Today I went along to support our local VAR group at the annual Galaxy of Cars show in Central Auckland, forum contributor Simon Jansen had his special there, which some of you may have seen on Simon's blog, along side Joss Campbell's car which is at a similar stage of construction. Their cars created a lot of interest, which was the object of the exercise, both to help promote the VAR to a new audience and to display the very attractive body on Joss car, replicas of which he is now making commercially available. Hopefully Simon will post some pictures shortly as I am sure many of you will find them rather interesting.

Location: New Zealand

Not exactly today but over night. Had a phone call at 6:30pm, my son needed emergency babysitting for my grandson as our year old granddaughter had extremely high temp and had to get to hospital.Got into modern which spat back and then had no compression.Wife now in stress mode.Out comes "Annie" 82 this year.First time start, 45 - 50 mph to son's 28 miles away, Returned home at 2:00am. "Annie"and Lara both did well.Thanks Herbert,you saved the day.

Location: Piddle valley, Dorchester.

doing the hoovering,dusting and cooking the Sunday lunch, I feel that I should do a bit in the home , dont get earache then. So it's a good investment

Location: Oakley, Hants

Flushed out the cooling system on the Chummy. You could tell how bad it was as Jan, my wife, came out, looked at the contents of the bowl beneath the radiator and exclaimed it looked like strong tea (!) Around a ten mile road test - BRACING.
Then fixed the fuel gauge on the "65 " - a wire had come loose from the sender. No need to keep dipping the tank, although I'll still keep the measuring stick on board.

Location: Melton Mowbray

Finished dismantling a free pre-fab concrete garage which was due to be demolished tomorrow unless I cleared it. Those panels are heavy! Now all I've got to do is persuade the neighbours that it will look great next to their holiday cottage...

Alastair

Location: Port Isaac, Cornwall

Location: New Zealand

Some more general shots. It's interesting seeing the Austin 20 next to a saloon and Ruby. Really emphasises the size difference!





The event is held at the local speedway. As well as cars in the infield they have them all over the place on various grassy areas and in the car parks. Unfortunately the Vintage Austin club (and a few others others) are up on a flat area above the track and I wonder if a lot of people don't realise we were up there! It's a very relaxed event. Great for just catching up with people and chatting.

Simon

Location: New Zealand

Nice cars Simon!

Today I have mainly been freezing cold attending to a three bearing engine with a "small knock"!!

My son Chris came to lunch and as it was beautiful day we had an outing in the Austin. From Melrose we took the old road to Kelso and then on to Teviotwater gardens. We then took a very minor road to St Boswells and then over the hill back to Melrose. About 40 miles altogether.
This was the firts trip of any length since my upgrade of the car. It now has an 'Andes' 2nd gear, a high compression head and thermostat. I've also opened the inlet manifold a little.
The car ran beautifully. Hill climbing is excellent and it cruises at 45mph with 50 easily available. A bit noisier and harsher but much more driveable.

A high point was buying a lovely Craster kipper at the water park:


We then noticed the label:


An excellent outing

Location: Melrose, Scottish Borders

Like the warning "Contains Fish"

Don't you just love the EEC!

Location: New Zealand

G'day. Today we visited the Gt Barrier Reef - amazing.
Off to New Zealand tomorrow and after visiting a number of towns hoping to deliver some headlamp parts to an enthusiast in Auckland.
Regards from Oz.
Stuart

Location: Staffordshire

Jim, out of interest, do you attribute the harsher/noiser drive to the HC head?

Location: Farnham

David,
Yes I think the high compression head does increase the noise level. I've heard this reported before and it has changed the engine note. However the car can now cruise somewhat faster and that of course contributes too.
Overall I'm very pleased indeed with the outcome. The Andes gear makes driving in the hills of The Borders much better and the increased power overcomes the gap between 1st & 2nd gear resulting from the raised 2nd gear ratio.

Location: Melrose, Scottish Borders

Lube change on modern to rectify stupid hydraulic cam follower problems re last post.Will be doing similar to Annie at the weekend as she looks a bit jealous.

Location: Piddle valley, Dorchester.

