Cookie's Blog

Monday, 28 March 2016

Holey Dolly

The paintwork at the front end of the Flying Log has been crying out for some attention for a while. There was some corrosion bubbling through above the headlamps and the paint on the bonnet and front wings was very patchy.

Patchy front end

Corrosion above the headlamps, similar both sides

The issue with the Log is that it's not really worth enough money to be worthwhile having professional body repairs, added to that the front eyebrow panel is only available in fibreglass nowadays which to me is not a proper repair. If it was a Sprint in similar condition then I'd be getting some bodywork and a respray done but for the log it's a question of going back to the 70s and using filler and spray cans like everyone used to back in the day!

ex owner Darren Sharp had let me know that there was already some filler above the headlights, so I though I knew what to expect. However, the amount of filler was a bit more than I expected.

Worse than I though!

Anyway, I ground out the filler, treated what was left with Kurust, followed by Finegans No 1 Rust treating and protector paint. Cut some thin sheet steel to use as strengtheners for the larger holes and then filled.

Treated with Kurust

Other side treated

Painted with Finnegans No 1

Filled

There was also some surface rust just be,ow the windscreen that I also treated and skimmed with filler.

Surface Rust below Windscreen treated and filled.

Then it was time to mask up and prime, I used some aerosol No1 on the ex rusty bits followed by some red oxide primer.

Masked anmd primed

Masked and primed

I then sprayed the whole front end in top coat, I don't have any proper spraying facilities so it was aerosols, I used 5 x 400ml cans. Needs cutting back after a few weeks of hardening but at least it's all one colour now!

Not a bad job, will be even better when cut back after hardening.

Sunday, 28 February 2016

More work than was needed

I took the time to strip down the Dolomite today to fix the water leak. The leak was apparently under the manifold, I wasn't sure but suspected either a leaky core plug or water pump pipe.

So I spent a few hours removing the carbs and manifold.

After stripping the core plugs and waterpump pipe all looked ok.

Core Plugs all look OK

I left the core plugs un-replaced (if it aint broke don't fix it) but replaced the waterpump pipe anyway as I had purchased a nice new stainless one to replace the steel version. The only thing I found that was probably causing the link is that one of the heater pipes broke as I removed it so I think it was split. However this wasn't where the dripping was from! I suspect the water was leaking from the hose and running along the heater pipe making it look like the leak was under the manifold!

Heater hose which broke broke when I removed it.

Only hassle I had was with the stainless heater pipe, the hole in the fixing bracket was only 8mm and it is supposed to fit on a manifold stud which is 3/8 inch unf. Not too much of a problem as I have a good pillar drill so easily fixed but a bit of a quality issue which I have flagged to the Triumph specialist I bought it from so they can take this up with their supplier.

Hole was too small

Anyway, having put everything back together I now have a leak free cooling system. I did put some bars leaks in the system just in case of any future leaks, rumour has it that Triumph used to do this at the factory, don't know if this is true or not but sound sensible.

Sunday, 7 February 2016

Leaky Log

The "Flying Log" sprung a coolant leak last weekend. Had a quick look and it seemed to be coming from a hose that runs between the inlet manifold and a steel pipe that runs to the waterpump. As luck would have it I had a spare so fitted it this morning.

However, it's still leaking, obviously wasn't the hose after all. I can now see that the leak is under the exhaust manifold somewhere but despite using mirrors and torches I can't quite see exactly where.

It''s either the steel pipe that runs to the waterpump has rusted through or I have a blown core plug. More likely the core plug but I've ordered both a set of core plugs and a stainless steel replacement pipe. Juts need to find some time to strip out the carbs, inlet and exhaust manifolds to gain access, not a 5 minute job...

Sunday, 15 November 2015

RBRR Entry confirmed and penultimate White Lion Breakfast meet

First some good news. Team "Flyinng Log's" entry to the 2016 RBRR is confirmed. This time we are team 33, or in keeping with the poo coloured theme I will refer to this as team "Turdy Tree"...

