What a difference new tyres make!
As part of the preparation for the 10CR I decided to renew the tyres on the Spitfire, although not old, I had two Goodyears, one India and one Pirelli on the car, all 155/80 X13's on standard rims (although the spare was 145/80!) so putting the best 155/80 in the boot I trawled the internet for a good offer.
I eventually concluded after much research that the Avon CR322 was a good choice (after all they fit them to the Caterham Classic), and the best deal I found was at Tyreshopper.com, £20 cheaper than National Tyres who have a BOGOF offer at the moment - and the price included valves, balancing and fitting at National Tyres.
I had them fitted yesterday, the difference in ride and handling is amazing - much lighter steering as well, and the back no longer kicks out at my favourite roundabout under accelleratation.
They are also a low rolling resistance tyre, so it will be interesting to see what effect this has on fuel consumption on the 10CR
So my recommendation : Use Tyreshopper.com and consider Avon CR322's if you're looking for a standard replacement tyre.
http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/article.asp?id=160&title=Avon-CR322
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Drive It Day 2009 Preparation
Had an interesting time today, went out in the Stag with Del Holman, the AO for West Kent TSSC to survey the route for this year's Drive It Day Run.
The theme this year will be visit places of interest throughout the Weald of Kent with a short trip into East Sussex, ending up at Headcorn Airfield
We couldn't visit our first port of call, the Yalding Organic Gardens as the village was flooded yesterday, we also had to modify our initial run south today because of ice!
We headed south through Hawkhurst to Bodiam which will be the second stop for either a lunch stop in the Castle Inn, or a visit to Bodiam Castle, whichever people prefer. our route then took us briefly into East Sussex before stopping at the Morgan Motor Museum. See photo's, a private collection of Morgan 3 Wheelers - unfortunately this will not be open on Drive it Day - but it made for a very interesting diversion.
see http://www.morganmuseum.org.uk for more info.
We then drove up through Tenterden to the next planned stop at Tenterden Vineyards, home to Chapel Down Wine where we had to sample the excellent champagne! - Del even bought two bottles.
Our next stop was Biddenden Vineyards where we had some coffee to soak up the champagne! A very nice gentlemen showed us the process of refining apple juice for bottling.
Our final leg took us to Headcorn Airfield which will be our final stop for a picnic and a tour of the wartime Air Museum there.
See http://www.1940.co.uk/activ/visit/lashend/lash.htm
The theme this year will be visit places of interest throughout the Weald of Kent with a short trip into East Sussex, ending up at Headcorn Airfield
We couldn't visit our first port of call, the Yalding Organic Gardens as the village was flooded yesterday, we also had to modify our initial run south today because of ice!
We headed south through Hawkhurst to Bodiam which will be the second stop for either a lunch stop in the Castle Inn, or a visit to Bodiam Castle, whichever people prefer. our route then took us briefly into East Sussex before stopping at the Morgan Motor Museum. See photo's, a private collection of Morgan 3 Wheelers - unfortunately this will not be open on Drive it Day - but it made for a very interesting diversion.
see http://www.morganmuseum.org.uk for more info.
We then drove up through Tenterden to the next planned stop at Tenterden Vineyards, home to Chapel Down Wine where we had to sample the excellent champagne! - Del even bought two bottles.Our next stop was Biddenden Vineyards where we had some coffee to soak up the champagne! A very nice gentlemen showed us the process of refining apple juice for bottling.
Our final leg took us to Headcorn Airfield which will be our final stop for a picnic and a tour of the wartime Air Museum there.
See http://www.1940.co.uk/activ/visit/lashend/lash.htm
Whilst on this journey an interesting problem arose with the Stag, on occasions the engine would not turn over and the voltage gauge read very low. Subsequent investigation and research when home suggests this may the battery, so guess what I'm doing tomorrow!
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
A Year Goes By
It's almost a year since I was reunited with the Stag since it's enforced rebuild last year., and it's been immortalised in 3 august publications, firstly the SOC magazine, followed by the TSSC Courier magazine, and this month was featured in Club Triumphs Club Torque, yet despite my scatter gun approach with the article, the only recipient not to publish was Triumph World - still 3 out of 4 isn't bad!
The Stag has just come back from Faversham Classics again, this time, only for the MOT and a service to sort out a curious misfire above 3500 revs under load. Despite my own attempts I couldn't find the cause of this, FC did - it was the electronic ignition sensor which was slightly loose - how did I miss that. All was well with the car bar a little welding on the front exhaust boxes for the MOT, a bit of brake adjusting and wheel bearing tweaking, so I now have a 13month MOT (it was a bit early)
There is one slight (but potentially expensive) caution on the invoice - the dreaded words 'possible early sign of headgasket failure' - referring to a tendency to spill coolant out of the overflow when hot and run hard. As a precaution, I have ordered a new radiator cap and put some trusty K-Seal in the coolant system to see whether this resolves the problem. Failing that I shall have to start saving up!
The real question is - do I want to change my entry into the 10CR from my trusty Spitfire and take the Stag instead - more comfort at the cost of less economy, hmm I think I need to satisfy myself that the head gasket is OK first before I do anything on that front. Stoneleigh is coming up soon, so that should be a good test for the car.
