As we enjoy the current record breaking warm late winter weather there are signs that some people are starting to get their cars out early. This is of course very welcome but as I’m still up to my eyes in engine rebuilds with two done, one in progress, a new one just in and two more waiting I’m not sure how we’re going to fit it all in. Never mind, I’m sure we will.
One of the (finally) completed engines is the modified 1500 unit in my own Herald convertible. This had developed a bit of a thirst for oil and when last used in anger on the Club Triumph Autosolo at Curborough Sprint Circuit was pushing enough compression past the pistons to blow the dipstick partially out of its tube. This then allowed oil to be blown out of the tube onto the exhaust causing it to make smoke rather like a Battleship Escort Vessel. It turned out that no fewer than 2 pistons had broken ‘lands’ between the lower compression rings and oil rings following the 35,000 plus very hard miles it had covered.
Even this wasn’t as bad as the one just in though. This has let go in a fairly spectacular way sticking no. 4 rod out through the side of the block with a pretty gruesome mess left behind.
Work continues STILL on the roundtail Spit, although we have now finished replacing the sills, floors, strengtheners, front riggers etc and rebuilding the bulkhead base/A post, B post and heelboard on both sides and are now well into replacing the rear wings, boot floor and rear valance and rebuilding the inner wings, wheel arches, spring tunnel and rear body mountings – will it ever end?
