There is hope

I've finally got round to fitting the battery that I'd charged a few days ago. It was reading 12.8 volts which is a good sign. I cranked it over and the voltage stayed above 10 volts so there is a chance that I've saved the battery. I've put it back on charge and I'll leave it overnight.

Charged up

The battery has had a 36 hour charge on the new charger. I'll give it a bit longer until I take a voltage reading, put it back on the car and do a cranking test to see what the voltage drop is.

What a shock!

I took a voltage reading on the old battery with my multimeter and it was registering 12.43 volts so it isn't totally dead. I bought a smart charger from Lidl and I've got it on charge. After I'd removed the battery, I found out that it is a calcium type so there's a chance that it could be saved. I've also fitted my earth lead so there should be a decent earth once I come to try starting the car again.

What a bummer.

The new battery has gone walkies before I even got a chance to fit it so that's set me back for now. The old battery has some charge left in it so I'll be taking a voltage reading when I get a new one.

Not a happy bunny.

Another even longer overdue update!

It has been nearly 2 years since my last post. Blimey! Where has the time gone? I had the car resprayed in Triumph white which is a period correct colour. In November 2016, I fitted some solid carburettor mounts and this is where things went downhill. The car wouldn't start and hasn't run since so I left it parked up in the carport. Fast forward to 2018 and I've made a decision to get it back on the road and the biggest barrier to that is to get the engine running again. I've established that the battery is toast due to it being stood for months on end. I've ordered a new battery and I shall be monitoring it more closely in the future to avoid neglect. The negative lead has seen better days and the proper part is expensive so I've bought some "off the shelf" parts to make up a new lead costing me just over £14 from Halfords and a local motor factor.

I might just invest in electronic ignition to ensure a healthy spark. I'm also considering fitting my spare set of SU HS4 carburettors. I've got them close to hand so I can lay my hands on them straight away. I've already documented the work I've done this year on YouTube. I have already done a few Dolomite videos in the past so this isn't the first one.

More to follow soon...