War and Peace

Thurs.31.08.06. The rear half shafts and hubs have been retrieved from Slicks who although having had them one month had not even looked at them. Attempts were made later in the day to split the hubs but years of neglect have meant that they are completely seized. A quick phone call to Richard of Spitz Graveyard revealed that a pair of reconditioned half shafts would be £100 including postage. It would be advisable to actually visit Richard again if nothing else to verify the alleged quality of the merchandise. Richards’ descriptions of components has not always been totally accurate, in fact, at best they have been fanciful, farcical or foolishly optimistic. The trip could be more worthwhile if buying a new head or acquiring a pair of Spitfire seats could be rolled into the equation, but we genuinely know that it would be a wasted trip. One of desperate hope rather than one of dismal reality.

The work schedule for the following two weeks has been posted, its importance stressed and I trust, comprehended, but having been here before I certainly do not expect the list to have any bearing upon what realistically will be achieved.                                                    

The day was slipping away with very little, if any, progress so without admitting to total failure the lifeline of ‘phoning in’ the parts request to Rimmers was grabbed. During coffee we would finalise the order, determine the bottom line cost and post a cheque for the correct amount. At least the parts would arrive early next week perhaps in turn could kick start the project.

Hang on. “There’s a guy in here selling golf ball GT6 wheels and tyres for £150 and a Spitfire overdrive box for £250, it’s a Warrington number, what do you think? He’s trading under the name of ‘Triumph Nuts’, shall I give him a call?” garbled an unintelligible but excited Chris looking up from ‘Classic Car’. “Maybe he has a pair of half shafts, or a matching head or even some seats, why not give him a bell?” suggested a depressed Nigel. “Bags of time, they only close at six.”

Here we go again; perhaps tomorrow would do, or Saturday when they are closed, or next month when we have lost the fuckin’ number. Rimmers have finished for the day anyway, so we cannot tick the task off the list even if we had wanted to: if we go around in circles any more we shall disappear up our own arseholes.

To my amazement a call was made to Warrington before six. Remarkably, this could prove to be the saviour of the project. Chris and Steve, of ‘Triumph nuts’, bonded immediately having an in depth conversation about splitting half shafts, valve seats for green heads, the setting up of the wishbones for true alignment, twin one and quarter or one and half SU’s, overdrive gear boxes, cutting and balancing drive shafts, Spax shockers, Spit springs, steel or spoked painted wheels, torque, revs and converse camber. Steve sounded extremely knowledgeable about completely everything Triumph. The final deal clincher was that he claimed that he could better any of Rimmer’s trade prices with either new or re-con stock. We may have eventually discovered a ‘proper bloke’ who is not a fantasist or slower than a Mexican donkey, spouts bullshit, simply disinterested or spews out bare faced lies. The test will be tomorrow when a visit is planned. Fingers crossed.

This one phone call has energised us out of the sinking pit. Several pints of Becks had been rightfully earned. Down at the Oak Mad John was staring into his flat Duchars, lifting his eyes he asks when the car will be finished. Sensing our trepidation he offered Jo the four volumes of ‘War and Peace’ that he laboured through as a student. “I’ll bet you could read these before they finish the car”. He may not be wrong.