Team "Turdy Tree" the "Flying Log"

Now some sadder news, the excellent series of Classic Car Breakfast Meets that I've been attending for the last few years at White Lion Antiques look to be stopping in the new year as the site is likely to be redeveloped. This is a great pity as the meets have been very well attended with a real varied selection of Classic and Sports Cars from Humble Austin A30s up to Lambos McClarens and Ferrari's. I'm certainly going to miss these meets.

Today was the penultimate meet, a few pictures below. The final meet will be on Sunday 13th December.

First a few of the Triumphs there today

This Sprint had a for sale note in the window for £2850 ono, looked like a bargain to me, wish I had space!

My GT6 , it was a bit packed early on and double parking was needed

Managed to get a proper space later on

Almost a Triumph, a really nice Standard Vangaurd (these have a similar Standard Triumph 6 Cylinder Engine as the later 6 cylinder Tiumphs, eg 2000, 2500 saloons, Vitesse Mk1, GT6 Mk1)

A now some of the other cars

Nice Europa, surprised this wasn't at last month's Lotus themed meet.

This time the themed marque was VW, more campers than other "variants" (excuse the pun) turned up

Nice Split Screen Camper

On it's way out

Gorgeous metallic blue paint on the Anglia

The regular posse of DeLoreans turned up

Nice fairly unmolested early Mini Cooper

Modern Vauxhall Engine in this Viva saloon, I bet that surprises a few cars who try and beat it away from the lights!

A Couple of XKs brought some class

Sunday, 8 November 2015

Team Flying Log RBRR entry and Cookie's Cars valuations

At long last the entry for the 2016 Club Triumph Round Britain Run has opened. This year the supported charity is Guide Dogs as per the poster below.

Team Flying Log's entry is now posted awaiting confirmation of our place. In previous years the event has been oversubscribed and places taken within a couple of days, however the fact I posted off ours on the day the entries opened and also the fact that the numbers of cars this year has increased to 130 I'm pretty confident we'll be in first time without going on a waiting list.

A slight change to the "Team Flying Log" members this year. Paul was unable to make it this time around. Paul is an accomplished classical singer performing with the BBC Philharmonic so trying to keep the same balance with a musical (semi) professional Paul's replacement is Mark Smith, Lead Guitarist rom ACDC/ Thin Lizzy Covers Band Syn City Rockers. So this time The Log will be Rockin' it's way around Britain!

The Flying Log at John O'Groats last time around.

So can't wait for next October and be warned I'll be on the scrounge for Sponsorship during the summer of 2016...

My agreed value insurance on the two Triumphs has to have a re-valuation done every 2 years and both the Flying Log and GT6 have just been revalued. Triumph values have been shooting up this last couple of years, particularly GT6s so it was no surprise that the values have increased. My Insurance is through the TSSC scheme and the valuations are carried out and underwritten through the club. The valuations can be a bit controversial as they tend to be higher than the resale value of a car as it's based on how much it would cost to replace the car with one of a similar condition and then carry out the various restoration work and improvements to replicate the existing car.

Anyway I'm well satisfied with the agreed values for my 2 cars, £10.5K for the GT6 and £2.5K for the Flying Log. With the value of my modern 2011 BMW 3 series touring depreciating year on year the GT6 will soon be the most valuable car I own as it's nearly worth as much as the beemer already.

Sunday, 25 October 2015

Brekkie time again

Another trip to the local Classic Car Breakfast meet this morning at White lion Antiques. Once again a bumper turn out. This time around the featured marques was lots and there were swarms of them. A selection in the pictures below.

You don't see many of these anymore, Lotus Vauxhall Carlton, a real wolf in sheep's clothing.

Very original Lotus Cortina Mk2

A bit lary and in bad taste in terms of decals in my opinion, this Essex Esprit. However, talking to Antonio from work ( a keen lotus fan and Elan Sprint owner) apparently this was how they came out of the factory!