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Well obr, it is and it isn't!
When I put it to bed for the winter, it was suffering from an overheating problem, and having spent two years building it, and then have the head gasket go and the subsequent strip-down, rebuild etc etc, (which was made much more difficult because I had opted for the non-flip front), I just did not have the heart to start all over again.
So at the present time, it is till waiting for me to sort it out.
Now that the better weather is coming, hopefully I can get stuck in and do it. So will update in due course.
I am most likely going to get a lot of stick for being an idle sod and not working outside during the winter with freezing numb fingers, but I had enough of that over the build period!
So that explains why there has been no updates, plus the fact that I did start a thread called "Scottie on the road" or something like that, but because I've done bugger-all, that was not updated either!
And I painted it outside exactly where its parked in that picture!
Complete with stuck on bugs and bits of grass, but it buffed up well enough afterwards.
I REALLY must find some enthusiasm to get it sorted out soon.
I'm still waiting for the inevitable WCA flak............
And perhaps Mr T? :-)
But right now its an overheating piece of junk, and don't I know it!
Please accept my "condolances" on your engine problems, I really
felt for you when I read about it on your thread, as, how you felt then, was how I felt after my overheating issue was discovered.
It just crushed me and I simply laid the car up for winter, and was too pissed off to even update and record the event.
But of course I realise that it does have to be sorted out or I can't drive the damn thing!
Degsy, ref the screen, its a Morris Minor rear glass, if you want one,
just hack the thing off the back of a Morris and do several months of difficult welding etc and Bobs yer uncle!!
No flak from me Scottie and I'm not going to say 'I told you so' about the flip front. Damn, I just did.
Thinking about your overheating issue, these old Triumph engines tend to get airlocks in the block which leads to overheating despite the radiator remaining full of coolant and the system being otherwise capable of keeping the engine temperature within normal operating parameters.
The trick is to remove the top hose from the 'stat housing and back-fill the block through the housing rather than expecting any trapped air to make its way out to your header tank, which from experience it just won't.
I also put a bleed point with quite a large removable cap on my heater outlet hose and I also back-fill the heater circuit and block from that to ensure that there's no trapped air in the system.
Thinking back to the days of driving around in the 70's and 80's in old clunkers that kept boiling over, I reckon most of those cooling problems were just caused by airlocks in the block.
Anyway, Spring is on its way so get out there and fix your ride.
Scottie
You'll get there mate just keep plugging on it's too good a car not to be enjoyed to it's full potential.
I have decided to ignore my engine problem until its finished as it's running smoothly with no smoke you never know I might be lucky?
Thanks for the kind treatment Mr T! And congrats on your retirement, enjoy!
Ref your comments on the overheating, I never actually fitted a header tank, but ran the car fine for 600 miles or so
using the Heath-Robinson top pipe affair I cobbled up.
So perhaps its caught up with me.
Although since this latest heating problem, I actually have gone and got a nice little header tank, which I will get round to fitting (well, HAVE to really).
Degsy, I'm not sure whether some of the additives that are on sale will help, but it may be worth trying a few as the ones that are supposed to "coat the metal surfaces " may help.
If you are going to run it anyway, all you have to lose is a few quid which might well help the compression a bit.
I've never really believed in them and there is no substitute for a proper rebuild, but have a go.
I never liked those treatments either I'll just run it and decide if a rebuild is required? it's already had the crank re ground and the head converted to unleaded so it's half way there already.
Fair play, well I wish you well once you have the weather.
A truly stunning car and my favourite tribute.
QUOTE=Scottie22;86866]Well obr, it is and it isn't!
When I put it to bed for the winter, it was suffering from an overheating problem, and having spent two years building it, and then have the head gasket go and the subsequent strip-down, rebuild etc etc, (which was made much more difficult because I had opted for the non-flip front), I just did not have the heart to start all over again.
So at the present time, it is till waiting for me to sort it out.
Now that the better weather is coming, hopefully I can get stuck in and do it. So will update in due course.
I am most likely going to get a lot of stick for being an idle sod and not working outside during the winter with freezing numb fingers, but I had enough of that over the build period!
So that explains why there has been no updates, plus the fact that I did start a thread called "Scottie on the road" or something like that, but because I've done bugger-all, that was not updated either!
Yes CP, it could be that but I had covered over 600 miles with no problems until it went wrong!
I've even invested in a kit that will tell me if there are exhaust fumes in the water, well "invested" is not really a word to be used with spending about twelve quid!!
I hesitate to mention Wheeler Dealers but they did a rebuild on a Spitfire and went for waterless coolant to solve overheating. http://www.evanscoolant.com/
I would certainly try removing the front numberplate, it does look as if it is blocking most of the airflow.
Just leave it on the front seat.
The evans waterless coolant looks very good but it is expensive so the cooling system needs to be working correctly before swapping to it.
Thanks for the input FB, I saw that WD program and did consider it! But like some-one pointed out, it is quite pricey.
CP: I think you are right too, it did not just overheat, it boiled over.
Mr T : I looked at the Canley options ages ago when I was sourcing fans, and in my opinion, all they are interested in is selling you their overpriced stuff.
They rabbit on about fans mounted in front of, or behind rads,
and how important it id to get this right, which is rubbish, as lots of modern cars have a split, some are in front and some are behind, and they all work well enough.
J tvr : I don't blame you for thinking that way about the front numberplate, but I gave it careful thought before it went there, simply put, if removed, the front cross-member is right behind it
and is exactly the same size, so nothing would be gained in extra airflow. Besides it worked perfectly well all the hot summer for 600 trouble-free miles.
What I am dreading is: finding a cracked block or head.
When I get my back-log of other stuff worked through, I will test for compression, and run the gas test, and if all is okay I will fit the header-tank I should have fitted in the first place.
