VA138, the next chapter....

[shaunroche]

My word, looks the business that Dave!

[Awaiting Repair]

In case you have not seen it, UUW 410M is for sale on Facebook, see the 'Triumph Dolomite Group'

Cheers
Keith

[shaunroche]

A little more progression in so much that the engine and gearbox has been fitted now.

Due to issues with the race car engine last year, it was in and out about 5 times in the year so we're pretty well versed in how to go about getting the engine in and out, favouring the over the top method rather the the dropped subframe method...in all it took us about 40 minutes from chains on/chains off and it would have been quicker had we seen sooner that the reason the engine mtg brkts to subframe wouldn't line up was due to the exhaust U bolt fouling the chassis leg..







.. it's always useful to have a little Elf around the place to help out!

[hundertneuner]

Excellent thread Shaun!

[shaunroche]

Excellent thread Shaun!

Many thanks!

[shaunroche]

There's been a lot going on since I last posted, but we had to move units and that took a lot of doing considering all the junk we've accumulated!

I also decided to undertake a full mechanical rebuild of the race sprint which took a lot longer than anticipated!



Anyway, we're up and running again and have even splashed out on a two post lift which makes life a lot easier!

All the brakes pipes and fuel pipes that Carledo supplied are plumbed in now but I decided to make up some flexi's for the front brakes due to my poor efforts at bending the short caliper pipes up...











I also created a longer Flexi for the LSV as the std one looked a little too short...



The biggest shock this month is how expensive the pipe clips, rubber hose and the compression clips are...it's eye watering!

I also went and picked the refurbished wheels up as the shop were getting a bit testy at the 12 month free storage I took advantage of...not that they knew I thought it safer for them to look after them than I! I'd forgotten what a phenomenal job they'd done on them...



I had bought a NOS fuel tank thinking the original would be rusty but upon inspection, it's in really good nick over all, so a quick refurb was in order...

[Tony Burd]

Looking good, so jealous of that 2 post lift.

[GlenM]

Is that a Twinbusch lift?

[new to this]

Looking good

Why did BL run the fuel line on the left side of the car then go round the axle to then run down the right side of the car ?

Would it not have been easier to run straight through the middle gearbox tunnel

Dave

[shaunroche]

Is that a Twinbusch lift?

Don't think so, this one Is from Automotech in Rugeley...

[shaunroche]

Looking good

Why did BL run the fuel line on the left side of the car then go round the axle to then run down the right side of the car ?

Would it not have been easier to run straight through the middle gearbox tunnel

Dave

Who knows Dave! Typical BL, nothing makes sense!

[Carledo]

Looking good

Why did BL run the fuel line on the left side of the car then go round the axle to then run down the right side of the car ?

Would it not have been easier to run straight through the middle gearbox tunnel

Dave

Depending on model, the fuel pipe can run down either side of the car and either chassis rail. Slant engined cars, the pipe runs along the O/S chassis leg then cross to the N/S sill and back from there. OHV cars have the exact opposite with the pipe following the N/S leg, then crossing to the O/S above the gearbox tailshaft and on back along the O/S sill to the tank. I think this is to keep the fuel pipe as remote from the exhaust as possible. I have patterns for both designs. However there is one oddity on all Sprints I have seen, in that the joint between the intermediate and rear sections of the standard pipe is directly above the position of the stock exhaust. Not a good idea IMO! Though TBF, every model, the fuel line crosses above the exhaust at some point at least once! It's just the leak potential of that 3" of vulnerable rubber hose in that particular spot that gets me!

I've used this anomaly in pipe designs to my benefit on the fuel injected Dolomega though, the high pressure feed from the rear mounted pump goes down the offside route and the lower pressure scavenged return line uses the original Sprint supply pipe on the N/S. Most bodyshells have the clip holes (or most of them) to support a pipe on either side of the car. But in any case it's easy enough to drill any missing holes, just match them to the other side!

Steve

[shaunroche]

When I got the car the boot area was rotten so before putting the tank and side panels in, I've applied a liberal coating of Dinitrol. I swear by the stuff as I used it on the white Sprint and 8 years later, it's still performing well so I know it's good stuff.

It looks unsightly but I've sprayed it everywhere into all the joints behind panels and under the tank as when water gets in, and it probably will, it pools and rots inside out as the before and after pics show....





The entire loom, main, rear and dashboard in the car is new from Autosparks in Nottingham- I don't trust 50 year old electrics so it's all been replaced and the rear loom installed - it needs threading properly behind the rear panel and routing properly but you get the picture...



My previous Sprint built August '73, so one of the first 2000 like this one, didn't have the rear resistor and control box in the boot or any wires in the harness for it, like which this car has, which I find really strange.....I am impressed by Autosparks though as the new harness does have all the connections for those two items.....

[RSi]

It's Dinitrol I used to refresh the Ziebart. I like the way it almost dries, rather than remain tacky.

[shaunroche]

A bit more progress....getting close to turning the key!

A bit of a difference between the two!