All manner of fettling

Lots of time spent just "fettling". There's now a power socket in the car and a compass ready for the European trip.

Also added is a near side door mirror which will help when driving "on the wrong side" of the road and a locking petrol cap.

Here's the car and how it looks today.


Next question I am pondering tho is whether to fit a Sprint spoiler I have been given.

Does it do anything practical and would it "spoil" the look of a standard car I wonder?

Interior tweaking

Another day and a bit more done.

The original steering wheel had lost it's outer covering so I have replaced it with an old one I had around.

I quickly painted the spokes to make it a little more presentable but the important thing is that the rim is leather and intact.

I have at last got round to screwing down the console around the gear lever too.

Overall it's looking good

Covered up and touched up

I recently bought a cheap compressor (Wolf online) complete with various bits of kit.

I have now had the chance to use it for something other than blowing up tyres! I have also used it to absolutely cover the underneath of the Toledo with Dinitrol anti-rust stuff and it has done a great job.

I have then actually washed the car and touched up with white paint some bits I had missed before so the car should last a bit longer.

Next (speaking quietly) Ill do some t-cutting and polixhing.

More Speedfair pics

Two more pics taken by Sally Gowans.


A great reminder of the day and what it's all about really.
























Unfortunately, it's the last time the TR will see action until well into 2008.

I have not been able to stop the overheating - basically, the coolant system is being pressurised, water is being pumped out of the expansion tank over about 60 or so miles and then the engine overheats.

Diagnosis - blown head gasket.

This has probably been caused during one of the times the car has got hot for other reasons and now the only solution is to take it off the road, surrender the tax and fix it. So that's what I am going to do but it won't go back on the road until it has a roll cage and full harnesses as well now.

The immediate future is taken care of by getting the Toledo service completed and then driving it to the Med!

Speedfair - great photos

Many thanks to Sally Gowans for these photos taken at the Speedfair rally











If you look closely you can see the driver (me) working hard and the co-driver (Rebecca) having a great time.

Toledo on track

So todays' progress is new brake shoes fitted and also the incorrect wheel stud replaced.

Recently I have bought a compressor and now was a chance to use it for a new task - sprayed Dinitrol under the rear arches and the rear half od the car's underside.

Wow - what an easy task when you have the rgiht tools.

A bit more "pep"

More spannering - here's the scene from about 5.30 tonight.

I have now shown the blowing exhaust manifold/downpipe gasket who is boss.

Took some time for such a little job but it is now sorted with the aid of borrowed exhaust jointing paste - thanks Jon


Then it was onto the carb front. Having removed the carb I swapped over the spindles and butterfly so that the "modded one" is now in the carb. On the left here is the standard installation and on the right is the modified one - I think the difference can be seen here. Basically it should flow more air and hence improve performance.

It was then refitted along with the air filter including stub stack.

Initial feeling is that the car is certainly livelier