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My diff. is arriving around mid-day: unsurprisingly it's raining and the A352 is on axle stands (under a cover) out in the open. I think the chances of re-assembly in time for the weekend's jaunts are slim.
I had imagined that my laser eye surgery the day before yesterday would be a stumbling block, but not in the slightest.
The rectangular object under the cover is an inverted plastic tub. Without it the rain puddles over the cockpit and the so-say waterproof (and expensive!) cover leaks.
Recovery time from laser surgery is very fast. Do make sure you wear a well fitting pair of goggles when working under the car, you want to avoid getting the normal dose of rusty, oily bits dropping into the eye!
Recovery time from laser surgery is very fast. Do make sure you wear a well fitting pair of goggles when working under the car, you want to avoid getting the normal dose of rusty, oily bits dropping into the eye!
It was for angle closure glaucoma relief, rather than vision correction. Apart from the first blast in each eye, it was more or less painless. Drops four times a day and a check over in a month will see it done.
'Spitfire Steve' turned up mid-morning and delivered my 'new' diff, as well as swapping my stainless transverse silencer for a straight though longitudinal back box, also stainless. Top bloke!
It will need a stepped connector to mate with the narrower diameter pipe. These I've bought before from Ebay for the A352.
The skies looked slightly threatening but I pitched in anyway, having to open a new box of nitrile gloves which resulted in a Michael Jackson vibe.
Balancing the diff. on the jack, I wormed my way under the car but, despite several attempts I just couldn't manoeuvre it into a position where I could replace the long bolt: it kept tipping forwards, even when I held the nose end up with a ratchet strap around the chassis rails. More head scratching resulted in my fabricating a bespoke wooden gismo which would hold the diff. horizontally. Ten minutes with saw, hammer and nails resulted in this masterpiece
It worked a treat, and I was soon once again contorting my limbs to bolt back the frame connections, followed by the three flanges. I then uncovered the cockpit, lay down on the passenger side floor and began replacing the studs through the spring mounting plate into the diff. I managed three of the four before my screaming arms cried enough and I packed up for the day, reminding myself for the umpteenth time that I'm not 21 any more! This morning I'm glad to see the rain as I can rest my aches whilst awaiting more clement weather
I can vouch for the fact that despite being better padded around the rear than I was when younger, it has no positive effect when sat on the ground or Z3 door cavity for prolonged periods trying to get the door lock in (out was easy).
After my rest day, which turned out to be anything but, I pitched back in yesterday afternoon, having spent the morning with no.2 son in Cirencester. The fourth stud and the cover plate proved a doddle, so it was back to more regular re-assembly: seats and covers; exhaust; reconnect rear shocks and replace wheels and dummy spinners. To avoid the danger of scratching the bodywork whilst negotiating the narrow gap, I decided to push her out with the help of my good friend down the road. This we accomplished, although my daughter's car was blocking access to the road. We had a coffee fortified with some hard stuff to celebrate (he'd brush painted his 1960 Hillman Husky with boat enamel the day before).
He's a signwriter by trade, so this was meat and drink to him.
This morning, between showers, I went for a gentle test drive for a couple of miles and all seems well. I'll perform a hypoy level and nut and bolt check before anything more rigorous. Belt and braces always!
Yesterday's sortie in the A352 was to the Berkeley Castle Classic Car day. I had originally planned on going to Castle Combe but when I looked at the card the runners and riders didn't exactly blow my skirt up. I'd not been to either this event or its venue previously, despite its being more or less on my doorstep.
On arrival mid morning I parked with the punters and was immediately buttonholed by fellow enthusiasts. I asked a steward in the show area if I could move my car there and he kindly agreed . There was a really good variety of machinery on display with a scattering of kit cars, amongst which were two of my least favourites: a VW Beetle floorpan based 'Type 35 Bugatti' and a Robin Hood. However, I had a long chat with the owner of a glorious Moss Roadster regarding both his machine and Monacos. Interesting stuff!
The car of the show, for me, was this Turner in Team Elite livery, beautiful!
When I returned to the car to leave I was besieged by punters for 15 or 20 minutes, one of whom said he'd built a Jaguar based D-Type lookalike in Ecurie Ecosse colours which he'd mistaken mine for. The twin apparently now lives in Bristle: it would be good to track this down!
