 2012-05-01 23:22:21 by Léon Guyot

Winter 1982

Tue, 01 May 2012 23:03:04 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

8th December 1982: 91,422, 6,675 indicated, Best MPG 20.10 Average MPG 27.55, 176.4p/g

9th December 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting: The Winning Post,(15 Triumphs)

11th December 1982: TSSC Thames Area/West Kent Area Xmas Meal, Bookham Grange Hotel, Great Bookham, Surrey, (15 Triumphs)

16th December 1982: 91,629, 6,882 indicated, Best MPG 28.83 Average MPG 27.66, 172.8p/g

23rd December 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting: The Winning Post,
(14 Triumphs)

23rd December 1982: 91,795, 7,048 indicated, Best MPG 23.9 Average MPG 27.37: 172.8p/g

28th December 1982: Bought Hard-Top from man in Catford, S.E. London

30th December 1982: 91,941, 7,194 indicated, Best MPG 23.25 Average MPG 26.93, 170.0p/g

************************************************************

Costs in 1982 HERALD

Parts & Labour £1,645.16
Road Tax £80
Insurance £82.08
MOT Test £7.50
TSSC Subs £11
AA/RAC Subs NIL
Petrol £218.59
Grand Total £2,044.33

Average Value £756
Net Income £3,931.41
% spent on car 52%

*************************************************************
My Vitesse project:

Parts: £29.10

Total: £29.10

Average Value: £1,225

% spent on car 0.70%
**************************************************************

<19821211, Bookham Grange Hotel, Surrey>

<19821228b, Wimbledon, London>

Posted 2012-05-01 23:03:04 by Léon Guyot

Autumn 1982 Continued

Tue, 01 May 2012 22:57:01 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

1st October 1982: 90,564, 5,817 indicated, Best MPG 27.88 Average MPG 30.55, 174.8p/g, (Dads 60th Birthday today)

14th October 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middlesex,(8 Triumphs)

17th October 1982: 90,739, 5,992 indicated, Best MPG 22.10 Average MPG 29.34, 174.1p/g

30th October 1982: 90,808, 6,061 indicated, MOT Test, Phoenix Motors, South Wimbledon.

7th November 1982: TSSC Thames Area followed the London to Brighton Run & visited the Brighton Classic Car Show at The Metropole Hotel
90,891, 6,144 indicated, Best MPG 22.93, Average MPG 28.54, 175.5p/g

11th November 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting: Last Meeting at The Bell, Hampton, Middlesex,(19 Triumphs)

22nd November 1982: I passed my second driving test in Morden, Surrey in a red Datsun Sunny, the examiner was a lady with a 'split' skirt and long legs - was she examining me or my driving?

25th November 1982: TSSC Thames Area, First Meeting at The Winning Post, Brentford, Middlesex,(20 Triumphs)

28th November 1982: TSSC AGM at Leicester with Dad, 91,051, 6,304 indicated, Best MPG 25.81, Average MPG 28.24, 172.8p/g

28th November 1982: 91,290, 6,543 indicated, Best MPG 28.86, Average MPG 28.30, 172.7p/g.

<19821122a, Wimbledon, London>

<19821122b, Belmont Hotel, Leicester, Leicestershire>

Posted 2012-05-01 22:57:01 by Léon Guyot

Autumn 1982

Tue, 01 May 2012 22:49:08 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

28th August 1982: Stoneleigh Festival of Transport, Warwickshire, with Dad, (camped at Leamington Spa Rugby Club)

28th August 1982: Parked Herald inside entrance of Triumph factory at Canley for photo on way home.

30th August 1982: 89,609, 4,862 indicated, Best MPG 29.48, Average MPG 29.48, 170.0p/g

10th September 1982: 89,772, 5,025 indicated, Best MPG 28.35, Average MPG 28.92, 169.6p/g

11th September 1982: Beaulieu, Hampshire, Autojumble.

12th September 1982: 89,993, Standard-Triumph International Rally (STIR) 7 at Rousham Park, Oxfordshire with Mum & Dad

12th September 1982: I won STIR photo competition with photo of Herald

12th September 1982: 89,993, 5,246 indicated, Best MPG 34.47 Average MPG 30.77, 169.6p/g

17th September 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middlesex, (15 Triumphs)

26th September 1982: 90,366, 5,619 indicated, Best MPG 24.90 Average MPG 31.08: 175.5p/g

30th September 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middlesex,(20 Triumphs).

<STIR 7>

<19820912a, Rousham Park, Oxfordshire>

Posted 2012-05-01 22:49:08 by Léon Guyot

New Fluids

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:13:00 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

New oil an gear oil in. The oil drain plug was stripped, but I got it out with some advice from the forum. Been running the car around the hood daily trying to get a feel for all that needs attention. Definitely need to clean-out the transmission. It will make me feel better knowing it is done plus I can see what is inside too. Put some Marvel mystery oil in with oil change and some extra cleaner in gas too. Car sounds soooo sweet now as long as I do not have to shift too much.

Posted 2012-05-01 20:13:00 by Anthony Kurilla

Road Trippin’ With Steve McCarthy Indio-Part TWO!

