Triumph - That was a year that was..

[Bfg]

My sincere apologies. I didn't mean to say, nor imply anything awful.. but I do thank you for kind response (sad emoi).  This is very special of you.

To an engineer's mind ; a change in circumstance is not always ill boding or for the worse. Indeed often it is not.  Sometimes they are just changes which ought be addressed, are better not avoided, things which are not as anticipated, hoped or planned but may still be an interesting route to follow, and/or possibly even new and hopefully exciting opportunities. Certainly, regarding my own personal circumstance, there's no need to be concerned.

Cheers, Pete

- - -

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Bfg said:

My sincere apologies. I didn't mean to say, nor imply anything awful.. but I do thank you for kind response (sad emoi).  This is very special of you.

To an engineer's mind ; a change in circumstance is not always ill boding or for the worse. Indeed often it is not.  Sometimes they are just changes which ought be addressed, are better not avoided, things which are not as anticipated, hoped or planned but may still be an interesting route to follow, and/or possibly even new and hopefully exciting opportunities. Certainly, regarding my own personal circumstance, there's no need to be concerned.

Cheers, Pete

- - -

Good to hear. Selling 'Katie' tho, maybe something incoming? (#noseybastard) 

[Bfg]

19 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Good to hear. Selling 'Katie' tho, maybe something incoming? (#noseybastard) 

I hope to consolidate.. ie., letting my Daimler 250 and Sunbeam motorcycles go too.  

           And then . . .  ?  (#secretivebastard) 

 

[High Jetter]

4 hours ago, Bfg said:

I hope to consolidate.. ie., letting my Daimler 250 and Sunbeam motorcycles go too.  

           And then . . .  ?  (#secretivebastard) 

 

Suspect not roffles🤣

[brandersnatch]

I saw you driving westbound along the A14 today. Looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 

[Bfg]

On 05/11/2024 at 17:26, brandersnatch said:

I saw you driving westbound along the A14 today. Looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 

Heading to or from Needham Market and the Coffee & Classics gathering.

The weather was overcast all day but brighter in life than is reflected in these photos.

* It's an informal meeting between 10am to 12 gaps.  In summer we were there 'til 1:30pm,  but this week at midday quite a few cars had already left the field

^ Tom Tom lead me through some back lanes, as a short cut on the way to my working on the boat, to admire the autumn colours.

P

[Bfg]

Don't look now but. . .

^ Katie's 'distinctive' sill, which was replaced (for new) by M&T Classics some three and a half years ago ..is finally ! being reworked.

M&T's primary task, with regard to this side of the car, was to correct its uneven door shuts. To do this - they cut out the old sill and replaced it along with the B-post's triangular gusset.  As far as correcting the door gaps .. I think they did a great job   but., I was never happy with the shape of the after-market sill's pressing.  Its not fitted in the wrong place - because the door-seal flange is correct, but its shape doesn't match the wing's profile. . . 

       

 

^ Fat finger measurement .. I'm sure the photo's speak for themselves, and hopefully clarifies why, until I got around to correcting its shape, I hadn't painted it.  Over the past three years, a multitude  of other tasks were of higher priority to me that than the cosmetics of this sill  .  .  .  but today I got on with it. . .

For right or for wrong, I've chosen not to slit along it, pull it out (into shape), add extra metal, and then re-weld it all up again, before fairing and finishing.. because I didn't want to compromise its structure, nor the door gaps, nor even to cut and weld ..which may instigate internal corrosion.  No, instead I decided to sheath over it, not with bondo but with steel . . .

  

^ Galvanised steel, off-cuts of a new roof panel was my choice of material for the task. Aside from being steel and galvanised, it has the added advantage that it's actually very lightweight has stiffening ribs and already has neat folds.

  

^ After hand reworking the section of galvanised sheet steel (and a rough fill over the stiffening rib).. I drilled 4 tiny holes and temporarily screwed it into place.  I subsequently adjusted the ends (which are folded inwards) to compliment the bottom shuts of each wing.  So far so good, the fit and size (after just a little more fettling) would be good to fair over and finish.

Because I didn't want to weld (introduce stress and burn off paint or wax-oil = potential corrosion) I've opted to bond it into place., with epoxy.  Some folk might have used seam sealer, but that is difficult to fair. Some might have used polyester filler (bondo) but that shrinks (and so tends to pull off of steel) and it's also hygroscopic, but epoxy is, to my mind, a robust and totally waterproof solution.   Mind you it's flipping sticky to work with ..but still a great product. The steel cover-panel was sanded inside and out, not enough to cut through the galvanising, but rough enough to provide a key for the epoxy. 

And then, the fun starts . . .

   I roughly calculated how much I needed.  That's a whole lot of goop !

Based on the sill panel being 32" long, and using x3 glue crests = almost 100 sq inches of bond .. I don't intend it to peel off !  

