I realise now where my doubts come from. When I got my 1300fwd on the road in 2018/19 it was plagued by fuel starvation issues. I made lots of incremental improvements to the point where it would be fine in all conditions except climbing a long steady gradient at 70mph. After a minute or 2 of which it would hiccup, hiccup, hiccup.... unless I eased off the throttle and slowed to 65ish. So the pump output was marginal, but I don't think my combustion chambers looked white like Sam's. But now I need to double-check my photos!  

Hamish , I am going to take your advice so have ordered a second pair of side lights to fit to the back of the hood and will use your plug in which ever pair I need method . Thanks .

Well, that gave me a double take! Your new "soot monster" is remarkably similar to my mother's. Both 61 plates, both silver Octavia estates lol. Main differences is we have the 2.0TDI engine (not de-tuned after the diesel gate saga, we opted to keep the performance/economy at the expense of higher tax) and it is also the 4x4 version, a useful extra in Scotland! I wish you joy of it, they are good cars, and generally pretty dependable. My only grouch with ours is the lack of cruise control,  a higher spec'd model would have had it but similar to yourself we bought it in a rush, and beggars couldn't be choosers (and we don't have anywhere close to size/variety of market you have down south!)

Hello Nick                   I had already bought a gearbox and overdrive but when I stripped it I found it had been sitting with water in it and the layshaft etc was buggered with rust and half of the overdrive but gear In the middle was above the water and ok! Plus the main shaft was ok so I built it into another gearbox I had bought cheap and included 2 sets of Quality main bearings. I do get a very slight whine when in overdrive but only really heard when the hood is up which is not very often for us(I think they are awful with the hood up unless the rear area is full with stuff to stop the noise or the zip out window is open!) I has not really changed in 60,000+ miles !! But we have got Very wet a few times!!  Still its all in the game we could just go touring in the Yeti and be very comfortable but Bored out of our heads!! If that was the case may as well fly there and hire a car??  Roger     

Thank you everybody, your kind words and encouragement is really appreciated. I really feel that after six years on the project the finish line is in sight which is great because we're going pop over to Brittany in it in May to see Brad (aka Red Rooster) and Nicole.

It depends…… (as always!) if the pump is able to nearly cope, you’ll only arrive at the hitching/misfire point slowly after sustained high load/rpm, which might never quite arise under road running conditions. Or we might be barking up the wrong tree in the wrong woods….

It’s a wonderful GT in the true sense of a Grand Tourer.  well done John. 

Heh….  Maybe. Though glass and motor look original and the mounting arrangement is different with no positive fitting to the glass. Probably just stopped at a jaunty angle…. Saw method seems a little drastic! 1 x 13mm nut and the arm comes off.

The 'I' is missing from the rear TR umph name letters However you do get a free plastic funnel.   Roger

Nice    hmmmmm!