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1971 2 door Toledo - a very long hibernation http://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=34393 |
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Author: | 2door-toledo [ Wed Sep 26, 2018 10:40 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
Around 1996 stripping was in progress, revealing the full extent of the rot. |
Author: | 2door-toledo [ Wed Sep 26, 2018 10:43 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
A very young version of me degreases the engine and gearbox around 1996 |
Author: | GTS290N [ Thu Sep 27, 2018 6:57 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
Fantastic pictures, thanks for taking the time to share. Keep them coming. |
Author: | 2door-toledo [ Thu Sep 27, 2018 11:17 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
Thank you GTS290N and Mad sheep. I have lots lots more photos to go I do have hankerings about building a 2 door magenta Toledo TS after I've finished this, but that depends on finding the right donor car and winning the lottery |
Author: | 2door-toledo [ Thu Sep 27, 2018 11:39 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
By 2018 it became clear that it was going to be up to me to get the car back on the road. Not having much time or experience, I wanted a Triumph specialist to help me getting the engine running again. Unfortunately however by this point the engine had seized. I took the spark plugs out and the amount of rust did not look healthy. Coolant had been put into the car in 2010 but I am guessing that the head gasket leaked and allowed water into the bores. I took the head off to fully assess the damage. Despite several weeks soaking in Plusgas the pistons wouldn't budge. The whole sorry lot was carted off to a Triumph specialist. They had to hammer the pistons out of the bores, they were so badly rusted. Ouch. Pro tip: don't leave coolant in an engine especially one that's not been run, so doesn't have a protective layer of oil and carbon. |
Author: | 2door-toledo [ Fri Sep 28, 2018 10:14 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
Now onto the start of some good news! In March 2018 the engine was fully rebuilt by JY classics And the engine ran for the first time in 36 years: video1, video2. (I'm not sure I can embed YouTube videos here). Meanwhile I had a 12 week battle with the DVLA to reinstate the registration number as being offroad since 1982 Ernie missed going onto those new-fangled computer things. I only had an old style registration document, no V5. But after the DVLA kept making it up as they went along for 12 weeks, I was eventually awarded with a fresh new V5. Keeper number 1, my dad. |
Author: | 2door-toledo [ Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:08 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
After the engine was rebuilt I there was still the issue of finishing the bodywork (doing things in the wrong order for complicated family reasons). Namely attaching the front wings, painting the boot, bonnet and doors. I also decided that the quality of the paint job was disappointing, it was cellulose done in a garage. I am a bit of a perfectionist. Given that the paint was badly chipped despite only ever having been in a garage, I suspect the cellulose didn't adhere to the primer. So, out with the engine again and off to the body shop for painting in two pack and attachment of the front wings. |
Author: | 2door-toledo [ Fri Oct 05, 2018 3:23 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
The gearbox, diff and propshaft are the elephants in the room. I don't know what state they were in when the car was laid up in 1982. It seems a shame to put them back on the car in the hope that they work. Conversely, they might be absolutely fine and I don't want to try and rebuild things that aren't broke. The oil seals in the gearbox and diff are a concern to me though. From reading the workshop manual disassembly of the diff is definitely not something I want to get involved with. I still haven't decided what to do here. In the mean time I've been working on prepping the suspension and subframe ready for paint tomorrow. They've been taken back to bare metal, thoroughly degreased and then treated with POR15 metal prep. With hindsight, I'd have got them media blasted. |
Author: | new to this [ Fri Oct 05, 2018 4:53 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
there's a lot of bits there keep the pictures coming Dave |
Author: | Awaiting Repair [ Fri Oct 05, 2018 5:18 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
Great thread, well done and as Dave says, keep those pictures coming! Keith |
Author: | NickMorgan [ Tue Oct 09, 2018 8:32 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
It looks like this will be a fantastic car once you have completed it. Great to have the family history, too. |
Author: | AlastairC [ Wed Nov 14, 2018 9:48 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Project Ernie: A very long Toledo hibernation |
Im at about the same stage with my front suspension / subframe. I'm going to get all the bits vapour blasted and then I will probably paint them myself - not sure I might get it done professionally. Good luck with your project, looking forward to seeing more pictures! |
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