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I'm not in disagreement with you James, I'm absolutely certain both the organisers and the individual volunteers put a huge amount of their time and effort, and often personal out-of-pocket expenses, into trying to create a fantastic event. I truly thank them. But I think also - that it would be sad for everyone to keep quiet .. and simply not show up next time (to the great disappointment of those organisers and volunteers). And I do notice a general lack of conversation following / about this event. As a design professional, for much of my working career, I'm very used to both receiving and give feedback. It is part of the team and personal development, and essential if the standard of our team's work was to continually improve. We use the term 'critique' and proactively avoid direct 'criticism' .. the first being to talk about and promote development .. the latter being an attack. Only where there wasn't a clear brief, &/or there were not the resources to achieve the objective, were those things reviewed. If a person failed to do his or her job properly - then that was a private conversation between the individual and the manager or director. Mostly personalities were left out of the conversation, as it was the process &/or the finished product being discussed. Still the conversations was had and not generally taken badly on a personal level. I hope my reflections / feedback (..not intended as criticisms) on the Malvern show is useful to the organisers. Pete.

I was asked on the TSSC forum about Malvern .. And I too was disappointed. To be fair though, I did make a mistake insomuch as I became seriously dehydrated ..and didn't realise it until two days later .. but if anyone is interested this is what I replied . . . " Sorry for a late reply Gary but my mind has been elsewhere, absent without leave so to speak. But in reply I'd have to say that I too was disappointed in this year's event. It didn't seem to be nearly as good a turn out of attendees and certainly far less campers. I was there, and again volunteered to help my friend Rich C-R ..who comes with a packed to the very brim Discovery and trailer load of reconditioned / restored stuff to sell. He specialises in TR's but has parts that fit other models, not least because of course the OE suppliers were the same. Despite putting a huge amount of thought, time and effort into having these OE parts restored - it's not truly reflected in his prices. I wouldn't do it for what he makes, but he cannot bear to see good quality original parts thrown away ..only to be replaced with chinese quality stuff ..that will will in the future not be restorable. Anyway, because I missed seeing the last show .. by helping man his stand the whole weekend, I saw almost nothing of it - This year I said I'd help him set up and take down his stand and display, but otherwise I leave him and other friends to do the talking and trading, while I wandered around. And this year - I even moved my car to be part of the show. I agree with much of what Jon posted (above), but felt the autojumble stands were less and much weaker. I was pleased to see Moss was there in support, and I bought a gallon of oil as a contribution to their costs. Rich tells me that other traders didn't come because of the cost .. versus return. It's not only the cost of having a stand but also the preparation, travel, accommodation, food, drink, and time in getting everything and a helper or two to the show, and back again including unloading and packing away and inventory checking and accounts. Classic car shows are an odd thing to cater for, because so many attend in their classic car, which is either already mostly done, or the bits are too big to take home when there's camping gear in the car as well. I agree with his suggestion .. that car trade and auto-jumbler stands ought to be subsidised - to encourage greater numbers .. a greater number of stands attracts a greater number of attendees looking for bits ..so it's good for everyone. Tbh., I didn't even look at the bring n' buy, because looking at pictures rather than real bits didn't interest me. When they're real - I might be inclined to buy on impulse (as I did a pair of spot lamps at Shuttleworth), but I don't go to a show to look at photos. I'm also retired / don't go to work, nor do I have a printer at home .. so it wasn't worth me bringing along any bits to sell. I might just as well list them on ebay. Jon makes the point that the MG clubs weren't there. That hadn't registered with me. I knew the TSSC weren't ..and that appeared to make a huge impact in numbers, and as importantly to me - the diversity of models to look at, and interesting people to talk to. I don't even recall seeing or talking with a foreign contingent, often I find myself meeting