Are cars less characterful than they used to be?

[Turbobanana]

So this morning I took a deep breath and removed the transmission tunnel: why would anyone make that out of paper?

Anyhoo, the gearbox was clearly thirsty as it needed half a litre of fluid , so that was one of the boxes ticked on the "overdrive not working - things to check" list. Although I could see and touch the solenoid, I wasn't able to remove it so I took a chance it was OK. Reattach the rubber seals and refit the tunnel ( this time paying a bit more attention to fitting the trim correctly) and it's all back together.

Fit the newly-arrived engine valences and so to lunch.

Latee I had a look at the driver's window but there's no way to refit the glass into its carrier so I'll need to replace the regulator I reckon. At least the glass doesn't rattle now.

Off for a test drive. Still no overdrive and it's blowing the fuse again - a backwards step.

It's beaten me - I'm taking it to someone who knows what they're doing and has more patience than me.

Bugger.

[Turbobanana]

rovermorris999 said:

If it's blowing the fuse there is likely a short to earth somewhere. Could be internal to the solenoid, the switch or wiring between the two. A short while with a multimeter checking continuity might pay dividends.

Thanks rovermorris. I already replaced the wiring up the gear lever to the switch (fiddly) but think I may have disturbed it again yesterday.

As long as I don't use the OD I can still drive it, which is what I need for now. Hopefully Mrs Banana's Ford Fiasco will be back in a week or so, then I can get the 6 booked in for someone with the requisite skills to look at it.

[Turbobanana]

Yertis said:

TB, have you rewired up through the gear lever to the switch? There’s a hole in the bottom of the lever into which the wiring from the relay disappears - mine chafed through here causing the overdrive to engage/disengage at random. I’d check the solenoid by taking a feed directly to the positive terminal on the relay - if it operates it’s the wiring. If not, it’s the solenoid. But it sounds like a short. I wonder if a PO has been dicking about with the wiring?

Unless you have an old classic specialist handy I’d persevere. The wiring on these is simple as -
download a GT6 wiring diagram and off you go.

Thanks Yertis. I have rewired already, but the design is pants and it's so fiddly I may have undone all my previous work. Somewhere up there ^^^ I had the old electric shock every time I engaged the OD, which prompted the rewire. I love the lever-mounted switch but I may have to go with a separate, dash-mounted one like an MGB. I agree the wiring is simple: it's the whole transmission tunnel shenanigans that puts me off tackling it again, at least until I get a fibreglass / plastic replacement. With a hatch cut in for oil top ups. And proper seals / soundproofing.

Still, another week of school runs and commuting beckons, so at least it's getting used.

Onward...

[Turbobanana]

The 6 and I are turning into some twisted comedy duo.

After last weekend's attempt to remedy the non-functioning overdrive, I admitted defeat after a short test drive revealed that I had not been successful. I wasn't surprised, as my mechanical skills are rubbish. The most disappointing thing was that attempting to engage the OD blew the fuse again. Oh well, thought I, stick a new fuse in and don't use the OD.

Fortunately Mrs Banana and I managed to car share this week so the 6 had a few days off. This morning I used it for the commute and, upon starting, did a quick cockpit check to ensure the fuel and temperature gauges were registering (the most visible sign that the fuse is OK). All good - off I go, with one eye on the gauges (I'm an avid gauge watcher anyway).

Within a mile, and I'm certain without needing to use indicators, lights, wipers or OD*, the gauges are at rest. Bugger. Could it be that the wiring for the OD is somehow shorting and causing the fuse to blow? Or is it a dodgy earth somewhere in the circuit? I have noticed that (when functioning) the left indicator flashes more slowly than the right, so I suspect a new flasher unit may be on the cards in any event.

Oh, and it doesn't quite fit under the car park barrier. Ask me how I know...

*ETA I think the only other item on that circuit is brake lights, which I would have used.