   

^  A thin layer was spread over the sill ..which had also been pre-sanded to clean surface. The epoxy helps protects the sill (as a barrier) from condensation, and pre-smearing it on that surface too, very much improves the bond.    ^ ^  Thick goopy rows of the epoxy ; top, bottom and along the stiffening rib.   Man-handling this, while at the same time as wearing plastic gloves and trying to get four tiny screws in, to hold it in place .., What could possibly go wrong ! ?  

I'm delighted to say - it went really well. . .

   

^ Before blending the adhesive in and cleaning up.  Thankfully there's ample working time ..when the air temperature is low.

 

   

^ That'll work as a solid basis to work from. The ridge is now 8-10mm further out than the structural sill under it.  The screws will be removed before I fair the shape with epoxy filler. The epoxy is waterproof, but still I'll also use epoxy primer over it because it's so vulnerable. 

     

^ a little packing / adjustment before the epoxy sets, just to bring that forward line down a tad..  ^^ It takes ages to cure when the temperature is 10-deg or less, so localised warmth helps the catalyst work.

It'll take me a time to finish this, what with drying times as well, but hopefully I'll get on well enough to furnish an update by the end of the week. 

That's it for tonight. I bid you a good one.

Pete

 

[brandersnatch]

On 05/11/2024 at 17:26, brandersnatch said:

I saw you driving westbound along the A14 today. Looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 

Not that I’m stalking you or anything but I saw you again today on Nacton Road by the roundabout. Still looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 😉

[Bfg]

On 18/11/2024 at 20:50, brandersnatch said:

Not that I’m stalking you or anything but I saw you again today on Nacton Road by the roundabout. Still looking cool with a ‘half open’ roof. 😉

Yep, I like to use the car.   

Pete

[Bfg]

Late update ..on account of Vodaphone's service, and therefore my phone and internet, was down last week (in the postcode area where I live).  So a quick pictorial conclusion to the sill's cover. . .

      

^ work in progress.

 

^ That works ..after a quick wash off of the dust.  

 

^  Katie's door gaps and lines are now good, on both sides  

And I'm sure some will be pleased to see her near-side sill (finally ! ) in red. 

 

^  I'm happy.. the task was okay to do at home on my own, and now she has good lines with very respectable fits.

IMO Katie's always been tidy as a driver, but I'm pleased to have this extra detail, once and for all, sorted 

Perhaps, some might consider what I've done here as a cheat, but please do recall ; the replacement sill was professionally fitted. I simply didn't task them to finish it (..to avoid further over-run of costs).  It could be a good thing, that many of those who paid for top dollar restorations / prime examples of whatever marque - don't really know what's under their car's paint and polish ! 

Bidding you good weather and a great drive out in your own Autoshite 

Pete.

 

 

[Bfg]

Morning all,

As previously spoken about, the possibility - I have made the decision to sell Katie,  in large part to consolidate the number or projects I have (two classic cars, two 1950's motorcycles and a 1972 sailing boat).   After three years of cost and thousands of man hours - i finally had a really good year driving and touring in Katie, but I'm ever restless and my age not getting any younger. 

Katie is now listed on both the TR Register and the Triumph Sport Six Club website classified, and will be in those club's magazines in January.  This morning she's having a professional photo-shoot for on-line auction with Car & Classic.  It's not the best time to sell a sports car but I have reasons to try now.  

I'll keep you informed.

Pete

[Noel Tidybeard]

have you still got the bumpers? it would help her look less "unfinished project" to some prospectives

[Bfg]

5 hours ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

have you still got the bumpers? it would help her look less "unfinished project" to some prospectives

Thank you

Yes, they are in good shape with nice chrome, and will be included in the advert, as indeed are the standard 'globe' hub caps and the original wooden dashboard.

[Bfg]

Jeff Cranfield Photography

 

 

We had a great few hours with Jeff yesterday taking photos and video for Katie's forthcoming Car and Classics advert.   He's both a lovely chap and his work is, I feel, highly commendable. 

I hope you'll agree - even from these first photos Katie looks great and for the advert itself their high resolution will allow interested parties to have a good zoom in.

Pete

p.s. Jeff is based in Essex but does travel. Just as a thought - it might be a nice Christmas idea or birthday present perhaps, for your loved ones to have your own car likewise professionally photographed.? 

 

[Bfg]

 

Katie's advert is now live on Car & Classic, with the auction actually starting on 27th and ending on the 3rd January.

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1967-triumph-tr4a-irs-45w1zg

Hey ho I can have a day off tomorrow

 

[GeorgeB]

You will get more money for this if you put the bumpers on.

[Bfg]

Prospective owner's individual choice  George. 

They are with the car, complete with the brackets etc, should the next owner wish to put the weight back on the car.

Personally I tip my hat in admiration to the works rally cars which were campaigned successful by Triumph.