The Stag has just come back from Faversham Classics again, this time, only for the MOT and a service to sort out a curious misfire above 3500 revs under load. Despite my own attempts I couldn't find the cause of this, FC did - it was the electronic ignition sensor which was slightly loose - how did I miss that. All was well with the car bar a little welding on the front exhaust boxes for the MOT, a bit of brake adjusting and wheel bearing tweaking, so I now have a 13month MOT (it was a bit early)
There is one slight (but potentially expensive) caution on the invoice - the dreaded words 'possible early sign of headgasket failure' - referring to a tendency to spill coolant out of the overflow when hot and run hard. As a precaution, I have ordered a new radiator cap and put some trusty K-Seal in the coolant system to see whether this resolves the problem. Failing that I shall have to start saving up!
The real question is - do I want to change my entry into the 10CR from my trusty Spitfire and take the Stag instead - more comfort at the cost of less economy, hmm I think I need to satisfy myself that the head gasket is OK first before I do anything on that front. Stoneleigh is coming up soon, so that should be a good test for the car.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Brooklands New Years Day 2009
Had a great time today, went to the New Years Day Classic show at Brooklands in the Stag. There were 5 of us Stags there in close proximity thanks to the arrangements made by a certain V.Mad of the Stag Owners Club Forum (informally known as Chris!). So in some respects it was an SOC Forum meet, something that happens fairly regularly, the last being a night run through London just before Christmas - I couldn't make that one
.
Not only was it nice to meet them, it was also good to put some faces to forum names, anyway, back to the show, lots of great cars there including a really immaculate Triumph 2000 which also impressed the Stag boys.
My own car seemed to relish the light traffic on the run up the M26 and M25 to Brooklands, sitting quite happily at 75 ish most of the way - it now makes me think about running this in the 10CR rather than the Spitfire as currently entered. Any way, enough of these ramblings, here are some pictures
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
We're In!
Craig beat me to this!
We're in the 2009 10CR - Car number 9, lets hope it's a better number than last time(33) - this time all wheel bearings will be new, don't plan to exit early this time!
If anyone remembers, my brother and I had to retire early in last years event due to a seriously knackered rear wheel bearing - Mr Pearson kindly supplied me with a nice exchange unit following the cars return to Blighty. This time, I plan to replace the other rear wheel bearing during the winter, check the front ones and replace if necessary, and I'm considering changing the front uprights to Caterham style.
Apart from these updates and the normal annual checks, I need to sort out the exhaust manifold which is leaking (again!) - would be nice to pickup a sports one at a decent price, and some K&N's to replace the tatty pancakes that are on the car at the moment.
Then there is the front numberplate - badly cracked from a French towrope last year - good excuse to get some Euro GB ones, and replace the spotlight I dropped a couple of months ago whilst replacing the front valences.
Why am I not using the Stag for this trip? - mmmm 20mpg max against 35 to 40 from the Spitfire might have something to do with it!
We're in the 2009 10CR - Car number 9, lets hope it's a better number than last time(33) - this time all wheel bearings will be new, don't plan to exit early this time!
If anyone remembers, my brother and I had to retire early in last years event due to a seriously knackered rear wheel bearing - Mr Pearson kindly supplied me with a nice exchange unit following the cars return to Blighty. This time, I plan to replace the other rear wheel bearing during the winter, check the front ones and replace if necessary, and I'm considering changing the front uprights to Caterham style.
Apart from these updates and the normal annual checks, I need to sort out the exhaust manifold which is leaking (again!) - would be nice to pickup a sports one at a decent price, and some K&N's to replace the tatty pancakes that are on the car at the moment.
Then there is the front numberplate - badly cracked from a French towrope last year - good excuse to get some Euro GB ones, and replace the spotlight I dropped a couple of months ago whilst replacing the front valences.
Why am I not using the Stag for this trip? - mmmm 20mpg max against 35 to 40 from the Spitfire might have something to do with it!
Saturday, 20 September 2008
Triumph-Less!
Well, its only temporary really, I started changing the front quarter panels on the Spitfire about 3 weeks ago for some second hand steel ones that I sourced from ebay in excellent condition, sprayed them up and dismantled the front end of the Spit to fit them. This is where the problems started - hadn't noticed the replacement ones had no capture nuts. This meant some devious fitting of them to the chassis using new nuts, bolts and gaffer tape to hold the nuts in place until I could tighten them up. Now have to fit the indicators, using 'modern' plastic screw inserts and the bumper etc.
One minor self inflicted injury - I dropped one of the driving lamps and broke the lens, as they only cost me £5 at Stoneleigh last year, I have decided not to fit them back on as they didn't seem to improve on the excellent halogen headlights anyway. - So that is where the Spitfire currently is - awaiting half a days fitting together hopefully this week.
The other tale regards the Stag - it was such a nice day yesterday that I decided to take it to Penshurst where I was officiating at a wedding - got mostly there when after rounding a particularly bumpy bend that was a loud knock from the o/s rear - this was followed by a regular knocking sound of metal against metal for the next mile or so until I got to Penshurst.