Edited by Turbobanana on Friday 23 September 11:18

[Turbobanana]

rovermorris999 said:

It certainly looks like a short to earth somewhere. Have a look at a wiring diagram (usually in a Haynes manual) and what goes through that fuse. It needn't be something you used, if a live feed to anything going through the fuse is intermittently touching earth that will do it. I'm afraid there's nothing for it but to have a look at the loom everywhere you can to see if it's chafing anywhere and then try and trace it with a meter. If it's intermittent it'll be a pain, time consuming and fiddley but not too technically difficult. An auto electrician could do it if you can find one willing but it could cost several hours labour.
The indicator issue is probably just the slow bulb not earthing well, I would have thought if it was the flasher unit both would be slow.
Electrical issues are a pain but thankfully cars of this age are very simple.

Thanks rovermorris, as ever some encouraging words make a huge difference. I'm absolutely convinced it's something simple.

[Turbobanana]

niva441 said:

I managed to initiate requiring a complete overdrive rewiring by over-zealously pushing a male bullet connector into the housing. Not realising that the opposite side of the connector was also a male connector. So in pushing one side in, I was pushing the other side out, creating a short.

Have we met? Sounds like something I'd do / have already done...

[Turbobanana]

Yertis said:

How’s the GT6 fault-rectification going TB?

Glad you asked...

For logistical reasons the 6 has still been in occasional use for commuting, despite not being able to go a mile from home without blowing a fuse and hence running the gauntlet of getting a tug from the BIB. Mrs Banana's Ford Fiasco is still on loan to friends, which is preventing my getting the 6 looked at properly. I have been put in touch with a friend of a friend who fettles old crocks, so help is (sort of) at hand.

Meantime, I have been busy replacing the knackered vinyl seats with a set rebuilt using new foams but original cloth covers. This is generally regarded as an upgrade because the vinyl was rubbish. These should be warmer in winter / cooler in summer and certainly won't leave decaying foam on my trousers every time I sit in it. They are somewhat more comfortable. My only gripe is that they are dark blue, but against the Wedgwood Blue paint I think it works. In a break from the norm, here's a pic:



I have also fitted a front spoiler from a Spitfire. I reckon these finish the front perfectly, but I had to think about number plate placement because I wanted to keep the fluted black / silver plate rather than revert to a sticky one. Another pic, woo-hoo:



Meanwhile, anybody want to buy some knackered seats? Ebay beckons...



Random picture of a pygmy hippo:



Onward...

Edited by Turbobanana on Monday 10th October 10:04

[Turbobanana]

Touring442 said:

Reginald Perrin's mother in law. ^^

I would start from scratch and make up a new wiring loom for the OD, separate to everything else with inline fuses.

The Perrin comment made me laugh!

To be honest I think the wiring loom thing is on the money: running all a car's electrics through 3 fuses is a rubbish idea, not helped by what I still think was a hasty re-fit after restoration.

I'm off car spotting on holiday to Croatia in half term so it'll probably have to wait until after that.

I'm a fellow of ZSL, the Zoological Society of London, so have some geek facts on the pygmy hippo;

This one's called Tapon, and lives at Whipsnade Zoo.
He's 14 years old and weighs about 3 times as much as me - c300kg - which as about 10% of what an adult male common hippo weighs.
"Hippopotamus" derives from the ancient Greek for "river horse".

So, now you know.

[Turbobanana]

Hey, I'm back!

OK, so radio silence due to Formula Ford Festival, holiday, PhD research, work, dodgy knee and another bout of Covid (Mrs Banana and eldest Banana, not me or the little 'un - go figure), for which I apologise as I know you're all waiting with baited breath for an update - especially Yertis who even stalked me on another thread

Last night, a lovely guy called Mark paid me a visit. Mark is a friend of one of Mrs Banana's work colleagues, who happens to be an electrical engineer by trade. Over a couple of coffees we discussed old cars - he has some - and he fiddled with his tool (a multimeter - stop sniggering at the back).

