Drive it Day 20th April

Spent Friday with a mate visiting the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum at Manston, Kent to sort out arrangements for the West Kent Area of the TSSC's proposed run out on the FBHVC Drive it Day. The run will be approx 50 miles from its start which is coincidentally in my home village!

The museum events coordinator is arranging for us to have a special parking area on a taxiway and the public will be invited to view the cars - naturally we are hoping for a significant number of Spitfires to join us and at least one Hurricane, although all Triumphs are welcome. I shall be there in my Spitfire - always assuming I've got the blessed carbs balanced properly!

The museum itself is fascinating, small, but unique in its history due to its close proximity to France during WW2

Carbs back on

Just finished reassembling the carbs on the Spitfire and linking everything together, although I do seem to have one throttle return spring left! Must check the manual/parts diagrams.

Started her up - sounds very throaty as I also refitted the Sports exhaust I had changed last year before the 10CR - the standard system was quieter! She is running a bit rough at the moment and refuses to idle off the choke, so I need to spend some time checking and balancing the carbs - I have printed out James Carruthers excellent guide on his website (see link) to follow, hopefully later today if work allows.

http://www.mintylamb.co.uk/?page=sutune.htm

Lots of smoke off the manifold when I first started her up - I guess this was a combination of WD40, 3 in 1 penetrating spray and firegum jointing paste burning off!

Getting There!

Went up to Faversham today - all the important bits have now been welded on - probably be painted this week and may even be ready next week!

I have also asked for the timing chains to be renewed as these are an unknown quantity and as I've entered Club Triumphs Historic Counties Run with the Stag I would prefer to be safe in the knowledge that at least that part of the car won't fail!

Also being MOT'd and a new nearside driveshaft and hub bearing fitted - this was an advisory on the last MOT

She's beginning to look like a car again!

On a different note I have been battling with the dreaded exhaust manifold to downpipe joint on my Spitfire 1500 over the last few days as its been leaking since the 10CR. One of the joint studs was stripped, so this has been drilled out and replaced by a bolt. At the same time, two of the lower manifold studs came out with their nuts seized on them, I managed to free one of them, but when trying to do the second, it snapped the stud!

Again - Faversham Classics to the rescue! - Trevor gave me a suitable UNF bolt that I have removed the head from and used to refit the manifold this evening. Thanks all to those friends on the CT and TSSC forums on advice on getting more easily to the lower bolts I am now the proud owner of some shiny 3/8 wobble bars and sockets that have made life much less stressful.

Tomorrow the carbs go back on - fingers crossed the leak is solved.

Stag Repair Update

Had a visit to Faversham Classics today to review the work carried out so far - took a few pictures

This is the secondhand headlight assembly in place with a new radiator support panel welded in. Another view of the headlamp support panel
The nearside wing ready for welding
Another view of the headlight assembly showing the nearside wing and new front valence
This was the unexpected repair - replacement nearside sill

Another unexpected repair - nearside rain gutter
And this is a view of the radiator support panel that replaced the original that was beyond repair

Overall progress is very encouraging and she is now beginning to look like a Stag again! I have to commend Trevor and Kevin the Proprietors of FC for their diligence in ensuring everything is put together correctly and ensuring all the panel gaps are correct.

Roofs Finished - Spitfires back!

At long last the Spitfire has returned from its enforced holiday at my fathers whilst the Garage roof was being replaced. Running a little rough at the moment as she doesn't want to tickover evenly in traffic, but I will get down to sorting that out now she's back under cover. Also have an Aldon Ignitor to fit.

Garage roof is finally in place, just waiting for my builder to return to install the brand new roller door which arrived just before christmas. Don't envy him the job - 14ft wide - weighs a ton!

Not much movement on Stag repairs - Christmas and New Year got in the way

TSSC Christmas Open day

Had a very good run up to Lubenham yesterday for the annual Christmas open day at the TSSC HQ - this was a trip I'd been promising myself for a long time as I wanted to see the museum there, so it coincided with their Christmas celebrations.

I took the Spitfire on this 300 mile round trip, about time it had a good run and I have to say it ran very well, just a small issue with tickover when stationery that I'll sort out when I finally get it back in my garage after Christmas. Given the weather yesterday - I was surprised that I only had a few drips from the header rail that were soon stemmed with a suitably placed cloth behind the sun visor - Rain-X worked very well also!

Gave it a treat on the way up - Shell Optimax - maybe it was my imagination, but it certainly ran well.

The 3 hours I spent here was very enjoyable, bit like a large monthly meet really, with some very nice cars - good to see some fellow 10CRer's, Messrs Rochfort and Wake. One particularly interesting 'Triumph' there was Vins Diesel!(Green Metro with large Triumph Logo!)

Managed to pickup a bargain - Aldon Ignitor for the Spitfire - £10 from Bernie's bazaar

There was a very nice Macao replica in the museum, put together by Bernie Robinson - particularly liked the Tiger tail!

No Stag - No Spitfire!

Well, the title isn't all doom and golom, it just means the Spitfire is on holiday under my fathers carport whilst our garage roof is being replaced and the Stag is still with Faversham Classics.

The existing roof is (was as of today) a 40 year old leaky, drippy corrugated one which is from today consigned to oblivion - to be replaced by a nice new pitched roof with proper roof tiles. At last providing a dry environment for the cars and additional storage space above.

The picture shows the current state, the JCB behind is another reason for the pitched roof, we used to have some large leylandii trees behind shielding our house from a commercial yard - these have now been removed by builders who are putting up houses there, so the new roof will also afford us some privacy.

Now I'm debating whether to replace the up and over door with a nice roller type. although the existing one works OK, its just a bit long in the tooth!

No further news on the Stag as yet, hopefully they will be able to start properly this week on the reasssembly!

Thinking about going up to the TSSC Christmas open day at Lubenham on Sunday in the Spitfire (weather permitting) - time it had a good long run - last one was on the 10CR - and we all know how that ended!