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 11:37:19 -0700

Road Trippin' With Steve McCarthy --

Ok, you’ve had a good night’s sleep and are raring to hit the road for day two. I really hope you’re doing this in early spring (although in early spring, it might still snow in the mountains you drove on day one! Timing is indeed ‘interesting’ for this trip!), if not, get an early start because we’re talkin’ HOT DESERT and I don’t mean Baked Alaska!
We’ll be heading south along the shores of the Salton Sea, that oddity that used to be part of the Gulf of California until a turn of the last century earthquake raised the land south of there and cut off this arm, making it a land locked salt sea (hence it’s name). At one time it was touted as a Wondrous Resort, but as the salinity has increased (imagine this, an Ecological Bad Thing, NOT caused by either humans OR Republicans OR Big Oil), the fish die off more frequently and really stink up the place. Sadly, it’s pretty much closed up, taking people’s dreams of living on the New Riviera with it. There’s a kinda hard scrabble flint edged attitude amongst the inhabitants in their scruffy trailers and sometimes engine-less motor homes. It’s a bargain for Snowbirds on a Budget.
About half way down the western edge, your gonna turn west, through the Anza Borrego Desert. This place gets REALLY hot, so if you’re a top down kinda traveller (like us), plenty of sun screen and even long sleeve shirts that have SPF protection and some kinda hats are deregiuer. Just like Death Valley, if there’s actually been some rain, the little wild flowers, eking out an existence are marvelous. Even without the flowers, there is an awesome beauty to the landscape. Lunar is the term that usually comes to mind.
Heading south out of the Borrego, you’ll hit the town of Ocotillo. This road was part of the Great Overland Stage Route, and it’s hard to realize what that must have been like. Long, hot, dusty, and unbearably slow, it took some special people to travel this route regularly. Make sure you gas up in Ocotillo. There isn’t much opportunity along I-8.
Yeah, OK, I said it. The “I” word. You know I wouldn’t send you on the Dreaded Interstate unless I had to, but, there is no other way through Carrizo Gorge. Even though it’s Interstate, it’s a pretty neat drive. Deep rocky canyons and spectacular rock formations are the order of the day.
Just past the gorge, we’ll get onto the Old Road. This is the remnant of US Hwy 80. It’s less travelled, has no trucks and obviously is preferable to I-8. If you want, you can keep on I-8, they parallel each other. Old 80 is just more interesting.
About where the interstate shifts a bit north, we’ll head for the hills and lunch, by taking the back way into Julian. Most people have at least heard of this old mining town that’s now famous for it’s Apple Pies. Yep, another Pie Stop! There are a couple of places in town, but to me, Mom’s is THE place. They were the first and make all their pies from scratch! If you time it right and hit Julian early, you can smell the baking pies as you hit town. MAN, there isn’t much better than that! The only equal would be hitting Gilroy at Garlic Pickin’ Time! See, THIS is why I love an open car! The ability to smell the world around you is far superior to our usual air-conditioned-bottled-air-’freshener’-scented isolation in modern cars.
Now Julian is tiny. Parking is a pain. A lot of the shops have the usual happy crappy in them, but there are some neat ones. In addition to Mom’s, there are other eateries, B&B’s and places to get organic honeys and jams. Check out http://www.visitjulian.com/ for more info.
Now if you have a group, or don’t want to fight the parking, here’s a tip. Mom’s has a place just north of town in Wynola. It’s on the highway and is hard to miss. Wynola actually looks even neater than “downtown” Julian. There are some antique places and even a guy who makes HARD CIDER! Tough to beat that. The Mom’s in Wynola is really just for pies, but hey, pie for lunch? What’s wrong with that?
After Julian, we’ll be heading east again, back through the heart of the Anza Borrego to a town called Borrego Springs. To do this, we descend Montezuma Pass. This is a Montezuma’s Revenge of a different sort. This is a really great road, but be careful of the Motor Home Idiots. A month or so ago, one went “sailin’ on out there”. I guess it’s not an irregular occurrence.
Through Borrego Springs we’ll head back to the Salton Sea, then back north to Indio for night two. Although it’s been a short jaunt (under 200 miles), it’s been a challenging trip, and one where you actually have time to dawdle and still get back to the joys of a cool motel pool in time for the real heat of the day.
Next month, in part three, we’ll hit a couple of museums, Joshua Tree, and lovely Mecca. Until then, keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down.
Day 2
Tropics Motor Hotel
82297 Indio Boulevard
Indio, CA 92201-3129
1. RIGHT on Indio Blvd toward Palm St 2.9 mi
2. CONTINUE onto CA-111 S/CA-86
Continue to follow CA-86 18.2 mi
3. LEFT ON CA-86 N/81st Ave 0.3 mi
4. RIGHT ON CA-86 S 27.4 mi
5. RIGHT onto CA-78 38.5 mi
6. LEFT onto County Route S2/Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849
Continue to follow Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849 29.4 mi
7. CONTINUE onto County Route S2/Sweeny Pass Rd
Continue to follow County Route S2 17.8 mi
135 mi – about 3 hours 0 mins
Ocotillo, CA
GAS UP HERE!
8. SOUTH on County Route S2 toward Opal Rd 0.3 mi
9. RIGHT to merge onto I-8 W toward San Diego 23.5 mi
10. TAKE EXIT 65 for Ribbonwood Rd/CA-94 toward Campo Blvd 0.4 mi
11. LEFT onto CA-94 W/Ribbonwood Rd 0.6 mi
12. RIGHT onto CA-94 W/Old Hwy 80
Continue to follow CA-94 W 12.6 mi
13. RIGHT onto Buckman Springs Rd/San Diego County Rd S 1 9.6 mi
14. LEFT onto Old Buckman Springs Rd 0.9 mi
15. SLIGHT LEFT onto San Diego County Rd S 1 27.1 mi
16. RIGHT onto CA-79 N 5.8 mi
17. LEFT onto Main St (signs for Julian) 0.3 mi
18. LEFT onto Washington St 0.2 mi
19. CONTINUE onto CA-78 W/CA-79 N/Julian Rd
Destination will be on the right 3.8 mi
84.9 mi – about 2 hours 12 mins
LUNCH STOP! AND YEAH, EAT THE APPLE PIE! WE’LL VOTE TONIGHT ON THE WINNER!!!
MOM’S PIE
4510 California 78
Julian, CA 92036
AFTER LUNCH:
20. RIGHT on CA-78 W/CA-79 N/Julian Rd toward Springview Rd 2.8 mi
21. RIGHT onto CA-79 N 11.4 mi
22. RIGHT onto County Route S2/San Felipe Rd 4.7 mi
23. LEFT onto Montezuma Valley Rd 17.4 mi
24. RIGHT onto Palm Canyon Dr 1.4 mi
25. At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on Palm Canyon Dr 4.4 mi
26. CONTINUE onto Pegleg Rd 2.4 mi
27. CONTINUE onto Borrego Salton Seaway 13.1 mi
28. CONTINUE onto Borrego Salton Sea Way 7.5 mi
29. LEFT onto CA-86 N 14.9 mi
30. LEFT onto CA-86 S/81st Ave 0.3 mi
31. RIGHT onto CA-86 N/Harrison St
Continue to follow CA-86 N 19.6 mi
32. CONTINUE onto Interstate 10 Business W-INDIO BLVD 1.7 mi
33. Make a U-turn at Sun Gold St
Destination will be on the right 0.1 mi
102 mi – about 2 hours 36 mins
Tropics Motor Hotel
82297 Indio Boulevard
Indio, CA 92201-3129

<ab-wildflowers-3 anza-borrego-state-park-california>

<moms>

Posted 2012-04-29 11:37:19 by Steve McCarthy

Summertime 1982

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:31:03 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

For this Summer, I had to rely on my Dad to drive, BUT it was good, because I got to spend quality time with him. (I miss you old man!)

13th May 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (19 Triumphs)

22nd May 1982: TSSC National Concours, Donington Park, East Midlands.

