I thought the MGB people may like this video from Jay Leno’s garage. He lost me when he wanted to mount the mirrors on the front fenders. But but thank God they didn’t. I like everything else they’ve done with the car.
Cheers
John
Triumph TR6 road-trip to the LE MANS Classic 2022
Now here’s a road trip. We just do not have a bridge to get there.
- John D.
FABAC January Meeting Report
The first dinner/meeting for 2023 (we're now 20+2 years old!) was absolutely FAB-ulous. We didn't much bother with any meeting stuff because there were only eight of us, but we did languish over coffee and enjoyed lively conversation, during which several proclamations here made:
- the year that Bob gets the Jag back on the road....
- the year that Kelvin's Landy become recognizable as a motor vehicle...
- There was the normal call for runs, and several of our regulars are already in the works.
- We had a more-than-lively-and-often-confusing discussion on ways to waste time on YouTube. My suggestion was miss-spoken and should have been 'ColinFurze'. Some of you may have seen this gent in action. The ladies are invited to watch in order to gain an appreciation of why they live longer.
- Speaking of the ladies; the Tuesday morning breakfasts have become dominated by the gents, but we're encouraging the fairer sex to drop in. You all have an open invitation. We promise to behave.
Next month’s meeting will be at Gahan House Riverside on 486 Queen Street the day after Valentine's Day (15th). Some may remember it as the Vault, or before that the CIBC bank.
Bob E.
FABAC meeting Wednesday January 18th
Ernst has organized Byblos Restaurant on Queen Street for 5pm Wednesday for 20 members.
- John D.
Cell Phone Use & Driving
Here's an "impactful" video filmed in Hong Kong about distracted driving.
(Passed along by Phil.)
YouTube video: My MG Sports Car Collection
I thought the club might be interested in this MG story.
All the best,
John
Spitfire restoration project Update
Hello all and Happy New Year,
I thought I would show a few pictures of the latest progress on my Spitfire project. Earlier, I had submitted pictures of my Spitfire frame when it had been just completed. The pictures I am posting now show the engine and transmission have been installed into the frame.
I began in late November overhauling the engine when I got the block, head and crank back from Central Auto in Fredericton. Central bored the block out .020”, polished the crank journals, and took a skim off the cylinder head. They also ground the valve seats and faces as well as having dressed the tips of the valve stems.
I bought most of the necessary parts from Central, including the pistons, rings, rocker arm shaft, both sets of bearings, thrust bearings and gaskets. I had previously purchased timing gears and chain, clutch pressure plate, clutch disk and throw out bearing from Moss Motors. I later discovered that the push rod, pivot pin and bushings of the clutch release arm were in need of replacing and rebuilding. The clutch slave cylinder and master cylinder also needed to be replaced. Another order off to Moss Motors.
I am finding that the aftermarket parts made for the Triumph Spitfire (and the GT6 I am sure) are not as plentiful as for what is available for the MGB for example. In some cases, substitute parts are provided as is the case with the clutch release pushrod. The pushrod for the Spitfire is no longer available and aftermarket pieces are not being made. Instead, MGB pushrods are supplied which require modification. You are left to find this out for yourself with no advance warning! Am I upset about this? Yes. Other parts that were supplied were intended for the Spitfire but just did not fit. More reworking was required.
I did a lot of cleaning, measuring, fitting, research, and sometimes, head scratching and so now, it is together. I am not sure if the weather will cooperate temperature wise, but if it does, I will start the engine before I put it in storage.
The transmission rebuild was typical in most respects. The usual parts had to be replaced – the bushings and bearings, the synchronizer rings, detent balls and springs, thrust washers, reverse gears and lay shaft.
This transmission is the less favoured “single rail” type which uses only the one rail to accomplish shifting into all four gears plus reverse. It is a piece of engineering genius in my opinion but, not enough attention was given to the strength/durability of its individual components. I had to be very creative in making the shift mechanism work as required. All is good now and I hope it stays that way.
I tried a “new to me” vendor for the transmission parts – Rimmer Bros. in England. After the parts totals, shipping, taxes and money exchange, Rimmer Bros. were just slightly higher than Moss Motors but compensated by providing much quicker delivery.
And now, as they say, “all that is left is every thing else”. I hope to be sharing pictures of the completed project in late next fall. Fingers crossed.
- Chris
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| Click on photo for larger view. |
Crosley Cars
Once again I disappeared down that YouTube “rabbit hole” and came across this interesting video about the history of the Crosley companies. Although I did know a bit about some of their cars and knew about their refrigerators, I had no idea of the long history of the Crosley brothers wide variety of businesses. Interesting.
Phil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjmJb4efXUU
An email from John DeW.
Good morning, David. I would like to wish you and the club members a Happy New Year. All the best to come in 2023.
Cheers,
John
And in interesting link to Triumph Tr4 advertisements from long ago. Click Here.
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