Testing 2000

 I have been having all sorts of problems getting PMW to run anything like right, so much so that I need a recovery truck to get me home recently.

The engine was easy enough to turn when I assembled it and it starts easily so I don't think there's an issue there.

I have checked the timing out but whilst trying to adjust it I kept getting shocks off the dizzy cap so I put an old one on. Then I put the old coil on.

Then I realised that the clamp bolt had been really too easily undone - it was probably too loose and the timing had slipped.

So, re set it to 8 BTDC and went for a run.

Not bad, didn't want to tick over but picked up well and also pulled all the way up to 4500 RPM no problems - then "tinkle" and a massive vibration.

Still had drive though so cautiously got home having done only 5 miles and it's obvious a propshaft UJ has gone AWOL

The engine running issues have now moved down the priority list.



Next will be to remove the propshaft and get that sorted. Whilst the car is up on stands/ramps I'll also fit new diff mounting bushes I bought some time ago. I bet that will be fun!


This car is really beginning to test me now

Border Raiders pics

It wasn't a food fest honest! This is at Restorante Adriano - very good too.

How to keep the cockpit dry when the hood is down and it's raining - or likely too!

The picture above is at the start of day 2 at Gretna Services but we had learned about the golf umbrella trick the day before.

The weather hadn't been very good but Deana and I kept the top down all the time as you only get wet even when it's raining hard if you have to stop. Well on one of the country roads just across the border in Scotland it was raining hard when a car came towards us and the driver flagged us down. She asked us to park up as a flock of sheep were coming along the road around the corner towards us - of course this meant we were getting soaked.

Deana reacted first by getting her easily to hand umbrella out which made me dive into the boot and get a golf umbrella out. As can be seen in the photo this is just big enough to go over the windscreen and door windows, covering the whole cockpit.

Great stuff. We made the guys on their quad bikes herding the sheep laugh too when they saw us :-)

Rover's gone, meanwhile the Border's been raided!

Yesterday my Rover SD1 was collected by the guy I bought it from - for the same price I paid 18 months ago.

I realised I was never going to get round to doing anything with it and it's back in good hands.

Last weekend though I took part in the Border Raiders put together by myself, Mik and Paul, This was a two day run from the Old Stone Trough, Kelbrook, Lancashire up through the Dales, the Eden Valley and into Scotland before overnighting in Carlisle and tehn returning to Kelbrook again.

"Spirit of the Event" was won by Theo Boonen and "Car of the event" by Chris Reynolds in his lovely gold TR7 V8.

Great roads to drive over, a very good tea room for lunch on Saturday and a real find in Ristorante Adriano in Carlisle for our evening meal. All very satisfying indeed.

A selection of the cars at the Old Stone Trough the night before

We just about filled the car park and the tea rooms!

2 Triumphs in 2 days

What great weather we are having so yesterday Deana and I went out in the TR7 for a 40 mile drive through the country. Top down in the sun with a stop off at the Anchor Inn in Gargrave - can't get much better than that.

Then over the two days I have been trying to fix the clutch on PMW and it seems like I might just ahve done it!

I rebuilt my 2000's engine and whilst putting it all back together also fitted braided hoses for the clutch, and brakes.
Anyway, the engine sounds real sweet but I had a real problem with the clutch which stopped engaging after about 100 miles.
I spotted a pool of clutch fluid under the slave cylinder so I have replaced that today.
Still having problems but on placing my foot on the clutch I have spotted clutch fluid spraying from where the braided hose mounts to the master cylinder - where there's a brass washer.

Thanks to everyone on Facebook Triumph 2000 page, the 2000 Register forum and Club Triumph's forum for various contributions. I think I have fixed the problem. Strange but when a kit is supplied with two brass/copper washers I tend to think they are to be used! Yet it was these washers that were not allowing the clutch hydraulic pipe to seal at both the master clylinder and the slave cylinder. Taking them both off, refitting the braided hose and then bleeding the clutch means I now have one! I have also comleted a 10 mile test drive and all seems well. Now we'll see if it stays that way.

Meanwhile, how about some nostalgia?

With this car I am not going the modified and improved route, well not overtly. I am going to do a tongue in cheek nostalgia theme so I have a 1960s "car coat", a trilby and various publications in the car like a guide to "the new decimal currency"
Here's a couple of photos though with more nostalgia - a 1960s AA badge just fitted to the front grille and a camping gaz set with kettle etc as well as a picnic basket.
These should come in useful at shows or on the 10 Countries Run in 2015, after all, why not stop for a brew like a true Brit instead of paying mega bucks for well known modern coffee at the various motorway service areas etc?
In the photo you can see the original supplying dealers sticker in the rear window too.

 

 

Upgrading v originality

Always a dilemma but I fitted a MK2 PI dashboard today and it's just "plug and play".

Actually I only gain a rev counter but it looks more upmarket and I think I'll have to fit the clock in the centre of the dash but I have the panel for that too.

And of course I am keeping the original dashboard so I can always return the car to how it came out the factory.

All in all though, I am planning to use the 2000 on Clyub Triumph's 10 Countries run next year and I think this is a more pleasing dashboard to look at - plus keeping an eye on the revs won't do any harm.

PI dashboard fitted today and everything works

Original interior from 2003 looks alot better today with different seats, steering wheel and dashboard

Rover survey

Apologies to my Club Triumph friends who will now find pictures of a Rover SD1 on the Club Triumph site!

It's been a long time since I looked over my Rover and I have actually decided to sell it so I thought I'd give it a visit and see if ti was accessible where I have it in storage.

Actually you know, it's not bad at all really. Very sound from what I can see and there's a real danger it could be bought just to have it's fuel injected V8 ripped out and then the rest scrapped or bought for use in banger racing.

The heartstrings were well and truly pulled so I can't let that happen. Unless I am convinced it's going to a good home it will be staying with me and one day it will be put back on the road.

Here's the pictures - as can be seen, pretty solid which is what really matters.

The scuttle panel below the windscreen is in good nick

Strut tops are good too

Dirty but no rot

Wheel arch looks good

Apart from a bit of rot on the tail gate good here too

Off side wheel arch looking good too

OK here as well

Again, looks solid enough under the engine bay - lovely V8 in there of course :-)

Scuffed bumper but that's not serious - front wing looks solid again

Interior change on PMW

I have not been happy with the look of the Rover "Tomcat" seats I had fitted to the 2000; great for support and safety but really didn't go with the looks of the car.

So a couple of weeks ago I cleaned up a complete set of cloth seats from a later car which had head restraints so offered greater safety and were more in keeping but I wasn't quite sure about the colour. The original interior was tan but these seats are brown although nicely faded!

Below are two pictures so you can judge for yourself but actually I think it all looks just fine. The first picture shows one of the Rover seats still in and the second the view with all the seats now fitted.