John Bonnett
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Posts posted by John Bonnett
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I've seen the announcement in The Courier but cannot, despite a Google search can find anything about the event.
I might well be up for it and just wondered if anyone has more information and whether some of us might like to go as a group. How about it Neil?
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Many electrical faults are due to poor earthing and in this case it might be worth checking the earth on the rear lights.
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Hi .I dont know if you two have been on the Manchester TSSC web site. Go have a look at the video for rebuilding seats. Will open your eyes.
Thank you Alan; very useful and as you say, illuminating.
rgds
John
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Hi John, spent the day straightening and welding the seat frames, all done now thankfully. Quote request sent to Park Lane for seat kits. We do seem to be enjoying the same work items in parallel which is good fun. I'm about three months off finishing the car so hopefully get her to a Triumph meet in the summer months.
Sounds good Roy. We are booked for Santa Pod and the Silverstone Classic so if it fits in with your plans hope to meet then. I'm really looking forward to actually meeting many of my virtual friends from the world of Triumphs.
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John, I know what you mean ref dismantling the seats, messy indeed. I took care as covers are vg so could be useful to someone else. Unfortunately I discovered the drivers upright frame is badly twisted and both seats have weld stress fractures. So that's today's job to fix them. I'll order from park lane too, seem to get lots of positive reviews. Roy
It's quite interesting Roy that we seem to be moving along parallel to each other. First the wiring and now the seats. I'm really looking forward to seeing your car when it's finished. It will be awesome.
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John, I got my foams from Park Lane and the instructions were excellent. I've mentioned it before on here, ! put my covers through the washing machine and the came out very well. Use cable ties instead of hog rings, much easier and out of sight.
Thank you Doug. Yes i was going to use cable ties; much easier and best of all, I have them.
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Thanks for the info chaps.
John, I'd be interested to hear how you get on rebuilding your seats.
I'll certainly keep you posted Roy. The kit is coming from Owen at Park Lane and so all should be well. His stuff is always excellent and accompanied by comprehensive fitting instructions.
Stripping down the seats was a horrible job. The powdery foam and damp covers. The whole lot went into a dustbin liner. In addition to the covers and foams I've also ordered the hardboard side pieces which come with the clips. I just could not bring myself to try to recover anything from the old seats.
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I too have a pair of 1500 seat frames just like yours and on Monday I'm hoping to receive a set of foams and covers to refurbish them. These will be uncharted waters for me' I've never done any upholstery before but I'm anxious to give it a go.
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no just 51 years at Commer Cars he was there when a V2 blew the brand new canteen to bits ,, guess the aimer got the sack missed london by 30 miles
Blimey Pete, that was a close call. Isn't it nice that back in those days a job was for life. People used the buses, walked or cycled to work and the family all lived close by. Not all bad was it?
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brick under the pedal and a light size 10 !!!!!
Its what my Dad said that was what I needed
pete
Did he by any chance work for the Ministry of No Fun Pete?
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I doubt it is the rods, it seems to be the mere fact the crank throw is too great.
There are some things to be careful about, mostly bearing quality and careful balance and build, all of which you have covered. But ultimately if you use really decent oil and are careful with the revs you have a fighting chance!
That's good to know Clive. I have no doubt about the quality of the build this time but I am going to heed your warning. Any recommendations on where to source a rev limiter?
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That may have been a good (safe) thing? tread carefully as you approach the 6000rpm mark is all I can say. Even on a fully balanced/blueprinted engine. You really do not want that T shirt!
Quite right Clive. If this engine goes the same way as the first I shall throw in the towel and fit a Zetec. In your opinion, are the rods the weak link? Perhaps I should have had an all steel engine or perhaps gone 1300. But the die is cast and we'll see how it works out.
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The MX5 hit its rev limiter at that sort of figure, again at Goodwood at exactly the same point I killed the 1500 big ends. That was WELL into the red on a fizzy little jap engine, I think the 1500 had enough at a little over 6K. Not sure where I would set it, maybe 6 1/4? Even that may be risky!
(Goodwood is a lovely tack, but coming out of the chicane it is SO hard to remember to change gear early enough to save the engine)
It will be interesting to see where it develops peak power Clive. The last cam (TR5) ran out at five thousand but there may have been other factors apart from the cam that contributed.