and chatting with German or Swiss, or Dutch or Belgian ., but perhaps that was because we were camped in a compound far, far, far away .. I didn't meet any. I'd previously enjoyed the merging of the marques, and I liked us all camping as classic car enthusiast. It was enjoyable to stroll around the campsite & have a look at the parked cars and sometime peculiar tents and campers. It appeared to be very successful, and so I had anticipated an even bigger and better show this year because of it. It was a disappointment. Morgan owners were, I think, possibly in greater numbers this year, but many of those were the more modern types. They've gotten to be like Jag owner clubs, where the old cars are too precious or less convenient than the modern classic. Conversely, the Riley club(s) had a very nice presentation, and I enjoyed talking to a few of their owners. Best stand in the show in my opinion. But other groups who came on Saturday were few and far between on the Sunday. One chaps I stopped to talk to was the only Saab owner camping there. I think he said that they'd had six cars there on Saturday, and two on Sunday. Their / his camping spot appeared to be the size of a cricket pitch. As I'm now a jaguar owner, I was invited to show my car in the ring with others on the Sunday. Wayne presented a Jaguar timeline .. from the SS through to moderns .. but there wasn't even an XK120, 140, or an E-type available to show., neither a coupe, drophead, nor roadster. Mine was the only 1950's car in the display, and there were none of the big pre-war saloons like the Mk5 and limousines. There weren't any of the big saloons Mk7 - 9 or the later Mk 10 and 420, and I think just one Mk2 and a Daimler v8 saloon. No Mk.1, no 4.2 ltr model compact saloons and only later XJ's. There was a very tidy replica XK13 to represent the whole of jaguar's racing heritage. Despite that, in my opinion, Wayne did a brilliant job and was extraordinarily well informed. Without prior preparation - he knew of and succinctly explained what each car was, where it fitted into the timeline, and why it was significant. He knew the details .. I was very impressed. But the lack of Jaguar range he could present, reflected the overall poor turn out at the show, on that day, by both the Jaguar Enthusiast and Jaguar Driver's clubs. Probably all the hotels in the vicinity were booked that weekend. My friend Martin, has a TR5 and he was invited to show his car in the arena as part of the 1960's history, on both the Saturday and Sunday. Again Wayne offered a brilliant and very knowledgeable presentation, but again the range of cars weren't available for him to enthuse about. Because I was dog-minding Martin's greyhound, as he was in the arena, I missed the TR forum's get together. That was a great shame because so many of you have been really supportive of me as I worked my way through the learning curve and issues with Katie. I do apologise for not being there to thank you in person. I must admit - I made a grave error insomuch as I became increasingly dehydrated over the weekend. It was hot and dry, and while walking around I carried a thermal cup and a small bottle of water, but that was far less than my mind needed. By Sunday evening I was pretty well out of it. I suspect Rich and others were too, but perhaps less so as Rich is generous in his provisions. £7 a pint didn't encourage us to have an evening out at the bar. Aside from which, as 'exhibitors' were located to camp as far away from the activities as possible. Previously, we'd camped much closer, but this year when we arrived and started to pitch Richard's tent there, we were told to move. That space was for clubs .. and it remained mostly empty all weekend. Previously, I had gone from the Malvern show into the Wye Valley to enjoy the scenery and to visit the medieval march castle ruins and priories, and from there down to the exceptional Chepstow Castle ..but this year I helped Rich pack up his stand and trailer on the Sunday, and his tent on the Monday morning .. before simply heading for home. Dehydration had drained me of impetuous. Thankfully, I didn't have to help Rich unload when he got back. I have a huge respect for that man's stamina and dedication to the TR cause. The quality of his parts is so much better than most on the aftermarket It's a great shame that he doesn't do Jag bits.! Anyway. I think that about sums things up. It was a big show, in hot weather, spread out over a huge area, and yet it lacked ? . . . . . . lacked . . . perhaps something of the camaraderie that comes with people sitting around chatting, irrespective of what marque or model they drive ... or the fun of an evening in the beer tent with fellow enthusiasts .. when you don't have to worry about driving home, or the hunt through auto-jumble looking for that evasive part. I