23rd May 1982: Went with Dad to watch TSSC/Jaguar Club Sprint at Curborough, near Lichfield. On the way home, the Heralds small 13/60 type radiator began overheating. (petrol today at 162.8p/g)

27th May 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (19 Triumphs)

31st May 1982: Practical Classics Bromley Pageant of Motoring, Norman Park, Bromley, Kent

14th June 1982: 88,122 miles

17th June 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (14 Triumphs)

20th June 1982: TSSC Thames Area Treasure Hunt (4 Triumphs took part) and afterwards went to visit our ex-neighbour (Jeremy's) Pub (The Bell), in Whitchurch, Hampshire.

24th June 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (14 Triumphs)

27th June 1982: Hot Air Balloon Meet, Calshot, Southampton, Hampshire, and on way home, Dad & I visited Chichester, where I had lived, and also Mum & Dad's old house in Kingsham Avenue,which they left around 1954.

4th July 1982: Rotary Club AutoSunday, Bracknell, Berkshire, where Herald took 3rd place in Concours

5th August 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middlesex,(22 Triumphs)

8th August 1982: TSSC Thames Area run to 'Nostalgia' at the Goat Pub on Hertford Heath (8 Triumphs)

16th August 1982: 89,400 miles: Motolarm Ultrasonic Electronic alarm system fitted

19th August 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (23 Triumphs)

27th August 1982: 89,437/4,690 miles, changed sticking speedometer for another one reading 4,690 miles.

<19820522f, Castle Donington, E.M., Jean Guyot & Paul Bennett>

<outside the Triumph factory gates>

Posted 2012-04-27 22:31:03 by Léon Guyot

Gettin There

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:52:18 -0700

Mark Freece's Journal --

Well motor is in just finishing up with hooking everything up. Gotta get new hoses and rubber lines!

<Motor>

<DSC 0400>

Posted 2012-04-27 14:52:18 by Mark Freece

Winter/Spring 1982

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:47:49 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

3rd January 1982: Lost rear radius arm shims from car.

4th February 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (27 Triumphs)

14th February 1982: TSSC Thames Area St.Valentines day visit to Syon Park, Lunch in Richmond and photo call in Richmond Park, (16 Triumphs)

16th February 1982: Goodbye to Thames Area Organisers: Chris and Hilary Owen.

18th February 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (31 Triumphs)

21st February 1982: TSSC Thames Area Liaison with Sussex Area (their 4th meeting), The 5 Bells, Chailey,Sussex

27th February 1982: TSSC Thames Area 10-Pin bowling at Tolworth Bowl, Surrey

4th March 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (19 Triumphs) and Léons 23rd Birthday!

6th March 1982: 85,174 indicated miles.

18th March 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (22 Triumphs)

23rd March 1982: 162.8p/gallon

24th March 1982: 85,454 indicated miles.
Alternator wired-in by Stantons' Electrical at New Malden, Surrey

26th March 1982: Engine Tuned by Home Tune

28th March 1982: British Sports Car Day at University Motors, Epsom, Surrey, with TR Drivers Club.

1st April 1982: TSSC Thames Area Meeting, The Bell, Hampton, Middx (21 Triumphs)

3rd April 1982: Bristol Classic Car Show & Autojumble

4th April 1982: Visited Léons Mum's Cousin, Richard Wickens at Cheddar, Somerset

17th April 1982: Raid on Bridgers' Breakers Yard at Pease Pottage, Sussex

25th April 1982: TSSC Thames Area First ever South of England Meet held at The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire, where Léon was Event Originator, and with the help of Chris Childs, ran the event, with Mum & Dad bringing the Herald down from Wimbledon.

<19820214c, Richmond, Surrey>

<19820221d, Chailey, Sussex, photo Bob Rowland>

Posted 2012-04-26 22:47:49 by Léon Guyot

Engine

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:00:51 -0700

Mark Freece's Journal --

Well been too busy to work on the Spit but, got the day off and the motor back last week. Put most of the motor together over the week end and today my buddy Pastor Paul is coming over to give me a hand with putting in in the car... Wooohoo!

Posted 2012-04-25 05:00:51 by Mark Freece

Recommissioning

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:56:53 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

6th July 1981: Worked on Herald tonight

8th July 1981: Worked on Herald tonight

29th July 1981: Worked on Herald all day

4th August 1981: Herald parts finally arrived in post after 14 days wait.

1st September 1981: 83,549 indicated miles, Herald moved under its own power again for the first time since 9th March 1981
Test run to Raynes Park, then Great Bookham : 51.4 miles driven to date

5th September 1981: 83,564 indicated miles, Third run : to Texon resprays of Croydon, Surrey for estimate : 66.5 miles driven to date

6th September 1981: Fourth run: to Raynes Park, air in tyres, distance not recorded but about 6 miles this time.

7th September 1981: Fifth run: to Texon resprays of Croydon for respray, approx 7.5 miles.

10th September 1981: Kenlowe electric fan fitted, the first ever modification

12th September 1981: Herald driven to the Bell Pub, Hampton, Dad driving on a test run.

17th September 1981: First ever TSSC meeting with a Triumph!

31st October 1981: 83,623 indicated miles. MOT Test: passed at Phoenix Motors, South Wimbledon, London.

1st November 1981: 83,659 indicated miles. First ever TSSC outing following London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
6.25 gallons put in, trip counter set to 000.0 miles / 83,659

3rd November 1981: 83,774 indicated miles.

8th November 1981: 83,812 indicated miles, Léon drove Herald for the first time, i.e. kangaroo-hopping around Bookham Station car park.
Filled up with 5.70 gallons, £9.50, trip counter at
152.7 miles / 83,812, petrol at 166.5p/gallon = 26.8 mpg
n.b. Car has been run a lot whilst standing, engine not yet warming up properly due to cold weather and standard fan still fitted - soon to be rectified.

22nd November 1981: 83,914 indicated miles,

Filled up with 4.43 gallons, £7.395, trip counter at 254.7 miles / 83,914, petrol at 166.8p/gallon = 23.0 mpg

n.b. the engine is still being run a lot whilst standing, while electric fan being fitted.
A more meaningful mpg figure may be obtained when the car is used under 'normal' conditions.
Sparkrite 'Electronic Ignition' fitted this week (really just a Spark Booster)
This week dad used Herald to go to/from work in West London

29th September 1981: 84,050 miles, Filled up with 5.86 gallons, £10.04, trip counter at 391.0 miles / 84,050, petrol at 167.9p/gallon = 23.2 mpg
Electric fan & electronic ignition have been on for one week now and car has been used for going to and from work by Dad,in pretty heavy West London rush-hour traffic.