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Time to invest in a rev-limiter?
Just a thought...(having succumbed myself at Goodwood with predictable results)
Good thought Clive. Set to 8?
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Liking the sound of the engine being ready......Just wish they painters would hurry up, I want to see/hear the car on the road, all "finished"
Have I mentioned I get impatient?
Clive you and me both. Impatience is my biggest battle I have with myself.
Yes the engine sounds very promising. The builder is going to collect the car once I've installed the engine and trailer it back to his workshop where it will be run in on his rolling road. He sounded very happy with the engine build and if it fits in he is going to drive it up Wiscombe at one of the events in the Summer. He holds the Class record up there so it will be interesting to see what my car can achieve with a good pedaller at the wheel.
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John, I know I have said this before, but this is still my favourite thread on the forum. Excellent build, I look forward to seeing the gt4 in her new paint.
Bw
Aaron
Thank you Aaron, that's really kind of you. It has been a long time in limbo but completion does look to be within reach now and I have to admit to being quite excited myself about seeing it painted in French Blue. I'm particularly with the rear quarter panels and the way one curve flows into another.As I mentioned before, the painter/panel beater is an absolute craftsman and he is, I believe, taking the car to another level and if I were in any doubt before, I am now totally convinced that painting was absolutely the right decision.
Good news on the engine which is now rebuilt and waiting for me to collect. So, all in all; a very good week
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I forgot to say that following Alan C's lead I'm going to fit drain tubes to the bottom corners of the tail gate aperture. This is a real water trap and if anywhere needs a drain this does. I've machined up these fittings which are going to be welded in and ground flush. Push on plastic pipes will take the water outside.
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More progress on the shell.
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My GT6 ran a 3.27 diff with overdrive and it pulled it easily. A 3.27 diif was a standard fitment on non-overdrive cars so it was designed for it and should be able to cope in all conditions..
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GT4A nails if for me, and if people don't understand it, they can pass an educational hour or two improving their minds with a good marque history. It would be even stranger to call it a six when it plainly is not. It is what it is, a fantastic one-off, which is neither a racing ADU Spit, nor a GT6. (And I still like A for alligretta!)
Best wishes
Steve
I like it too Steve. You mentioned it way back I remember.
Well, at last progress is being made on the body and this fills me with relief and hope that we will be able to enjoy all the planned events in the car this Summer. I paid a visit to the panel beaters/paint shop today to see for myself how they are getting on.
I have always considered that apart from the bonnet (which I didn't make) the roof is the best panel on the car and pretty much ready for paint. How wrong I was. It was a big surprise and quite shocking to see how much filler was needed to cover the lows. These were invisible to my untrained eye but obvious to the painter. I didn't feel quite so bad however when I saw that the bonnet had been given its fair share of filler too.
One thing the panel beater has also been able to do is to improve the panels gaps and by clever adjustment make the bonnet curves flow into the doors and the doors into the rear quarters; all very impressive. He is a master of his art and I'm very lucky to have his services. Here are a few pictures. More as it happens.
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lips are sealed.
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GT4 Lightweight it is then. It always sounded right to me but I was interested to hear other people's opinions.
However, for the purpose of being eligible to take part in the 50th anniversary celebrations this year, I hope we can agree that it is a GT6 and no mention of the word SPECIAL
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Thank you for your replies chaps; really appreciated.
rgds
John
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Calling my car a GT4 Lightweight has and probably is causing some confusion in certain quarters because, of course, Triumph never made such a model. I decided on the name, inspired by the lightweight E Types. The 4 comes from it having a four cylinder Spitfire engine but at the end of the day, it is a GT6 in every respect except for the engine, subtle styling differences and the aluminium panelling. Underneath the aluminium panels is the same steel frame that underpins all GT6s and all the running gear is GT6 as well. So, perhaps the time has come to re-name it, quite simply as a GT6.
Aluminium bodied GT4
in My Triumph Restoration Project
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The long awaited day has arrived. The car is painted. I have to say I'm absolutely delighted with it and all the painter has done. Here are a couple of pictures.