often carry an old camera around, but at Malvern, over the whole weekend its seems that I took just 17 photos. Conversely, I took 360 last Saturday when I went to a Steam Fair. Those of Malvern, which I attach here, speak for themselves, not least because aside from the first at the entrance gate - they were taken before 1:20pm on Sunday afternoon ..when the show ought still to have been bustling. Yes, people leave early when they have a long journey ahead of them, but the pictures reveal a lot more. What went wrong ? Looking back., I might only suggest that it was the excessive heat and the expanse. People wander off to look around, to get a drink, or to go to the loo .. and are gone a long time. You see an interesting car but there's no-one to talk to, so you too wonder on. It's sorta like sitting in a large restaurant or pub when it's empty of customers. Same in the evening .. with things were so spread out - it wasn't like a meander through a campsite. No, it would have been like going to another group and intruding. Society is full of such little quirks, where one encounter is nice, another is awkward. I did come away wondering if I'd go next year. I'll have to wait and see closer to the time. My thanks to the organisers, and credit all those who volunteered to help with marshalling and other tasks. Pete "

It's a busy month for places to be. This Sunday I was with the TR's East Saxons group at Colchester castle, and while there met up with friends from the TSSC, and the previous weekend I was at the fabulous Heddenham Steam Rally on the Saturday. I stayed overnight at The Cock in Broom, nr Biggleswade overnight, and was at the All Triumph Day, at Old Warden's Shuttleworth Collection, on the Sunday. Next Sunday, I'm in The Distinguished Gentleman's Drive in support of Movember a charity which raises awareness of and support for men's mental health and prostate cancer programs. Please feel free to sponsor me for that (link at the bottom of this page) ..even if only for the cost of a cup of coffee or a beer. 😎 Colchester Castle Classic cars, held in support of the charity Headways ..in fundraising and awareness support of brain injured. " In Essex, every 58 minutes, somebody is admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury. Headways - Essex .. As a charity, our mission is to ensure that everyone in Essex living with an acquired brain injury can live a fulfilling life and that families and carers are better able to cope within their caring roles." There were many beautiful cared for cars to see and talk about, and fantastic weather to just enjoy being out in. (.. please click on any of the photos to see them at a better scale). It's a nice local show in support of a great cause with an interesting diversity of classics and retros. And even though I was with, and parked alongside the East Saxon's TR group, I had the opportunity to park carmen alongside a Mk2 Jaguar ..which despite being a roomy four seater and being just a tad bigger in each dimension, looked smaller. It was a good show, My thanks to those in our group who organised us, you know who you are - - - I'll now share a few photos I took of the All Triumph Day, at Shuttleworth, Bedfordshire.., now in its 3rd year and jointly organised by the TR Register Lea Valley Group and the TSSC. (..formerly, and for many years a TSSC club local meet, held at Duxford). . . ^ Rich Crew-Read was there with 'a few bits n' pieces' that he'd spent considerable time and effort in restoring, citing that an original part is often better quality and yet less expensive than many a new replacement part.. Having recently bought a lower ball joint off Moss / Rimmers this past month (for Carmen, my Jag, seen in the background of this piccie) and discarding most of what was in the package in favour of reusing the old ball pin and cups, I heartily agree ... Others were there with autojumble and tuning parts. The TSSC club also had their stand, and there was fun live music too. Not much flying activity again. That was a disappointment for me last year.. considering Shuttleworth is a unique aero museum, but this year perhaps a little more understandable considering the weather, which was warm but with low heavy cloud and the occasional shower. I understand that, despite the weather forecast and other events happening, there were something like 200 Triumph in attendance. To me it's nice to see the different Triumph models and of course to enjoy the under-bonnet modifications. . . ^ lovely jubbly - - - And so to end this post .. I'll add the link to The Distinguished Gentleman's Drive sponsorship page here < https://gentlemansdrive.com/fundraiser/petebird21372 > should you wish to help this little charity along a little. last year's image was a little shocking ..but fun, and presently, I have a full but trimmed beard, but