Graham C

Ian, have you tried Ang classic car parts, angle drives £51. They are local to me and I have used them for odds and ends. Very friendly and helpful. Interestingly I checked their drives out recently as I need ed one which was shorter, alas it was not. However I thought the quality was good. Run by two classic nuts who have run Spitfires, etc and they have a good selection of stock. First time I went there to collect something got taken around their stores to see what they carry. Graham Ps interestingly Speedograph are also near me as well, also good for parts and very helpful. As a student was sack by them after 2 weeks of work experience over 40 years ago. Was going to use them to make a longer drive cable for me, but purchase one from someone on the forum.

Ian, Hopefully no offence was caused but the use of a scissor jack and the set up was clever. I have just completed the same task this weekend of lifting the gearbox to fit a new drive cable so it was fresh in my mind as I lifted from below. Must remember your way as it was easier than having to lift the car on a scissor jack to then get the trolley jack under it. Also you way has the benefit of better support. " I tend to find it difficult to leave things alone when I find bodged repairs", yes I agree these annoy me as well and I spend more time and cost attempting to do the right thing. Good luck with the repair once sort you can forget about it. Graham

Attempting to find the thread, I think I published it back in 2017 . Please bear with me. Graham

There is a seal around the yellow plug which can perish. I switch the bottom of the carb to a bowl without without a plug to over come this problem. I ordered more of the these bowls than I needed by mistake so could offer you two for a small charge. I did post an article on the forum about this modification some time ago, detailing how to do it and screws required. Graham

I would suggest going forward a visit to Aldi or Lidl next time they have a car trolley Jack on offer, they are very good and are a very useful tool. Also build up a stock of blocks of wood, 2x4s various lengths, even 6 inch lengths of wide flat timber 1inch thick to spread the jacking point. Help with jacking up gearboxes, engines. With the trolley Jack you can lift the gearbox up from below but would need blocks of wood on the Jack to take up the space of the chassis. Well welcome to the pleasures of owning a classic car, what starts with a simple job/question on the forum leads to a larger job. Have you thought of moving the Jack closes to the rope, you will increase the lifting of the gearbox? Graham

Excellent video John. Like how the bloke roped his child into the video. Graham

Hello Fin You may be better to go for new sills, all three - inner, outer and middle. Any shell will be worst or the same as what you have. Remember the majority of the welding of the sill is spot wielding and you can rent a 240v spot welder. The ticky part is the flange in the floor which may/ need to be replaced. This flange will need cutting out and at worst the whole length replacing. This work need a mig welding. Have you thought of learning how weld yourself, at the age of 18 you have plenty of time to learn a skill which you can take forward. If you learn how to weld you will be the person to go to. If interested in old cars then this will be an important skill. Graham

Replaced a pin that holds the gear lever in place as I snapped it off. Had to heat the gear lever housing to loosen the pin. Replaced it with shaft of a drill which I turned down using a drill and file. Replaced the horns as these were not working. Strange that horns fail when not used! Fitted the Speedo cable - very pleased, and it worked, too car for short test drive. Attempted to fit the gearbox tunnel but would not fit, this is due to having someone apply fibre glass to the inside to reinforce it. Only wanted a couple of mat thickness but the gentleman applied 1/4 to 3/8 inch. Last time I ground it down to fit, but not now. Seems like hard work. Anyway thinking of buying a moss plastic tunnel. Seen the recent posts. Anyone have any opinion on these tunnels - plastic or glass fibre? Graham

A teacher, a long cane? Where is Pete when you need a comment? My first Haynes manual 1984 is in bit in the boot of the spitfire, another on a shelf in the lounge. Numerous manuals, plus Ring binder BL WSM for spitfire. Also a CD, you never need another manual, for a GT6 which can't be read on any modern computer. Graham

Should fit easily, suggest you use some wet and dry to remove any crud/corrosion from the hole it fits in and the the gear level pivot ball. Apply a bit of grease as well. If the car has not run for sometime then you will come across this problem all the time. Spending time cleaning part will become important as well as applying grease. It sol make life easier next time you need to take things apart. I spray parts with WD 40 when cleaning thing, softens the age old crud, also washing in white spirit and paint brush also help. Sometime it is better to replace parts rather than refurb. Graham

