MarkDeTriomphe

Hello Lloyd, I am very probably interested in arch repair or half wings (depending on price). But does the lack of response mean that it is as I feared a while ago and every one else already has a pair of wings stashed away already? Cheers, Mark

Hello Lloyd, I am very probably interested in arch repair or half wings (depending on price). But does the lack of response mean that it is as I feared a while ago and every one else already has a pair of wings stashed away already? Cheers, Mark

2601 wrote: A chap in the TR Register created his own Sabrina from an Alpha engine.  He manufacturered the 'Sabrina' cam covers and sourced a pair of DU6's. The carbs were the most expensive part of the engine project.  Quite an impressive Repro/TRibute call it what you may. Is that this one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90wM0kofNaM&blend=1&lr=1&ob=5 (There's a great bit in that video at 9:25  :) ) And some more nice footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2DojMzPL8U Mark

And to be fair, I do recall Richard's Stag being driven quite hard once - luckily Richard was asleep at the time 8)

Spitfire2500 wrote:  -- Markus's grinding tip might help here as mine hit the prop tunnel way before they get to the heelboard. Yes - that's the thing I'd like to improve now.  Doug's seats fit much further back than mine but I know his propshaft tunnel has been slightly 'tuned' to allow more movement.

I have a MKI MX-5 drivers seat fitted  - haven't got around to worrying about my passengers just yet.   With the two seats side by side I can confirm what Marcus has shown above -  there is not a huge difference in height - all I have done is grind the pins off and cut off one of the feet to allow the seat to fit tight against the propshaft tunnel -  so I can believe there is scope to lower further.  I'm only 6'1" though - but have been driving it with a tin top on most of this year and wouldn't go back now - SO much more comfortable than my old seats (which had new foams). Mark

What happened to the big saloons in 2009?   From 2003-7 - there were 4 non finishers then when 2009 added that number went down to 3  :-/  Did one come in (very) late? Mark

2684 wrote: Hi Mark, Yes, we used my car beneath that heading for a reason! There was some bodgery/ingenuity/mechanical skill on display in getting some of the cars round, but at least we avoided risking offending anyone in particular! Glad people seem to like the report anyway  :) Yes - great write-up, thanks. Don't think there was much risk of offending any one though - we used our fair share of bodgery and ingenuity to keep the car going even if the mechanical skill was a bit lacking ;D

Quote : "96 Cars, 2000 Miles and Epic Bodgery" ... glad it's not my car shown under that heading  ;D

1700 wrote:wish we could find an easy replacement for the seat diaphrams. Pirelli webbing - loads of it on Ebay - bit of a struggle to get the right tension but well worth doing.  I think it made the seat I used it on more comfortable than the passenger seat  which has a new standard diaphragm.  Back was starting to twinge a bit on RBRR when I was resting  - but that might have been because of Andy's driving  ;) Mark

yogi wrote:...  but we make up for that on the bends where I like to think that very few cars can keep up. Think we were one of the 'big boys' behind you on that last stretch down to LE - and can confirm that you don't hang about on the bends (unless it was the other 1300).  Unfortunately, had to let you go after a bit of heavy braking made a sound like part of the car had been ripped off - which of course it had   :-/

And there was a 2000 retired in 2010 with blown head gasket (Richard  ;)) And I am sure I recall a Stag on the side of the M3 just after the Fleet service stop back in '92 ... of course, it may have gone on to finish. Mark

932 wrote:As the weather turns cold again my Spit 1500 starts to get starting problems again, it does it every year, when its cold the engine turns over a little bit too slowly, if i leave it till the afternoon when the temp is much higher it turns over normally, all summer been fine, nows its cold its back to its old tricks again. the starter is in good ish condition, earth path checked and very little resistance back to the battery, all connections cleaned up to shiny metal and covered in grease once reconnected up to stop then corroding. Been and checked the solenoid and i get 12.8 at battery, 12.8 at the battery post on the solenoid, at the other post with ignition completely off i get about 3 volts ?????? battery does not discharge though. if i disconnect the starter motor and turn the ignition as if starting it i get 12.4 volts at the other post, could it be time for a new starter solenoid???? thanks rich I had exactly the same symptoms on the MX-5 - put up with it like that for 2 winters!  In the end I found out it was just the battery - £15 for a second hand battery from the local scrappy and been fine ever since. Mark

Excellent - thanks Derek. That'll be the only video we made an appearance in this year 😀 Mark.

