Are cars less characterful than they used to be?
Discussion
QBee said:
I'll be collecting the TVR on Saturday by the sound of it, and if the fuelling is not too rich (which would involve a remap first) I will be driving it from collection onwards. I need to do 1000 miles running in, in just 10 days, so I am busdy working out "essential business trips" 
. Well that's what I am telling the domestic goddess.
Then it's the TVR Car Club track day on the 21st at Cadwell Park. There will be TVRs there from the 1960s to to last cars in 2006, so quite interesting. Free entry to watch, and my car is quite recognisable, so if you come along do come and say hello.
That is stunning - enjoy Cadwell. . Well that's what I am telling the domestic goddess.Then it's the TVR Car Club track day on the 21st at Cadwell Park. There will be TVRs there from the 1960s to to last cars in 2006, so quite interesting. Free entry to watch, and my car is quite recognisable, so if you come along do come and say hello.
Turbobanana said:
5.5J steelies...Agree they look bigger in pics. Look good in white, too. Mine is apparently Wedgewood Blue, according to the tin of paint that came with it. Not an original GT6 / Spitfire colour, but at least from the BLMC stable at the time.
FHCNICK said:
Turbobanana said:
5.5J steelies...Agree they look bigger in pics. Look good in white, too. Mine is apparently Wedgewood Blue, according to the tin of paint that came with it. Not an original GT6 / Spitfire colour, but at least from the BLMC stable at the time.
niva441 said:
Turbobanana said:
Duke Caboom said:
Low gearbox oil can stop the overdrive working, I think. Could be an easy fix. Also I think there is an inhibitor switch which you may disturb fiddling with the wiring.
Its been over 30 years since i had my last overdrive car, so maybe I've miss remembered.
Thanks Duke, another simple thing to check.Its been over 30 years since i had my last overdrive car, so maybe I've miss remembered.
Yertis said:
Hey TB post some more pics when you get it back on the 5.5s
I need to buy some first!In fairness, it has one on at the moment. The best of the 5 spares it came with is a 5.5 and that's currently on because although I had the valve on the slot-mags fixed yesterday I haven't got round to putting wheel back on the car yet. New wheel nuts arrived courtesy of Rimmer Bros, so I used it to commute this morning and it's in the works car park now with 3 slot-mags and 1 steelie, for a proper mismatched look that seemed common in the 70s but not so much nowadays. Big shout out to Fast Fit in Kingston, MK, who replaced the valve and didn't charge me a penny!
Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to look at overdrive relays and gearbox oil levels. I've decided that the interior ought to be priority over the exterior aesthetics, because although I don't like the slot-mags they are functional and the tyres are good. The crumbling seats need changing and I have some sound deadening material I bough off Amazon to try and make it a bit less racecar and more refined.
Onward...
Turbobanana said:
Yertis said:
Hey TB post some more pics when you get it back on the 5.5s
I need to buy some first!In fairness, it has one on at the moment. The best of the 5 spares it came with is a 5.5 and that's currently on because although I had the valve on the slot-mags fixed yesterday I haven't got round to putting wheel back on the car yet. New wheel nuts arrived courtesy of Rimmer Bros, so I used it to commute this morning and it's in the works car park now with 3 slot-mags and 1 steelie, for a proper mismatched look that seemed common in the 70s but not so much nowadays. Big shout out to Fast Fit in Kingston, MK, who replaced the valve and didn't charge me a penny!
Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to look at overdrive relays and gearbox oil levels. I've decided that the interior ought to be priority over the exterior aesthetics, because although I don't like the slot-mags they are functional and the tyres are good. The crumbling seats need changing and I have some sound deadening material I bough off Amazon to try and make it a bit less racecar and more refined.
Onward...
Keep up the good work!
P5BNij said:
This car needs its own Readers wives thread
Keep up the good work!
Not sure Mrs Banana would be up for that...Keep up the good work!
...anyhoo, here is a picture of what it might look like on 5.5s (at least a quarter of what it might look like, given it only has one on at the moment). Note the overspray: there is enough of this to cover one of the smaller central African republics and I do wonder whether the person painting it had ever heard of the term "masking". It's everywhere: under the bonnet, on the dash, seats, instruments, fuel tank etc.
That said, and overdrive issues notwithstanding, the "restoration" seemed to focus on the mechanical side because it drives well enough, the chassis looks clean and shiny and all the suspension components look new.
