Post by Kenr on Jun 10, 2012 13:40:24 GMT
Hi Folks, I thought you all might enjoy a change of scenary in relation to rusty old cars. So, here's my Triumph. Flipper (cos of the Dolphin Grey paint) is a 1967 vintage and has been owned by me for 2 years now.
She had been standing in a breakers yard and was bought by a mate of mine to strip for spares for his own 1300. However upon seeing the car properly, he realised that it was essentially solid and way too good to break. She is a nice little car and now drives beautifully. When I first got her there was a cutting out problem which would surface after a couple of miles or so.
As a matter of routine I replaced the coil and changed the fuel pump for a new item. No bloody difference. Then the water pump started to leak at the seal, so that was dealt with. I then took the plunge and fitted a Britpart electric ignition module which really did make a difference and seems to have sorted the problem.
I thought that now was the time to give Flipper a bit of a birthday. I bought a new front windscreen seal and insert to hopefully stop that irritating leak that caused footwell sogginess. I also intend to finish off some odds and sods of interior trim. I have all of the bits to do this, so it is just a question of getting my arse in gear.
So, now that Goldie has found a deserving home, and VUF is in need of some minor brake fettling, I have decided to garage Flipper and press on with the necessary work.
Here is the result of todays work. The front end is probably the most cosmetically tired bit of the car and this is where I started.
The hardest bit of the strip down was the two light pods. These are supposed to be held in by 4 studs that are bolted to the main body of the car. Over the years people tend to replace them with hex bolts. This is fine but the top 2 on each side had been covered with body schutz and it was a pain to get the spanner to sit right. However, all came undone bar one on the top right O/S which had siezed. I had to be a bit brutal but it will be fixed.
The N/S 'mickey mouse ear' has been replaced at some point and whilst it isn't exactly pretty, it is solid. I fabricated one a couple of years ago and I can use that if needed, hopefully it will not prove necessary.
This is where the indicator/sidelight unit sits. This is solid but untidy. It will all be cleaned up and repainted.
This side is tattier, but it is all just cosmetic.
You can see where the wing has been welded to the inner wing. It is solid but not in anyway pleasing to the eye. This will be cleaned up using my trusty electric file.
All in all, it was a very productive couple of hours. I am now at the point where the next garage session will see me grinding and filing away to tidy up the front end. Then the usual rust proofing and priming will follow. Hopefully there won't be too much in the way of filler needed.
That's all for now.
Cheers
Ken
She had been standing in a breakers yard and was bought by a mate of mine to strip for spares for his own 1300. However upon seeing the car properly, he realised that it was essentially solid and way too good to break. She is a nice little car and now drives beautifully. When I first got her there was a cutting out problem which would surface after a couple of miles or so.
As a matter of routine I replaced the coil and changed the fuel pump for a new item. No bloody difference. Then the water pump started to leak at the seal, so that was dealt with. I then took the plunge and fitted a Britpart electric ignition module which really did make a difference and seems to have sorted the problem.
I thought that now was the time to give Flipper a bit of a birthday. I bought a new front windscreen seal and insert to hopefully stop that irritating leak that caused footwell sogginess. I also intend to finish off some odds and sods of interior trim. I have all of the bits to do this, so it is just a question of getting my arse in gear.
So, now that Goldie has found a deserving home, and VUF is in need of some minor brake fettling, I have decided to garage Flipper and press on with the necessary work.
Here is the result of todays work. The front end is probably the most cosmetically tired bit of the car and this is where I started.
The hardest bit of the strip down was the two light pods. These are supposed to be held in by 4 studs that are bolted to the main body of the car. Over the years people tend to replace them with hex bolts. This is fine but the top 2 on each side had been covered with body schutz and it was a pain to get the spanner to sit right. However, all came undone bar one on the top right O/S which had siezed. I had to be a bit brutal but it will be fixed.
The N/S 'mickey mouse ear' has been replaced at some point and whilst it isn't exactly pretty, it is solid. I fabricated one a couple of years ago and I can use that if needed, hopefully it will not prove necessary.
This is where the indicator/sidelight unit sits. This is solid but untidy. It will all be cleaned up and repainted.
This side is tattier, but it is all just cosmetic.
You can see where the wing has been welded to the inner wing. It is solid but not in anyway pleasing to the eye. This will be cleaned up using my trusty electric file.
All in all, it was a very productive couple of hours. I am now at the point where the next garage session will see me grinding and filing away to tidy up the front end. Then the usual rust proofing and priming will follow. Hopefully there won't be too much in the way of filler needed.
That's all for now.
Cheers
Ken
