General Car Discussions

Pesky Tr8 Ignition Light

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:30:53 +0000

I'd driving me nuts.

TR8 (original). Ignition light does not go off when running.
Alternator? Tried that - had it checked and all's good.
Checked a wiring diagram (TR7) and the circuit seems simple - the small wire from the alternator goes direct to the ignition light bulb and either provides an earth or doesn't.
Earth when stopped, something near 12v when running. As the bulb has 12v on the other end of it it is either on or off.
I do electrics, but am no expert on alternators. The wiring between alternator and lamp is good. If I take the wires off the alternator and put an earth on the smaller one, the lamp goes on and off.

To me, it HAS to be a fault with the alternator, but it's been off to be checked twice and last time it had its diode pack changed.

Any ideas?

Thx

Warning - also posted on CT!

Sierra Cosworth

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:25:51 +0000

Oh dear. Spotted an F reg Sapphire Cosworth at a local dealer today. Looks pretty tidy too and very reasonably priced at £3695.

I reckon the dealer is branching out into classics. He always has some pretty tasty 'modern' stuff but today had a 205 GTI, Firenza droopsnoot and MGB roadster too.

Resisting the urge to get a Cossie...............

Factory Mg-Tf With Triumph 1500 Running Gear?

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:00:03 +0000

A random comment on ebay ages ago got me thinking...

Was there ever a car built by MG/Triumph, using a MG-TF (1954) steel body with 1500 triumph running gear?

Unlikely , i know, but someone mentioned a fabled "MG-TK" which was a'run out' / nostalgia car made as Canley was near closing down.

Saloon Bulkead Mat (Engine Bay)

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 17:35:39 +0000

I got carried away back when I pulled the saloon apart, and I am now missing the sound-deadening mat for the bulkhead in the engine compartment...
I am after an an original looking material.. which means a foam type material with rubber on both sides.. (I am not to worried about the entire where I can use some modern foil thing)

Anyone know the name of this material ? Can't seem to find it anywhere ...jave looked at classic trim specialists and audio (ICE) suppliers... they only have the dynamat and bitumen types...

The part is still available for the Stag so the material still exists... I may resort to modifying a stag one ?

Lambretta Ld Mk3

Mon, 30 May 2011 05:10:16 +0000

I picked up a 1957 Lambretta Ld this fall with help of a friend who has been building two. My friend originally from Birmingham is and ace fabricator but not a mechanic. The Ld Lambretta is a bit of an orphan,no performance parts. I am at the point in the rebuild were i want to add a much bigger cylinder and carb .Any two stroke scooterists.

Got Given A Stag!

Mon, 30 May 2011 04:46:57 +0000

It's blue, it's shiny,has a tan interior, and absolutley no rust!

Unfortunately it's 1/43 scale. If I water it, do you think it'll grow? ;D

TR6 Trailing arm bush change

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:08:21 +0000

Posted this yesterday on CT Forum, but no replies as yet - so I'll post it for you lot as well... anyone?

am helping a friend with his TR6 next weekend, and we might end up changing the trailing arm bushes..
How "little" do we have to unbolt to drop the trailing arms...??
My friend is as yet undecided regarding POLY or Rubber (we have a set of each )...
I have warned him removal will involve drilling and swearing, and thought I make a puller to get the new bushes in... If he goes for poly do I pull the bush through with or without the steel tube (superflex bushes)...?

Doing the same to my saloon later this year, I guess same procedure applies?

Vitesse Roll

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:21:38 +0000

A good friend of mine rolled his Vitesse here in the USA.

This is car HB9 (the oldest Vitesse in the world, albeit a bitsa, like mine)

Photos of the entire incident are here:

http://forums.gobmc.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1299

Luckily he is OK, but looks to have been a close shave.

He is thinking about getting a roll cage made and fitted now, but it will no doubt have to be a custom job.

I have suggested that he might also consider getting rid of his swing axles and rear camber compensator and replacing them with something a bit more modern!

Any thoughts or ideas would be welcome, and I will pass them on to him.

Leon

Defender?

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:58:08 +0000

My brother has gone and got himself a defender swb series 3, guess who is gonna have to do all the work!

My memories of defenders is they are bloody freezing, whats the best way to insulate them?

Porker

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 20:17:06 +0000

You get a lot of 911 for your money these days.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/uvl/popup.jsp?currentaction=searchresults&e2w=134575&sort=5&did=134575&partner=TMG&postcode=ng139al&dropdowntype=uvl&configfile=http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/dealers/134575/134575_config.xml&miles=1&csslocation=http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/dealers/134575/134575&max_records=200&id=201052376109062&distance=0

HG18

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:37:35 +0000

Hi, hope everyone had a great Christmas, and has an even better New Year!

Computer problems, and work, sidelined me, but I am still around.

Found this on youtube and thought you guys might enjoy!

It's the HG18

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hg18&aq=f

Leon

Merc SEC

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:36:20 +0000

I just can't shake off the bug for an '80s car.............

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1989-F-Mercedes-Benz-420-SEC-/230546284729?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item35ada120b9

New Mini Project

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:43:34 +0000

Time to rebuild the wifes mini cooper

get to play with a car and not pay for it ;D

BMW 635CSi

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:33:52 +0000

Sigh.

In the local 'paper: 1989 BMW 635i, metallic grey, leather , FSH, �1995. Tax, long MOT.

Stay away from the telephone......................

rotary

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 03:01:55 +0000

I have absolutely no reason to post this link, but I was just thinking about Le Mans 1989, the one and only time I made it there, and remembered this Awesome beast and the noise it made.

Absolutely Brilliant!

L

Unimog!

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 06:27:08 +0000

This monster parked outside my store today, I'm not really into trucks, but this Mercedes creation was Awesome!

Leon

E39 cooling help

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:05:28 +0000

Trying to help my 80 year old uncle out with his 523i E39.1998 done 180k miles.
Two weeks ago the rad split at the joint of the top hose,i fitted a new rad for him but on his first outing the expansion tank has split along the top seam,could this be a pressure problem or just unlucky?
Cheers
Steve

M5

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:41:02 +0000

Look how cheap these are getting now!! Awesome cars. And there's a space on my driveway..................

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-M5-2000-W-REG-5-0-V8-E39-SUPERB-BARGAIN-PRICE-/180552122610?pt=Automobiles_UK

MGB GT on Ebay

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:56:05 +0000

have my b gt on ebay. Love the car and the ride but must get my fleet under control. have six cars though sold the 544 volvo now the gt so i can get back to the GT6

Got there at last

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:05:55 +0000

After failing to get to Olivers mount hill climb, we did manage to get to auto 66 sprint at elvington on the 6th June. This was my first ever sprint and first motorsport event for 10 years. So i was feeling a bit nervous, especially when i got to the start line on the first practice run and it started to rain. Having never driven the car in anger let alone in rain i thought i would take it steady, but looking at the results i was second fastest in the standard production class ( no mods allowed). From here things went a bit downhill apart from the second timed run when i was second fastest again in torrential rain. A close to 200 bhp FWD car with no LSD can be quite a handful in these conditions. Anyway we got to the end of the day with no mishaps but rather wet. We ended up third in class only 2.4 seconds behind the class winner so not too bad for the first time out . We are looking forward to Olivers Mount in August 2010.

neil