I think for this year's run I'll be presenting a very distinguished pair of Edwardian style side-burns (..once very popular with farmers around these parts) and a very nice tweed waistcoat ..what to you reckon ? My car of choice last year was of course Katie, but this year I'll be in Carmen ..hope that's okay ? Despite my acquiring her in January - I cleaned the dead flies, dust and finger prints off and polished her for the first time on Saturday .. so she's now looking rearing to go ! a little background on Movember - the charity behind this event < here > Many thanks, Pete.. - - - As an aside . . . I wonder how many of us use our interesting car, motorcycle or other vehicles in support of charities ? or to simply to take old folk out of a care home for an hour or two ? Perhaps we should start a new thread to encourage it. - - -

Nice one Jase, Hopefully you're now re-motivated to take the next step .. coolant and driving under her own steam. Of course life and other interests have a habit of getting in the way .. but with a slowing down of summer days-out - late September and into the darker months is a good time to step up and make very useful progress. With the car running and driving down the road, even without a bonnet on - things get more focused. Psychologically the long standing project becomes a car. The end is within sight. Even when referring to it .. it's 'working on the car', or better still 'the TR' .. rather than 'going into the garage'. Personally speaking ; I don't set deadlines. People often asked, when we gonna see it ? The answers is "in it's own time .. It's a hobby not a job, and the journey through the various tasks is mostly satisfying and an interesting learning curve .. The finished car will be enjoyed in its own time and place." Now, with the Jag, I'm being asked 'Are you happy with it ? The honest truth is not yet.. but to try and remain positive "She's really very beautiful, and I'm using her (even more than my 'modern'), but I still have a list of things I'd like to improve .. It's work in progress, one week at a time. But I will get there. " I do need a list if I'm to make any progress.. For me it's both an organiser (thinking through, pre-empting what tools and parts / materials I'll need) and a motivator .. to first sit down and break down the outstanding work into bite-sized tasks. Tasks which I can complete in an afternoon or over a couple of days. I've learnt to only focus on the immediate .. what I'd like to do over the next month or two. I don't try to list every breakdown task of the whole project - That is too much .. which for me is a de-motivator. Then, I clear (and clean) the workspace, have a tidy up, put things back into their own place so I can find them without searching .. I charge batteries and even this week I've ordered two new LED work lamps. The days are getting shorter and the light is dulling, to work under a car. But then, even just ticking off a few items (literally striking through the item on the computer's list) each week = progress .. and next week's motivation. Taking photos and sharing those here on the forum helps. It shows that progress, almost in real time. It's not a boast 'See what I can do !' but seeing the change / comparing before n' after / the improvement.. works for me, even if no-one else reads it or comments. I find it's very easy to forget what it was like, and how every hour of subsequent thought and attention has improved it. Reading back through the pages is a positive reminder, to how far things have progressed. Keep it up Jase ..you've already done a lot of amazing restoration, There are still frustrations laying ahead of you, ..but it does get easier and easier, not least because your learning and knowledge, and skill base and your rationale in the face of issues, has grown so much. All the best, Pete - - -

For those interested, there's the Haddenham Steam Rally + agricultural + horse + classic cars + traditional fair, on the 12th and 13th. I'll be going on the Saturday and then staying overnight close to Shuttleworth, so as to be on hand for the All Triumph event at Shuttleworth on the Sunday. The steam fair is a big annual event (51st year ?) , and only about 40 miles away (an hours drive) from Shuttleworth. If you're travelling on the Saturday, to Shuttleworth, and like myself planning to stay Saturday night in the vicinity, it may be of interest to you. No pre-booking necessary .. as tickets can be bought on the gate (cash only) for £12.50 (concession price) or £15 for adults. Pete https://www.haddenhamsteamrally.co.uk/

