The Autoshite spec Triumph thread

[Tamworthbay]

And thanks to dugong I have a spare set of wheels so get mine done up nicely. I am going to use pound shop silver as an experiment to see how good/ bad it is. In theory I think it could be done for a fiver for all four wheels, working on two cans of primer and three of top coat.

[Tamworthbay]

It may take a while

[purplebargeken]

I know it costs actually money but surely there is someone local who can media blast them? Will save huge amounts of time, effort and sanding materials. Honest.

[Tamworthbay]

I know it costs actually money but surely there is someone local who can media blast them? Will save huge amounts of time, effort and sanding materials. Honest.

it would do but I have a very keen bunch of lads at work who love stuff like this. We also have a sand blasting cabinet which will get used on the ones where I don't care about the tyres but this 'fate' tyre will get the hand treatment.

[purplebargeken]

Ah, fair do's.

[Tamworthbay]

Still progressing well. Finally managed to sort the right hand indicator intermittent fault. At first it was a bad earth, then the live wire fell off and when it still didn't work I had to look a bit deeper. After a bit of head scratching I noticed that the stalk was touching the plastic cowl, if I pushed it a bit further it worked fine. For some reason when reassembled it has lost a bit of clearance despite everything seeming to be where it should be. Two washers later and all is good.

 

Had another couple of hours welding and finished everything I needed to do............ Until I gave the underside a wire brush and seal. I have found a fingernail sized hole in the front chassis rail. I ran out of time so it will have to wait until I can get it on the ramp again. Other than that it's solid underneath and has never been welded.

 

The wheel bearing is order for the day tomorrow as its knackered but still feel like the sound is coming more from the tunnel area. I have heard that such noises can travel along the subframe so hoping this is the case. The exhaust hangers are past their best so if the bearing doesn't sort it them they will be the next call.

[Tamworthbay]

Sorted the bearing, that was easy. BUT it's made no difference to the noise, I am going to have to have a look at the exhaust, I am now wondering if something is moving a bit as I turn right and allowing the exhaust to touch the propshaft, if it's not that I am stuffed as no idea what else it could be. And joys of joys after giving the caliper a clean off I now have a braking imbalance so will need to strip and clean the caliper again.

 

So total for today is jobs done - one, problems solved - none, problems created - one.

 

Bugger

[oldcars]

And thanks to dugong I have a spare set of wheels so get mine done up nicely. I am going to use pound shop silver as an experiment to see how good/ bad it is. In theory I think it could be done for a fiver for all four wheels, working on two cans of primer and three of top coat.

The poundland wheel silver is good. I did the Reliant wheels last year and the still look good under the trims.

[purplebargeken]

You have an old Triumph. This is the norm.

 

Welcome to the world of old Triumphs.

 

Hehehehehehehehehehe.

[Tamworthbay]

Have spent a good few hours this weekend with precious little to show but thought I would put a couple of pics up.

I turned the bowl around so it's in the right way around, it was upside down when I got it

What restoration is complete without a bit of gaffer tape? As long as it keeps the crap out I am happy.

And here is the source of the hassle, the caliper took some cleaning up to get it to move smoothly. Still not 100% happy so trying to source a pair of calipers and will refurb them and swap them out. Got a bit more bodywork done as well but nothing major.

 

It is still rattling on right hand corners but I am increasingly convinced it's the exhaust hitting the body. There is an amazing amount of movement so I will change the rubber mounts and see if that helps.

[Tamworthbay]

Date stamps old school style:

 

And had a go at the first wheel (the one in the pic above), presently cost about 70p in pound shop primer and silver. It still needs lacquer but looking OK to me.

[Tamworthbay]

Dodging the showers again so not a lot done, but did get the rocker cover gasket changed. The old one was as crispy as a party at walkers.

[Skizzer]

Yesterday I collected some bits for this fine vehicle (as per posts in another thread somewhere):

 

Assorted Triumph Dolomite offal by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

They were in Ammanford, which is just across from me into Camarthenshire so an easy Saturday morning hop. I'd arranged with the seller to pick them up at 11, but when I got there I met his bemused (but friendly) mother who said he'd gone fishing. After a cup of tea and a bit of texting back and forth with the errant and apologetic son, she took me out to the shed (in spite of monsoon rains and a broken ankle) and I loaded the bits into the car.

