32valves

Check the distributor mechanical and vacuum advance then, assuming it's all moving freely, advance the ignition timing a couple of degrees and see what happens. In my experience the timing marks are purely arbitrary anyway. You could also try swapping the coil for a known good one.

I'll add my thanks to everyone involved in making this such a success. The organisers, the marshals, the other entrants. It was just fantastic, the best one I've done so far. We got round without any real issues, just the odd coming together with the local wildlife (2 out of 3 were already dead anyway !). Now, where did I put that pressure washer ... ?  ;D (I must also thank my good lady for helping out at Pimperne and supplying some of her delicious home made pork pies)

Phew ! Nearly forgot, 2 bags of Tangfastic at the ready  ;D

michael_charlton wrote:...for those in convertiables ,make sure your tops are leak proof. How long have you been driving Triumphs Mike ? ;D

I started on the last few jobs yesterday morning by re-torqueing the head. That went well until re-fitting the cam cover and one of the bolts partially stripped. Thankfully there was still enough left to tighten it but I'm investigating a replacement with a slightly bigger thread, just in case. Next was just a general check over before starting on a light tune-up. I hadn't got far before I noticed that lots of tiny splits and cracks had appeared on the two top radiator hoses. These are modern, new manufactured Kevlar reinforced hoses that I fitted in 2007. I had heard of problems with these before so I've kept an eye on them but this has come on in the last couple of months only. So, I did the only reasonable thing. I ordered new parts online and went off to a beer festival for the afternoon !  ;D On with the rest of the jobs today ....

If you get stuck Andy I can probably find you one suitable for exchange  ;)

Well, the Sprint has had new axles seals and rear brake shoes. I took the opportunity to clean out the rear wheel bearings and re-pack them with Silkolene Pro RG2 grease too. Diff and gearbox now have fresh oil. I fixed the fuel leak and did an engine oil change today then went out for a quick test drive. Everything seemed to be OK so I brimmed the tank ready for a trip to Cornwall in the morning, a little 400 mile round trip proving run !

Got home from work today and smelled petrol in the house !!! Rushed out to the garage and found a large puddle of petrol under the Sprint and a steady drip (noted the strong smell of petrol in the garden on the way !). Turned out the fuel hose from the tank going into the pump had perished so I ripped it off and plugged it with a large bolt. Thank goodness I disconnect the battery when I'm not using the car. Of course, it didn't help that the back end is up on ramps while I finish off doing the axle seals (and it was 99 octane too, bugger !).

Have you been along to the local meet at the Crooked Billet ?

Voted on behalf of slant four engines

Straight swap Mike.

Phew that was lucky ! I took the Sprint for its MOT today and it passed fine but the rear brakes were only just acceptable (one side down on efficiency). Not too bad I thought as I haven't used it much recently, probably just needs using. Driving home I flicked the car through a left-hander, drove up the road another 100m or so then braked for a right turn and whoa ! Something's not right at all. Took it steady for the rest of the mile or so home. Back in the garage and I discovered that the half-shaft oil seal had failed and dumped EP90 all over the shoes on the drivers side. Parts ordered and spanners at the ready. I think I'll do both sides using the gearbox nose oil seal mod (Pt No. 141756 if you're interested).

That's the exact stuff I used for the first 500 miles on my current Sprint engine, although 6 years ago it was half the price !

Wilkinsons el-cheapo 20W50 for the first 500 miles, don't labour or thrash it. Change the oil for something a bit more decent for the next 500 to 1000 miles and press on a little more this time. Change once more with the good stuff then take it out and wring its neck ! Job done.

Finally managed to extract the photo's from my phone. So I give you Bill in his natural habitat

Hi Bill, the picture is still on my phone along with a few other good ones. Unfortunately I haven't been able to download them as my computer crashes the instant I connect my phone to it. Motorola haven't come up with anything useful to solve the problem yet. As soon as it's sorted I'll post them up on the photo gallery.

They could call themselves the 'Poo Radleys'  ;D

Can't get the MMS working  :(

Gave up on the battery lead when a couple of parts didn't arrive on Saturday. Managed to find a good one in the workshop so fitted that and also wired in the ignition switch bypass that got us round the RBRR last year, just in case. Topped up the gearbox and axle, greased the prop shaft joints and rear wheel bearings, fixed a dodgy looking exhaust mount, remove all the gravel from the gearbox cross-member (a little impromptu off-road excursion  ;D), checked sorted and stowed all the tools and spares, fitted the vignette, and gave the whole car a quick clean inside and out. Still got to get the tracking checked/adjusted and forgot all about fitting a fuel filter near the tank in case of any more crap fuel so going to try and sort something tomorrow. Aiming to be ready for Tuesday night so that I can join the welcome for Team Torpedo at our local CT meet  8)

Got to fabricate a new battery lead this weekend, but still waiting for parts to arrive  :( Also hoping that the antibiotics work and I don't have to go to hospital for 'something stronger' (bloody horse flies  :()

Bill, you are the reason I won't put a CD player in the Sprint  ;D ;D ;D

Not news anymore really. On our way to the Alps last February there were Police with speed cameras everywhere including blokes in camouflage gear hiding out in woods by the side of the road (still chuffed that we spotted them  ;D). Same again this year.  No worries driving a 300Tdi  ;).

Ferry sorted this afternoon. Top stuff from Craig as usual. Car 35 now good to go  8)

Has it got a towbar and electrics ?

Thanks Mike, we're making at least 3 trips to France this year so I think I'll get one of these  ;)