Onward...
Turbobanana said:
P5BNij said:
This car needs its own Readers wives thread
Keep up the good work!
Not sure Mrs Banana would be up for that...Keep up the good work!
...anyhoo, here is a picture of what it might look like on 5.5s (at least a quarter of what it might look like, given it only has one on at the moment). Note the overspray: there is enough of this to cover one of the smaller central African republics and I do wonder whether the person painting it had ever heard of the term "masking". It's everywhere: under the bonnet, on the dash, seats, instruments, fuel tank etc.
That said, and overdrive issues notwithstanding, the "restoration" seemed to focus on the mechanical side because it drives well enough, the chassis looks clean and shiny and all the suspension components look new.
Onward...
As for the overspray on the interior surfaces, sugar soap is good for shifting such things, using a soft-ish washing up scourer, it worked well on the black vinyl covering the top and bottom dash rails in some of the Mini Coopers I've owned. It's very good for cleaning up vinyl headlinings too
P5BNij said:
That's lovely and the steelies really suit it - are they the same size as used on TR4s and 5s?
As for the overspray on the interior surfaces, sugar soap is good for shifting such things, using a soft-ish washing up scourer, it worked well on the black vinyl covering the top and bottom dash rails in some of the Mini Coopers I've owned. It's very good for cleaning up vinyl headlinings too
Thans Nij, good tip with the sugar soap. As for the overspray on the interior surfaces, sugar soap is good for shifting such things, using a soft-ish washing up scourer, it worked well on the black vinyl covering the top and bottom dash rails in some of the Mini Coopers I've owned. It's very good for cleaning up vinyl headlinings too
The wheels are only 13": TR4 / 5 etc used 15" I think. Odd PCD as well, 4x95.25, which means the 5.5J wheels were popular with FF1600 racers so many used ones have had an "interesting" life.
Turbobanana said:
P5BNij said:
That's lovely and the steelies really suit it - are they the same size as used on TR4s and 5s?
As for the overspray on the interior surfaces, sugar soap is good for shifting such things, using a soft-ish washing up scourer, it worked well on the black vinyl covering the top and bottom dash rails in some of the Mini Coopers I've owned. It's very good for cleaning up vinyl headlinings too
Thans Nij, good tip with the sugar soap. As for the overspray on the interior surfaces, sugar soap is good for shifting such things, using a soft-ish washing up scourer, it worked well on the black vinyl covering the top and bottom dash rails in some of the Mini Coopers I've owned. It's very good for cleaning up vinyl headlinings too
The wheels are only 13": TR4 / 5 etc used 15" I think. Odd PCD as well, 4x95.25, which means the 5.5J wheels were popular with FF1600 racers so many used ones have had an "interesting" life.
I had some Dunlop Steelies on my first car, a 1963 Triumph Herald 1200 convertible, much wider than the standard wheels with 175 tyres IIRC. Ruined the ride unsurprisingly but look super cool to my eyes back then. The car was £125 and tpft insurance for a newly qualified 17-year-old in West London was £35. Times have changed.
Edited by rovermorris999 on Saturday 10th September 07:30
Turbobanana said:
Not sure Mrs Banana would be up for that...
...anyhoo, here is a picture of what it might look like on 5.5s (at least a quarter of what it might look like, given it only has one on at the moment). Note the overspray: there is enough of this to cover one of the smaller central African republics and I do wonder whether the person painting it had ever heard of the term "masking". It's everywhere: under the bonnet, on the dash, seats, instruments, fuel tank etc.
That said, and overdrive issues notwithstanding, the "restoration" seemed to focus on the mechanical side because it drives well enough, the chassis looks clean and shiny and all the suspension components look new.
Onward...
That looks lovely - I always loved the shape of the GT6. ...anyhoo, here is a picture of what it might look like on 5.5s (at least a quarter of what it might look like, given it only has one on at the moment). Note the overspray: there is enough of this to cover one of the smaller central African republics and I do wonder whether the person painting it had ever heard of the term "masking". It's everywhere: under the bonnet, on the dash, seats, instruments, fuel tank etc.
That said, and overdrive issues notwithstanding, the "restoration" seemed to focus on the mechanical side because it drives well enough, the chassis looks clean and shiny and all the suspension components look new.