 

The donor Dolomite was apparently an immaculate low miles giffer-owned garage-stored beauty in Sandglow, which has now been stripped to a shell and is being prepped for a future in rallying. That seems a bit of a shame (mother certainly thought so), but various other Dollies have benefited and I guess if you want to do historic rallying you need a good solid shell.

 

There was a topical spottage just down the road:

Triumph 2500 by Skizzer, on Flickr

 

Anyway, the parts - gearbox, radiator, propshaft and some random bolts and brackets that were nearby - are now safely in the Big Shed and awaiting delivery to Shitefest.

[Tamworthbay]

Thanks mate, much appreciated! Nice to see pics of the plod triumph as well. Shame about the donor but I guess it will be a beast when done.

[Skizzer]

'Twas a pleasure and a jolly outing - a bit like a collection caper but without the 'oh shit what have I done' aspect.

[Tamworthbay]

'Twas a pleasure and a jolly outing - a bit like a collection caper but without the 'oh shit what have I done' aspect.

they are the best, that's why I like going with my mate to pick up cars. All the fun but none of the stress!

[Tamworthbay]

I forgot to take a pic of this side before I set at it but it looked similar to the other, or pretty crusty to put it another way. It still needs a coat of lacquer but the sky was looking very dark so I have had to stop for the night. For saying I hate doing bodywork I am pretty pleased with this.

[purplebargeken]

That looks bloody fine and dandy to me mate. Nice one

[Tamworthbay]

Thanks Ken, I was pleased with it. I have run out of time on the other side but will get back onto it in a week or so. Just waiting to hear from Mick about the calipers, one tiny bit of welding and then it's MOT time! (Oh and the exhaust, went past a motor factors today and clean forgot to pick up some new mounts)

[purplebargeken]

Pssst, for the non-fillered look there should be a groove that goes horizontally along that bit between the pointy edge of the door and the tyre

[Tamworthbay]

Pssst, for the non-fillered look there should be a groove that goes horizontally along that bit between the pointy edge of the door and the tyre

I know but I bridged the area with a single replacement bit of steel for strength. I appreciate the purists will be writing to their MPs and demanding I be shot but I think it looks better as well. That side has about 1mm of filler as the whole sill has been covered in spray filler and lots of coats of paint so couldn't really avoid it. The other side is just straight metal with the tiniest skim of stopper .

[Tamworthbay]

Still cracking on with this but have been delayed after having to source and rebuild a pair of calipers. Done now and ready to fit. Looks like it will be moted somewhere between middle of next week and the week before Shitefest. So the question is, if I get a pass the week before Shitefest do I take on a 240 mile round trip in a completely untried and untested car? Too right I do! As long as I can work out how the hell to fit in the spare propshaft and gearbox I am picking up there that is.

[purplebargeken]

Whooooohooo! I haz excite on your behalf!

[purplebargeken]

Just take out the back seats and lob in loads of blankets. Easy.

[Tamworthbay]

Just take out the back seats and lob in loads of blankets. Easy.

That was the plan, the gearbox will go without issue but the prop is quite long. Are you going to make it Ken?

[purplebargeken]

Hoping for the Saturday mate, hoping so.

[Tamworthbay]

Sounds good, will be Saturday for me too, not sure about camping yet but looking a bit doubtful on that one.

[Tamworthbay]

Woo hoo! Finally sorted the knocking noise when cornering. It was the exhaust after all, a pair of cheap universal mounts and all is well. I also swapped out the calipers after getting a pair and rebuilding them. The ones that have come off are completely knackered so glad that's done. Brakes feel MUCH better but do need another bleed to be perfect. It's getting there.

[purplebargeken]

Brilliant news! Are they refurbish candidates?

[Tamworthbay]

Just soaking in plusgas as we speak, all Pistons are stuck, they moved slightly when under hydraulic pressure but don't want to play now. I will see if I can get a grease nipple with the right thread and go that way if the plusgas fails. I think they will be a useful spare pair but will probably need new Pistons and definitely seals!