Testing times part 9

I went up to the garage to check on Snowdrop's progress. There's just the welding to do now and the lad that's been working on Snowdrop said he'd crack on with it on Monday so all being well this little saga is reaching its conclusion.

On a slightly more positive note I took Becky to my trusty local independent tyre fitter to have the slow puncture repaired costing me only a fiver.

Locking up...

Becky's nearside rear door wouldn't open. The locking plunger had been playing up for a while put when I pulled it up to unlock the door today it went right down into the door cavity. When I got home from work I dug out my dad's screwdriver set (all my tools are kept at Anita's house), removed the door card and got the door unlocked and opened. The problem was the locking mechanism which had partly come away. Once it was reassembled it was working as it should be. Another job done that didn't cost me any money! The nearside front tyre has been losing some pressure so I'll be going round to my trusty local tyre fitter (no more fast-fit places unless I really have to) to get that sorted out.

Job done! One problem cropped up afterwards. I wasn't able to wind the window down fully. This was because the control cable was fouling the glass and had to be rerouted which meant removing the door card again but once it was done all was fine. 

On with the new. 

Off with the old. 

Once this was done I could remove the mirror... 

First, I had to remove the door card... 

An oncoming car struck Becky's door mirror breaking the glass and damaging the plastic surround. Fortunately, I had a complete mirror assembly in my box of spares so I dug it out. 

Testing times part 8

I went to the garage after work to check on progress. The parts had arrived but they haven't been fitted yet and there was just the welding to do. On top of that the guy who does the welding is off for a week so I'll be another week without Snowdrop or an MoT. The main man apologised for not keeping me in the picture. I can live without Snowdrop for another week. As long as I know what's going on I'm not too bothered. I've still got Becky and my mate's Eurobox to run around in.

Testing times part 7

I got another call from the garage to say that Snowdrop needs a new steering column bush and they found out why the brakes had failed AFTER the test was done. The master cylinder was leaking so it was straight on the 'phone to T.D. Fitchett and the parts have now been ordered and will be at the garage the next day. I hope that this will be the end of this little saga!

Giving Becky a brake

I think Becky was jealous of all the attention lavished on Snowdrop so she decided she needed some new front brake pads. Not only were they cheap at £8.45 they were very easy to fit. I've never know the job to be so trouble free and the copper grease certainly helped things along. I rewarded her with £20 worth of the cheapest petrol for a long time. The local Adsa is doing it for 85.9p per litre. Now that's what I call cheap!

Testing times part 6

I managed to get the bolts I needed for Snowdrop off the Toledo. They wouldn't budge at first but with a bit of gentle presuasion with my lump hammer they came off. Tomorrow is the TDCIR and I've got quite a few parts to sell so hopefully I can make a bit of money.

Testing times part 5

Snowdrop is almost ready. She needs a couple of bolts for the offside bottom balljoint where it attaches to the vertical link. The Toledo has identical bolts so I can rob a couple of bolts off that car. New brake pads are also needed so I'll get them done as well. This is turning into a mini-restoration and all just to keep this car road legal!

Testing times part 4

The parts I'd ordered arrived and they were the correct ones. Unfortunately when the garage was fitting the offside bottom ball joint the vertical link bolts sheared off. Making slow progress and it is gonna cost me! Hopefully, Snowdrop will be ready for the TDCIR. We shall see...

Testing times part 3

Got a phone call from the garage today to say that the front shock absorbers, the coil spring and the steering UJ were the wrong ones so I've ordered new parts from T.D. Fitchett (costing me around £137) and arranged for them to be delivered to the garage. I've taken away the offending parts and I'll get a refund fron the Triumph Dolomite Club when I go down to the TDCIR this weekend. Hopefully, Snowdrop will be ready for the weekend. I've a good mind to put her into daily use considering the money I've put into that car.
Becky is still performing quite well on her diet of Morrisons unleaded. Daily use keeps her in peak condition.

Not much more for now.

I compared the steering coupling UG against one of my 1500fwd items and it is shorter so it is the right one for Snowdrop so I dropped it in at the garage. I'm still waiting for them to tell me when the car will be ready. Hopefully she will be ready for the Triumph Dolomite Club International Rally (TDCIR) this coming Sunday.

Got the parts

I've now got all the parts I need. The whole lot cost me £120 courtesy of Steve Waldenberg who is chairman of the Triumph Dolomite Club and has a stock of club spares. He was able to supply everything I needed. I'll need to check the steering UJ to make sure it is for the Dolomite and not the 1500fwd. I can compare it to the one that came off the spares 1500fwd before I hand it over to the garage.

Testing times part 2

Oh, dear! Snowdrop has failed her MoT. This is what she failed on:


Nearside front headlamp ain too low.

(Manifold flange) exhaust system has a major leak of exhaust gasses.

Lower steering column universal joint has excessive play.

Nearside front suspension joint has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint.

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted)

Nearside front track rod end ball joint has excessive play.

Nearside front shock absorber has a serious fluid leak.

Offside front coil spring cracked.

Offside front wheel bearing has excessive play.

(both front chassis legs) body has a projection cuased by corrosion

Nearside rear (outer sill) body has a projection caused by corrosion.

Nearside front (outer sill) body has a projection cuased by cossosion.

Offside rear (inner wheel arch) body has a projection cuased by corrosion.


So it is mostly wear-and-tear items that have caused her to fail. I've asked the garage to price up the job and I'm in the process of getting all the necessary parts together. The Triumph Dolomite Club has been my saviour as they're the cheapest source of parts. Rimmer Bros are currently offering a 10% discount and free delivery on orders over £50 (excluding VAT) so I might be able to take advantage of that offer.

Progress with Snowdrop

Yesterday evening was dry and sunny so I took the opportunity to fit the new flexible brake hose. An hour later, job done! It seemed to be fine when I drove her afterwards and this morning when I checked the brake fluid level it was fine. Brakes were fine today and I'm now running around in her and all seems to be well. I was hoping to clean her but the rain seems to have put paid to that.

I managed to get a couple of my engines weighed in at a local scrap metal merchant. The engine that was in the Toledo when I bought it and a 1200 Herald engine that I'd rescued made me £15. Money for nothing!