Colin Lindsay

Just confirmed in both of my cars that have seats in... both have the adjusters to the outside. Sad thing is, it was me fitted them both years ago... I'm not sure how the GT6 one will fit if I swap it over, given the flaring of the gearbox tunnel that has the inner runner flush to the carpet leaving little or no room for the adjusting lever.

And here's one I finished earlier.... front cover cleaned up, oil seal replaced and a new gasket; looks a world away from what it was back when I started... The back plate has also been sandblasted and repainted, with a new gasket and new locking washers. As Dave recommended, I'll check the fuel tank for anything untoward but at first glance, while surface rusty, there don't appear to be any leaks or other horrors. This entire area will be cleaned, relevant parts undersealed and then a few gallons of Waxoyl should give it a more respectable appearance. Thankfully the exhaust is in good condition so that's one expense I don't have to shell out on. I'll replace the rubber hangers while I have access. I'm waiting for the Stratford Show before replacing the rear trailing arms as mine are very tatty, and if there are any better ones going second-hand I might invest and save a few hours blasting and cleaning. Either way I still need new bushes and nuts / bolts so will take a break until after that event to see what I come home with. I also have to remake the brake lines so some new pipe will save me using my current stocks of Kunifer, which are for my Heralds.

Just back from a Club run - they make hardy Triumph Owners over here! Lightning reflects beautifully off Triumph White.... Search for Stromberg Throttle Return Spring, just found some on eBay. https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/233235182583 As for the second one: these are close, they may need that long leg trimmed slightly at one end... https://www.cvi-automotive.se/en/articles/2.20736.49076/return-spring-throttle-spindle-stromberg-b18a

Interesting!! All of mine, including the GT6 have the adjuster on the OUTSIDE ie closest to the sill. It always seemed to me to be the natural side ie adjusted with the right arm, as there was more room especially with the door open.

Incidentally have you found the body number? A long metal strip below the commission plate; it will give you another reference number to check or confirm identity. (It will end in EAT or the like) This one is from a Spitfire, just as an example. Sometimes owners place them in non-standard positions, but usually on one side of the bulkhead or the other.

Aha! That's been reconditioned and overstamped - you were right, but now I understand why. If you look closely, you can just make out a 'G' to the extreme left, and to the right of the '5' is possibly a '9'? You may still be able to make out the number underneath; the stamped letters that I can see are smaller than that clear number.

Check again for me, Steven - it should start with letters, GA or GE and end with letters, usually HE - or are you just quoting the numbers and leaving off the letters? If so, apologies!

That's not the engine number, that's the head number. Engine number is on a ledge where the block meets the head, just go along the lower edge of the head and you'll see it stamped on a horizontal face.

I posted a few links in an earlier post on the same topic; which of these is the one that you require?

Door mirrors are a lot better - you can actually see what's behind you. I use the clip-on quarterlight mirrors so that they're right by my head. Wing mirrors are so far away you need a telescope!

Handy to know! I use a local upholsterer, he recovers Herald dashboard surrounds in vinyl for about £50 - apparrently it's not a difficult job for anyone in the trade. Another local guy - sadly now retired - did the one in the photo for me many moons ago and it still looks great (although the car is still not on the road!) I'm taking a TR7 seat to him later in the month for an invisible repair and again he says it will be a simple job.

Thanks Richard... it was so obvious that I thought I'd missed the point and was going to make an ar&e of myself... again....

My MK1 GT6 has a central box; I also managed to get hold of an old Bell one for the Herald too - not fitted yet but you never know....

That's probably some version of plastic chroming - I'm not the expert on it but I don't think it's paint.

Herald seats tilt... as do Vitesse... and GT6... or have I missed something fundamental behind the post?

Wouldn't it be amazing if we in the UK developed the technology to make our own? Perhaps, someday, in the future....

Different shape, Doug. I had thought they were the same and had to look. Pity, as there are plenty for sale at present, but no MK2 versions. I've tried a few chrome paints over the years, but they all end up just like dull silver.

I'd say you have a limited choices, if you can't find replacements. (Try Chic Doig - he may have some in the workshop.) Either put up with them as they are, or have them chromed; if not, and they're really spoiling the look of the car, then painting body colour or else black may not be the worst option?

True, Pete, and Steve - there should be a small one from the front of the block to the steering rack clamps; this is the one that everyone misses until they lift the engine and the entire car lifts too....

Even more recent that that, Dave!! Everyone who bought a Triumph immediately needed a rocker oil feed, remote oil cooler and an electric cooling fan. If you didn't have one - why not??? Didn't you realise the harm you were doing to your engine? All of the old codgers at my local shows drove their factory-standard Heralds day after day and never had any problems, and forty years later the same cars are still on the original engines.

Could be in Northern Ireland, or else greater Ireland; a lot of mainland cars end up over here and the records on some of mine said 'exported' for a year or two after purchase. I don't know if Ireland makes owners re-register their cars on import but up here we keep the UK number and work through Swansea.

Carnauba Wax.... one of the reasons I've got a duff shoulder. The car shines well, though... I'm wary of 'instant shine' products; closest I ever got was that liquid gloss finish from Autoglym and it really needs to be applied over a spotless and already polished car.

Liquid Wheels... we used to make our own in the 70s, you could buy kits everywhere.

Why do you want to see what's BEHIND you at that speed? All your troubles will come from in front...

Yes, as Pete and Mark have said already, everything will be right in front of you - but while it's out, replace the pivot pin on the release arm, and the gearbox mountings. The first is a job that's a real stitch in time and the second is probably overdue if the mountings are anyway original. If you're going to all that work you might as well cover all the small jobs that may someday go wrong... check the slave cylinder too while it's accessible. Don't forget the engine earth strap under the block if you're removing the engine!