It has been a good weekend

The autobox has stopped leaking but the car was running like a bag of spanners at low revs. I started to replace the ignition parts in the hope that it would cure the problem. First up were the spark plugs, next it was the HT leads and after cleaning the terminals on the distributor cap & rotor arm it cured the problem. New ones will be ordered but the car runs like a dream. I'd also cleaned the carburettor dashpots and balanced the carbs which helped things along. I've stopped the exhaust blowing at the manifold-downpipe joint so it is a bit quieter. I also solved the problem with my CD player which was losing the memory whenever it turned the ignition off and lately it would lose power. First I moved the earth wire to a more suitable earthing point (I ended up using the driver's door treadplate) then I ran a wire from one of the fuse terminals (a permanent live) for the memory wire on my CD player and now the CD player works as it should. I cleaned up the contact on the passenger side courtesy lamp switch and the interior lamp now comes on when the front passenger door is open.

All in all, a productive weekend.

Triumph over adversity

When I picked the car up I noticed the that brakes hardly worked but more of that later on. I filled up as planned but the jetwash was out of action. Today the automatic transmission wouldn't work and left me stranded. For some reason I'd lost 2 litres of trnamission fluid. Once it was replaced all was well. I suspect that due to lack of use the gaskets were porous. Now the car is back in use it should come right. I've not had any problems since. I also changed the engine oil and filter. I bled the brakes and somehow air was getting in. At fist I thought it was a leaking wheel cylinder and tried various motor factors without success. Then it dawned on me that the master cylinder could be leaking. I robbed Snowdrop's as that was known to be working having been rebuilt for the 2006 MoT. Once it was fitted and the brakes bled it was fine. Now I'll all set for tomrrow's Northern Dolly Day up in the Yorksire Dales.

On the road...

The Dolomite 1850 is back on the road where it belongs. I was out gophering so I swung by the garage and got the car taxed. Taxing a car has never felt so good knowing that I didn't have to hadn over a penny to Gordon "the moron" Brown. It'll be ready to pick up after work and the first thing I'll be doing is fill up with petrol, give the car a good jetwash and put some miles on.

It has been a good week this week

Following the accident with Snowdrop it looks like just the outer panels are damaged. I don't think it warrants a reshell. The car needs restoring so I might go that route next year when finances improve.

Anyway, back to the present. I called in at the garage where the 1850 is and the mechanic hasn't had the car tested yet. I'd mentioned that it needs welding so he's gone round the car to see what needed doing. I took the opportunity to show him what Brian and I had found. The mechanic reckons it'll cost around £400 to get it through which I'm pleased with. With no road tax to pay for I can throw a bit of money at getting that all-important MoT certificate and it'll be ready by Friday.

And to top off my week...

...Brian has had a look at my Dolomite 1850 and reckons there's too much work for him to do on it. I'll be seeing him tomorrow morning. I know more than him on how these cars are screwed together so if he can get as much done as possbile and let the garage do the rest. He's mentioned the brake hoses, the brake pipes & a track rod end need replacing so I might end up cannibalizing Snowdrop if it comes to that. I need to get that car road legal so I'll pull out all the stops.

Damage to Snowdrop

I've had another look and I think the damage caused in yesterday's accident is just outer panel damage. I won't know until I tear down the front end of the car. It needed restoration for the MoT anyway. I've spoken to Brian and hopefully he can get the 1850 ready for the MoT over the weekend. With this in mind I can arrange the test. I hope I can get it on the road in time for Northern Dolly Day on the 17th. Once that car is on the road I can start with Snowdrop.

Just when it couldn't get worse...

...it suddenly does. Snowdrop was hit by one of the works van as I was leaving work on my lunch hour. I was just about to leave the car park to turn left and before I even got chance to look left the van had already hit me. It was just a glancing blow but both front wings and the outer front panel are damaged. If the inner panels aren't damaged then the car can be put back on the road. She needs restoring and I was thinking of taking her off the road when the MoT was up. Once the 1850 is on the road (this is the opportunity to this one done) I can park Snowdrop in it's place.

Uttely exhausted - aaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

For the umpteenth time Snowdrop's exhaust is blowing at the manifold/downpipe gasket and I'm getting to the end of my tether. Also my indicators have stopped working. Hopefully, that'll be a matter of replacing the relay.

On a slightly more positive note I was able to get to Woodvale in Snowdrop for the first time since I bought that car. I wish the 1850 was on the road. It's a better car and more suited to motorway cruising.