Finally starting to do some work on my SWB Saloon that's been very much pushed to the back of the queue because of the Ulster re-build following its Loton acrobatics and work on the Trials Chummy to get it ready for the new trials season. First job is to remove the rear axle to cure an oil leak between the banjo and axle halves. Couldn't believe how easily it all came apart. Spring Pin cotters and the Spring Pins themselves simply drifted out with a couple of taps on the brass drift, hubs pulled without any bother to reveal perfect tapers and keyways, brake shoes not covered in oil and with plenty of meat left etc. etc. I've done very little to this car since I bought it in Spring 2013 but every time I do do something, I find the same. It's a credit to David Constantine who restored it from boxes of bits in the early/mid 1990's.

Steve

Location: North Yorkshire

After being reluctant to start in the storage unit, I drove the Austin to its' new home in council garage only five minutes walk away from here. Now I need to get the movers in to shift the workbench, shelves and contents to the new location.

I haven't driven the Austin for weeks, but it's amazing how it all comes back again.

Location: In the bottom right-hand corner of Surrey.

I made a little oak mounting block and etched up a brass plate to display the tiny bit of Brooklands I borrowed on my recent visit.



Funnily enough I was just reading in an old book I got in the weekend about the 1926 British Grand Prix held there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26jpPRZFLAM

Location: New Zealand

Been trawling through Austin 7 boxes of items that came with my car, found an old lucas distributor and with it a coil which had been painted in thick blue paint, but I did notice that on the bracket which attaches to the car there was a plate with some numbers, it had 11 in large digits and 30 in smaller digits next to it, could this be a date stamp November 1930? My car was registered December 1930 so would seem to tie up?

Or have I put 2 and 2 together and made 3?

Simon Jansen

I made a little oak mounting block and etched up a brass plate to display the tiny bit of Brooklands I borrowed on my recent visit.



Funnily enough I was just reading in an old book I got in the weekend about the 1926 British Grand Prix held there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26jpPRZFLAM

Location: In the bottom right-hand corner of Surrey.

I work in software, this is what we'd call an off-site backup. If the original ever goes missing at least part of it remains!

I did have to declare it to customs when I came back to NZ. They get very twitchy about things like apples and dirt and stones here. We actually have trained fruit sniffing dogs at the airport!

Location: New Zealand

Finally got the original 1929 light shaft coil motor re-installed in the 1929 fabric saloon after a minor rebuild (it had been sitting quite well stored in the second owners garage for 43 years after a replacement 1926 magneto motor had been fitted by the original owner??)
It ran (very nicely) for the first time in 43 years yesterday after cleaning the blocked jets from the Zenith carburettor (which had been used on the replacement motor)
Then I found the missing chassis number with kind assistance from Gaydon.

Tony.

Location: Malvern, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Drove to Taupo to pick up my new car



But won't run due to part missing from carb.

Can someone help with photo of what screwed in and were I can get it from

Bryan

Location: Nz

I don't recognise the part in the picture. Can you take a picture of the whole carb?

Location: Melrose, Scottish Borders

It looks like a Zenith 24T, as far as I am aware there should simply be a plug in the hole, but others may know better

Location: NZ

Sorry hope this helps





Thanks Byan

Location: Nz

I don't think anything goes in there except perhaps a gauze filter.

Have a look at:
http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=543341

I think it lets excess fuel drain out.

Location: Melrose, Scottish Borders

I've now found this:
http://www.agriline.co.za/tractorparts/series_TE/Zenith%20service%20bulettin.pdf

Location: Melrose, Scottish Borders

That is a pity, they are good batteries.

I concur.
This is the best battery I've ever had.
Do you thiink there may be a different problem on your car Charles ?

Location: Wessex

It's been a nice sunny day here in the Midlands which was just as well because I've finally got my RN to run with its refurbished 22FZb Mazak carburettor and refurbished DJ4 distributor.
It took several swings of the handle to start but then it has been standing for several weeks.

Very pleased with the performance which I'm sure will marginally improve with a bit of use.

Location: Near M1 Jtn 28

Started to re-fit the steering column back into the RP after a strip and re-furb. My mod to the thrust button made waggling the box back into place a bit more awkward than it was when removing it, but a little "easing" of the flitch plate sorted things. I've also bought a new brake pedal fulcrum pin to replace the bodge that has been there since time mint imperial and cleaned up the brake actuating rod and adjuster as well as turning a new clevis pin. The drag link is ready to fit with new pins etc so I'm hoping that it'll all be like a new pin once it's all back together.

I also had a quick trip to see the oncologist for a rectal exam (it's something I wouldn't volunteeer for unless you really have to) but thankfully all is OK & hunky dory. That bloody prostitute gland can be a bugger you know...

