http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220606260181
My ropey holey Vitesse Mk2 chassis is on eBay if anyone is brave/mad. Happy for anything as it'll save me cutting it up and taking it to the dump!
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
A Tale of Two Chassis
Hurrah! I now have a decent chassis to start work on rebuilding the Vitesse (currently sitting on top of the old one).
Thanks to Nigel Hill, TSSC Area Organiser and all-round top bloke - I can now start the rebuild. Other than a wonky end, it seems absolutely solid, although it has obviously been repaired in the past. It 100x better than what I had, and he did it for a very reasonable price!
So, just got to replace the wonky outrigger and it's rebuild time!
Thanks to Nigel Hill, TSSC Area Organiser and all-round top bloke - I can now start the rebuild. Other than a wonky end, it seems absolutely solid, although it has obviously been repaired in the past. It 100x better than what I had, and he did it for a very reasonable price!
So, just got to replace the wonky outrigger and it's rebuild time!
Friday, 9 April 2010
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Herald Cruise Control & Ferraris
I borrowed Jenny the Herald from Garth just after it's last MOT, to take to the TSSC Isle of Wight Camping Weekend. It seems that the MOT is now due in two weeks - Oops! I did mean to give it back...
As it's not been out much in the cold, I took it for a 40 mile round trip today to see if anything was obviously amiss. Alarmingly the throttle has started sticking - which means that every junction turned into a rev-tastic take-off - especially since my route was through all the lovely quiet local villages! Cruise control was nice on the straights though...
So I've got to have a look at that, see why the battery isn't keeping a charge (gonna get a TSSC club shop battery conditioner) and look at the horn contacts as that seems a bit intermittent and then off to the local MOT station before Drive it Day (planning on joining TSSC Derwent Valley's run at Newark, ending in Mablethorpe).
Whilst at my mates, a Ferrari 430 (new, red, shiney - about as much as I know about modern sport cars) pulled up opposite. The occupiers immediately headed over to admire the Herald. I offered to swap the cars (sorry Garth) and he only came back with "I might be interested if it was a Vitesse, my Dad had one of those". MUST get the Vitesse on the road and hunt him down again - I know where he lives!!!
Now on the search for a replacement chassis. Hoping for a 13/60 as I think I'll go swing-spring rather than dodgy donuts to save the expense of maintenance. Might even have a shiney CV coversion kit from Canleys...
A new job means more money, and half a chance of being able to afford the rebuild now!
As it's not been out much in the cold, I took it for a 40 mile round trip today to see if anything was obviously amiss. Alarmingly the throttle has started sticking - which means that every junction turned into a rev-tastic take-off - especially since my route was through all the lovely quiet local villages! Cruise control was nice on the straights though...
So I've got to have a look at that, see why the battery isn't keeping a charge (gonna get a TSSC club shop battery conditioner) and look at the horn contacts as that seems a bit intermittent and then off to the local MOT station before Drive it Day (planning on joining TSSC Derwent Valley's run at Newark, ending in Mablethorpe).
Whilst at my mates, a Ferrari 430 (new, red, shiney - about as much as I know about modern sport cars) pulled up opposite. The occupiers immediately headed over to admire the Herald. I offered to swap the cars (sorry Garth) and he only came back with "I might be interested if it was a Vitesse, my Dad had one of those". MUST get the Vitesse on the road and hunt him down again - I know where he lives!!!
Now on the search for a replacement chassis. Hoping for a 13/60 as I think I'll go swing-spring rather than dodgy donuts to save the expense of maintenance. Might even have a shiney CV coversion kit from Canleys...
A new job means more money, and half a chance of being able to afford the rebuild now!
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Underseal Blues...
I can't believe it's been five months since my last post!
Work and volunteer commitments, combined with cold weather and a general lack of enthusiasm has meant that little has been done. It's taken roughly two hours for every bolt to be coaxed out, and a lack of garage time has meant that this work has taken months.
A couple of times I looked at alternative cars on eBay and considered selling Blu for parts - although nothing really appealed as much as a Vitesse - and nice ones are still a bit pricey (I'm still earning 50% less than a year ago).