2nd December 1981: Léon failed his first driving test at Southfields test centre in a Datsun

6th December 1981: 84,169 miles, Filled up with 5.44 gallons, £10.44, trip counter at 510.3 miles / 84,169, petrol at 191.0p/gallon = 21.9 mpg. All heavy rush hour driving, plus some engine tests.

13th December 1981: 84,285 miles, Filled up with 5.64 gallons, £9.36, trip counter at 625.9 miles / 84,285, petrol at 166.0p/gallon = 20.5 mpg. This weeks weather has been the worst for 30 years, including snow, ice, blizzards & frost -6 to -9 degrees Celsius

19th December 1981: TSSC Thames Area Xmas Social & discovered that Head Gasket is blowing, 84,383,Cylinder Head Decoke & new gasket

Dec-81: 84,440 miles, 2.2 gallons added from spare can at 781.3 miles indicated.
Temporarily lost count due to intermittent use of vehicle and Dad not taking petrol records.
Also note, timing was out of true for all of the above readings, hence overheating etc.
84,846 miles: Cylinder Head nuts tightened,
(the 500 mile interval was actually 463 miles).

Costs in 1981

Car Cost £300.00
Parts/Labour £1,104.61
Road Tax £70.00
Insurance £102.60
MOT Test £7.10
TSSC Subs £5.75
AA/RAC Subs £0.00
Petrol £6.10
Grand Total £1,596.46

Average Value £736.00 (Practical Classics)
Net Income £2,543.77
% of net income spent on car 62%

<19810401, Wimbledon, London>

<19810817a, Wimbledon, London>

Posted 2012-04-25 00:56:53 by Léon Guyot

The Adventure Begins

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:43:35 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

9th March 1981

Restoration commenced and this was also Léon's first ever day in employment

83,507 indicated miles: Test run to Raynes Park, SW20 and back : 9.6 miles driven to date.

23rd March 1981

Léon joined the Triumph Sports Six Club as member # 81-2119

24th March 1981

Léon's first ever driving lesson 5pm

18th June 1981

Léon's first ever TSSC (Thames Area) meeting The Bell, Hampton, Middx
(he attended on his Honda C70 Motorbike)

Noted down the tyres as fitted to the Herald: A real mixed bag!
Front RH : Radial Textile 'Lee Conquest' 155 x 13"
Front LH : Radial Textile 'Avon Europe' 155 x 13"
Rear RH : Radial Steel 'Dunlop SP4' 155 x 13"
Rear LH : Radial Steel 'Dunlop SP4' 155 x 13"
Spare : Radial Textile 'Goodyear Custom G800 Rib' 155 x 13" (worn)

(The police showed up in a car to enquire as to what Léon was doing looking at his own car outside his own house!)

Posted 2012-04-25 00:43:35 by Léon Guyot

Delivery!

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:39:56 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

8th March 1981

83,497 indicated miles.

Herald was delivered to Wimbledon from Fetcham by Mike Harris & purchased by Léon's Father: Jean J F M Guyot.

Posted 2012-04-25 00:39:56 by Léon Guyot

The Big Day!

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:37:25 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

4th March 1981

Leon's 22nd Birthday

7th March 1981

And so it transpied that following a thorough inspection of the 83,000 mile, 14 year old Herald, Léon, his father: Jean, & Léon's nephew, Danny: took the Herald for a test drive around Surrey, it was raining heavily, the footwells were full of water, everything was loose and rattled, we got lost and had to fill up with petrol in Ockham - it was great! - Léon simply had to have it! It was purchased from Mike Harris of Fetcham -
both Mike's Dad, and Léon's Dad had Sapphire Blue Triumph 2000 Mk.2's, so that was a good sign.
Léon will always remember that Mike Harris said "It hasn't got any worse since I bought it" - hmmm, nor had it got any better! But, they did get a pair of very good 1965 Herald 1200 Saloon doors with the car, plus some other bits n' bobs, and all for the princely sum of £300, given to Léon by his Dad.

Posted 2012-04-25 00:37:25 by Léon Guyot

And Along Came Léon

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:35:05 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

Christmas 1980

Léon first laid eyes on the Herald in the grounds of The Bookham Grange, a country hotel, where his sister: Marie-Jeanne was then working, and he was immediately impressed by Michelotti's timeless styling from late 1957, still attractive after 23 years!
One of Léon's friends: Chris Childs, had recently 'inherited' a LHD Herald 1200-I Estate, this being the very first Herald,
or Triumph for that matter, that Léon had ever travelled in, as a Boy Scout with Chris, and so impressed was Léon by this Convertible
version, that he contacted the owner and informed him of his interest.
The owner: Mike Harris, contacted Léon via his sister and told him that he wanted to sell the Herald to buy a blue MGB previously owned by the singer Rod Stewart.

Posted 2012-04-25 00:35:05 by Léon Guyot

And Then

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:31:37 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

Nothing known until March 1972, when Herald appeared on a small second-hand car dealership in Kingsbury, London, NW9.

21st August 1972: Purchased by Elizabeth Robotkin in London, NW4

1st October 1974: Purchased by Ronald William Dean of Headley Down, Hampshire.

1976: Purchased by Carolyn Jane Grimaldi of Hindhead, Surrey.

30th November 1977: Purchased by Simon Lewin Razzell of Woking, Surrey.

10th March 1978: Purchased by Christopher Graham Church of Byfleet, Surrey.

(Léon wonders if this is the same Christopher Church he went to Rutlish High School with?)

3rd June 1979: Purchased by Michael Kevin Harris of Bookham, Surrey.

11th October 1979: New siderails & rear outriggers fitted, LH centre outrigger repaired, handbrake cable adjusted.

18th October 1979: 73,781 recorded miles:
Boot Floor Outrigger repaired, New Front Brake Pads, Two Track Rod ends, one Brake Hose replaced
MOT Test: Church Hill Motors, North Cheam, Surrey.

24th October 1980: 80,059 recorded miles:
MOT Test: Onslow Motors, Worcester Park, Surrey.

8th March 1981: Purchased by John J F M Guyot of Wimbledon, London, SW19 as RGT543E

1st August 1983: Re-registered as KGF21A by Léon F Guyot of Wimbledon, London, SW19

1st May 1985: Registered Keeper once again John J F M Guyot of Wimbledon, London, SW19

4th May 1996: Registered keeper changed to Léon F Guyot of Wimbledon, London, SW19

(The above changes of registered keeper due to insurance premium reasons)

11th November 1998: Purchased by Barry Clarkson of Warrington,England.