26-08-05 - Carmen's Work in Progress - Upper ball joint and steering ball joint lock washer. Not very exciting but there are jobs to be done, in the hope that the car will be all the more reliable for it. On Monday afternoon, I tightened the exhaust manifold nuts. two nuts were missed to the downpipes, and I was getting a little blowing out of the joint. It looks clear in the photo but in practice it was an awkward task .. but if you break both your wrists in three places it's doable. And then this afternoon, I revisited the front offside upper ball joint and steering's inner track rod ball joint. . . ^ prising the steering's link arm off its studs, so that I might access / undo the upper ball joints bottom nut ^^ ^ I bought an old school / good quality ball joint cracker off of e-bay. I first search for the highest priced type .. to find out which is the better brand, and then searched from the lowest price for the same item. This one cost just £5 plus postage, whereas the one I had seen first (same type but in a scruffy box) was five times that price. It worked great .. although when the ball joint released ^^ it sounded as if I'd cracked the car in half. ^ Before dismantling the ball joint from the upper wishbone, I recorded the shims, so that I'd put it back together exactly the same. ^ I've actually bought three upper ball joints, as the one Lockheed part came along first ..at a sensible price, And then a pair of the TRW came along for the same price. I needed two so I now have a spare ! The part numbers are different but hole centres and the taper pin appear to be same. Today i fitted the TRW one, only because I have the other side to do and if this one fitted then I knew the other side would too. ^^ Loose assembled onto the wishbone ..and then drop the shims in place. I Copaslip everything, not only as an anti-seize but also as a barrier against corrosion. ^ all done up, and now to refit the steering's link arm. Getting the split pins into the castle nuts took more time than it should. It seems that my eyes are not as sharp as they once were. Those who have been following my endeavours with Carmen, may recall the inner-ball-joint of the steering's track-rod had a chewed up lock-washer. I've been keeping my eye on it, making sure it wasn't unwinding ..while in the meantime trying to buy a replacement. Three companies (Jag specialists) I tried couldn't help me. Others don't list it, But having an iffy lock-washer on the steering ..is of concern. And so today I sought to fix that on my own. . . This is what I had . . . ^ what I had, with three small prongs to the steering rack side, and six large tabs to grip around the nut. ^^ And my sketch estimation of what it might have looked like. The specialists couldn't help me. ^ the main issue was not with the small tab's but the big ones .. and the fact that the ball joint nut has rounded end - the locking tabs no longer folded back down the flats far enough, so I welded new tabs on ^^ same lock-washer but with three of the large tabs restored to a decent size. " The restored locking tabs worked great. I'm confident that I will now not accidentally work loose / come undone. A minor task but necessary for confidence. ^ It took the best part of four hours, just to swap the upper ball joint out and to restore the lock washer's capability to stop the nut from undoing, and then reassemble everything. I still have to replace the bottom ball joint and the shock absorber's bottom rubber (but I haven't bought those parts yet). And then I have the nearside to do. I hope to do the upper ball joint on Thursday., as tomorrow East Saxon's TR's are going to visit the air ambulance. Carmen's mileage is steadily ticking up .. We're now well in excess of the previous 37 year's total. Bidding you a pleasant and peaceful evening. Pete

26-08-05 - Carmen's end of month trips out . . . After finally getting the car back together, with her new drive / propshaft, I've been out and about, up to Eye Castle on the 26th ... The drive from Ipswich to Eye across country is pleasant, and although the clouds look ready to drop they didn't. ^^ the Farmers have been busy getting their straw cut, even before the end of July. There's not very much to see of Eye Castle nowadays, but the modest remains built upon a steep side motte, into which neighbouring homes have encroached. ^^ the notice boards are fun cartoons carved into what look like gravestones. They tell of the history of the castle, which was on of Hugh Bigod's (Earl of Norfolk) strongholds ..he had several others including Framlingham Castle, and was said to be a thorn in the side of king Henry II, who appreciated his defence of the Norfolk & Suffolk coastlines against foreign threats, but was otherwise thought to be both opinionated and too powerful. c.1175 .. Hugh Bigod sided with Henry's three sons, when they came of age and the King wouldn't relinquish power to them, and Eye Castle was attacked, damaged and taken. It was later returned to the Bigod's but again it was badly damaged in the 2nd Baron's Revolt (against the crown) some ninety