Onward...
Good luck getting it how you want it.
So, the weekend...
I replaced the overdrive relay with a much nicer-looking, NOS shiny one but it's made no difference sadly. The overdrive still fails to proceed and I have no real means of accessing the gearbox oil plug other than removing the legendary paper transmission tunnel cover, so I'll resign myself to leaving that to a specialist. In any event - knowing my luck - it'll be more that just an oil change / top-up and will probably need a new solenoid or OD unit rebuild.
I spent some time yesterday applying Dodo Mat sound deadening. I bought some sheets off Amazon and applied them under the bonnet, under the driver and passenger footwell mats and in the boot. I have to say it's made quite a difference: the car feels a little more civilised, especially as I also tightened the nearside bonnet locator pin to stop it rattling. I suspect when new these were quite a refined car, what with a smooth straight six and the fixed roof, but mine felt racecar raw. It now feels more like I expected it to, and hopefully the overdrive being reinstated will allow it to cruise more quietly.
The latest frustration is the driver's window regulator: it was off its runners when I bought the car, so the window wound up OK but wouldn't drop properly. I removed the door card a couple of weeks ago and managed to re-engage the rollers with their track (as well as reconnect the bent bits of wire that Triumph considered acceptable for the door release mechanism...) but now the glass has become detached from the frame itself. Sigh...
On a positive note, DVLA processed my cherished transfer within a week and I now have a lovely set of black acrylic plates with the ribbed silver numbers on the car, with my private plate of course. It looks great - photos to follow. Also, I did the school run on Friday and picked up my 10-year-old. His mates loved the car and urged me to rev it in the car park, giggling at the creamy six-pot howl from the "cool little car" that was probably built before most of their parents were even born.
Onward...
I replaced the overdrive relay with a much nicer-looking, NOS shiny one but it's made no difference sadly. The overdrive still fails to proceed and I have no real means of accessing the gearbox oil plug other than removing the legendary paper transmission tunnel cover, so I'll resign myself to leaving that to a specialist. In any event - knowing my luck - it'll be more that just an oil change / top-up and will probably need a new solenoid or OD unit rebuild.
I spent some time yesterday applying Dodo Mat sound deadening. I bought some sheets off Amazon and applied them under the bonnet, under the driver and passenger footwell mats and in the boot. I have to say it's made quite a difference: the car feels a little more civilised, especially as I also tightened the nearside bonnet locator pin to stop it rattling. I suspect when new these were quite a refined car, what with a smooth straight six and the fixed roof, but mine felt racecar raw. It now feels more like I expected it to, and hopefully the overdrive being reinstated will allow it to cruise more quietly.
The latest frustration is the driver's window regulator: it was off its runners when I bought the car, so the window wound up OK but wouldn't drop properly. I removed the door card a couple of weeks ago and managed to re-engage the rollers with their track (as well as reconnect the bent bits of wire that Triumph considered acceptable for the door release mechanism...) but now the glass has become detached from the frame itself. Sigh...
On a positive note, DVLA processed my cherished transfer within a week and I now have a lovely set of black acrylic plates with the ribbed silver numbers on the car, with my private plate of course. It looks great - photos to follow. Also, I did the school run on Friday and picked up my 10-year-old. His mates loved the car and urged me to rev it in the car park, giggling at the creamy six-pot howl from the "cool little car" that was probably built before most of their parents were even born.
Onward...
Fixing that door glass into its channel properly will be a caper 
Fortunately I never had to do it on the GT but on TR it's a complete ball-ache involving rubber strips, evo-stick, one yard woodworking cramps, skinned knuckles and much swearing. That said, you might be able to do it with taking the whole lot apart. Good luck.
I still reckon the overdrive will be the solenoid. If it was the inhibitors (a good observation by the way) you'd get no indication it was even trying to work.
Fortunately I never had to do it on the GT but on TR it's a complete ball-ache involving rubber strips, evo-stick, one yard woodworking cramps, skinned knuckles and much swearing. That said, you might be able to do it with taking the whole lot apart. Good luck.I still reckon the overdrive will be the solenoid. If it was the inhibitors (a good observation by the way) you'd get no indication it was even trying to work.