Posted 2012-04-25 00:31:37 by Léon Guyot

In The Beginning

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:26:13 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

Wednesday 1st February 1967: Build date.

My Triumph began 'life' as a Standard-Triumph Herald 1200-II Convertible built in Triumph's Coventry factory at Canley.
Commission Number: GA223846CV, Body Number: 109606RAT, Engine Number: GA220654HE, Differential Number" GA263284. Paint" 32, Trim: 11.
Fitted with an 8.5: 1 compression-ratio 1147cc overhead-valve, in-line, four cylinder, pushrod engine, and a six-port siamised cylinder head, with eight valves, and a Solex B.30PSE1 carburettor.
This type of engine can be traced all the way back to 1953, when the Standard 8 was fitted with an 803cc, 33bhp unit, which was subsequently developed into the 948cc engine, as fitted to the 1955 Standard 10 and Pennant cars, followed by the Triumph Herald released on 22, April 1959.
The original 1962 engine developed some 49bhp at 4,500rpm, just below the 53bhp offered by the 1963 Herald 12/50 Skylight' Saloon with it's improved exhaust manifolding.

14th July 1967: Date of First Registration

Vehicle first registered by Carr's Auto Sales of Croydon, Surrey.

<197906-198103a, East Clandon, Surrey>

<197906-198103b, East Clandon, Surrey>

Posted 2012-04-25 00:26:13 by Léon Guyot

My Triumphs Since 1981

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:09:41 -0700

Léon Guyot's Journal --

I have already written a paper journal starting in March 1981 and going all the way up to the present.

It starts out fairly simple with just a basic list of entries relevant to my Triumph motoring, but it gets progressively more detailed as I learn more about what I am doing.

Hopefully some of it may help others from making expensive mistakes.

All I have to do is to find the time to transpose it onto this electronic medium, easier said than done, but as time becomes available, that is what I intend to do.

Posted 2012-04-25 00:09:41 by Léon Guyot

To Do List

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:50:46 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Drain and Fill Transmission and Diff
Check U-joints
Clean Carb (maybe use rebuild kit?)
Check condition of all brakes

Posted 2012-04-24 18:50:46 by Anthony Kurilla

Door Panels Recovered..

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:30:37 -0700

Dave B's Journal --

I had to replace the old door panels because of rain damage. I made new ones out of maisonite or hard board. I had so much trouble with the original clips that I used black large head screws. I also replace the door handle grab for a half moon chrome handle from Home Hardware.

<old panel>

<new recovered>

<Picture 212>

Posted 2012-04-24 16:30:37 by Dave B

First Time On Road

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:17:04 -0700

James King's Journal --

I plumbed the brake and clutch lines with speed bleeders. I usually like them, but the bleeder I installed on the left front was stuck open-every time I'd refill the MC and feel the pressure build in the pedal, there would be a quick loss of pressure and sound up front.
The sound was the open speedbleeder shooting a blast of fluid at the engine block...went back to stock bleeder on that wheel.

Putting fluid in the diff took forever. I took some of my clear line from the brake bleeding coil I had and connected it to the nipple on the end of the gear oil container. The opening wasn't wide enough to give a good flow, so for about 20 minuted I lay on my back under the car on the hydraulic jack, squeezing the bottle and pulling the tube out of the diff fill just far enough to confirm that it was flowing. about the time I did get it flowing too much zeal in squeezing the bottle caused the line to come off, usually dousing my arm and sleeve in gear oil.

I've since found that the diff has a leak at the front seal, and that the original seals were leather. I'm going to drive the car first, then drop the diff and change the seals all around.

This car has high idle issues, caused by worn throttle shafts and bushings in the HS6 carbs. I won them on ebay... and if the phrase caveat emptor ever meant anything it is with this purchase. advertized as rebuilt they were not, in fact they had no bowl gaskets at all. dash pot plungers were of two different sizes. I've installed a rebuild kit and have them boxed to ship off to Joe Curto when I can afford the $155.00 his services will cost.

A few weeks ago, I started the car and drove her around the block, about four times. with no glass on the car, there was quite a bit of dust, with some also coming off the clutch when I engaged and disengaged with no gearbox cover in place. I had enough road to get her into 4th gear by the last trip round the block. I took my wife with me on one trip. whine nervous about getting pulled over, she did also giggle at the fact that the car was finally running and running well. driving also pointed out some contact issues with the drive train. with the car off the ground on stands, I ran the engine in the open garage, with the car in first so I cold locate the points of contact. I also found a brake spring that was squealing and fixed it.

Posted 2012-04-24 03:17:04 by james king

Bushing In

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:03:44 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Got the new bushing in but not without having to grind-away part of it evenly as the new bushing was still too large to fit in the yoke. Finished it off by sanding it smooth and got her installed. I acan find my gears now!

Thanks to the forum I also found out my shift pattern was different so I was not confused as to why reverse was by third.

Got my modified heater pipe installed that I got from GT Steve and and now only my water pump has a little dribble, YAY! I also had to replace my thermostat as my first time down the block I saw the temp climbing past 3/4 mark and brought it home.

Will FINALLY be able to drive it to the station and fill-up the tank so I can run so gas through it, without having to fill-up my can and bring it home then get part of it on the trunk due to the location of the fuel cap. Going to run some "cleaner" through it to see if it helps the system run better.

Posted 2012-04-23 10:03:44 by Anthony Kurilla

"New" To Me Parts

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:07:30 -0700

Richard Dearinger's Journal --

I was going to get my suspension parts from a guy in Indy but since we agreed on a price I haven't been able to get in touch with him. So, I got the front control arms from a member of this forum for the price of shipping and went to Dayton, Oh Saturday morning to get a diff that, according to the numbers, should be a 3.27 and a set of front shock towers. So I have everything for my front suspension rebuild now except the powder paint I'm on the fence on the colors. I'll probable order new bushes for the rear end, the 3.27 may not be high enough but its bound to be better than the 3.89 in it now and If I put new bushes in I can leave it in until I make a final decision.

Posted 2012-04-22 17:07:30 by Richard Dearinger

Tunnel Cover

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:45:19 -0700

Dave B's Journal --

The old tunnel cover made from press board was very ratty so I purchased a fiberglass replacement. I had to cut out the whole for the shifter and the glued carpet to it.

<old one>	<new cover>	<carpet covered>
<new shifter boot>

Posted 2012-04-22 15:45:19 by Dave B

Carpets Installed

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:14:33 -0700

Dave B's Journal --

Well I did not like the fitted carpets that came with the car so I purchased some new automotive carpet. It took about 4 meters to do the floors and transmission cover. I glued them in certain areas to hold them down. I ran new speaker wires and antenna wire under the carpets at the same time.

