The Autoshite spec Triumph thread

[Tamworthbay]

Wife's birthday today so nothing doing, did the engine oil change last night after work. Another load of bits have come through so will be changing the thermostat housing to inlet manifold hose, thermostat gasket and whipping out the steering column to do the bushes. But if the weather holds tomorrow morning I may just crack on with the other rear arch as those other bits can be fitted in after work in the week. I also finished the window regulator which is now moving much more smoothly after a good soak in plusgas then a greasing. Started cleaning back and painting bits of the front subframe as well, it's all completely sound so easy enough job.

[purplebargeken]

Very satisfying jobs

[Tamworthbay]

Lots of nice little jobs that can be sorted quickly or done bit by bit. Makes it easier to fit around work, family and dog. Depending on how bad that arch is and the weather for the next couple of weeks then hopefully it will be getting close to going for an MoT within a fortnight. I plan to take it to work and get it on the four post and give the underside a thorough check and seal.

[Tamworthbay]

 

Had a go at the rear arch/ sill area this morning. There was a large area where the paint had lifted but after a clean back it just needed two sections letting in. I got it all cleaned back and cut some new metal and welded in, well started to but it began peeing it down so had to stop. Filled the sill with dynax as well, all looks good inside when I stuck the inspection camera down. Before I started on that I had replaced the small hose that goes between the thermostat and inlet manifold and replaced the pinto gasket for a dolomite one so should be water tight now. I also fitted the 'new' clutch master cylinder cap I got. It's battered but in one piece. I would have taken more pics but was too busy rushing to get everything in and out the wet. Will have a play at dropping the steering column out later if the rain stops.

[purplebargeken]

Glad she is no longer incontinent!

 

That looks pretty reasonable. I have seen/had/sorted MUCH worse than that.

 

Good progress mate. 

[Sudsprint]

Great work

 

 

 

 

 

Sad day for me as I sold out my 1/3 share in my Dolly as not using it enough.

[purplebargeken]

Damn

 

I always get confused between Vermillion and Pimento.

[Tamworthbay]

That is gorgeous, I doubt mine will ever look close to that standard. But hopefully will get lots of use.

[purplebargeken]

I have decided that looking all spiffy and nice is a good thing but for me personally it detracts in many ways. 

 

Time, energy and money.

 

Reasonable is now where it is at. yeah!

[Tamworthbay]

Working between family commitments and stupid arthritis I have done some more tonight. The steering column came out reasonably easily. As suspected the column has an extra lower bush just sitting on the column, presumably in some weird idea that it would replace the lower bearing. The bushes on the column were worn on the nylon insert but fine on the metal and rubber bits so I just swapped over the inserts. There might be a reason this is a bad idea but I can't see one. All is good now. And what about the NOS Austin rover bush? Bought from Rimmers last week.

 

BUT I have a feeling it is going to be a pig to get the splines back in to the connecting link. It's going to be impossible on my own and my best loads car abusing buddy is not answering his phone. It will have to wait until tomorrow.

[Tamworthbay]

Booked for the morning, plenty of head scratching and swearing or it will just slide in. Wonder which it will be?

[Tamworthbay]

Well it went in OK, needed a little persuasion from a smallish hammer. One of those simple jobs that is utterly impossible single handed as you need someone to push the column down as you push the link up. The steering now feels nice and the steering wheel no longer rocks up and down by an inch. How could anyone have driven it like that and thought it was right? Worse thing is that the receipt for the work shows it had been done by 'professionals', shows the quality of some mechanics workmanship.

[Tamworthbay]

Nothing doing this afternoon, can't think why......

 

[purplebargeken]

I has a damson 1500FWD a few years ago (and again last year). It had receipts for thousands spent at a local garage to where the little old lady owner lived. They were utter rip off merchants.

 

Excellent work! This is taking shape very nicely indeed.

[purplebargeken]

Wuss, you could have attended to something inside the car. I don't know.....