years later. Clearly it's position must have been pretty important, because although a small castle, it saw service and attack right the way through to Henry VIII when his daughter Bloody Mary was imprisoned there after revolting against her father's dissolution of the Catholic church and the Pope's as head of that. ^ Eye's church was as interesting, not least because it still has an original rood screen (partition between the chancel and nave). Often in medieval churches these were destroyed during the dissolution, leaving only a tiny spiral staircase in the wall ..which seemingly appear to lead to nowhere. It was there because the rood was lit by candles, and so access to its upper bridge was frequently required. ^ The art work along the bottom of this rood screen is in superb condition, not least when one considers its age is counted in centuries rather than decades. ^ Architectural details of neighbouring homes likewise reflect uncanny preservation. On the way back, I stopped off at Stonham Barns, just to use their conveniences and have a look around the antique shops, I bought a used book but anything else was outside my remit of clearing clutter rather than accumulating. ^ And then on the way home from there, I dropped in to The Sorrel Horse, Barham (where our TSSC meet is held) for a beer and had myself a fantastic sizzling steak. Not a bad end an enjoyable day .. sitting in their garden, reading a good book and enjoying excellent food, - - - Moving on . . I also the East Saxon's TR club meet on Thursday 30th, where we had an excellent turnout of Triumphs, and of course good company to chat with. It's held at The Cricketers, Eight Ash Green, Essex, and I happened to have their spare-ribs for my evening meal. I never before had such a excellent, huge, succulent, rack of ribs in my life. - - - Sunday, I was across to Helmingham Hall, Suffolk, for their Classics day. There was again a huge number of cars on display, as well as thousands of visitors enjoying the summer, the cars, the music, the foods and beverages. ^^ Triumphs were scattered here and there ..but there was no club presence. Jaguars were mainly modernish & e-types but there were three Xk120's + a kit version. ^^ This 120 roadster was interesting to me insomuch as its interior is original. - - - And on Monday - I went across to Needham Market's Coffee n' Classics, and again had a very enjoyable time As you can see another great turnout and diversity of cars through the ages. - - - And then on Tuesday Evening, was our TSSC club meet at the Sorrel Horse, Barham, where we had 11 Triumphs, and myself in Carmen, turn up, plus a few moderns (where owners are still getting cars on the road. All in all a busy end of the month for me. Pete

25th July - Carmen - work in progress. This past week, I received the can of aerosol spray paint in Jaguar Carmen red. I thought I'd give it a try, as I wanted to paint inside the spare wheel well. I painted it.., but t.b.h. the colour was a bit too bright red to match that of the car and so I'll refrain from using it where it's outwardly seen. I'll have some specifically colour matched to what's on the car.. After that paint had dried overnight I applied anti-drum pads ..around the spare wheel well, because its flat (rather than pressed) panels resonate rather like a snare drum. - - - Aside from that, today I swapped out the lock plate, which secures the large nut to the vibration damper and fan belt pulley, on the front end of the crankshaft. . . While doing the tappets and valve timing - I needed to turn the crankshaft, and so used this nut, on the front end of the crankshaft, to do that. Occasionally the crankshaft needs to be turned back, and when doing so I noticed that the nut slightly unwound. Clearly the locking plate fitted wasn't doing its job. . . ^ in short - the locking tab plate (seen here on the right) was both bent and had lost its definition. The new one looked right but when the old was removed and that crankshaft nut was tightened the bolt holes didn't align . . . ^ red line indicates the position of the hole in the plates, and the blue indicates the bolt hole. It was only 2-3mm out but the bolt wouldn't go in and I didn't want to loosen the large inertia damper / pulley nut to enable it to fit. Many such plates have their holes very slightly offset to one side, so., when the bolt hole doesn't align - you can turn the plate over for a better fit. These aftermarket lock plates didn't have that, so I had to hand file the bolt holes into an oval shape. ^^ Naturally I left most of the strength on the clockwise side of the bolt holes .. the side which prevents the nut from undoing anticlockwise. I wasn't going to bend its corner ends up (as tabs to prevent its fixing bolts from undoing), so instead I've used both Loctite and a lock washer on each bolt. ^ The new locking plate is now in place. It was another 5 minute job which took 40 minutes. While at it .. I wanted to swap out the old fan belt. . . ^ I'd bought a replacement fan belt, according to the number C-19524 on the old belt, from the specialist E-type Spares, apparently that belt is used on the Series-1 E-type, and probably it's fitment to this car happened when converted from dynamo to alternator. Oddly the new belt has no brand nor part number on it. ^ getting to the belt is really 'rather awkward' (that's not actually what I was saying when trying to get my hand in there !) because of the close proximity of the cooling-fan's shroud. ^^ The belt appeared to be fine from the outside but, when inverted, it was clearly starting to perish ..which is exactly why I wanted to change it (..and to keep the old belt as a spare in the boot). After 45 minutes of struggling, from above, from either side, and from below, trying to get the new belt on, I accepted that it just wasn't going to happen. Subsequently, measuring the old belt (outside perimeter) it was 1058mm, and the new was 1012mm .. so 46mm too short. If it had been half that ..say 1" (25mm) too short - then I would have stood a chance, but 46mm defeated me. Two items bought, in part to try the supplier. One needed modifying to fit, and the other is totally useless. I'll not be buying from E-Type Spares again. - - - Now for something completely different . . . replacing Carmen's rear number plate. ^ Why ? because the number plates on the car are a little scruffy, when viewed in certain lights ..and the rear number plate's position and inclination shows it being unsightly, very much more so than the front plate ..which is low down and so doesn't catch the light / ugly reflections. As I needed to order a number plate for the trailer-tent, I thought I'd take the opportunity to swap this one out. ^^ While changing it, I thought I'd go to the raised / applied digit style. Both the pressed and the raised digits were common place c.1960, but somehow the raised letters look (to me) more 'period' .. befitting a car that's a 1950's design. I bought the plates of Sheldrick & Wells, here in Ipswich, but clearly they have them made by someone else as it took just over a week before it was ready. Cost was £50 inc vat. and I collected in person. There was no option for a polished edge, so I carefully scraped the paint off myself , to create a fine highlight around it. I removed the old plate and used it as a drilling template for the new one. The holes are a little close to the edge but I didn't want to redrill the boot lid. I cut and fitted a piece of panel-anti-drum-pad onto the boot lid, under the number plate, and then also cut some plastic (spacer) washers ^ to fit under each of the four corner screws. ^ The raised letter number plate cost twice as much as a new pressed aluminium one, and I'm sure most onlookers wouldn't even notice the difference.. but I do, I bid you a good evening, with neat little details Pete

I do wish you wouldn't tempt me so..

a double check will be fine as Stuart says.. ^ The easiest way to see is to look under the front right wing and if it has a servo - the vacuum tank will be mounted vertically just behind the headlamp bowl. mounted on top of the (..infamous for rusting away) 'crows feet' bracing to the bottom outer corner of the front wings. And the servo's access cover is against the inner wing panel. If the car doesn't have one - then I believe retrofitting one is a pretty easy task because they're a remote unit, and the car's body shell (and access covers) were built for that option. Replacement servos are available off the shelf, and the plumbing into the brake line and to the manifold is straightforward. Pete. images by Landieman < here >

The brake servo on my Daimler 250, and I think the same on the Mk2, is down besides the radiator (F-RHS) part way through the inner wing. Removable through a bolt-on cover / access panel under the wheel arch. Photo shows it ..with the washer bottle that was above it, removed. The control valve unit is supposed to be facing down (as seen) as it helps avoid an air lock in the brake fluid. The driving lamps fitted besides the radiator grille were, I thought, switched with the main headlamps one click further around ie., Off, Side, Headlamps, & long range Driving lamps.? I gather driving lamps were standard on the earlier (broad bumper model ) Mk.2 , and optional on the later 240 and 340, which were fitted with dummy horn grilles instead. The buttons may be for optional or after-market front & rear fog lamps. Behind the seat back is usually in good codition, it's under the base squab, in the bottom of the pans where there are through bolts (or studs) for the suspension springs. That's where the cars suffer. She does looks good though. It's nice to see an original headlining that's not been damaged by moisture. Good Luck, Pete