<carpet 1>

<carpet 2>

Posted 2012-04-22 14:14:33 by Dave B

1979 Triumph Spitfire

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:33:23 -0700

Joe B's Journal --

The first car that I ever owned was a 1974 Triumph Spitfire. I remember the car being lots of fun - having the top down and going to the beach. I decided it was time to buy another, unfortunately to find one in perfect condition is hard and would cost more then I could afford. I found one with very little rust but it needed some engine work. I have been in the car business all my life so I figured that I was up for the challenge. I have taken out every nut and bolt from the vehicle and I'm in the process of getting the frame painted. I should have the frame back next week then I will start putting it back together. If anyone has any questions or suggestions please feel free to e-mail. Suggestions would the be greatly appreciated!

<IMG 0403>

Posted 2012-04-22 07:33:23 by Joe B

Splitting The Diff.

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:25:11 -0700

Bob Coker's Spit 6 Journal --

Removing the diff was not a difficult chore but was time-consuming, taking all morning and into the early afternoon. The car is still on 6 jackstands since I previously removed the transmission. I marked the unions between the propshaft and trans before removing the trans, so I did the same with the propshaft at the diff to insure correct balance upon re-assembly.

Following instructions in the manuals I have, it was a matter of removing the outer axles, the transverse spring (unbolt at top and at the eyebolts on the ends.) and unbolt the diff itself.

I found that if I unbolt the rear first and put a thick drift into the hole on one side, it remains steady as I unbolt the front bolts. Then, when ready, I slid underneath it and, with a sheet of heavy cardboard on my chest, I slid out the punch and wiggled the diff free.

I cleaned it with copious amounts of brake cleaner and undid the stub axles. I love how the factory illustrations show a disembodied hand removing the stub axle with pinkie extended as if it were the easiest thing in the world. While they were not pressed into place, it took two flat-head screwdrivers (one on each side) to prise it free.

Then the case bolts were removed and a ubiquitous 5-in-one painters tool was used to pry the halves apart. Presto!

Once apart, the back half was thoroughly cleaned and the spot where there used to be a drain plug on earlier models was drilled and tapped. Now I have a drain plug! Yee-Ha!

The gears are in astonishingly good condition, with absolutely no signs of wear! Whoever put this Frankenstein's monster together at least got this right!

New seals were purchased along with bearings. A friend at a local restoration shop took it apart and pressed the bearings in for me for no charge (I gave him $20 & told him to buy himself something pretty)
Th outside has been repainted and it's back together. Putting it back into the car this weekend.

My transmission shipped today from Quantum Mechanics (He had it for 6 WEEKS!) and should be here this next week. I am Jonesing from not driving my car as Spring flies past. Wish me luck!

<Back half. The drain is just visible, sticking out the bottom.>

<The ring and pinion. It is a 4:11 from a Mk IV U.S. car.>

Posted 2012-04-20 18:25:11 by Bob Coker

Just Me, You And Cookies And Cream

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:50:38 -0700

Penny Howard's Journal --

After the past month of rain and tornado warnings here in North Texas, I took my baby car for a ride yesterday. I forget sometimes how much I love this car, my dream car, 1977 white Triumph Spitfire 1500.

After pulling back the top, snapping the cover in place and sliding into the driver seat I think, "This is a lot more comfortable than I remembered." I ease back in reverse and head to Chick-Fil-A to cheat on my eternal commitment to eat better by buying a Cookies and Cream shake, with extra whip cream - hold the cherry please.

Long past the days of looking around to see if other people notice how cool my car is, I drive. Just drive, with shake in left hand, elbow on the door, hat pulled down to sit on sunglasses, pony tail flying behind me, sun wrapping me in its satisfying warmth. I have the wanderlust, asphalt in my veins, oil and gas in my pores. I want to be one with the road, see where it takes me; I never want this to end. I imagine Brian is with me, he usually drives so I can look around at everything and play with the wind through my hands as I sink into the pure bliss of the moment. We are free, we are happy, and there is more road ahead.

(arrow down on this page for other journal entries)

Posted 2012-04-19 13:50:38 by Penny Howard

Waiting On Lever Bushing

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:18:12 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Ordered a new bushing for my shift lever. It may be the cause of my sloppy lever since the one in it was not seated in the yoke and would not easily go back into it. It made it almost impossible to remove the cover so I could see inside and find out why the lever was so random with gear selection.

Warmed car to let the flush run through system some more and will continue to until I get the new bushing.

Posted 2012-04-18 22:18:12 by Anthony Kurilla

Victory

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:23:50 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

I finally got my shift lever cap off, now what? It looks normal to me but who knows?

I posted a picture in the forum so I can get some feedback. I also got the car running today and did some initial checks and can see the timing is off by about 3 degrees. Need to figure out how to adjust distributor while it is running to get best timing.

Posted 2012-04-16 20:23:50 by Anthony Kurilla

Rustoleum Day

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:35:48 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Today was one looong day of buffing surface rust on the seat frames and the floor pans of the car. Got the surfaces ready by using a drill with a nylon brush buffer attachment then vacuuming and wiping clean with a wet sponger then drying.

Once everything was prepped I coated the surfaces with multiple coats of the paint and I am awaiting it to dry.

I got my new fuel pump and filters today along with my shift rebuild kit..wahooooo! I will clean the carpet tomorrow first thing then put in fuel pump, filter, and replace remaining fuel line. I also need to contact one of the forum guys to see if he has anything I can use here locally before I order more stuff. I know the one leak I have is the darn heater pipe that started leaking when I replaced all my hoses.

Posted 2012-04-13 20:35:48 by Anthony Kurilla

Excitement Over Reason.

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:25:18 -0700

The Journal --

We purchased a new positive lead cable and hooked it up.
Connected the battery and gave it a shot.
The engine turns but *very* slowly. The battery lasts about 15 seconds. Hmpf.

"What are we going to do now?"
"Well, the starter doesn't feel warm, maybe this battery just isn't up to it.
Let's grab the car and the jumper cables!"

I pull the car around and take the oil filter off ( I want to see that the oil pump is working).
Spend a few seconds showing the order of connecting jumpercables and then...
"hit it kiddo!"
After about 20 seconds of turning over I see oil coming out. "noice!"
Reattach the oil filter and spin it over. It goes fast, then goes slow....fast, then slow.
The sun's getting low now but we're pretty psyched it's spinning over.

From my previous experience, we remove the ignition box and clean all of the contacts.
Reinstall the ignition box with star washers *just to be sure*.