We played around for an hour or so, removing wires and cleaning earths etc. The eureka moment came when the multimeter went beserk while attached to the feed wires for the overdrive. We disconnected them and tried everything else on the top (of 3) fuse: it all worked, including when everything was on at the same time. So, it looks like the fault, as some have correctly suggested, lies in the wiring or the solenoid for the overdrive. We've left the wiring unplugged for now and I've driven in to work. As I parked it everything was still working - so at least I have a car I can drive legally. Obviously the rear axle is the overdrive ratio, so it's comically under-geared but it's fine around town.

Given my proven mechanical ineptitude I plan to give it to a mechanic to sort as it will prove easier with access to the underside. I have a new solenoid to go on, and await the arrival of a new transmission tunnel to replace the papier maché one the factory saw fit to install. So, it looks like I now have a clear path to a fully functioning car.

Cosmetically, I've fitted the new seats which have instantly removed about an inch of headroom. Fortunately I have also had a haircut so we're all good. The old seats have been sold on eBay - paid for but not yet collected.

The Spitfire 1500 front spoiler has gone on, which finishes the front end rather nicely in my opinion. I'll try to get some decent pics if / when the sun comes out.

Any day now, something exciting will arrive - but I'm going to leave you in suspense for the time being and save it for the next post.

A project for the winter is to re-veneer the dash. I've seen a couple of YouTube videos where people have done it, and Mark has done one of his cars. I quite fancy a really striking grain, rather than the plain original, to make it really stand out. I also want to go with chrome rings for the instruments to replace the flaking original black: just a personal preference.

Almost forgot - I've also ordered some Crystal Halogen headlights from Wipac: the car has mis-matched lights at the moment and these get very good reviews. You can't have too much light, and I plan on using the car throughout winter.

Onward...

[Turbobanana]

Well, the sun came out and I needed to put some fuel in the 6, so I took the opportunity of a short run to see if disconnecting the overdrive has cured the fuse blowing.

It has.

Gratuitous autumn pictures as promised, taken just now in Aspley Woods, near Milton Keynes.

[Turbobanana]

Yertis said:

Turbobanana said:

Yertis who even stalked me on another thread

Good to hear progress is being made - I’m enjoying your GT6 experience vicariously while I plot my own return to GT6 ownership

Thanks Yertis.

Bit of a strange day. This morning was wonderful, so I thought while on a roll I would have a go at fixing the driver's door window. I nipped up the channel the drop glass sits in, then eased the glass back in. There seemed to be plenty of tension so I figured I'd go ahead and fit it all back up.

Who needs knuckles anyway? Eventually it all went back in and apparently working fine. Refit window scrapers and test.

Bugger. Out it popped again.

Anyone want to buy a GT6?

Onward Single malt.

[Turbobanana]

OLDBENZ said:

Remembering back 40 odd years when I had my Spitfire 1500 with overdrive the wiring to the switch on top of the gearstick ran down the metal shaft of the gearstick and through a hole in the side of the stick near the bottom. The wiring was tight and used to chafe against the hole and short. My father had a 2.5 pi in the early 70s and had the same problem. I believe it was a common problem in period with cars with the gearstick o/d and a very easy fix.

Thanks OLDBENZ, done all that. Awaiting arrival of a new plastic transmission tunnel then planning on making an entire new loom for the OD.

[Turbobanana]

Silence is golden...

Actually, it's not. Silence is the marker of a busy family Christmas and New Year, academic work that's becoming more pressing and the fallout of a hurrumph moment after I thought I'd fixed the driver's door window. All of this led to the 6 being laid up in the garage, which at least now has heating.

While Mrs Banana was nursing the mother of all hangovers yesterday, I decided to see if it would start (the 6, not Mrs B - do keep up). To my astonishment it did, after a bit of cranking to pull the fuel through. I ran it up to temperature then switched off, having woken No1 son - no mean feat as he's a teenager and it was still (just) morning.

I won't repeat the list of outstanding work because it hasn't changed since before Christmas, however I did fit this which I won on eBay back in December:



I reckon it's about 2-2.5 inches bigger than the old one, meaning I lose some legroom but gain steering lightness. Keen to try it out I decided to go for a short drive. At this point No 1 son asked if I could take him to a local garden centre that has an aquatics section as he wants to buy some more fish for his aquarium. This felt like a win because he wanted to go in the 6, and I'm all for encouraging the youngsters to take an interest in "our" type of cars. Sadly by now it was chucking it down so I wedged the driver's window as near closed as I could and set off.

