Colin Lindsay

They used to be made by an Australian seller called triumphfarm on eBay, but he has not listed any in recent years. Sorry - I stand corrected - he has listed this set: https://www.ebay.ie/itm/TRIUMPH-GT6-Spitfire-Master-Cylinder-Aluminium-Drip-Tray-BRAND-NEW/163984681383?hash=item262e3fa9a7:g:5AUAAOSwWgdb0Szv I've not found them anywhere else so far.

end of thread drift... spoilsport.

Does that mean having an opinion about having a pee?

Don't confuse things that we were recommended back in the day but have turned out to be harmful or a complete waste of money, with things that are beneficial, like spin-on conversions. I've been running one on the GT6 since 2001 and it makes sense, but I must admit that I've also met a fair number of owners who have never had one, and their car seem to soldier on regardless. I just mentioned them as it was one of the collection of must-haves that every new owner should buy, and mine seems to have done no harm, but there are more than a few other money-wasting ideas that as Pete says, you must have but don't need... Greenstuff pads... well I fell for the hype - you MUST have these - and binned them after one season. Haven't run into anyone yet. Top of the range adjustable shock absorbers.... not much use on a low-mileage low-speed Herald... that sort of thing!

You mean things that everyone says you really need, or will die a horrible death without? Greenstuff brake pads, for one...

7/16 sockets. They have a lifespan of about 30 minutes in my garage. I can't find them, buy a couple online, they arrive, and an hour later they're gone again. I have numerous other sizes and they're always on the rack but then of course they're not needed.

We get millions of them, it's a local thing but shows are always full of them and they're really sought-after, and usually really well looked after. One owner / farmer about 300 yards from me reputedly has over forty of them, plus other brands too. I had to check this one out to make sure it wasn't painted in Herald rocker-cover gold, but it's not the same shade...

Two points re John's very informative posts: Firstly: I've heard that Jigsaw Racing used 3mm restrictors, and are quoted as saying that no engine leaves their workshop without an external oil feed fitted. Secondly: back in the day, everyone was harping on about how much fitting these oil feeds reduced engine wear, and they were seen as a must-have, along with oil coolers and spin-on filter adaptors, and a type-9 gearbox, or hard brake pads.... You weren't a proper owner unless you had fitted all, and now at least one is suspected to be a waste of money. (although certain forums dealing with the TR6 model, are still advocating fitting the rocker feeds along with a good rocker cover gasket.) The Club does have a say - it's here, on this forum, where we should be deterring new owners from throwing their money away on parts that actually do more harm than good. Buying them is not compulsory! Once the dealers stop selling, they'll stop stocking. If we could only get suppliers to stock parts we really need we'd be a lot happier. (Pan head timing cover screws being the current bugbear...)

No. Don't even try, it's the stuff of nightmares. Similarly, on a bicycle... They say four wheels moves the body and two wheels moves the soul, but on a bicycle the saddle moves other body parts into non-functioning positions, so I'll stick to the Triumph.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/plant-tractors/tvo-ferguson-tractor/1362896501 Much cheaper and only a few miles down the road! Harry Ferguson lived within twenty miles of me, and his early tractors are still very sought-after over here. It's interesting to note that a deal with the Ferguson Tractor company by Sir John Black in 1945 was stated by him to be a means of raising funds to develop new cars, which would lead to the Triumph Motor Car Division... so buying one of those would literally be going back to our roots.

Last one I was given(!) was at a Road Safety Event and they handed them out to cyclists, so I just lied and swore I'd left my lycra at home to get a set. A very nice little self-contained set of smaller keys. Worth about a tenner from Icetoolz and will apparently 'keep my scoot dialed.' Okay... but great for smaller bolts.

So just buy an old tractor and store it there! Simple! I can remember an older generation of the family telling me about running out of petrol once and running the car on whiskey to get home...

Sounds like a vehicle fuel tank.... mixup at the pump? Council oil disposal tanks will take it - at least my local will so assume they're all the same - provided you can get it there.