John, the SB looks an amazing car, I always like seeing pictures of it. Any chance of a fitting an article for the magazine? Be good to have a technical article like we use to have in the past. Shame it got written off but the important thing you walked away, down to your engineering skills. Graham

As with all good repair manuals the refitting is the same as that of taking it apart. Basically it should slot back in, ensure the nylon bush on the side is squeezed in to the ball of the gear lever, and the spigot at the bottom of the level fits in the selector coupling. Before 're fitting I would take out the nylon bush, the spring behind it and give them and the hole a clean to get rid of any muck. Refit with new grease. If you plan on repairing the clutch cylinders then take pictures or make a drawing of the way round the seals are. It is amazing once the seals are off how quickly you forget and start questioning all known logic. Have you got any repair manuals for the car, if not then these are a good source of information. Graham

Yes Pete, it would be a good estimate. Rob, you drive cable arrived today. It has now gone into quarantine for 24 hrs. ☺️ Graham

You generally don't need to remove this drive so may be worth seeing if the thread has been stripped, if so you could glue a bolt in without taking out the gearbox. As Pete L advised me recently you can Jack the gearbox up quite someway to give you more room. Graham

Hello Rob Thank you for posting it, I have planned my work that the fitting of the cable would be the start of the next day's work. After yesterday's work and struggle of cutting the chassis with a dremel drill I am taking the day off and enjoying the weather and doing something else. May take Wednesday off and resume working on the GT6 and get it finished. Just wish I had thought the problem out before fitting the gearbox. Graham

Following Pete's advice, jacked up the gearbox. Got a bit more room, not enough for an grinder. So used a dremel and numerous fine cutting discs later managed to cut out a notch in the flange. Attempted to weld the flange edges just to give me reassurance of giving some strength. Turned out OK and happy, angle drive fitted and gearbox back in position, so a good day. Awaiting longer drive cable from Rob, next problem 'refitting tunnel, which I had lined with fibre glass to stiffen it. Thanks for your advice and help. Graham

Thank you all the advice on what appears to have been a long journey, I will try to Jack up the gearbox currently I have been using 2x2 's to lift the box up. Gav thanks for the information. The original aim was not to cut the chassis but seems I have to. Weather being kind, no government ban on being outside, hopefully I can finally get this problem sorted. Graham

Yes back to the angle drive and a couple of hours of taking the box out again. Cheers Graham

Latest update, yesterday got the car out of the garage and took the cable off the Speedo. Both ends have kindled nuts. Attempted to fit the cable to the gearbox drive, could not as there was not enough room for the bend in the cable. So only option is to take the gearbox out and cut the the flange of the chassis. Not sure why Pete you were able to fit the cable direct but the drive on the gearbox is only just above the top chassis rail and of course poi n ting downwards. I have also noticed that the thread on the drive on the gearbox that the cable attaches to spins round making it harder to screw the cable to it. I assume if I remove the drive the the oil in the gear box will escape? Hoping to get the gearbox out at next week end, as I can work on the driveway and over 2 metres from the path. Graham

The reason for the restriction on storage is the quality of containers, people are stupid. Cars are fitted with approved storage tanks so are deemed safe. When we had those strikes which affected petrol supply, a taxi driver stored petrol in a wheelie bin in his house, which then dissolved and contaminated the soil under his terrace house and those next door. Graham

Thank you for the ideas, may try when bored next time. Keep safe everyone. Graham

Talking about trusting people, last weekend the person next to me In the office had arranged with his mates to go to Butlin' s for an 80's 3 day event, very proud there would be 3000 to 6000 people. Note: football matches were being closed down that weekend. Guess what, came back into the office on Tuesday. Thursday night sent an E mail in to say he had high temp, difficulty breathing and interesting a random nose bleed. Also turns out on Thursday morning had not felt well but still came in. Fortunately I only had to go in on Friday when I was asked to change desks at 1.30. 5 days later I am still clear. You can't trust people. Graham

Work from home instead of the office, my manager has managed to set his computer same time message system to show when we are on or off line. So no wandering off to the garage for me. Graham

Polished grinder and rocker cover both very impressive. Interesting extension for the polished. Graham

I have always used grease on the rocker cover and on the gasket surface that contacts the engine. Enables you to remove the gasket/rocker cover more easily without damaging the gasket, if you are careful. Graham