Project XJX (Pimento Sprint)

[Mad Mart]

I cleaned up around the edges of the footwells. I'm not certain how these need to be spot weld drilled & cut as I've never done them before...





Also cleaned up a pile of front suspension parts ready for painting...



I cleaned up one of the brake discs which came up really good except where the pads had rusted to them. There is quite a lot of pitting and a small chunk is missing (near the top in the pic.)...



We started stripping the bonnet but I removed these first. They came off nicely so if anyone wants them, drop me a PM.

[MalcGE]

Good progress Mart.

What is the brand of paint stripper you use and where does it come from ?.

I am out of 'old skool' Nitromors and the stuff they put in the tin these days is about effective as brake fluid.

I've got a couple of Alloys to refurb ( not Sprint ) and I need something with a bit of "ooomph" to it

[Mad Mart]

I use Starchem and have been for several years now Malc. Stronger than Nitromors.



I usually get it off Jon the sprayer but this time I got it off Ebay...£35/gallon.

[MalcGE]

Thanks, I couldn't quite make out the brand in the 'by the car shot'.

If you can find someone with a Pro-cut disc lathe, you could prob get those pad corrosion marks out, providing the discs are thik enough. Mind you, it is an on car disc lathe so not without other challenges

[Mad Mart]

No pics today I'm afraid. Still doing the boring stuff, paint removal. I did all around the door frames, under the rear roof overhang and the roof. The underside of the bonnet is stripped, so now it's just the rest of the bonnet to do and that's about it for paint removal. I think the next step is to remove the subframe & front suspension and bolt on my wobbly wheel frame.

[DoloWIGHTY]

Nice to see they included a Sprint alloy on the label!

[James467]

Cracking progress as usual Mart!

+1 for Starchem, it's evil stuff though! If you're going to use it don't wear Marigolds with it, use some proper industrial chemical handling gloves. I get mine from Autopaints Brighton, £24.95 for 5L. A warning though they will demand that you sign a disclaimer before they sell it to you!!

[Mad Mart]

That's a good price, I'll have to get mine from there next time (what do you mean next time!!!).

I started the day with a spot of welding. The radius arms had wear in them, quite a common thing.



so a few blobs of weld, grind it down and finish off with a file, gob's a good'un.



Then I decided to drop the subframe. I usually wrap a thick tow rope around the front panel to lift the body up with the hoist. But with half the front panel missing and the wings only held on with self-tappers, the rest of the front panel wouldn't take the weight, so I had to think of a different way to do it. I ended up putting a 3"x2" across the chassis legs and jacking it up. There isn't much weight to the body so I knew I wasn't going to dent the nice new chassis legs.







Then I removed the propshaft. Looks like I have a bit of work to do on that. Someone did this recently, is it straight forward? I have good used centre bearing and a nos one.

[James467]

Yep, that would be me, here you go, about half way down the page.

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27969&start=30

If the boot/gaiter/gator is damaged this is the one I got...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-TR7-T ... 537914915?

and for your convenience a link to the Robsport eBay centre carrier!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-DOLOM ... 328967821?

[James467]

Sorry, I just noticed that you've got a UJ rather than a CV so you wouldn't need the boot - my bad!

[tinweevil]

That's the wrong prop for a sprint, it should have at least one CV.
[edit]Is that a cv on the left? I'm not sure now.

[Toledo Man]

I've just had a look through my parts catalogues and it looks like an early 1850 propshaft which had 3 UJs and the sliding section at the rear. All Sprints had a CV joint just behind the centre bearing. This is the page from the post '76 parts catalogue.

[Mad Mart]

Yes, thanks guys. I have been in to Sprints for a few years now (35+) so I do know the difference.

Yes, it has three UJs and a sliding section at the rear. As long as it fits it should be fine, seeing as I don't have a spare Sprint prop. I also remember having this fitted to THJ...





...similar to the one I have but with the sliding joint at the centre.

[soe8m]

There are various propshat types for sprints. The early ones had a cv at the diff side too. I have a 1973 sprint that has no cv's but differs in length to 1850 ones.

Jeroen

[Mad Mart]

Thanks for the link James. I'll have a go at that next week.

We finished the bonnet and a few bits & pieces this morning (nothing done this afternoon as City were on the box). That's all we're going to do to the body before it goes to the spray shop.