They are, Sam, and I've had a recent discussion online with some suppliers who had photos of the originals on their site but supplied Philip's versions for my Herald before telling me that is all I'll get these days. I've been advised to buy metric and retap the metal, which may work for some of the timing cover screws but is not ideal. https://www.fixaball.co.uk/products/m3-machine-screws-slotted-pan-head-a2-stainless-steel?variant=24158657223 I've found similar in UNC: https://www.a2stainless.co.uk/4-40-UNC-x-5-16-Slot-Pan-Head-Screw_ARHYP.aspx ...plus others listed as a 5/16 6-32 thread, which Pete will have to explain. I may have located some on a USA site: https://www.spitbits.com/store/85-PAN-HEAD-SCREW-MK41500-5req-P2601.aspx There are so many bolt and fastener sites on the Net it would take days to check them all. I'm going to tour a few local hardware shops with one in my pocket and see if they have any old stock.

Bit like my Herald Coupe. My young daughter could only use the rear seat if she lay sideways, so never travelled in it unless it was in the front. (where there were no seatbelts either... which is why I sold it).

You can remove the door before you weld in the brace; just don't remove the car from the chassis at the same time... I've found that a rivet is great for removing the pin; one of the same diameter is usually long enough to clear the plastic disc so that you can get a good smack against the head. I've lost a few over the years and replaced with round masonry nails of the correct diameter, just cut to the right length. Make sure that yours has not been replaced with a nail or the like so that there's actually a small flat head at one end.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-UPGRADED-AUSTIN-PRINCESS-4-POT-BRAKE-CALIPERS-PAD-KIT-ESCORT-CAPRI-TRIUMPH/153461286829?fits=Car+Make%3AAustin|Model%3APrincess&hash=item23bb0167ad:g:GoYAAOSwXUNcvuNe I've found a link to a set of calipers that will allegedly fit all - Ford, Austin and Triumph, although I had thought that there were differences in the mountings with Fords at least - and if you look down the listing he has given the dimensions. He has three or four sets for sale, all at varying prices, but claims they have a pre-fitted spacer block that has to be removed if they're to be used on the Princess; this would indicate that they've been spaced for vented discs already. There are second hand Austin originals for £100 also listed by another seller. This link is quite an interesting article, although he's fitting them to a Marina rather than a Triumph: http://www.cjw-consulting.co.uk/4pots/4pots.htm Companies like Willwood do a complete kit for the GT6 but only for single discs. Are you intending to do a lot of speed? I've heard that there's only a marginal improvement over the originals, but have never tried them myself.

I'm assuming that that is not the original manifold? Looks like a Moss / TT version? Possibly an alternative manifold may help?

They really get to you, don't they? Commiserations, Graham.

There are two dangers with this: one, the DVA ask on their forms for a replacement V5 has the vehicle been rebuilt, so you have to be careful as to your reply. If you say yes, they want proof that it's the same vehicle - photographs will usually do - but as with anything official if you give away too much and alert them they'll dig deeper and deeper, so say nothing. If you say no and they inspect the vehicle for any reason it can also cause bother. Remote, yes, but possible, so why risk it? Two: I've seen so many people posting about their cars, and even selling them, where both posts and adverts claim: the car has received a replacement chassis from a donor vehicle... and you never know who might just be interested. As the song says: whatever you say, say nothing.

You, as well?

Your air rifle runs on batteries??? Mine was a Webley Patriot .25 (ran on air!) and would have gone through the target - cats, foxes or unwanted china - and the wall behind it.

Most suppliers these days are selling the same spring for all 4 cylinder cars; 131535 or 131535UR. Early Heralds were 100420; I don't have the Spitfire manual to confirm but I'd guess that newer version is what's on offer these days for all 4-cylinder cars. It would be interesting to know the spec of the uprated version compared to the standard. Some suppliers are also selling the same spring for the 6-cylinder cars too.

My Diesel Mondeo takes about six to eight miles before the temperature gauge starts to move, and that's only a 1.6. Not only that but it cools at the drop of a hat; park up to go into a shop and when you come out, it's cold again. I doubt if it will ever reach normal operating temperature when idling. Is there a Motability scheme on mainland UK? Over here they're now pushing for all Motability cars to be electric. It's a real moneyspinner for Car Dealerships over here, and this should be another great boost for profits given the higher costs of EV.

Even better!