trevorc

Pleased to hear that my 1200 Estate was appreciated. Indeed a lot of work to get it to this condition, hugely enjoyable though. Couldn't have done it without Darren's metal craft, nor the support (physical and moral) of many family and friends, nor the internet! You can read a bit more about the car and my relationship with it in current edition of Triumph World.

Thanks for that Clive. I do have some with locking wire. With new rings do you really get no "free play"?

Thanks Bill I can back you up on the quality of original type joints - having given up with the UJ type I ordered an original type from one of our bigger parts suppliers - it is horrible, and it doesn't fit, I'm sending it back. That makes three new joints I've bought (two different designs of UJ) and none actually fitted! I've got a tub full of old joints, I see tonight that one supplier offers poly re-bushing kits - I'm thinking about that option. Trevor

Please can any 1200 owners confirm how the two grilles are fixed to the surround and how the surround is fixed to the top flange of the front valance. I'm sure the grilles are fixed using pan head self tappers in spire clips, but what size screw? For the four fixings at the bottom of the grille surround the parts book mentions a cage nut, but I can't find a supplier, I think I've seen these also fixed using self tappers in spire clips. Any knowledge? Or photos?

All the suppliers are selling a universal joint as a replacement for the OE flexible joint (FAM1718 is part number used nowadays). I've tried the UJ on my Herald and it fouls on the suspension upright. What's general experience?

The Lucas designation for the 2-bulb Herald unit is L584. Lucas made two different lenses that fitted - both have L584 moulded into the glass. The Midget/Sprite cars used the same unit. I'm 99% certain that Heralds only ever had the peaked glass - whatever the suppliers of modern replacements might say. There seems to be plenty of original L584 peaked glass about, they're pretty tough. I've got a drawer full!

All the 1200s with the large sidelights that I've come across have had the peaked type lens. I believe the curved type is MG.

One job needed on the rebuild of my Herald Estate is fitting the new headlining. I don't fancy it - I do nuts and bolts and rivets but I'm not good with glue! Anyone know of a mobile trimmer within travelling distance of Surrey?

Ok, I need to move on, prop and exhaust waiting to go on. With Darren Groves up from Devon for the weekend and supporting me in the garage we've set the adjustment at each wheel at about 3mm from maximum, with the anchors for the pull-off springs right up the threads as far as they can go. Then we've taken up the slack in the secondary cable by adjusting up the primary cable so that wheels lock at about six clicks. We've lost the 15 degree WSM angle, but something had to give. Will need to plead "all new parts" to the MOT man at first test if brake efficiency is marginal. I'll redo everything after some bedding in.

I've tracked down two new backplates - not many about.

Hi Ben I can't begin to work out how many different Heralds I've changed rear brakes on! And none have had that part fitted. Looks like we are all agreed it is not a Herald part. The question of taking up the gap is worth thinking more about though. Cheers Trevor

OK since you ask - I'm restoring the first car I ever owned - bought in 1978 - a 1967 Herald 1200 Estate - though I had three serviceable handbrake cables in my stock only a shiny new one is good enough! All four cables are the same length (1615mm including threaded ends) - when the car was last on the road I did have one of those cable adjusters you attach that puts a kink in the cable to shorten it - I've put that back now but still I'm at the end of the adjustment at the brake end - as you adjust up the threaded end you get to point where you can't move the handbrake pull off spring anchor far enough to get some tension in the spring. Frankly I'm stumped - just can't see any reason why I'm running out of adjustment. I'm tempted to go back to the primary cable and ignore the 15 degree angle shown in the workshop manual.

John - I've read that thread. The short chassis cars do have a choice of three lengths, all of which are about 300mm shorter than the Herald cable - I seem to need a shorter one - but not THAT short! Pete - I've lost count how many times I've changed rear brake shoes in the 36 years I've been working on Heralds - I hope I've not been doing it wrong!!

Thanks for replies so far - but no cigar yet! PeteH - all pins, yokes and everything are brand new. The primary cable adjusts the angle of the actuating arm, which has to be at the angle described in the workshop manual. John - I've got the rear suspension under load. Pete Lewis - isn't there only one way round the shoes, single-leading, go? Keep 'em coming!

I've fitted a new rear (secondary) handbrake cable to my Herald - I cannot get enough adjustment at the wheel ends to take up the slack. I can take up slack using the front cable adjuster but then I lose the correct 15 degrees angle on the actuator arm. Anyone come across this problem? Only solution I can see is to shorten cable 30-40 mm, but everything is standard, and looks in order, so I can't work out why a standard cable doesn't work. The length of my new cable matches the length of three old ones I have in my "stock", it is 1615mm end to end, including threaded bits.

I watched this car sell on EBay. Did you really pay the that quoted max bid? You must really like the car - that is probably a record price for a Herald special. I passed the EBay link to David Quick, the person responsible for the design and marketing of the Stanbury, this is what he said: "Looks quite something - a far cry from what I had in mind but that's what specials are all about. Not sure where he got the only seven in the world from but I guess time has taken its toll of the dozen or so that we built but I don't recognise the registration number so it may have been built from plans or one of our flatpacks." Not sure what history you think there is. I suppose you want to find out who built it - you could try getting the list of previous owners from Swansea, one of them will be the builder. If you can find out when the registration doc was changed from Herald to Stanbury then the owner after this should be your man. I was planning to mention this car in the Courier at some time. Keep me in touch with what you find, and your plans for the car. Regards Trevor Specials Register Secretary