Project Satin Black - Help!!!!!!!!

[2drToledo]

How are you getting on with this one Steve? Always liked it in Satin.

[Carledo]

Well I'd not done much recently cos of ongoing problems with the petrol tank but last week I got a gallon of vinegar from Asda (in 500ml bottles) and started cleaning the tank. I cant say it worked too well, after leaving it in there for a couple of days, sluicing it about at regular intervals, I tipped it out and was dismayed to find that loads of crap was still visible through the sender hole I scraped a bit out with a long screwdriver but that was never going to be a good solution, then i had a brainwave and tipped a pint or so of brake cleaner in, swished it about for a few seconds and tipped it out on the workshop floor (don't tell H&S) Once the fluid had evaporated, which it does very quickly, I was left with about a baked bean tin full of silt on the floor! Quite a result but there's still more crap in there so I put more vinegar in there and left it to soak over the weekend.
Today being the first day its not been peeing with rain lately, I took myself out to the garage, put the battery on, blew out all the fuel lines, cleaned out the carb and connected a gallon fuel can to the boot end of the pipe.
Having primed the carb with a spare fuel pump worked manually, I pulled the choke out, turned the key and off it went like clockwork! I spent a few minutes getting it running absolutely spot on, then took it for a run up and down the drive to test the brakes, which was the last thing I messed with before it stopped running. Since it currently has servo assisted drum front brakes it stopped rather well! however it quickly became apparent that this master cylinder (like the other 2 it has had in my possession) is also bypassing! I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet and BUY a seal kit (I know, I'm a cheapskate!)
I had to SORN it yesterday, something I did not really want to do, but the tank (and now the brakes) stopped me getting it MOTd in time to renew the tax at the end of january when it expired. The best laid plans........
Otherwise it is coming along well, it now has carpets, a sound black cloth set of seats (Sprint rear and 1500HL front), I've found and fitted a pair of wing mirrors which fill the holes up nicely and I'm making some headway with reorganising the dash to get some extra clocks in without cutting any more big holes.
Joe is doing really well with his driving lessons despite the ADHD and takes his theory test in a couple of weeks. He loves the car, which has somehow acquired the name of "Ratty" and can't wait to get behind the wheel! So I need to get my finger out!
In the meantime I am STILL looking for a set of Black doorcards for it (either 4door Toledo or non HL Dolly ones will do) this will complete the interior.

Steve

[2drToledo]

Glad to hear that you're making progress Steve. Good that Joe is getting closer to driving too.

Sorry I can't help out with the search for black trimpads. When I last spoke to someone at Rimmer's (this would be June-ish last year) they still had some NOS sundry ones at very reasonable prices.

[Carledo]

Been a long time since I updated this - but then it's been a long time since i worked on it too!
But the last 2 weekends have seen a lot of progress. I got another tank since my efforts to clean the original have been pretty unsuccessful and it leaked badly! Then believe it or not, another turned up cheapish and its fine (cheers Sprintypantsman)
So last Saturday I set to swapping the drum front brakes to discs which was accomplished with only minor trauma, a track rod end that broke its taper seal before the nut was undone and had to be cut off with a grinder, a metal brake pipe that split when undone from the flexi, I don't mind this, it LOOKED perfect but blatantly wasn't when stressed even slightly. The final obstacle was a flexi on the new legs that had been mis-fitted and chafed almost through on one of the top balljoint nuts, fortunately one of the original drum ones was new so I used that. The parts bin supplied a nearly new track rod end with a split gaiter but the old ends gaiter was fine so was recycled. I also swapped out the lower column bush (or what was left) for a Supaflex one and learned that there are 2 types of column on a Toledo. The early type on this car has a Herald type saddle clamp whereas later ones (like the one in my garage that came off the late 73 Carledo) only have a circlip.
Even after 40+ years messing with Triumphs, I'm still learning!
Finally I swapped the wheels for the fake Minilites I got from Stew, though the low profile tyres exagerate the nose up stance, I still think they look good on it and more to the point, so does Joe!
A quick trip up the road finished the day in style!













Steve

PS I STILL need black doorcards! Somebody? - Anybody? HELP!!!!

[Carledo]

Today was a good day! The car, having barely turned a wheel in anger for nearly 2 years, ran faultlessly and pulled strongly to Bridgnorth and back for its MOT and came back with this:-



Shortly followed by a sublime moment in the Post office to get one of these:-



Why is it such a thrill to pick up a free tax disc? It just makes me feel as if i'm getting away with something naughty!

Other than highlighting a dire need for the tracking to be done, I'm very pleased with how the car performed.
And it appears that my search for doorcards has finally born fruit! Cheers Chris!

Steve

[Purplebargeken]

Fabulous news mate, brilliant! Good to see her again, even if it is in pics!

Hope my ham fisted mechanical work on the engine is holding out!

Like the wheels!

[Carledo]

Dunno about ham fisted mate! More like "if in doubt, swap it out" I assume i'm gonna have to retorque the head sometime in the nearish future but thats OK. For now i'm just running on additive but at some point i'll pull the head again for an unleaded convo.
I think a lot of it's running problems were down to the almost totally obstructed fuel flow from the cr*p in the tank!

Anyway, between us, another one is back on the road!

Steve

PS just seen your update, you have been a busy boy! Keep up the good work!

[DoloWIGHTY]

Congratulations! Having another Toledo on the road is fantastic news.

[Purplebargeken]

^^ agree totally. Sods Law indicates that there will be lots of black interiors for sale on ebay from this very point on.

[ToledoZombie]

Steve I do remember offering a set of door cards last year. (In fact they were once Kens)
Glad you got sorted now though

[Carledo]

Steve I do remember offering a set of door cards last year. (In fact they were once Kens)
Glad you got sorted now though

I remember that NOW! But I think at the time, the distance was too big a factor! Since then we have bought a caravan at Burnham on sea and Chris is just down the road in Bridgwater - so its only gonna take me an hour and half a gallon of gas to get his! However I am not ungrateful for your kind offer, its nice to know there are people like you out there!
I see you are back on Chuckie at last - well done, that sill is coming along nicely! Regarding drain holes, there weren't any in my originals (though they may have beern patched over) so I didn't put any back. With a little hindsight this may have been foolish - but theres nothing stopping us both drilling a small hole at either end for drainage purposes, I can't see a tester objecting to that!

Steve

[ToledoZombie]

Yes I may just do that. Nice place Bernham on sea, I cycled through there last year on a charity ride!

[Carledo]

It is with regret that I have to announce that Project SB is on it's way to a new home. Joe failed his test 3 times and now has a local job, so he reckons he doesn't need to drive right now.
Since the MOT in 2014, the car had not turned a wheel in anger, which had resulted in the clutch sticking (predictably) and a failure to pull fuel up by the (new) fuel pump Ken fitted due to a ruined seal in the top housing.
Fitting the original fuel pump from the original engine out of the Carledo (40 years old and unused for 8 years) had it purring away and a bit of driving on the jack and stands freed the clutch off. A little bit of cleaning and fettling in the brake department had them working properly again and another MOT was gained on Jan 5th.
And today its new owner (another forum member) has collected it and it is off to a new adventure!
Hopefully he will continue this thread from where i've left off!

Steve