Yertis said:
Fixing that door glass into its channel properly will be a caper Fortunately I never had to do it on the GT but on TR it's a complete ball-ache involving rubber strips, evo-stick, one yard woodworking cramps, skinned knuckles and much swearing. That said, you might be able to do it with taking the whole lot apart. Good luck.
I still reckon the overdrive will be the solenoid. If it was the inhibitors (a good observation by the way) you'd get no indication it was even trying to work.
Yes, I'm expecting the window regulator to be, umm...challenging, based on my experience of the door lock etc. Also, cleaning it all will be a nightmare as it's caked in grease and crud from years of use. But... there is so much heat soak into the cabin that I seem to be constantly driving it with the window open. Also, my commute ends with a card swipe into the work car park, so I need the window down anyway. If it rains, I can raise it (it's the going down that's the problem). Fortunately I never had to do it on the GT but on TR it's a complete ball-ache involving rubber strips, evo-stick, one yard woodworking cramps, skinned knuckles and much swearing. That said, you might be able to do it with taking the whole lot apart. Good luck.I still reckon the overdrive will be the solenoid. If it was the inhibitors (a good observation by the way) you'd get no indication it was even trying to work.
Overdrive solenoid will be investigated, but not by me: #beyondmylimits. An investment for another day will be a plastic / GRP transmission tunnel, insulated on the inside, properly sealed and fitted and with a hatch cut into it for accessing the gearbox oil filler.
Onward...
You haven't experienced heat soak until you have driven my TVR Chimaera on a warm day.
4.6 litre V8 heater to the left of your legs is a thing of considerable discomfort.
I always go everywhere with the windows open, and it was even too hot yesterday with the roof off.
The TVR Cerbera, with the same Ford Mustang Borg Warner T5 gearbox, is even worse - the gear lever can burn the skin off your hands as it connects directly to the gearbox.
4.6 litre V8 heater to the left of your legs is a thing of considerable discomfort.
I always go everywhere with the windows open, and it was even too hot yesterday with the roof off.
The TVR Cerbera, with the same Ford Mustang Borg Warner T5 gearbox, is even worse - the gear lever can burn the skin off your hands as it connects directly to the gearbox.
QBee said:
You haven't experienced heat soak until you have driven my TVR Chimaera on a warm day.
4.6 litre V8 heater to the left of your legs is a thing of considerable discomfort.
I always go everywhere with the windows open, and it was even too hot yesterday with the roof off.
The TVR Cerbera, with the same Ford Mustang Borg Warner T5 gearbox, is even worse - the gear lever can burn the skin off your hands as it connects directly to the gearbox.
Similar with my MG ZT 260 (the one converted to rear drive with a Mustang V8), that only has air-con to bring the cabin temperature down to ambient and even then it struggles due to the hacked about HVAC unit which had to be squeezed in behind the engine.4.6 litre V8 heater to the left of your legs is a thing of considerable discomfort.
I always go everywhere with the windows open, and it was even too hot yesterday with the roof off.
The TVR Cerbera, with the same Ford Mustang Borg Warner T5 gearbox, is even worse - the gear lever can burn the skin off your hands as it connects directly to the gearbox.
I was going to suggest the 260 after reading the first page, it's a fun, characterful drive in quite an analogue car (OK, it has airbags and ECUs) but saw the OP has the GT6 - lovely car, had longings for one for years, but they are so small as the OP pointed out!
Turbobanana said:
Yes, I'm expecting the window regulator to be, umm...challenging, based on my experience of the door lock etc. Also, cleaning it all will be a nightmare as it's caked in grease and crud from years of use. But... there is so much heat soak into the cabin that I seem to be constantly driving it with the window open. Also, my commute ends with a card swipe into the work car park, so I need the window down anyway. If it rains, I can raise it (it's the going down that's the problem).
Overdrive solenoid will be investigated, but not by me: #beyondmylimits. An investment for another day will be a plastic / GRP transmission tunnel, insulated on the inside, properly sealed and fitted and with a hatch cut into it for accessing the gearbox oil filler.
Onward...
Getting the tunnel out and checking/changing the solenoid is pretty easy, all nuts, bolts and a test lamp. I did mine roadside IIRC - I was so young… Overdrive solenoid will be investigated, but not by me: #beyondmylimits. An investment for another day will be a plastic / GRP transmission tunnel, insulated on the inside, properly sealed and fitted and with a hatch cut into it for accessing the gearbox oil filler.
Onward...
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