Location: South of France, always.

Took the Tillotson carburettor off the 1938 American Bantam. It was restored about 12 years ago and has been sitting on blocks and under a dust sheet for the last 10 years. Petrol has turned to varnish in the carb, so I have a bit of work to do. Engine will be coming out as there is a broken block stud to fix.

(Not quite sure how this site works - if I have done the wrong thing someone will tell me I hope)

Location: Wellington NZ

Definately done the wrong thing but also the right one. Wrong leaving the car unused for ten years. Right, getting it back together.
Must admit to being guilty of both with my Sunbeam out of commision for the past 14 years,but currently building a workshop for its rebuild.
My today jobs,cutting dozens of cross joints for the tongue and groove workshop walls.
Best of luck Ivan.

Location: Piddle valley, Dorchester.

I went to drive my new purchase home. It promptly broke down within sight of the previous owners home!. LOL

Some time ago in this thread Simon Jansen posted some pics of an Austin 20 next to a couple of Sevens, comparing the size. At the time I remembered I had a photo of my Ruby next to my 1936 A 20 Mayfair, parked outside the garage I used to use at the Ship Inn, Wadebridge - a wonderful set-up but not conducive to working on old cars....
I've just found the photo, which was taken in about 1982, and thought the comparison between the cowled rad models might amuse some of you. The 20 is now, I believe, a wedding car in the Bristol area, while the Ruby is sitting outside. The other chassis in the pic is from a 37 Ruby which friend of mine was working on and which he subsequently sold, unfinished - if anyone knows the whereabouts of JT 6523 I'd be interested to hear. Its on the chassis register as ex Bristol club, 2013....


Alastair, waiting for the Easter influx of holidaymakers...

Location: Port Isaac, Cornwall

Great photo - the registration JT 6523 isn't on either mycarcheck or DVLA Database, so presumably not finished yet !

Jeff.

Location: Almost but not quite, the far North East of England

Just fitted two 'Corner Cube Delineators Red' (which are really large 3 1/4" Dia red reflectors) to the rear number plate bracket of the Saloon. (bought from the Road Safety Signs section of a safety materials shop for A$1.50 each)
According to a club member following me to the meeting last night they were very effective!

Tony.

Location: Malvern, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Hi Alastair
Will you be watching the MCC Lands End trial on Friday/Saturday. There are 4 sevens entered.

Location: New Forest

Adrian Payne

Hi Alastair
Will you be watching the MCC Lands End trial on Friday/Saturday. There are 4 sevens entered.

Location: Devon

Hello Adrian - yes, I'm hoping to be at Blue Hills, assuming my 15-year-old daughter doesn't decide St Agnes is near enough to Truro to merit a shopping trip!
Jeff - thanks for checking. It was on the DVLA site a few years back, which is worrying...

Alastair

Location: Port Isaac, Cornwall

I will be giving the modern classic a run down to Blue Hills if my Seven year old Son gets that far without getting bored! If not we will stop at Hoskin! Last time I marshalled there I got sun burnt, so heres hoping...
Steve.

Location: South East Cornwall

Spent yesterday on the not so highways of DORSET, I was commandeered as driver to the Mapperton garden fair so having treated "H.i.Ds." to her event,took a devious route back home including a visit to the Mangerton Mill near Bridport,for a spot of lunch.The mill is worth a visit as the mill itself although no longer fully operational is full of interesting cobweb and dust covered "junk" and the setting is tranquil.About 70 miles covered across the area.Why would I want to be anywhere else.

Location: Piddle valley, Dorchester.

Built a mock-up instrument panel for the special.........



..........now, where can I find a real rev counter?

Location: Herefordshire, with an E not a T

Had a great day fettling Chummy!

Location: United Kingdom

Ive been doing some fettling too. Not 'there' yet, but its coming. We had a first outing yesterday of 25 miles or so.

This is my daughters attire. Very useful as it is a 3 seater.

Brilliant weekend at the VSCC Silverstone Spring Start!

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Location: Hampshire

Drove the Nippy for the first time yesterday; all of 20 feet out of the garage onto the drive then back in again. It's just hotwired coil to battery so I spent today scratching my head over routing the new wiring loom. I can cope with the electrics but the loom is like an struggling with an octopus.

Location: Isle of Wight - the Wight place to drive an old car