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Hi Carsten, A very clear yes. You can't just take a spare part out of the packaging and try to install it without checking it first. Either it fails immediately, or the negative consequences become apparent much later, because the manufacturers/dealers know perfectly well... TR drivers don't drive much. A recent example from last week: new bushings for the A-Type overdrive; the inner diameter was much too large, bigger than the worn ones. I had to throw them straight in the scrap heap. Consequently, I had to machine suitable bushings myself. Or take differential gear sets; the diameter for the front bearing doesn't match. I've been complaining about this to various dealers for years, but it simply hasn't been changed. I just wonder how other mechanics manage to assemble them. The diameter needs to be reduced to allow for proper installation, etc. Sometimes I just get fed up with repairing TRs. Regards, Ralf

Thanks Bob and Roger Mike

Paul. You could measure your speedo drive ratio, lift one rear wheel off the ground, & in neutral, disconnect the speedo cable from gearbox (easy with cover off)| insert something which will engage with the square drive socket in the box (overdrive) eg small screwdriver etc, rotate the propshaft a number of turns (say 25), & see how many turns the screwdriver makes. If it makes 10 turns, then ratio is 2.5:1 (correct for TR) and so on. Bob

That law was quickly ammended to not include historic vehicles. Bob

Not so, the pressure inside a gas cylinder (Butane, Propane etc) is dependand only on the gas characteristics, & temperature. At any given temperature the liquid "gas" will boil until the pressure generated by the expanded gas is enough to prevent further boiling. Higher the temperature the higher the pressure. But constant whether the bottle is full or nearly empty. A regulator simply reduces that pressure to a fixed lower one to suit the appliance being used. bob

TR speedodrive reduction ratio is 2.5:1 Saloon box (1972) is 3.5 :1. You would need a turns per mile of 840 for an accurate speedo in a TR. I know, I had this setup from 2013 to earlier this year. Perhaps they changed the ratio on later boxes. Due to an overdrive blowup, on re-build I now have the corect reduction, & have reverted to a standard speedo of 1180 Turns per mile. A saloon box would not have had a drilling in the 2nd gear boss, Paul's has, suggesting someone has in the past fitted the isolator switch for 2nd gear, then changed their mind., possibly when swutching to the J type overdrive. (my 1972 saloon box has an A type overdrive fitted) Bob

Hmmmmmmm! Thats quite wide variation. The absolute figures are irrelevant, but they should be within 5%. Yours (1 and 4 with 3) are 13% different. Thereby may lie your oil misting. John

OK - some test results: Fitted fibre washers under the lock down nuts per PFG suggestion - now getting VERY little leakage, more a slight weeping. So definitely a whole lot better. After a good blast round, no pooling in the valve cover lip so far. No leakage/weeping from new filler cap With palm over removed filler cap I can feel a slight outbound pressure but I think its mostly "wind" as mentioned above Tested combustion (dry): 1 - 150 2 - 165 3 - 170 4 - 150

Did the Standard-Triumph Company ever have a company aircraft? I seem to recall some mention of a Cessna being purchased in the early 1960s. Ken Y

I'll look in the morning. There's a clean drip tray under the car as I parked her for the night. Pete

Re speedo, elsewhere Bob worked out that my car needed a 1380tpm speedo in order to indicate correct speed. That ties up with a Triumph 2000 having a 1400tpm speedo, and my car having the 2000 gearbox, but the TR 1200tpm speedo.

Good point. I’ll think about it. Is it literally a case of installing the correct isolation switch in that boss, which then detects the movement of second gear selected? I’m rewiring to incorporate Bob’s logic circuit which disengages od between gear changes too, it wouldn’t be hard to incorporate another isolation switch.

Mmh, do you really think that someone could be so motivated and skilled at copying/designing that, for example, the vertical link fits perfectly, but at the same time be too stupid to center the axle mount? I find that almost impossible to imagine. Or is it possible?

Hi Jase yes starting the engine without coolant is ok as long as it’s only for a couple of minutes, I’d start and move straight away Chris

Paul - I have had loads of J type overdrives converted to work in second gear and never had a problem - I do advise people not to wrag it in second OD - ST replaced A type ODs with a J types which was a superior bit of kit compared to an A type - I find it hard to believe they would have built a weaker unit to the A type which happily uses 2nd OD as hard as you want, so 2nd OD on this box in 4 pot car should be absolutely fine. I find OD in 2nd particularly useful in town driving where you can pretty much avoid any gear changing if youy are moving The speedo drives do have different ratios and its a strip down and fairly expensive job to convert to the correct one, hence it is often not done, but it may be an indication that yours is a pretty standard saloon box - again lots of these exist quite happily in TRs so I wouldn't worry Cheers Rich

As a side issue, when I reinstall the tunnel, and seats, I thought I’d use new underlay for the carpet. There must be modern materials that give better sound deadening and are less friable. Any suggestions anybody?