There were amused faces as I (6'1") and No 1 son (5'11" but still only 15) unfolded ourselves from the 6. I do wonder how long he'll be able to fit into it, given that he's still growing



Once we'd finished being dwarfed in the car park we set off home, only to find the route I'd planned closed due to road works. The diversion was about 10 miles longer and involved some delightful country roads which the 6 lapped up, feeling much more relaxing to drive with the bigger wheel. By now the rain had stopped and the sun was out - all was well with the world.

At some point this week I'll add some sound deadening to the inside of the tranny tunnel, then think about the wiring for the OD (probably using a loom from Autosparks - thanks again, Yertis) and fitting the new headlights.

Onward.

[Turbobanana]

Yertis said:

You must be the only person in history to have fitted a bigger steering wheel to a GT6

I should have stated that the one it had on was 12" in diameter. I have dinner plates bigger than that. It came with a spare that was the same size, so now I have 2 spare tiny steering wheels and my steering is much lighter.

[Turbobanana]

I have seen the light!

…But only at one end. Let me explain.

In a spare moment on Saturday morning, I realised that the only thing stopping me using the 6 at the moment was the lack of lights. (Bear with me on the bold – it’ll become clear later).

Since the challenging drive home from purchase I’ve known that the headlights were poor. The driver’s side was sort of OK, but the passenger's side looked like it had a blue rinse, was dim and generally not effective. I’d read good reviews of Crystal Halogen H4 headlights on eBay, so I ordered some back in November. Life got in the way and I never fitted them until Saturday.

The Haynes manual describes a method of headlight removal that didn’t align with what I had, but I quickly removed the shrouds to access the retaining ring and removed the units. Interestingly, the car is fitted with the usual 3-pin connectors for the H4 bulbs, with a kind of “piggyback” sidelight attached to it. Clearly that was defunct on the setup I had so I removed it and just laid it inside the headlight bowl. Duly connected up and all trim replaced, I eagerly switched the headlights on. Behold! Daylight! Much better than the old, and because I didn’t disturb the beam settings it (visually) looked OK against the garage wall. I did notice that the sidelights weren’t working (obviously the ones in the headlights never did, but the ones in unit with the indicators didn’t either). I figured this would be OK for use, even if technically an MoT fail.

I reckoned on using the 6 for the school run and morning commute today, so excitedly moved Mrs Banana’s Fiesta from the driveway so I could access the garage. Work stuff duly loaded, 10-year-old reluctantly removed from bed and readied for school and the 6 fires up instantly, eager for a day’s use. I reversed out of the garage and fired up my new, nuclear headlights. I figured it would be sensible to check the rear lights – oh. It’s dark. Back into the garage, engine off.

Remember the phrase from earlier - I realised that the only thing stopping me using the 6 at the moment was the lack of lights? Still applies.

From the comfort of the heated seat in my back-up E-Class, I suspect the fault might be with the switch, or the wiring thereto. It can't be the fuse as everything else running off the top fuse still works. No time to check this morning so it’ll have to wait for now.

But, I’m delighted with my new multi-function steering wheel (it turns left AND right) and the 6 is booked in at the weekend to have the awful slotmags swapped for something much nicer. Watch this (dimly-lit) space…

Onward.

[Turbobanana]

They say the sun shines on the virtuous. Now, the rear lights shine on the traffic behind...

After my previous post I was feeling pretty low. It felt like every time I tried to help the 6, it spat it back in my face like a child that won't eat peas, or one of those angry customers who will happily tell you what's wrong with their car but won't let you do anything to fix it.

Anyhoo, I went back to it a few days alter after reading encouraging words about twiddling fuses etc. I twiddled the fuses, and the rear lights lit up like a beacon of hope. Woo-hoo!