18th July - Carmen's Work in Progress - Trailer tent ^ I pulled the trailer tent out of storage / the garden to check its towing was right for Carmen's towing bracket. I'm happy with that. No adjustment needed. ^ I also wanted to ensure that the trailer's lock was no worse than that of Katie, the TR4A, and surprisingly its probably even better. No worries there. I made up a paper numberplate, and refitted the trail-tent's flags.. just as a first try the trailer on the road behind the Jag .. and although there's no wing or door mirrors fitted, the trailer's visibility through the interior rear-view mirror was better than Katie, despite the TR4 being fitted with the Surrey-top backlight. I'm pleased with that. Pete

Thanks both.. This is what I expected to see with the two wires leading to an in-line restrictor valve mounted on the chassis. I've never actually seen one, but it's much as I imagined. The switch on the throttle is something I'll look out for. Again I don't think I've ever seen one ..but then I've only ever owned one automatic. I got the car back together, brakes bled, vacuum pipes reconnected yesterday evening, and I even remembered to try the space saver (XK140 wire) wheel on the front hub to make sure it actually fitted. . . ^ the XK140's 5" x 16" - 54 spoke wheel with its 6" cross-ply tyre looks a little lost, tucked so far under the wheel-arch .. but that's probably pretty close to what she looked like when first put on the road in 1960. The car was black then, and I have no idea whether the wheels would have been chromed, painted silver or black. The heritage certificate doesn't mention model spec options. Possibly black painted wheels, with the shiny black paintwork and beige leather interior, would have looked rather swish. Anyway I just wanted to ensure that Carmen's much later twin-pot front calipers was not going to be an interference issue. It would after all be a rather silly situation to find that the spare wheel didn't fit at the side of the road. It was clear and the wing nut tightened the wheel securely. I took the car down the road, along a stretch of dual-carriageway and back into town driving .. and the brakes now appear to be working fine. I deliberately repeatedly braked and let off .. trying to feel for that delay, before the brakes released, but couldn't find it. Often though I look for something and cannot find it, only to notice it sometime later when I'm not looking. These brakes may be playing the same trick on me. If not, then then my diagnostics of the fault, and servicing of the servo, have done the job. The exhaust silencer has stopped reverberating when I let my foot off the accelerator, so my patchwork repairs appears to have their too.. The fuel tank's drain plug has stopped dripping, so fitting an o-ring and smearing black silicon on the screw-thread have done the job. The essentially new drive / prop shaft is not noticed, even while driving at 70mph, so its balance is fine too. With the car now down off the ramps, I checked the height of the towing hitch. Measured to the top of the ball its 16-1/8" (410mm), with the spare wheel & tools in, and five gallons of fuel, but otherwise with the car unloaded. The trailer-tent I'd modified to increase its end's ground clearance by 1-3/8" (35mm). The towing hitch should now be about 16-1/2" (420mm) .. but I haven't yet checked that on the tarmac, so I'll do that today. I'll also be checking it's lights, but they were the same as the spare light board so I don't expect issues. I plan to use the car's old number plate on the trailer. A new number plate (with raised letters) has been ordered for the car but it's not here yet. So progress is being made .. although to be honest it does seem to have taken a frustratingly long time to do very little. I'll go an get the trailer-tent out of the garden now, and check it works. I'll be glad to tick those tasks off the to-do list. Pete.

I didn't know that, so Thank You. I had assumed it was in-line with the brake pipes .. and so I checked, as best I could, along the whole length of the (in case it just worked on the back brakes) but couldn't see it. BTW., after the car had been sitting for almost three weeks (..while waiting for the new driveshaft) ie., the partial-vacuum in the servo had seeped away - I repeatedly tried the brakes (engine off = no vacuum) and each time the rear wheel freed off immediately. I tried pumping the brakes, and still the same .. all was fine. I then started the engine, so the servo would then have its part-vacuum, and applied the brakes again. This time the rear wheel's brake was slow to release. From this I ascertained that it was indeed the brake servo not releasing as quickly as it should. Pete

I've looked but I cannot see one.