Hows the gearbox leaks now?

Half Decent weather today, insomuch as it was overcast but dry. After a week of greyness and drizzle, I took the opportunity to have a pleasant run out in Katie before the temperature drops next week. . . From Ipswich, around Woodbridge and Melton, through the outskirts of Rendlesham forest, and across to a local haunt of mine - Orford Castle on Suffolk's coast. despite being off the beaten track, from neolithic times, through Roman and Saxon, High Mediaeval, through to the 2nd World War and through the cold war years, East Suffolk is steeped in history. Only the peculiarly designed keep of Orford Castle remains standing, but it had been saved by some Lord or other a few hundred years ago, to be used as a hunting lodge. He had refitted a roof and internal floors that way-laid internal erosion that would have otherwise occurred. Built between 1165-73, just 100 years after Briton became an occupied territory of Norman rulers (themselves of Viking decent) ... the keep has large (~28 ft diameter) circular halls on two floors. With winding passageways within the 14 foot thick walls, and broad spiral staircase and chambers within the three towers, it's absorbing to walk where others did so .. 850 years ago, and to image the purpose of each space, and the men and perhaps families who dwelt and served here. For it's era the architecture was very advanced, which not only included fireplaces with chimneys (..when most great Halls still had smoke vents in their roof), but also private latrines and kitchen sinks with drains (above right). The above left photo shows some of the architectural style within its chapel. Other parts of the keep had similar features, particularly those which still remain in the entrance vestibule. Many of the archways and the main staircase still have the imprint of grained timbers, which were cut as planks and built as a frame to mould their curved or spiral ceilings. Literally you can still see how the building was built. The Keep not only had the great fireplace, with sleeping chambers behind it wall for gentle warmth, but also other fireplaces for localised warmth, cooking &/or heating water on each floor, including the basement and the watch's guardroom on the roof. That on the roof included an oven for baking, which I suspect was kept as a ready source of flame should the tower's beacon need to be lit ..signalling and warn Sudbourne and other Halls, Framlingham and Walton Castles, and local villages of a hostile fleet of ships sailing up, or attempting to land on this coast. Although a sleepy village now, 9- 700 years ago, the port of Orford enjoyed very much more lucrative overseas trade than Ipswich. At that time Felixstowe and Harwich barely existed. Of course, the sea levels have subsequently altered considerably, and the shingled spit known as the ness, has very much been transformed by centuries of coastal storms - but still the castle's commanding position over the eastern horizons are still impressive. Some castles and many homes have subsided into the seas, but from historical records it appears that Orford has become further inland. To me it's interesting to work backwards through time, to not only to envisage the difference in politics and social lifestyles, but also the different topography and features of the landscape. A once forested landscape has long since become arable farmland, many villages and roads, but also the marsh-land which once were were drained, water mills once commonplace have mostly all gone (the water mill at Woodbridge being much later than the 12th century). It an ever changing world we live in. . . Pete. p.s. Katie's gear-change works fine, with no discernable difference in feel than before, which is good

Well done Pete I was waiting for someone to notice Roy

Possibly an odd question but can I start my car without any coolant? I want to check it will start after the engine out and I want to reverse it out of the garge so I can flush the system through without flooding the garage. I could put all of the pipes back together I suppose and fill with water. Thanks

You’re right. Two dowels, both present . 👍

All the settings are with car loaded and set out in the brown book bible. If you don't have a copy, it's in the members section of the website Camber negative 1deg +or- 0.5 deg (adjust with trailing arm mount types/orientation and packers under springs) Rear toe in 1/16" to 1/8" (adjust with shims behind trailing arm mounts) Not a job for the faint hearted as also need to check settj gs against ride height

The ‘missing bolt’ I think you will find has a 3/8” diameter dowel in it to locate the gearbox the the back of the engine. There are two such dowels on the back of the 4 cylinder TR engine. The other is almost diametrically opposite. Failure to have these dowels or suitable dowel bolts ( as on 6 cyl TR) will invariably give a poor clutch operation due to misalignment. AKA Ratchet clutch.

That’s it