dougbgt6

I once snapped a crank in my daily driver, an old mini. At that time you could get an exchange crank for half the price of a new one, but the old one had to be in fair condition and one piece. So I went to the dump and found an up ended mini engine, for some reason the sump was off and the endcaps on the mains and big ends were off. All I had to do was lift it out, the bearings were red rusty but it would do for the exchange. Paid £5, took it home and then thought "Better clean it up!" Having done that it didn't look too bad so mic'd it up and it was OK, certainly within spec. Reassembled the engine and the car ran another 5 years and it wasn't the crank that did for it in the end, side swiped on a roundabout. Doug

And DON'T touch the dial! Greasy fingerprints can not be got rid off, where as decals can easily transfer to your hands. Don't ask me how I know. Doug

Caroline, Your nearest TSSC Local Area is Norfolk, Area Organisers are Paul and Christina Girling phone 07584 000442 I'm sure they will be able to give you advice on reputable people in your area. You are welcome to go to TSSC meetings if you want, you don't have to be a member. I understand Norfolk have "roaming" meetings, I'm not sure where the next one is, but it will be on the 1st Thursday of the month. The Triumph Sports Six Club - Areas (tssc.org.uk) (20+) TSSC Norfolk | Facebook Doug

They can make my locks work?!! They're damn clever these Chinese, we've got no chance. Doug

I got a couple of A4 sheets of assorted stick on transfers from China, a couple of quid and free postage curtesy of the Chinese government. They work very well, but are probably listening and monitoring, best to use lead based paint so they can't transmit. Doug

John, Try some of the other numbers, Trudi perhaps? I think she's in the office every day, she'll tell you who's about at HQ. Doug

M. I used SilentCoat sound and heat deadening inside the tunnel, buy a pack on Fleabay. Comes with a sticky side, which is STICKY! I also put it on the bulkhead which seals holes through to the engine bay. Having bought far too much I did the floor and door panels. I can't say I noticed much difference, but on the tunnel and bulk head, yes! Here is one of many Silent Coat Sound Deadening 2mm Compact 10 Sheets Pack Car Van Damping Mat | eBay Doug

For the first 25 years I lived here I took both my Triumph and whichever modern I had to Prince Brothers for MOTs. Always the same "Well phone you when it's done" Always the same, at 1/4 hour before closing I'd phone them "Is it done?" "Oh, yeh" 25 years, 50 MOTs, not once did they phone me back! Is this a record? Doug Addenda: On the 51st MOT they did phone back! I knew instantly something was wrong, Old Dave, once a Triumph apprentice, had retired! Son-of-Dave told me my Triumph had failed because the windscreen washer didn't work. I now go to King brothers (a cut above Prince brothers! ) who know that GT6s have handraulic windscreen wiper mechanisms.

As I said, I really wished I'd kept them, this is always the response, but I still believe it. Doug

My car was 5 years old in 1978 when I bought it. Shortly after it broke a vertical link. I replaced both trunnions and VLs, the trunnions were replaced again 6 years ago, having been pronounced "slack" on an MOT advisory. I noticed the trunnions had inserts in the base, as did the ones that came off. However, I'm certain the originals had a solid base, I wish I'd kept them as many are surprised and doubtful when I tell this. Doug

Yes! Go for it. £5k is a good price these days. Doug

I add my voice to Yorkshire Pete, PLEASE change both sides! I When it happened to me I took both sides apart and the unbroken side was showing all the symptoms of imminent failure. The new trunnions have an insert in the base and are prone to leak the oil. Most seal the bottom of the trunnions with some epoxy. Doug

Yes I've had the same ball joint splitter for 40 years! Probably used it 3 or 4 times, works fine but a bit bent now! It's most like this one from Halfords, but I wouldn't pay £49.99 for it! MUCH cheaper on Fleabay £10 -£20. Here's one from Fleabay £9.97 From memory I think there may be an issue squeezing the tool into position so the shallower bottom lever may be better. Doug

Hi James, mine's OK, but anyone interested should take a look at this. 300-002 Spitfire Tunnel Cover Kit | Owen Lloyd (parklaneclassics.com) Doug

Visiting the club shop my bruv bought he last two rattle cans of Haiti Blue on display. They were from two different suppliers, but was advised they would match. They didn't. The not so good match he used under the carpet. Doug

I was about to say that! Although best to ensure the local group will actually be bringing their cars. 9 day to next meeting, plenty of time to change the wheel bearing, sort the choke, repair gearchange linkage, bolt down the passenger seat and sort the tunnel carpet. Better get started. Doug

Hi Paul, I'd love to see where you're going to mount it and how you hide the cables. Does it come with an additional rear camera? Doug

Hi GTJ, Triumph GT6 mk3 has famously only a 4.5" ground clearance on the lowest point of the exhaust. I have a long and boring story regarding speed bums at my daughter's wedding. Here are some regular rear ends. I think you're a bit high on the driver's side? Doug

A lot of people fit the pancake filters, very pretty, but not so good, you need cold air from the grill, not hot air from the engine bay. Don't be tempted to the dark side! Doug

There's an American one about the finding and recovering of the cars, nothing about what they do to them, people don't care about that! This guy said "Yeh, it's down buy the lake" They go through the swamp in a pickup to the lake, the car is down an incline by the lake. Pickup pulls the car up the incline, gets stuck. They go to get another pickup for the first pickup. CUT to another story, then back to the stuck pickup. It was riveting stuff. Doug

If it's recessed it will have a sticky out tab on the back, bulk head end, this does nothing but identify it as a recessed head gasket. Doug

I keep the old points in a plastic bag together with a small screwdriver, fixing screw and capacitor all under the passenger seat. It's been there 8 years. Doug

The Blue Vitesse in my group picture below is currently for sale, John's bought a Stag and the Vitesse has to go. Ad should be in the Courier, whenever it arrives. Not sure if it's one owner, but it's been well looked after. John earns money from fettling other people's Triumphs. Doug

I got similar for my GT6 the lip is at the front and on the bottom, it's a nuisance! I contemplated grinding it off, but I think the tunnel would loose rigidity. I just doubled up the seal, which in the end was draught excluder tape. The fixing kit is a waste of money, the seal is too shallow and I've already got the strange washers from the original cover. I cut a round hole to access the gearbox oil and got a round plastic bung off Ebay. I lined the tunnel interior with SilientCoat to reduce heat and sound. Got it all back together and thought "Better try the gearbox access" . Worked fine, but no additional oil needed, I've got the only non-leaking Triumph gearbox ever built! Doug

RJ, Get a can of Easy Start and squirt some in the carbs. If spark, timing and compression are OK it should fire and these are not the cause. I suspect choke from what you've said. Other manufacturer's products are available, in Australia it's called "Start Ya Bastard!" Doug