Connect a spark plug to the coil and sure enough- fat blue sparks.

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

" Can we start it now?"

" I think we're pretty close kiddo! Let's fill the carb up!"

I've brought some avgas home (for medicinal purposes only...of course) because I'm very happy with the way it cleans things out.

Fill up the carb and reattach the fuel line with new hose.

"Now?"
"Nope, one last thing. Coolant"

We pop the top and it's completely dry.
Since we're going to flush the system anyway some cheap premix should do.
Run down to the local garage and pick up a gallon but it only takes about a quart.

"Ok kiddo. Fuel, Air ( I removed the air filter to make sure the dust bunnies hadn't moved in), Fire, Timing, Compression, lubrication, and cooling. I think we're ready!"

Now, it's dusk but... I'm not going to see him for a few days and this really is a cliffhanger for both of us. I give the throat a good healthy squirt and hop in.

Chugunga kagunk wzzzzzzz
Chugunga kagunk wzzzzzzz
Chugunga kagunk wzzzzzzz
Chugunga Chugunga Chugunga

"Whoa! Something just flew out the back and hit the garage!"
Chugunga Chugunga Chugunga Chugunga Chugunga Chugunga

Hmmm, as soon as I release from start it quits.... The Ignition Switch! It's not keeping the ignition on!

Jumper from the battery to the coil and ....
It starts!

"YEAH YEAH YEAH!!! Look at it go! Whoo look at all the smoke!"
"It's all that oil and 20 years of gunk burning off". Or is it?

"Get a flashlight kiddo!"

The smoke isn't going away as fast as I thought and.... It's starting to not smell like oil anymore.

"I can't find one!"
"Gah! Lemme see"

Rummage through the other car and grab one out of the glove box.

The engine is idling but there's still smoke.
Shine on the exhaust...nope nothing there.
Looking looking looking.
Shine on the belts, the belt is moving....wait a minute....
The water pump pulley... It isn't.
"SHUT IT OFF! SHUT IT OFF! SHUT IT OFF!"

He yanks the wire from the battery and it quits.

"Did we just ruin it?"
"I don't know. Ugh! How could I have forgotten to check the water pump?"
"How bad is it?"
"I don't know kiddo. We won't know until we get coolant moving through it. But, we've learned some important lessons today though.
I'm really ecstatic to actually get this running. I really didn't think it would go.
Next time though? We'll be better prepared and a little more patient. It's been a good day. Let's pick up and park this back inside."

At least I know what we'll be doing on Monday.

Posted 2012-04-13 18:25:18 by Cliff Coy

Pulled Seats And Remaining Carpet

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:46:45 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Glad I am on vacation this week, because this is turning into a full-time hobby.

Making progress on a more thorough evaluation on everything. My initial impressions about the rust seem all spot on. Surface rust but nothing really bad (except the insides of the cooling system).

The seats are out after I struggled getting the passenger seat to slide. The car must have been "stored" outdoors with no cover on the cockpit as the seat frames are pretty rusty, but so far not completely through any of the metal. The PO looks like they used plumbers putty around the gasket that seals the shifter...weird. Now just gotta get that shift kit!

I put battery back in box but left it disco'd. Remounted the wiper motor too I ended up painting where it mounts to.

I used a rust remover on several screws and washers and have many more I pulled today sitting in the solution to see how they turn-out. I pulled all carpet but section behind seats and hosed 'em down they look better but replacing them will need to wait until I get the engine running and make sure the tranny is ok after I fix the shifter....Is it weird that this car does not leak any fluid except the now broken heater pipe?

Still have not replaced all rubber but it is getting close. Glad I got the new fuel switch installed and ready to go once my fuel pump shows. I know my flashers and turn signals do not work, but I got the trunk light working! ..... One victory at a time!

Posted 2012-04-12 19:46:45 by Anthony Kurilla

A Little About The Console

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:11:32 -0700

Richard Dearinger's Journal --

I started with a trip to pull-a-part. I walked around looking in all the cars for a console that fit my needs, I needed one with the brake on the right a couple cup holders some storage as well as fit length and width wise. What I decided to go with was out of a Subaru Outback. This is what it looked and fit when I brought it home.
[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/consolebeforemod.jpg[/IMG]
After some cutting and welding it looks like this.
[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/consoleaftermods.jpg[/IMG]
Here are some pics of the cuts and welds, I haven't sanded down the welds yet. After sanding I will cover the whole thing with fun foam sheets then upholster it with the same vinyl as the door panels.
[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/cupholdercutsandwelds.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/dsidecutsandwelds.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/psidecutsandwelds.jpg[/IMG] And finally pics of the front support, storage areas and the shifter boot I made.[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/frontsupportfromside.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/frontsupportandchangepod.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/consolestoragebox.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/shifterboot.jpg[/IMG]

Posted 2012-04-12 18:11:32 by Richard Dearinger

Check The Door Panels Off The List

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:06:42 -0700

Richard Dearinger's Journal --

I've been working on these off and on for the past 18 months or so. I started with the idea that I wanted a 60's sports car look so I went with tuck and roll. I researched how to do a tuck and roll on the internet, I found that there are basically 2 ways to do it. After several practice panels both ways, I picked the way that worked best for me. I started working on the panels, figuring out how things had to go together as I went. That turned out to be good practice because the closer I got to finished the less I liked the way it was going. In the end I started over, taking what I learned from the first try and this is how it turned out. They are not perfect but I made them and I like them. I have a lot more upholstery work to do, but this is a start.
[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/driversdoorpanel1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll283/gtownchoppers/passdoorpanel1.jpg[/IMG]

Posted 2012-04-12 17:06:42 by Richard Dearinger

Tot Rod Progress Report

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:54:45 -0700

The Tot-rod Progress Report --

After clearing a new spot in the garage, I've managed to dis-assemble most of the vehicle. The boot, doors and bonnet are off.

Boot and door panels were straightened, dents tapped out or filled and primed. Bonnet is off the car and I’ve cleaned sanded and primed all the spots I could reach without dis-assembling the entire bonnet. Good news is, I think I got all the rust, bad news is…you never really do.

Things were going very smoothly until the air hose got caught on the boot lid which was still on the body panel stand. Pulled it off and re-dented my close to perfect primed finish, so, back to it with the paper and icing.

I’ve pulled the seats out and interior is down to the carpet. I wasn’t going to do this but now that I’m down this far, I’m thinking of pulling the carpet and just priming and re-painting the top sides of the floor boards. Would like to get new carpet but still have to pass that one by “accounts payable”.

