Unbelievable progress

Fri.29.05.09. Throughout the night the trim had dried ensuring that the leather was firmly bound to the hose. At either end was sufficient rubber to enable both joints to be butted tight to the existing trim.

Colin had arrived at the workshop to accurately measure how level the car was standing. By calculating the angle of the drop of the wheels he could determine the preferred amount of camber on the rear wheels. This exercise exposed an over acute angle at the rear wheels, which must be amended. Each corner of the chassis was within 2mm of being square but the rear wheel arch was 15mm lower than the front. His findings revealed that the front suspension should be lowered whilst the rear lifted. A balance between the two must be achieved. 

The front of the car can be lowered by adjusting the height of the spring platforms but to raise the rear of the car it was necessary to remove ‘road race’ leaf spring block of 16mm and replace the unit with the original ‘Hadyn Davies’ 8mm block. Once replaced the vehicle lifted to a more suitable clearance level of 14cms as opposed to 10cms when the ‘racing’ block was fitted. Until the front platforms can be adjusted by using a ‘C’ spanner the ‘true’ density of the rear block cannot be accurately calculated. The ‘race’ block can then be cut down to the appropriate depth by Catterall and Wood to be fitted later into the car. The ‘race’ block has been machined to a greater standard than that of Haydn’s’ having a recessed floor and a raised top both of which ‘faces’ fit snugly over the spring, preventing lateral or vertical movement. A middle section can be cut leaving the remaining two halves with the correct profiles: both of which can then be integrated into the suspension assembly.

After the good news comes the bad, in the form of a slight accident when Chris tumbled out the car landing squarely on the boot box, which now lies as a pile of matchwood in the corner of the workshop. Bummer.

Sat.30.05.09. The top coat of the boot lining has been replaced by another piece of plywood, 4mm x 55cm x 86.5cm, glued, screwed and painted. Not a big issue so get on with it. 

Sun.31.05.09. The Tatton Park Classic car and auto jumble occurred this weekend. It has been a very hot beautiful day, the place was packed. Speaking to the guys on the Triumph owner’s club stand most were in favour of ‘minilite’ as opposed to ‘wire’ wheels. 

The constant maintenance in the form of tightening the spoke nuts, the endless cleaning, possibility of only 13inch size along with potential poor provenance are the considerable factors against wire wheels. The sturdy period design, minimal maintenance, various available sizes and guaranteed build quality favour the minilites: end of debate!

I managed to purchase a bracket to mount the flasher unit but failed to find a ‘C’ spanner with the appropriate 90 degree upturned lugs. But tomorrow is another day as well as another month.