ShaunW

Plast-Aid works well. It's the 2 part powder/solvent stuff. Starts off liquid, then goes maluable like putty and finally sets hard. Especially good on hard plastics that other glues don't grab very well or for fabricating small plastic items or snapped off bits.

I'm not sure those Cobra Super Slots are doing it any favours. And 'best ever' ought to have a matching factory hardtop? Triumph made great looking tops, personally I think the tr6 and the spit look better with them than without, certainly nicer than a raised soft top.

That's auctions I guess, I'm not sure if that firm do much high profile online marketing. Looks like someone got a good deal. Mind you there's probably another 20% on top in fees.

I'd go for the same colour as the car, especially in the footwells. I can't quite believe how 'trendy' the forum's getting with aux led lighting...you'll be having lights under the car next 😉

I don't know what the grading system is but I'd be very suprised if that stated with an A. And if it did that wouldn't say much for the grading system imo. Bearing in mind that sellers use the best pictures they can, it looks rough inside and out to me. And what you can see of the mechanicals looks long overdue some tlc too. At least an engine that rusty shows it doesn't chuck oil all over I suppose. I don't follow prices for these but my gut feeling would be to offer 1,900 and not budge an inch. Even then I'd be crossing my fingers....2nd thoughts I don't think I'd bother. I especially enjoyed the owner's request for "NO boy racers"... it's 1300 spit mate, I don't think they'll be fighting their way to Truro to have a go. 🙄

Thanks for the comments about AIV. I'm genuinely always happy to be corrected. The phrase 'payout in the event of total loss' is mentioned, doesn't that imply that you would be compensated for the loss you'd incurred? In legalese 'made whole'. Insurance doesn't usually provide you with a windfall and replacing your car 'like for like' must surely take the cost of doing that into consideration. I must say that I find it hard to differentiate between the words 'value' and 'price' in this context. An item's value is the same as what the item costs in the mind of this particular man on the Clapham omnibus. If I can buy apples for 20p how could they be valued at 30p?

Isn't it possible that values might have gone down generally? Two years ago even the pound notes in my bank were worth more than they are now, so I'd expect a frivolous luxury item to be similarly affected. I realise we've seen some rather ambitious asking prices for cars lately but it's less clear how much these cars are actually realising.

I think not having working locks would be an issue for the insurance company... If they ever found out, and pointless as they are. I have to agree about the headphones. You need all 5 senses in a classic and at any given time several of them will be making you concerned. It does actually make sense to become intimate with every little (normal) noise, vibration or smell your car has, and then when there a difference you can spot it quickly rather than continuing in blissful ignorance until it stops you.

Pardon? I can't hear you over the noise from your exhaust. 😆 I've got a semi-sport on my Spit6 and it's a bit Carlos Fandango tbh. I'm embarrassed letting it tick over for 10mins on the drive when I'm looking for leaks etc, and equally embarrassed at the lights when I set off slower than a smart car and louder than a Lamborghini. I've concluded an understated purr and a surprising whoosh would more classy. It's sort of the same idea French women use. They'll say they're 10 yrs older than they are, so that people say how good they look. I'd like people to think it's surprisingly quick for something that sounds so refined, rather than how slow it is for something so loud.

I can't agree about 'top hat' covers. I got one and the elastics went saggy after a month and it blows up like a parachute. And being small it's tricky to get it lashed down properly with ropes. I can't quite decide whether it's best to have a full cover or just treat it like you did when they were new, ie no cover and drop the windows (or roof) on any good day for doing the washing, to keep it aired. Trapped damp does far more harm than sometimes getting wet and drying out. If it's not going to be used, I smear my shiny bits with grease (oo er missus) and spray some chain lube on the bits I don't want surface rust, like track rods, half shafts etc. Great advice about (not) parking on grass AndyTV8. I suppose you could park it on a tarp? Parking under trees has its own problems too at any time of year.

I've only got a couple of pics because my son's just sent me them from a scrapyard he's been to today. I'm not sure where, but he works at John Newman Bodyworks nr Bedford so probably not far from there. Govt site says it's not been taxed since 1985!...but that rear bumper has lasted well if that's the case. Half decent hardtop too. Anyway if she was ever yours, this is where she's hiding.

Thanks Pete. Everyday's a school day.

I don't know about cars but on bikes, backfiring is usually a leaky exhaust, or most often not enough baffles on aftermarket exhausts. You only get a backfire in the presence of oxygen, it's getting in somehow. Can someone explain to me why a lean mixture is often suggested? I'd have thought unburnt fuel was the issue and too rich would be the cause...unless being too lean means it doesn't combust properly.