The A352 performed faultlessly, the replacement diff. being silent. With hindsight, I think the old one had never really been right. Spitfire Steve is going to investigate its internals and let me have his verdict. Top bloke for both quality and price!
...he'd brush painted his 1960 Hillman Husky with boat enamel the day before).He's a signwriter by trade, so this was meat and drink to him.
Hi Mick- any chance of finding out what paint he used please? It looks like a nice finish. I brush paint my Jago because knocking bits off of a pricier job when off-road would be a pain. I've used International Toplac but it is not easy to touch-up or put on another coat. Cheers. Ian
Hi Mick- any chance of finding out what paint he used please? It looks like a nice finish. I brush paint my Jago because knocking bits off of a pricier job when off-road would be a pain. I've used International Toplac but it is not easy to touch-up or put on another coat. Cheers. Ian
Hi Mick- any chance of finding out what paint he used please?
Hi Ian
I'll ask him today and let you know. I used Ripcerol coach paint purchased from a boat chandler here in Gloucester on a few cars but it's no longer available. I brush painted the GRP bits of my Westie with cellulose but brush marks were visible, I convinced myself that this added to its retro authenticity . Excuse crap photo', it's a scan of a print.
Investigating options for my Moss Monaco revealed this. I might give it a try.
Yesterday's sortie was once again to this historic venue. I was a little late leaving home so took the M5 north which was busy with families returning from Cornwall and Devon after half-term. The forecast was for 10/10 cloud all day with up to a maximum 7% chance of rain early afternoon. Arriving at Shelsley I was once again ushered into the members' parking area and to the front row of the grid.
I was pounced on by a punter who took eight or ten photo's from all angles, commenting on the dramatic sky as a background. It turned out that she was mad keen on Jaguars and wanted to build a kit, so I gave her both Tribute's details and this site's.
The paddock wasn't as interesting as it often is, but there were some beautifully prepared oldies, the pick of which, for me, was this Crosslé.
As I sat eating my sarnies at lunchtime a Welsh couple came to chat about the car. They were very knowledgeable Jaguar fans and had come from Cardiff in their V12 E-Type Coupé. I wandered down with them to have a look and what a car! Not only was it in Regency Red, the colour I'd decided on for my Moss Monaco, but, when rebuilding it, they'd had it bored out to 6.1 litres. They popped the bonnet and what at first glance I took to be IDA Webers turned out to be throttle bodies. They'd had it on a rolling road and it chucked out 465bhp at the wheels. The chap fired it up for me and gave it a few decent blips. 'Awesome' is overused but it fitted the bill here.
It turned out that they are also going to the Le Mans Classic so we agreed to meet for a vin rouge or three. Furthermore, they pointed me at this fabulous looking event next weekend, something I'd not known of. Unmissable.....
I came home on the quiet A38, which the M5 replicates, in the blazing sun after a brilliant day out, although this morning my face is about two sizes too small.
I've used International Toplac to paint sailing boat hulls. Painting a 25 foot hull was surprisingly easy considering you are painting a vertical surface.
I used the smallish foam rollers designed to paint gloss paint and also some 1 & 2 inch foam brushes. Using foam brushes and roller stops you from getting brush marks.
Use the foam brushes where you would have a problem getting the roller in an also to go over any runs that you get.
The paint is designed to flow out but not run.
I was amazed at how well it looked but not sure how it would stand up to stone chips.
Thanks for that, Mick.
That's what I've been using and surprisingly, the top coat I applied straight on to the grp surface fared better than the one onto a carefully prepared "pre-kote".
A friend used Tekaloid successfully on his Elan and it polished up well. But then he sprayed it in a garage whereas I have to brushpaint al fresco.
Last Wednesday I pootled down in the A352 to visit a good friend on his narrow beam Dutch Barge. The canal-side car park didn't lend itself to a picture, but these definitely did.
Last weekend was my annual motorcycle travellers' meeting at Baskerville Hall near Hay on Wye. I'd planned to take the A352 (I'm bikeless at the moment) but the wet forecast demoted me to the Micra .
I camped next to some Oz friends I'd met in Argentina in '08: I thought a picture of their screen would be worth posting here to inspire anyone who might like an alternative lifestyle................