Have just done exactly the same thing - so I really hope it is a good idea (mine was £20) Mark

thebrookster wrote: It is amazing how driving a bigger car causes people's idea of essentials to change  ;D ;D ;D Ah .. but carrying a spare drive shaft enabled one other Saloon to continue to the end.  Looking at the finishing statistics, I'd suggest spare driveshafts are the essential spare for small chassis cars in future  ;D.   I'm also looking for a portable mig welder to add to the list of essential tools :-/ !

taffs2win wrote:Getting Matt's car back on the road at Lauder with help of a replacement half shaft courtesy of Mark Bland.  As 1 hour earlier I had the sinking feeling my first RBRR event was over. Sunrise at Land's End. Just heard about the local help you received at some un-earthly hour in the morning when fixing your car - providing tools and refreshment while you replaced the drive shaft.  That is really impressive and completely unexpected. Also - I'm glad the drive shaft came in useful - made it worthwhile lugging all those spares around  ;D Mark

Although we did not experience it in full swing, I felt that Sixpenny Handley was a great stop - nicely situated and easy to find.  We had a really warm welcome from Nick, James and Geoff to name but a few who had stayed on to see the stragglers pass.   It also opened up a great 'alternative' route choice for those of us who were slightly pushed for time - taking the A3081 from the point where it joins the A303 allowed us to make up time whilst demonstrating a great local road to Andy,  including  Zig Zag hill and the pass over the top of Cranborne Chase with its fantastic views.

Just arrived home. Never been this tired in my life before.  I really cannot  thank you enough for your hospitality and help GrayFox. It really made the event for us seeing your generousity.  Hopefully there will be a fuller report when Andy and I can think straight. Mark

cook1e wrote:Went to the local Morrisons near work at lunchtime to stock up on RBRR energy drinks and snacks. I was very disappointed to find that they hardly had any bottles of my favoured energy drink (Orange Lucozade left), only 3 bottles in the entire store so I cleared them out. Wonder if they have had a run on energy drink sales due to RBBRR team purchases over the last couple of days  ;D Good news is they had plenty of pasties and pies so the snack bit is sorted  ;) It's OK Andy - Shirley went out at lunch time and brought home 24 bottles.  Kids nicked one but we should be OK  ;)

Alex wrote:So Andy has that one got a securing nut? Alex - just looked at my spare blocks and neither of those have a securing  nut.  :(

thescrapman wrote:New prop fitted Sunday, but couldn't test it until this morning as i was waiting for the new windscreen to be fitted. Noise on the overun now all gone, and new prop seems to be nicely in balance. But....... New windscreen leaks like a sieve at 60. I was getting wet everytime I washed the windows. Grrrrrrrrrr... Urgent phone call to be made when I get to work. Annoyed Colin That's very worrying ... I've just had the screen replaced but had no chance to test it yet (car still on axle stands and it's not really rained anyway since).  Do you know if it's the seal or a problem with the screen / surround? Mark

VR1 is even cheaper at Eurocarparts until tomorrow night (31% off). Mark

sparky_spit wrote: Clive - with regard to having no rubber in there, what is it that allows the outer part to sometimes slip on the inner? I've only ever known this happen on 6 cylinder engines.  Have had more than a few 1500 engines and they all have solid pulleys. To answer your original question, I had a small shoulder machined onto the back of my pulley and then machined the trigger wheel out so that it sat nicely over the shoulder ... I then held it in place with small grub screws loctited in.  I'll try to get a picture up later. Mark update - not so easy to photograph in situ but this gives the idea You will notice that this is a 1300 not a 1500 but I think the same approach will work.  Also, as mentioned above, it is probably easier to mount the sensor on a bracket welded to the front of the timing cover.

1 mile from home after the driver's meet, my main beam conked out    :(.   Would anyone have a spare indicator/light stalk for a late MKII saloon by any chance please (the one with the flimsy plug and the blue wire that connects directly to the master light switch by-passing the plug?). Note to self - must go and check all the other things on Dave Langrick;s list of must dos (even though this seems to be a mechanical failure not directly related to current drawn by the headlamps).