The rebuild that goes one step foward two back!

[michaeljf]

Hello All, Well I am back, with a bit of a gap (will try and fill that in soon). Regards, Michael. 

[Nick Jones]

More nice wheels on the TR 

600km round trip for a track day, but I guess that’s the joy of such a huge country!

How did it go? Suggests that you must have got it running to your satisfaction?

[michaeljf]

Hello Nick, BBS 6.5x15. It went better than the driver, and drove it on the trailer to come home. No water/oil leaks, all I used was a bit of rubber and fuel. My first event I improved 11 seconds over my practice time then a steady improvement from there. We left home at 3,30 am and got back home about 9.45 pm.  Back to the "gap" in the tuning. The lean-ness, pinking etc., tuned out to be the tooth on timing and a sticking float needle in front carby.,  Now to do some thing to the suspension and a wheel alignment. Regards, Michael. 

[Nick Jones]

Sounds like good day. Bloody long one though - impressive stamina!

[michaeljf]

Hello, Waiting to go back to pits after practice. (got better from there) Regards, Michael.

[michaeljf]

Hello Nick, I suppose the stamina isn't too bad for a 78 year old! Regards, Michael.

[Nick Jones]

I’d say!

[michaeljf]

Hello, I have been doing a bit on the suspension (apart from getting frustrated) and getting interrupted by lots of other work. Will take a few photo's and put some words here soon. Regards, Michael.

[michaeljf]

Hello ALL, Sorry for the lack of news and pics. First Happy Christmas to you all. Have words but no pics. as the computer "upgraded" itself and I don't know how to download them! Have to get my long suffering wife on the job again. Have had a "corner weight" wheel alignment after all my fiddling with springs/shocks/"droop stoppers"(stop the lowered/ heavy duty springs falling out when I jack car up!) We had a bit of toe out both ends on right and the corner weights were close enough not to need changing! He said whoever did the springs/shocks etc. must have done a "pretty good" job, Ha, Did a bit more "running" in then an oil/filter change and guess what I found on the end of the magnetic sump plug! the missing half of the roller rocker split pin, unmarked thank goodness. Next loaded the car on trailer for an early start to the "re-vamped" Wakefield Park for a GEAR day. Started with a lot of caution and finished  the fourth event with a "fair" bit more go. Bit of fiddling with tyre pressures,otherwise happy. Upon start up next morning there was an exhaust  manifold leak. More soon. Regards, Michael.

[Nick Jones]

Excellent.
Sounds like some successful development is taking place and, more importantly, you are getting some fun out of the thing! 

[michaeljf]

Hello Nick, You are right with the first bit, but havn't had time for the fun bit yet. Regards, Michael.

[michaeljf]

Hello, I am still around. will be back soon I hope. Regards, Michael.

[michaeljf]

Hello all, Where to start,. Well here I go. The suspension work was a bit more new ground for me, but it worked out ok. Changed the back springs for a set TR6 ones (from a race car) but ended up putting the ones I had in back, TR6 ones were way to short (2.5 PI mk. 2 sedan but not standard , will have to look at the paperwork in the garage for the poundage) and new spring seats, Super Pro, and some seat belt webbing to act as "droop straps"(mounted to top and bottom shock mounts as it has home made telescopic shock conversion with KYB gas shocks from the 2.5 sedan). Will give some measurements when I get down to garage again. Now to the front. Fitted a set of King springs 500 lb. from a certain green TR3A and it has a set of Bilstein shocks from the same car (had to make some droop stops for the front too, angle iron with measured/welded spacer bolted to bumper bracket bolt). Reversed the  bottom wishbones. Regards,Michael.

[michaeljf]

Hello, A bit more info. And a correction, the springs are 550 lbs., they are King no.S 0orD 87810. At the front there is 85mm between chassis and ground. From guard to centre of hub/wheel on left there is 330mm and on right there is 340mm. Springs that were on car are 300lb./ 10" free length. Reversing the wishbones lowered the front guard to centre of hub by 25mm and the chassis to ground by about 15mm. have to be careful on the road now as the "flexi joint" and sump are about 15mm lower than the chassis. Can't find the free length of the King springs. New spring seats Superpro (they come in two thicknesses) and a new set of trunnion seals/bushes (Superpro) yet to be fitted (they were out of stock when I was doing that job so put the old ones back as I wanted to go to the next GEAR day) To the rear next episode. Regards, Michael. 

[michaeljf]

Hello, Before I move to the back. You might have noticed in the first of the last pictures, the stabilizer bar and it's arm looks a bit "different". That is a Kastner modification to make the standard bar adjustable (at present in the standard adjustment, but will be"tightened" up before it leaves the garage again. Regards, Michael.

[michaeljf]

Hello, Back with a bit more. There was a lot of parts on check then parts of change/adjust then parts back on etc. at both ends. The back, the springs that were in the car are 350 lb. and 10 3/4" and they had some weird adjuster "things" between the coils! The sedan springs are in now and are 425lb. and 9 7/8", with the Super Pro spacer/pads and the earlier mentioned "droop" straps. From the left guard to centre of hub 350mm and on right 360mm, chassis to floor 135mm both sides + the KYB gas shocks ( p/n 343114 sb25) They need replacing as they just return when compressed!. All this was done before the corner weight/wheel alignment of course! Have been to a GEAR day at the refurbished "Wakefield Park" (one raceway)  about 120 entries! All went well apart from the "kemakazi" pilots practicing on the new track for their race meeting in the near future.(All the sports cars together). Then another GEAR day later at "Pheasant Wood" Marulen, which was much more pleasant and another good day!  Regards, Michael.

[Hamish]

Great to have it all together and out on track and the weather to go with it !

[michaeljf]

Hello, Thank you Hamish on all counts, as you would know now for the fine tuning! regards, Michael.

[Nick Jones]

Excellent. Two track sessions (tracks even relatively close - by Australian measure!). 
 

As you seem to be concentrating on suspension and fine set-up I presume you are reasonably content with the engine? Until you have the handling dialled on and need more power anyway!

[Hamish]

I’m at the point of not messing with wot ain’t broke. As I fear I would make it worse 

I fully understand the deficiencies lay with the driver. ( and to a degree the budget I’m prepared to loose with upgrades for competition)
 

[Nick Jones]

7 hours ago, Hamish said:

I’m at the point of not messing with wot ain’t broke. As I fear I would make it worse 

I fully understand the deficiencies lay with the driver. ( and to a degree the budget I’m prepared to loose with upgrades for competition)
 

I’d say your results speak for themselves…..

[Escadrille Ecosse]

Looking good Michael. Those tracks look the mutt's nuts too

[michaeljf]

Hello All, Nick, three but the first one is not counted. The motor IS good so it was time to do something to the suspension as it was as bad as the motor. THE motor a bit more on that later.  I have been "lucky"? so far with that, so far the only things I have had to pay for are the Super Pro bits and the corner weight wheel alignment. Hamish, I am thinking exactly  like you. The car is also my road car! Colin, the first one is the revamped "Wakefield Park" and the next two are "Pheasant Wood" (named after a place in France, more to that story). Regards, Michael.