Yesterday's sortie was once again to this local (for me) venue, arriving without mishap at 0750. This is more than can be said for Friday when, returning from a visit and only half a mile or so from home I got stuck in traffic. I decided to turn off the engine to save juice, but when the time came to move it wouldn't re-start, cranking only very slowly. The motorists caught behind me on the narrow road were not amused! Salvation came in the shape of three women going the other way who stopped and pushed me to a parking space. Top girls! I waited ten minutes or so for things to cool down and she started first try. Relief.
The punters' parking field at Prescott was half empty with nothing of note to photograph, but the paddock did have a few. My favourite was this glorious Bugatti,
closely followed by this Brabham in classic colours.
As a teenager in 60s SE London I rode a scooter but got to know two blokes driving Anglias who frequented the same haunts. They'd had them sprayed in these very colours, fitted 1500 Cortina engines, 5.5J steel wheels, and bucket seats etc. I dreamt of the day I'd do similar. A few years ago this dream crept back when I saw another Brabham, so I investigated the possibilities which I quickly abandoned when I saw the prices 105Es were fetching
Monday's sortie in the A352 was once again to visit my pal on his Dutch Barge. To comply with CRT rules he has to relocate every fortnight and my own new parking location didn't lend itself to a worthy photo'. Walking the mile and a bit down the towpath I saw the family pictured above, now on the water, and the ancient mile post showing the distances to Stroud and Gloucester.
I'm off to Shelsley on Saturday so my next 'on the road' post should be more closely vehicle related.
I've decided, rather reluctantly, to pass on my A352. As I don't have a garage it has to live on the drive under a cover and I don't want the poor beast to endure another winter outside. Waiting in the wings are the Monaco and my S4 Lotus Seven in bits to replace her.
I've always used Ebay to sell my creations so far, but I'm wondering if any of you might recommend another sale medium, a classic car website, for instance?
eBay have got to have the largest audience and a classified advert isn't that expensive. Just get as many keywords into the title so it shows up in searches.
You will get a lot of muppets and timewasters but it is worth it.
Shame to see it sold but I suspect you should get a very good price for it.
I've decided, rather reluctantly, to pass on my A352. As I don't have a garage it has to live on the drive under a cover and I don't want the poor beast to endure another winter outside. Waiting in the wings are the Monaco and my S4 Lotus Seven in bits to replace her.
I've always used Ebay to sell my creations so far, but I'm wondering if any of you might recommend another sale medium, a classic car website, for instance?
Any suggestions please?
Regards, Mick
I have used carandclassic with good success rate and it's free !!
It shows up on google search with the right key words .
My Mx250 is on there at moment.
Mick – Sorry to hear the car is going, but fully understand and I wish you well with the sale.
( I know my own tarpaulin is making a mess of my already poor paint job. )
Anyway, someone is going to get a great car.
I’d be tempted to stick a “For Sale – Offers” sign on the window at some of the great events you go to.
As seeing your car in that context might generate interest from people with deep pockets.
However, if you do go down the Ebay route, get Mister Towed to write the advert for you.
Follow the link to his advert in this thread, then see original listing and then full description.
Today's sortie was to Castle Combe for the 'Summer Action Festival. I set off at 0600 and the cool morning air seemed to suit the A352 very well, as she absolutely sang along the 30 odd miles, the last few of which I drove in company with boy racers .
After a swift coffee from the flask and a very jammy doughnut I walked around the circuit's 1.84 miles looking at the other early arrivals. I was seriously underwhelmed by the plethora of blingy slammed to the deck hot hatches which had clearly been beaten into shape with cheque books, rather than the elbow grease we expend. The "Fast and Furious' franchise clearly has much to answer for!
I only stayed for three hours as I wanted to be back in plenty of time for the footer, but I did see a few noteworthy later arrivals, one of which forum members will be familiar with
Funny how it appears a different shade to the camera from another angle, strange!
These are the other two beauties (to my eyes) that I spotted.
I loved this guy's attitude: Gunk? Kurust? Polish? Why?
This was undoubtedly a kit, but what a stunning evocation!
The drive back was considerably hotter but enjoyable as traffic was thankfully light. The only blot was a very narrow head on miss with a 'power ranger' 'hooning' (as they describe their antisocial riding) who came around the corner in the middle of the road at high speed. The terror in his eyes led me to believe that discretion would be well to the fore from that moment on!
Good to meet up with you again today Mick, thoroughly enjoyed the day and really liked the drifting. Managed a few laps at 14.30 and short 5 mile drive home made it for bang on 15.00 to watch the footy