Didn't have time to investigate before the wedding - very impressive, bride landed by helicopter andt he guests were treated to a display by a real Spitfire over the grounds after the ceremony (TA 805 if anyones interested - one of the Duxford few I believe)
Limped home afterwards and after a cursory examination it appears the bottom part of the Shock absorber spindle has sheared off. So in this lovely weather I am Triumph-Less!!
One minor self inflicted injury - I dropped one of the driving lamps and broke the lens, as they only cost me £5 at Stoneleigh last year, I have decided not to fit them back on as they didn't seem to improve on the excellent halogen headlights anyway. - So that is where the Spitfire currently is - awaiting half a days fitting together hopefully this week.
The other tale regards the Stag - it was such a nice day yesterday that I decided to take it to Penshurst where I was officiating at a wedding - got mostly there when after rounding a particularly bumpy bend that was a loud knock from the o/s rear - this was followed by a regular knocking sound of metal against metal for the next mile or so until I got to Penshurst.
Didn't have time to investigate before the wedding - very impressive, bride landed by helicopter andt he guests were treated to a display by a real Spitfire over the grounds after the ceremony (TA 805 if anyones interested - one of the Duxford few I believe)
Limped home afterwards and after a cursory examination it appears the bottom part of the Shock absorber spindle has sheared off. So in this lovely weather I am Triumph-Less!!
Monday, 21 July 2008
Showtime and other bits 'n bobs
The last month since my last Blog entry has been interesting - firstly was a holiday to Alaska, not expecting to see any British classics there when I was surprised to see an immaculate Moggy 1000 motoring along in Anchorage! This was followed by spotting the following in Vancouver on the way home, MGB, TR3 and Healy 3000! One of the many highlights of this trip was a memorable ride in a 1960's De Havilland Beaver Floatplane over the Alaskan Fjords, described by the pilot as the Cadillac of Floatplanes.
Anyway, back to the plot - I've been to two shows recently, the Kent Classic Car & Transport Show at Boughton, which was basically a washout, it started off quite well although the high winds destroyed my local TSSC areas Gazebo, Still we did manage 10 cars on our stand with the help of Essex area.
The next show was much better and one I always enjoy going to, the Darling Buds of May show which is held on the farm where they did a lot of outside filming. No club stand here, it's a well organised show covering all makes of cars organised by the P5 Alive club. The weather was excellent and I introduced my daughter and her husband to the delights of classic cars.
At both shows I took the Stag which is now becoming a bit of a celebrity having had my enforced restoration story printed in both the TSSC and SOC club magazines. On my return home from the Buds of May I noticed that the slight coolant link from the heater matrix had got a lot worse and the carpet was very wet on the drivers side, subsequent investigation identified the heater valve as a source of the leak with a continual drip.
After much research on the subject, mainly from the SOC forum I decided to bite the bullet and tackle the problem. Not wanting to drain down the whole system, I joined the heater inlet and outlet hoses together with some copper pipe so that I could also continue to use the car, then followed the workshop manual to remove the heater valve. Despite some worrying experiences relayed by other Stag owners concerning seized valve, mine came out very easily - the source of the leak was a perished O ring. So a new one has been ordered (£1.75!) which hopefully will arrive in the next day or so.
As an aside, another reason for the delay in updating this blog is that I have also been busy creating a website for our local TSSC area on Freewebs, a marvellous free website resource if you don't want anything too fancy. see http://www.freewebs.com/tssc-west-kent/
Anyway, back to the plot - I've been to two shows recently, the Kent Classic Car & Transport Show at Boughton, which was basically a washout, it started off quite well although the high winds destroyed my local TSSC areas Gazebo, Still we did manage 10 cars on our stand with the help of Essex area.
The next show was much better and one I always enjoy going to, the Darling Buds of May show which is held on the farm where they did a lot of outside filming. No club stand here, it's a well organised show covering all makes of cars organised by the P5 Alive club. The weather was excellent and I introduced my daughter and her husband to the delights of classic cars.
At both shows I took the Stag which is now becoming a bit of a celebrity having had my enforced restoration story printed in both the TSSC and SOC club magazines. On my return home from the Buds of May I noticed that the slight coolant link from the heater matrix had got a lot worse and the carpet was very wet on the drivers side, subsequent investigation identified the heater valve as a source of the leak with a continual drip.
After much research on the subject, mainly from the SOC forum I decided to bite the bullet and tackle the problem. Not wanting to drain down the whole system, I joined the heater inlet and outlet hoses together with some copper pipe so that I could also continue to use the car, then followed the workshop manual to remove the heater valve. Despite some worrying experiences relayed by other Stag owners concerning seized valve, mine came out very easily - the source of the leak was a perished O ring. So a new one has been ordered (£1.75!) which hopefully will arrive in the next day or so.
As an aside, another reason for the delay in updating this blog is that I have also been busy creating a website for our local TSSC area on Freewebs, a marvellous free website resource if you don't want anything too fancy. see http://www.freewebs.com/tssc-west-kent/
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