Finally, all the bolts have been removed, and I have spent a couple of hours removing underseal and seeing just how bad it really is.
Once I've got the flakey and oily bits removed - I'm looking to get it sand blasted and have contacted a couple of local companies to get prices etc.
So, with a bit of luck, it should be ready for welding in the next few weeks and then the rebuild can commence! Hurah!
(lets hope it doesn't take another five months to progress further)
Work and volunteer commitments, combined with cold weather and a general lack of enthusiasm has meant that little has been done. It's taken roughly two hours for every bolt to be coaxed out, and a lack of garage time has meant that this work has taken months.
A couple of times I looked at alternative cars on eBay and considered selling Blu for parts - although nothing really appealed as much as a Vitesse - and nice ones are still a bit pricey (I'm still earning 50% less than a year ago).
Finally, all the bolts have been removed, and I have spent a couple of hours removing underseal and seeing just how bad it really is.
Once I've got the flakey and oily bits removed - I'm looking to get it sand blasted and have contacted a couple of local companies to get prices etc.So, with a bit of luck, it should be ready for welding in the next few weeks and then the rebuild can commence! Hurah!
(lets hope it doesn't take another five months to progress further)
Saturday, 22 August 2009
Great Mates!
I've discovered the best tool for restoring a Triumph Vitesse - great mates who know what they're doing!!!
Firstly, fellow Lincs TSSC member Keith went at least 40 miles out of his way to collect an engine crane from Garth's house and drop it by mine.
And then Garth, who's herald I've "stolen" for the summer - which is a pretty awesome thing to let happen - came round today to 'give me a hand' with the Vitesse.
Well, he laughed as I couldn't work out how to use a spanner (don't ask) but also got the project moving on loads. I'm probably about where most people are after a weekend - and it's taken me well over a year...
Firstlty the engine is now out of the car.
And the chassis is almost clear. One driveshaft and the diff have seized bolts that'll need a little attention to remove (I'm borrowing Garth's compressor and air saw next week - see great mates is all you need).
However, turning the chassis over has shown a few horrors such as a (now bent) front rail with a nice hole through it.
Then there's the completely holed driver main chassis rail towards the diff.
And more holes on the other side.
So, once I've used Garth's herald to go to Stamford and Thoresby classic car shows next week, I'll use his compressor and air saw to remove the diff. Following a clean-up of the chassis, I'll then be inviting Garth and Tony to come round and enjoy a spot of welding.
I'll just fetch beer and bring pies :-)
(and if anyone saw the new Lincs TSSC Area organiser looking worse for wear on the Saturday night at Stafford - it wasn't me!)
(Perhaps tool wasn't the best word to use).
Firstly, fellow Lincs TSSC member Keith went at least 40 miles out of his way to collect an engine crane from Garth's house and drop it by mine.
And then Garth, who's herald I've "stolen" for the summer - which is a pretty awesome thing to let happen - came round today to 'give me a hand' with the Vitesse.
Well, he laughed as I couldn't work out how to use a spanner (don't ask) but also got the project moving on loads. I'm probably about where most people are after a weekend - and it's taken me well over a year...
Firstlty the engine is now out of the car.
And the chassis is almost clear. One driveshaft and the diff have seized bolts that'll need a little attention to remove (I'm borrowing Garth's compressor and air saw next week - see great mates is all you need).However, turning the chassis over has shown a few horrors such as a (now bent) front rail with a nice hole through it.
Then there's the completely holed driver main chassis rail towards the diff.
And more holes on the other side.
So, once I've used Garth's herald to go to Stamford and Thoresby classic car shows next week, I'll use his compressor and air saw to remove the diff. Following a clean-up of the chassis, I'll then be inviting Garth and Tony to come round and enjoy a spot of welding.
I'll just fetch beer and bring pies :-)
(and if anyone saw the new Lincs TSSC Area organiser looking worse for wear on the Saturday night at Stafford - it wasn't me!)
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