Stag Auto Box seal replacement

Had a very interesting day today. For the past couple of weeks my Stag has been leaking auto fluid from the Torque converter area following the installation of its new engine, so today I took it up to Faversham Classics where one of the owners, Trevor and I were to jointly remove the box and replace the seal. This was an education for me, I had never been in the position before where I could work on one of my cars in a properly equipped garage with Lift and all the right tools.

It was also a great help having Trevor to show me how to do it with all his knowledge and shortcuts. We started at 10.00am, had the box out by 11.30 having removed exhausts, propshaft, starter motor, gearbox mountings to name but a few of the items. The culprit was found to be the seal between the Torque Converter and gearbox, there was also a weep from the gearbox rear seal, so both these were replaced. I was surprised how warm the Torque Converter still was despite having 'rested' the car for 2.5hrs following my drive there(35miles)

Following a break for lunch, the car was ready for the drive back home by 3pm. I now know the value of having the right tools for such a job! I also have discovered muscles I didn't know I had in my arms and hands!

Yet again the people at Faversham Classics cannot be praised enough for the way they look after their customers, Trevor was very fair when it came to discussing the bill and very few bits of the folding stuff was needed.

Car 97 RBRR - Drivers Meeting Gaydon

Made the journey from Kent to Gaydon today for the Driver's meeting for the RBRR in the Spitfire. - see above picture taken outside the entrance where I parked with some other CT cars. This is the first time its been so far north of London in my hands although it's seen plenty of service on the continent! It ran pretty much faultlessly all the way there and back, the exception being the loss of tickover at idle which was a bit entertaining on the M40 Sunday evening jam. So a swift visit to Sainsbo's in Staines to refuel and adjust the idle screw made for an easy final 60 miles home on the M25. Luckily, having worked in The Causeway in Staines for a number of years, I was able to bypass the usual Sunday evening crawl past the M3 junction by using my old route home via Thorpe Park and Chertsey.

I was pleased with the way the car ran overall, according to my Satnav the total journey was 280 miles with an average moving speed of 54mph and the fuel consumption worked out at 42mpg, if I can achieve that on the RBRR I will be very happy! The oil pressure tailed off a bit on the way home, not drastically so, but enough to suggest changing the oil to the VR1 20/50 that I bought last week may be prudent.

The Driver's briefing was good, ably performed by Tim, Nigel, Jason and a couple of lovely girls from MIND whose name I forget. Even managed to meet up briefly with my brother who has lived locally to Gaydon for 20 odd years but never been there before. He was my co-driver on the last two 10CR's but declined to do the RBRR, probably because its his birthday on 1st October and has better things to do! He is willing to do the next 10CR though, but only if we do it in my Stag, I think he wants a bit more comfort!!!

RBRR Preparation Car 97

When should one stop fiddling (fettling?) the car for the RBRR - I seem to have reached that point where I am seeking things to do to the Spitfire whereas in reality its ready to go.

Yesterday on a whim I decided to take the lovely sounding GT twin pipe back box off, and put the bog standard rear silencer on, I reasoned that it was just too noisy with the sports box on at cruising speed (60-65mph). It is now a bit more civilised although it did have an effect on the idle, it is now much smoother. A good run today meant I could hear all the rattles and clonks now!

I have now decided to give her a run to Gaydon on Sunday, I honestly can't think of anything else to do, just do an oil change after Gaydon and top up the gearbox, Final drive and general check over the rest of the car - the front pads are fine, they are greenstuff ones that I fitted for the 10CR last year and have plenty of life left in them (I have a set of spares in the boot anyway)

Next week, my neighbour Andy and I and our respective co drivers are having our own driver's meeting as Andy can't make it to Gaydon - he is at Goodwood this weekend.

I must remeber to put some black sacks in the car - that pesky hood just will not stay watertight in rainy weather, got a very wet right knee yesterday in a downpour !

My thoughts now are to the route we are taking I have highlighted all the controls stops in my map book and will be putting them into my sat nav, probably one of the most essential items as the speedo is somewhat innaccurate - today I was allegedly doing 80 down the A21 when in reality it is 69mph according to Mr Garmin - honest officer!

I was planning on using the Stag to drive to Gaydon, however that has developed an auto gearbox fluid leak and its not going in until next Thursday to be sorted. It seems to be coming from the Torque Converter which means a gearbox out job which I shall be helping Trevor at Faversham Classics to do. Should be an interesting day working with the professionals.