25th July 2015, Subframe replacement.

When I was poking about under the car recently I noticed some signs of corrosion coming through on the subframe so I though it was time to have a proper investigation. Look what I found, some very nasty rust that made it urgent to get the subframe changed.

Perforation showing which caused the change.

 

Very nasty rust where the bottom arm mounts.

 

 Luckily I had a spare good one in stock which just needed a clean up and a touch of paint. I will also fit the polybushes I kept from my old car to replace the perished rubber ones I took off.

Nice and shiny with no rust and ready to fit.

Update: 27th July

Fitted the new subframe today and the car is now sitting back on its wheels again. Had the usual battle with pulling the bottom arms in enough to get the bolts lined up but a big ratchet strap soon did the trick.  Just need to pop down to the local tyre fitters to get the tracking checked now.

Polybushes and anti-dive blocks ready.

That's much better, all new and tidy.

Only thing now is I did notice doing this job was the ball joint rubbers on the bottom arms are looking a bit tired so that will be another little job to add to the list.  I took a couple of minutes to soak all the nuts with magic spray in preparation because they looked a bit dry. Time will tell if it works.

22nd July 2015, Naunton Classic Show and Village Fete

Earlier in the year when we went to the Wheelnuts Show at St. Roses School in Stroud a leaflet appeared on the car for a show at Naunton which is between Andoversford and Stow-on-the-Wold. It invited us to their classic car show and village fete.  Naunton is a nice little village and only about 30 miles away so that sounded like a nice day out and it went in the diary.

It was cool and cloudy when we left home for the show but the weather forecast said it would  improve and that is exactly what happened - in fact we got a bit sunburnt - and the soft top of the TR7 stayed down all day.  Over 100 cars turned up and were neatly parked around two sides of the cricket square with the other two sides being a catering area and a sports area/running track. Cars varied from a sublime 1929 Blower Bentley to a ridiculous Sinclair C5 with everything else in between.

Lovely setting on Naunton cricket ground

A genuine 1929 Blower Bentley

Not real - its a modern replica of the Bentley

Which is older, the car or the owners?

Aston Martin Lagonda, a rare sight but they made over 600

Audi Sport Quattro S1

Sinclair C5

My TR7 between an AC and a Healey 3000

It was a really good day out and the village fete part gave a nice touch of something many places have lost. There were all kinds of stuff for the kids, normal running races, sack races, running backwards races, obstacle races etc. and a proper "podium" for the winners. Stalls selling cakes, jam, plants, herbs, in fact a proper old-fashioned village fete.  

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Shopping trolley damage?

Found this scrape on the passenger door the other day, looks like someone was careless with a shopping trolley or similar. Very annoying. 

     

14th July 2015, more days out

Not too much to report since the last post, we have been out a few times in the TR7 and went out on the Black & White Trail with our GLAVON TR Register group. We also joined up the Gloucester branch of the TSSC making up a varied group of about 20 cars.  The route was approx 150 miles in total and it was a nice day but heavy showers were forecast so we set off with the hood down but expected it might have to go up. The trail starts at Dilwyn near Leominster and meanders though mostly country lanes. Its a lovely rural area and the Elizabethan style timbered houses which give the trail its name look fantastic. We stopped in Weobley for coffee - at a pub - but soon afterwards the sky got very dark and the first rain drops appeared on the screen. I chose to stop under a huge oak tree which gave us shelter while I put the roof up just as the heavens opened, but some of the other crews left it too late and got absolutely drenched doing theirs. One of our members has a TR4A with a Surrey top and doesn't use the centre section, he just carries a neat umbrella which covers the gap. All went well until they exceeded 50mph and the umbrella collapsed just as the rain was at its heaviest so they got completed soaked.

The TR7 electrics got a good test with lights, wipers and blower going but coped perfectly.  The rain got so bad that most of us decided to cut the last part of the trail and went direct to the finish and lunch at a golf club just south of Leominster. Naturally the rain then stopped so the cars were left drying out in the car park until mid way though the excellent carvery there was a clap of thunder and large hailstones started - it was that kind of day.

Some GLAVON cars at the start near Newent

Wide selection of cars at coffee break

Coffee stop at Ye Olde Salutation Inn, Weobley

500 years of history, 1460's house and 1960's TR4

GLAVON member drying out at the finish.

    
The car has been generally behaving itself (everything crosssed writing that!) but the jobs to do list has not reduced at all. To give you an idea the list currently looks like this:-

Check rear axle links and fixings,
Tidy wiring under the dash,
Sort out radio console/wiring,
Swap front suspension subframe (I found some rust in places),
Replace steering rack gaiters (they look a bit nasty),
Check/replace fuel pipes under bonnet (some looking suspect),
Check electric fuel pump mountings (anti-vibration bushes to fit),
Adjust wiper parking position,
Sort out right hand headlight motor (its a bit slow),
Fit daytime running lights,
Check front discs for run-out (getting a bit of vibration),
Replace front number plate (its a bit scruffy),
Fit the new sun visors,
Fit wire mesh over fresh air inlet (stops leaves getting into the vents),
Get the windscreen re-fitted (its not very well done),
Change the speedo to press button reset,
Fit CB radio,
Repair/replace some broken hood poppers,

Oh well, it all keeps me out of mischief.