[Tamworthbay]

Thanks Ken, the weather is a pain as getting a few hours for welding is going to be tricky the next couple of weeks but impossible to do anything at the moment. Other than the small bits of welding and a tinker with that front light she is ready to MOT now

[purplebargeken]

Sorry to say that the sun is shining here mate.

[Tamworthbay]

Not for long according to the forecast..........

[Tamworthbay]

Went to put the tunnel back in only to realise that I had run a cable UNDER the clutch cylinder pipe instead of OVER so will have to drop the slave out again. Just had a bath so decided to switch to a couple of cleaner jobs. The awful rear speakers are now out, after fiddling about for fifteen minutes to get the rear parcel shelf out I found that the speakers were securely attached with...... Double sided sticky tape! Just wondering what's best to get the sticky residue off with that won't eat the vinyl. Then tried to remove a couple of the window trim clips. Little bastards are well stuck and needed drilling out. Then looked at the wobbly drivers side mirror, it has been fitted with the favourite structural adhesive of all BL owners - silicon sealant! I can find my rivnut tool but not the rivnuts, so have called it a day and tidied up my workbench instead.

[Tamworthbay]

Moved the cable and got the tunnel back in easy enough. Had to stop there as my arthritis in my neck is giving me hell today will refit some more stuff tomorrow. The tunnel is enormous, presumably to allow the bell housing to come through as I can't see how the box could come out underneath with the subframe in place. E lad, they don't make em like that anymore.

[Tamworthbay]

Well it went to work with me today to get some time on the four post lift. All looks good underneath. Brakes feel a bit wooden but not sure if that's due to them needed a clean or not having been used for a while. I will give them a strip and clean anyway.

 

The only issue I have found is a weird noise as I turn right, it sounds like something is catching e.g a brake shield rubbing on a wheel or similar but there is nothing obvious. It seems to be coming from the middle left of the car but that may be a trick of the ear. I know what I think it is. Anyone else want to hazard a guess/ suggestion?

[purplebargeken]

You have a vague PM. Have you checked bushes and shocks?

[Tamworthbay]

You have a vague PM. Have you checked bushes and shocks?

Will have a look at them, what is puzzling me is that going straight on there is absolutely nothing, then as soon as you begin to turn, even quite gently, the graunching or catching starts. It sounds like metal on metal but not in a gear way or even bearing whine. It could be the diff but it seems to be coming from my left not my rear. It could be bearings but they seem tight and I would expect them to whine all of the time not just when turning right. I can't find anything obvious at all. If I had to say where it sounds like it's coming from I would say the sill,by the passenger front and rear doors! That just makes zero sense in any way. I even thought I might have left something in the boot that was rubbing. I won't get chance tomorrow but may do Sunday so will try and narrow it down a bit if I can.

[purplebargeken]

The bearing should have a little play in them but be careful the MOT man fails them as they have too much play! Duh.

 

Most people tighten them up for the MOT and then properly adjust them afterwards. They might have been overtightened in the past. Might noise travel back a bit when you are driving? Just a thought.

[Tamworthbay]

Possibly, the bearing seemed very nice and smooth and it seemed too loud for a bearing. As I said before it was more like a brake shield rubber on a wheel weight or something. I will find it, may just take a while.

[purplebargeken]

Ah, ok. You will pin it down

[Tamworthbay]

Hopefully, just driving me mad trying to work it out, it seemed the sort of noise that should have been easy to spot the cause of, but apparently not. Will get some pics of the bits done over the weekend.

[Tamworthbay]

No idea why, but I have a strange feeling it could be running a bit rich

 

[purplebargeken]

It's a Goth car and is slowly painting your house black. 

[Tamworthbay]

 

I had a couple of hours this morning so had a play with a couple of bits. First thing was to to try and track down the weird noise - no progress, then had a play with the servo, looks like I will be swapping it out. I had just finished putting the parcel shelf back in and now it needs to come out again. Bugger.

 

So moved on to the hole in the rear arch. Sun was shining and welder was playing ball so fairly swift progress was made, even still it takes longer than you would think. I ran out of time after the first very rough skim of filler but will keep tickling it over the coming days until I get it looking nice.