:: Diary - May 2004 ::

:: Saturday May 1, 2004 ::

After much prevaricating, I start at lunchtime by wire brushing the chassis and frame that the radiator fixes to. 2 coats of red hammerite later and it looks good as new.

I also paint the coolant swirl pot, then wire brush the alenator and plenum chamber to a brilliant shine, while I am waiting for the Hammeerite to dry.

Remounting the radiator is pretty straightforward. Radiator in, hoses on, tighten clips, realise one clip is missing, look everywhere for it, give up and go to petrol station to buy another one, fill up system with coolant, bleed air out, start engine and run till warm, to make sure the fan cuts in. All ok!

Test drive! Works fine.

But then, much to my dismay, I discover thet the front n/s indicator isn't working. I must have pulled the wire off that temporary repair I made last May, eh? I decide to order a new indicator unit.

...

:: Monday May 3, 2004 ::

Trip to local Leyland Daf dealer for new indicator unit, which were originally fitted to the old Leyland Sherpa van, the early 80's one. I had considered a tour of scrap yards and other pre-enjoyed parts emporia, but quickly came to the conclusion that it is unlikely that many will survive in scrap yards, as most of them, as I recall, were early victims of the dreaded tin worm almost before they originally left the showroom.

The parts man looks at me as if I was mad, his expression suggests "why would anybody want to double the value of a 20-year-old Sherpa by screwing a new indicator to it?" It turns out that the part is listed but obsolete - even Leyland obviously acknowledge that very few of their vehicles survived long enough to still need parts. They can however order the orange lens - which will at least make it look cosmetically better. I order one.

On the way home I book the car in for an MOT tomorrow, at the same garage as last year.

Home to remove the indicator unit and wiring, I find that the loom connector under the front wing has corroded away almost to nothing. I cut it out of the circuit and install new connectors.

It doesn't work.

I remove the unit and take it to bits. I find that the internal earth wire has come off. I solder it back together again and...

It doesn't work.

Using my trusty multimeter I diagnose an internal break in the wiring (probably the problem in the first place). I replace that length of wire.

It works!

Then, mindful of the MOT test tomorrow, I check that all the lights work. Except they don't. I have no front lights at all on the left hand side. More multimeter fiddling, and I diagnose another corroded connector. I clean it up as best I can, pack it with vaseline and put it back together. Fingers crossed, it'll be ok tomorrow.

I decide I need to install waterproof connectors on the front lighting looms, both for reliability and also to make it easier to get in to work on those areas.

:: Tuesday May 4, 2004 ::

MOT test day. Pass. No worries.

:: Saturday May 8, 2004 ::

My prize for winning the photo competition arrived today! A nice shiny new handbrake lever, to replace the grotty rubber one it has now.

I cut the old handle off and unscrew the end button. After a feat of dexterity to install the new shiny button, I install and tighten the handle. Combined with the gear knob, it certainly transforms the interior!

From this    to this   

I also add "water wetter" to the radiator - this stuff is designed to increase the boiling point of water and therefore its ability to absorb engine heat. Since I got it for nowt, to make up the prize value, I suppose it's worth a try.

:: Sunday May 9, 2004 ::

I decide that the wood bit of the dash is getting on my nerves. The glove box lid in particular is very badly chipped. It's not really wood, it's a wood effect painted onto metal, and the undercoat is the same bright yellow colour that was on the door trims, so the chips aren't exactly subtle. The rest has taken a scratched matt finish that looks crap.

First step is to touch in the chips. I give the whole dash a clean with white spirit, being especially careful to remove any old polish from the chips and scratches.

I then dig out the old model paints, but find that I only have one shade of brown, whereas the trim has about 4 shades of grain. Random mixing of black, red and yellow ensues, until I have a wide enough range of shades to apply to the dash.

When I have finished, it looks not too bad at all! Ok, you can still see marks if you look for them, but it's not "In yer face" like it was. If only it was shinier though....

:: Saturday May 15, 2004 ::

A drive to the Leyland DAF dealer to collect the indicator lens, then home to fit it. It takes about 5 minutes to swap them over. Dawdle.

After a week of deliberations, I have decided to lacquer the dash. The sensible method would be to dismantle the dash, mask it off and spray it.

But I am aware that the sensible method is a pain in the wossname. Getting the dash off needs a tame gerbil with a spanner. I haven't got one, and the goldfish is useless - I keep telling it what to do but by the time it's wriggled into position, it's forgotten.

So I decide to use a brush-on lacquer. The first coats looks ok but with brush marks.

:: Sunday May 16, 2004 ::

The second coat of lacquer looks a lot better - much smoother (but still with brush marks) - maybe I can argue it's the grain of the wood?

It still looks better than it did - once it dries, I'll try polishing it down a bit.

:: Saturday May 22, 2004 ::

I decide to wash and polish the car in advance of the TVRCC Borders Bash tomorrow. My plans are somewhat curtailed by the fact that I spend the whole day in the local hospital, leaving me time only to give it a quick wash before it gets dark.

I do, however, notice that there are marks on my newly-refurbished wheels. No amount of polishing removes them - they are under the lacquer. Bugger.

:: Sunday May 23, 2004 ::

The Borders bash!

Today turned out to be the best day out I have had with the car. I can't report everything - it was 10 hours of sheer automotive ecstacy!

Some highlights:

Waiting while the cars assembled, each one rumbling into the service area, some in mini-convoys;

The coach load of scouts who arrived and dived off their bus to look at the TVRs - their admiration was most gratifying... and reminded me vividly of my dream when I was their age - and now I've got one! I hope they were suitably inspired.

The wall of noise as we all started up and set off, onto the A1 - and the racket as we zoomed up the slip ramp;

Through the town of Haddington in convoy and up into the hills, following James in his S2, blootering along to keep up with the 4 and 5 litre Chimaeras etc... marvelling at the fantastic noise when following James as he gave his car Johnny Large Potatoes out of each corner - and realising that mine could keep up easily - and sounds exactly the same!

The first photo stop, a whole line of cars along the side of this narrow road. Fantastic!

Stopping for lunch, 38 cars parked everywhere through this hotel car park. Impromptu car show while we eat...and then buzzing out one by one like bees leaving a hive.

Another stop to regroup, then we were split up by traffic signals, and finding myself at the front of a small group - and lost! At this point I discover that being first is a lot harder than following the nutter in front. This becomes most evident when I am leading into a corner which tightens unexpectedly and I end up going round on one wheel.

What a day - fast, loud, powerful, amazing... What a car!

Click here for photos of the Borders Bash!

:: Monday May 24, 2004 ::

Today dawns bright and sunny... The TVR is still at the front of the drive, so I decide to take it to work, where it causes quite a stir.

When I get home I discover that it's been added to Mr Pies' site dedicated to the S series. Superb!