I'd booked it in one weekend at a local tyre place to get the tyres swapped onto the replacement alloys and went to start it early on the Saturday morning Of course, it didn't start. No shortage of cranking power, and a faint whiff of petrol (as usual) made me think it would be spark-related. I removed the dizzy cap to be confronted by what I assume was electronic ignition; it certainly looked unlike any set of points I've ever encountered. It all looked fine anyway, and was dry, so I reckoned on the coil. I ordered one based on the reference number on the side of the old one: Lucas DLB102.

I fitted it on Saturday, confidently expecting it to make no difference whatsoever - funny how old cars grind down your own confidence, isn't it?

Anyway, it started! It didn't run quite as smoothly as it did before but that may be down to lack of use - sadly I was too busy at the weekend to take it for a drive but at least now I know I can. I'm not sure the coil is right for the ignition (it was the one on the car when I got it, but nothing is known about the "restoration" the car had prior to my ownership) but it runs for now. If anyone knows more about this I'm all ears - I keep seeing reference to ballast resistors and the like. Will try to get a pic inside the dizzy cap to post up.

I've decided to play it safe with wiring in relays for the new headlights and reinstating the overdrive, and ordered some looms from Autosparks. I may even pay someone who knows one end of a multimeter from the other to fit them for me.

Onward...

[Turbobanana]

Evil.soup said:

Nice budget and should get you into some interesting cars. Just a few possible contenders:

Audi TTS - not the most dynamic, but good all rounder and tunable if that takes your fancy.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208269...
Infinity G - A bit left field but very rare, looks more money than it is to the untrained eye.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210190...
MX-5 RF - a bit of a rare site, not my cup of tea personally as I find them a bit dull, but ticks many boxes for people.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301283...

As a side note, I did read that you have dismissed the MR2 Roadster, but I would suggesting finding a good one and giving it a go, they really are a great car to drive.

Thanks for the tips, Evil.soup, but I guess you haven't read the whole thread as I bought a Triumph GT6 in September.

Also, the three suggestions you make are not appealing I'm afraid: too modern, sterile. And I couldn't bring myself to buy an MR2 Roadster as I think they look like a startled frog.

[Turbobanana]

Maxdecel said:

" - funny how old cars grind down your own confidence, isn't it?" They were state of the art at one time.

Ballast resistors, that takes me back ! If the ignition system has been tampered with and the coil is one that requires it then it may be running on a current that's too high ? Just a guess, I know nowt about GT 6's.
eg.- Starts on a 12v supply using a 9v coil when key is returned continues to run through B Resistor at 9v. As above no idea about your car ?
Might explain the coil failure.

Cheers Max, good intel.

Ref the confidence bit: I kind of meant you start doing a simple job (like changing the coil) without the belief that it will cure the problem, even though you've done it before about 100 times.

And I don't think a GT6 was ever "state of the art"

[Turbobanana]

Maxdecel said:

Knew exactly what you mean, been there. Always expect the unexpected ...but then it turns out it was what you expected in the first place !
Bit OT, Saw mention of this in an article; might be of interest ? Standard Triumph comp. history, sadly it's not a 6. But it's had a life !
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1535179

Certainly has a few tales to tell, that one. Inevitable, I guess, that a car so like a giant Meccano kit should have so many different guises over the years.

[Turbobanana]

Evil.soup said:

Lol, oversight on my part!

Interesting choice and a lovely looking thing too, certainly rather different to anything listed above and for all the right reasons.

I do highly rate the MR2 though, the most fun car I have ever owned, but that's no good if you can't stomach the looks.

Good luck with the classic

Thanks Evil.soup.

Looks are an odd one, aren't they? I don't much care what my moderns look like: they need to be functional, smart etc but could look like anything. For context, I needed a large estate car (ie NOT an SUV) so I looked at Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and Volvo V90. Stuff like Passat, Mondeo, Insignia were half a size too small and I didn't think Skoda Superb until after I'd bought the Benz, which won on the best compromise between affordability, space and the fact that I found one that wasn't silver, black or grey.

But, when it comes to my "toy" car, I'm quite picky on the basis that it's something I want, rather than something I need.