Running out of petrol would have been an inconvenience, instead we've had the actual doomsday scenario of petrol not running out. For decades now I've single-handedly tried to use all of the remaining oil and petrol, to try and save the planet.😉

... Sorry I just read you've got a tame mechanic, ignore that but about driving around a few. Hood fit looks as good as it gets. The gap is for ventilation, to help dry it out when it leaks! Tbf they're more watertight than they look unless you get a lot of rain at a certain angle. I had a newish one in early 80s, it fitted much like yours, and I don't remember having to cover it up when it rained. If on doubt leave an old towel at the door bottom, it'll only be a few drips rather than gallons.

The oil light is just like on a modern car. It comes on when you turn the ignition (just to show the bulb is working) but should go out asap once it's running. If it comes on with the engine running pull over as soon as is safe and switch off. I think if you had serious oil pressure issues you'd have found out about it on that 200ml drive. The noise might just be the exhaust rattling against the chassis. It's pretty narrow down there and it's not uncommon. Probably a nice cheap missing exhaust bracket. What I'd suggest if you're just starting your apprenticeship is to find a garage to give it a good look over. Maybe drive round half a dozen (in your regular car), pop in for a chat about doing an inspection and see who looks genuinely interested. There's enough good mechanics out there who have an interest in cars of all ages who'd be glad to do something apart from change brake pads on yet another modern car. Don't commit to anything big before you've run it past some of the experienced guys on here obviously. I've got a feeling someone will be mentioning a toolbox in his letter to Santa this year? 😉

Just make sure your plates are ready for a No Deal....https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/no-deal-brexit-number-plates/ But having read the article you can just get a GB sticker rather than ditching your 'period' EU plates if you don't want to.

And when you've got your list, that's when you find out the POs have used a breaker bar to wind in 'near enough' bolts with 'close enough' thread gauges. Or instead of being a threaded hole its just a hole, with a nut waxoiled to the back, the likes of which have never been seen by mankind before or since. I'm not convinced any two bolts are the same on mine.

Good for you Watson. Sometimes you've just got to go for what you fancy, and if it ends up costing a few quid more than you thought in fixes (and it will) then so what, it's only money. I hope you enjoy it. Congrats on the 200mls. I drove mine back 220mls and managed 215 of them before the rear wheel bearings collapsed. So make sure she gets a good coat of looking at before trying 200 again. But job done by the sounds of it, well done.

The issue with some polishes is durability. It's not a job I fancy doing very often. I've been a fan of Mer for years. 500ml is about 8 quid and I've used it so infrequently the one I bought about 10yrs ago is still about 1/3 full. As usual the downside is white deposits in awkward areas, but a nicely chewed matchstick sorts it out around your badges etc.

Yep that's the problem. One thing for certain though is just like all insurance, the cost of these isolated incidents is more then covered by all the people who subscribe and never use them. I've had AA cover for donkey's years (30?) primarily so I'm reassured when my wife does long journeys on her own, but apart from using them for that one rather cheeky recovery, and one other 5 miler from a guy passing and going my way anyway, we've never needed them. In fact I suspect that because I've told that story more than once in the last 30 years I've probably encouraged a couple of new members and the whole incident has earned them a profit. When it comes to spares it depends on the guy they send, as far as I know (happy to be corrected) they're basically self employed and whatever they supply or sell is done on their own initiative. I suspect their contract will AA though would prevent them from fitting non std parts which might impact on the AAs reputation amongst those not as reasonable as we are when they fail 10miles down the road.

Thread topics now appear to feature.. New PM/Grease nipples. I didn't even know he had a nickname.

Fair enough about the help Doug. I've had recoveries from not far away too tbh. My most memorable was breaking down a mile from home went I was 20ish and the AA saying I could be taken home or could complete my journey. So I had a free 200mile ride in a low loader to my parents place, which is where I was going, and dad fixed it. Saved on petrol, arrived in comfort and saved on a repair bill. Result.

In full view of neighbours who might have a car and a bit of rope?.... And no mates with a car and rope? Breaking down isn't any reason to worry about what the neighbours think..... Esp if they're the type you can't call on for a bit of help. MOT doesn't check the clips on the UJ's as far as I know.

Cheap ones are often perfectly fine for quick jobs but I wouldn't want to run one for long. Stay mindful of the recommended duty cycle for the sake of the bearings and motor. However, I'd buy a cheap lump hammer, but there's something unnervingly brutal about an angle grinder doing a billion rpm a foot from my chest that makes me wonder about the wisdom of saving a few quid. Am I a chicken? .... maybe, but a chicken with a full set of limbs, digits and eyes. You pays yer money, you wears the appropriate amount of safety gear.