So far it’s been pretty straightforward and I’m really glad I caught this project when I did. I’ve seen these things when they’ve been neglected and it’s not been pretty.

Was thinking this was taking too long but I just saw a BEAUTIFUL ’65 Sunbeam Tiger this afternoon in a showroom here in Fort Wayne. Now re-inspired to do a top notch job on my resto.

Hopefully more news soon (assuming anyone is reading this or is even remotely interested).

Posted 2012-04-12 12:54:45 by Matt N.

Assorted Odds And Ends

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:04:22 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

Today I did more hose replacement and also painted the battery box with some rustoleom black paint. It has a hole in it and I wanted to make sure it did not get any bigger. I also want to paint the floorboards as they need it as well. I will get to this once I pull the seats and the tranny cover so I can fix the sloppy shifter I have.

Bad news about my engine...I think I have a head gasket blown. The oil looked mighty fine when the car arrived, but a few starts and a few hours runtime and it looks black and shiney. I think I have a compression tester that I have never used in the garage, I will bust that puppy out and check it.

I also believe that one on my heater pipes is now leaking after I replaced the hoses connected. There is a lot of crud in this cooling system it is a wonder it still seems to work, but a blown gasket does not look pretty. I was right about the PO's statement -runs good- . Yeah it runs once started but nothing really good about it.

Posted 2012-04-11 22:04:22 by Anthony Kurilla

The Engine.

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:02:38 -0700

The Journal --

The next bit would be freeing the crankshaft.
Took the sparkplugs out and filled the holes with MMO and fresh oil.

I had explained that we were going to attach a bar to the crankshaft, hang a weight to it and.... Wait. Until. It moves.

"How long is *that* going to take?"
I hold my hands about two feet apart- "About this long. If we need to, we can use a longer bar."
"Daaaad, that's not what I meant!"

"I know (chuckles)"...

After a week of soaking, I borrow the 1-13/16" socket and attach it to the crank. Leaning on it a little to figure how much weight to use and ... It gives way! Whoa! Whoo Hoo !

"Cool! *now* can we start it?"
"No kiddo, now we can work on oil pressure."

We jack the car and I show him where to put the jack stands.
"Grab me a ....oh. There's not much left to that plug. Grab the channel locks."

We get the black glop out, take the valve cover off and pour 4 qts all over the top. No signs of rust under the valve cover *whew*.
Take off oil filter and put oil in there too and a cheap oil filter back on.
Put more oil down the plug holes and leave the plugs out.
Pull the power to the coil.
Disconnect the fuel line from the pump inlet.

Now it's show time for the starter.
Hook up the Marine battery and twist. Nothing.
Whack the solenoid. Nothing.
Shunt the solenoid with a screwdriver and
Whrrrr whrr whrr whrr wr.... and... that's all we get.

"Now what are we going to do?"
"Well, get a new power lead for this battery. It's all nasty and green powder.
Then we'll get a fresh charge on the battery and see what we get!"

Not a bad day at all.

Posted 2012-04-11 21:02:38 by Cliff Coy

Hi Everybody

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:31:09 -0700

Carl Sedgwick's Journal --

I am an Englishman now an American also with a Hong Kong wife. Love my Cars drive them every chance I get. My collection has a bit of everthing I Love them all each characteristic that they have. Anyone ever get to Hesperia Cal.come and visit have a cup of tea and a Biscuit and see my Cars.!.760.949 8998,
Carl W. Sedgwick.

Posted 2012-04-11 20:31:09 by Carl Sedgwick

The Curiosity And The Enthusiasm

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:50:08 -0700

The Journal --

The twelve year old, he says "Hey dad, when are we going to start working on the sports car?"

The seventeen year old, she says "Yeah Cliff, it'd pretty much make my Highschool life to drive that to my prom"

I say "There's no way this car is going to drive you to your junior prom in three months. In a year, with both of you helping, I think we can get this running well enough for the road. And in four years we can make it look good and drive better than it ever has. Whadda ya say?"

"I'm in"
"Me too!"

Step one-
How Bad Is it?

The engine's locked solid and neither the brake nor the clutch pedals move.

None of the structural bits show any signs of corrosion.

The battery box is corroded through, the underside is going to need a stiff brush and some undercoating, and leaving that tire leaning against the fender for 5 years wasn't the brightest idea I've ever had.

The upholstery is completely shot.

But the tires have remained inflated for decades and the wheels still turn.

Not insurmountable!

Posted 2012-04-11 19:50:08 by Cliff Coy

And So It Begins....

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:20:43 -0700

The Journal --

Ever since late January, my son started to croon over the little white sports car he's bumped into his entire life.
In 1988 I took out my first car loan and bought this Triumph from a relocating pilot.
It was nearly twice the engine of my first car- a Fiat 850 Sport Spyder and, I'll stop comparisons there.

I managed to keep it going using a late teenager's brain at the time. A wheel bearing here, a cobbled up fan thermostat there, and somewhere, for some reason, I disassembled, fiddled with, and reinstalled the overdrive-- I think to replace the cone clutch.

In 1991, the ignition system began to give me fits.
I simply couldn't work out why it didn't have a strong enough spark to run down the road. Puttered along at damn near idle to a garage and parked it "for later". Two years later, back from college, I tackled it and by the simple act of taking everything off of the car and putting it back on, the problem resolved itself.

Unfortunately, two years of sitting had taken it's toll and the car wasn't fit to drive across the country. So back in the garage it went.

After ten years of sitting in someone else's garage, I now had a garage of my own for it to sit in. Since 2003, it's sat in my garage until....

Posted 2012-04-11 19:20:43 by Cliff Coy

Dynamat Install

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:43:42 -0700

Dave B's Journal --

Decided to put a sound dampener and heat resister to the floors its the Canadian version of Dynamat called B-quiet. I did the bonnet,the the firewall, the floors, and the tunnel cover for the transmission.

<Picture 192>

<Picture 193>

<Picture 197>

Posted 2012-04-11 18:43:42 by Dave B

Dash Board Oak

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:27:51 -0700

Dave B's Journal --

found some time to finish up the dashboard and install it with the new white faced gauges. The wiring was a challenge pretty much a tangle mess. Replaced much of it and was happy the forum pointed me to a accurate wiring diagram.

<Dash>

<Picture 189>

Posted 2012-04-11 18:27:51 by Dave B

Minor Roadblock

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:45:47 -0700

Anthony Kurilla's Journal --

While trying to flush the engine today it seems the electric fuel pump bit the farm. Now the car will not stay running, oh well off to make my list o parts to get this puppy running again.

Posted 2012-04-09 17:45:47 by Anthony Kurilla