The Roaring Season

Another few small jobs done this week I have rebuilt the remote gearchange for the Cortina gearbox a new ball joint for the bottom of the gearshift and a new rod and clevis for the shifter on the top of the box. one thing I was not expecting is that it only selects the 4 forward gears I am not sure if this is standard on a race car although reverse gear is not needed on the track it would make sense to be able to select it for getting it off the trailer or helping with an "off" on the track. the reason for not being able to shift into reverse is that the shift leaver on top of the box needs to be lifted to negate the reverse lockout this cannot be done with the remote. I have another gearbox for spares that will change into reverse without lifting as it has had the bottom of the shift leaver inside the box modified so that it can slide though the 3 slots in the internal shifter rails with out lifting it into the shallower slot in the reverse selector rod. so this mod will be done and I will fit a reverse lockout with a leaver on the dash.
When I got the car the head of the engine was touching the firewall I thought this was the buggered engine mounts but on fitting the new mounts this was still happening so I have made up 10mm spacers to fit to the mounts to move the engine forward.[attachment=2]IMG_2073.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]IMG_2069.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]IMG_2066.jpg[/attachment]

some more pics of progress so far.[attachment=5]IMG_1978.jpg[/attachment][attachment=4]IMG_1980.jpg[/attachment][attachment=3]IMG_1990 - Copy.jpg[/attachment][attachment=2]IMG_2004.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]IMG_2031.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]IMG_2033.jpg[/attachment]

Hi Rodger yes looking forward to getting back into it, having trouble with my new phone taking photos and downloading them but will post some more when my daughter comes to visit next week (tec support) I think I have all the parts to finish the car now but working full time so time is the issue.

Looking forward to seeing more

[attachment=1]Special #052 HotRod1 Bruce's Special image Vintage Needful Things 113 kb Bruce B..jpg[/attachment]

Cheers

Roger,

PS the " Flat to the Boards " gets a lot of use - a constant reference.

[attachment=0]Motoring Books #018 Flat to the Boards - History of New Zealand Motor Sport 1901 - 1940 - A Mes.jpg[/attachment]

After about a year of not working on the Special due to lack of room and too many projects I have passed on a project and built a new shed to house the overflow of parts, this has allowed me to make some room to set the race car out with plenty of space around it to work so back into it and hope to have some progress to report soon.[attachment=0]IMG_2027.JPG[/attachment]

Great to know more have been made seems to be a demand for them. mine are an older set but should be good with some paint and tyres .

For some useless information, Les Weller was making Formula ford wheels again in the last few years, BC (before Covid), some of those had my hands involved in the manufacture. He is a very interesting gent with mountains of knowledge in the field, sadly the partnership fell apart (not me) and the company involved never really picked up the ball again. Many hundreds of FF wheels were made.
I was making the "hoops" that became rims. Les was pressing the centres.

I have done very little to the race car lately due to work and family commitments and the fact that I have run out of room in my shed but I have managed to get most of the parts that I need for the rebuild and a set of used Weller Formula Ford wheel rims to replace the widened triumph rims that where fitted to the car these had been widened by using steel bands like they did back in the day they are in good condition but I would not trust them at speed. [attachment=1]IMG_20230402_184240.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]IMG_20230417_132237.jpg[/attachment]

[attachment=2]IMG_20230117_145620.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]IMG_20230122_141917.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]IMG_20230122_160212.jpg[/attachment]

It might be worth you acquiring new ethanol resistant diaphragms etc for the Strombergs, I have spoken with the distributor here in the UK, he advises it.

Still not working on the race car had a few issues with the wee car the carb was flooding and I put this down to the electric fuel pump so changed it out for a new stock crank driven pump still the same issue and while waiting for a needle and seat for the single Solex carb I swapped what was left of my Herald $50 parts car for a set of twin Stromberg carbs and manifolds for the 1150cc engine so after a rebuild on the carbs I fitted them and due to the larger size the bonnet would not close without fouling on them, So I needed a few mods the intake was shortened by removing 30mm from the runners this got the carbs closer to the engine and only a small mod was needed to the bonnet to fit. just a few more small jobs and the car will be ready to hand over to the missus and I can resume work on the race car. No rest for the wicked.[attachment=0]IMG_20230117_131530.jpg[/attachment]

sorting out the bugs[attachment=2]image2.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]image4.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]image8.jpg[/attachment]

The Wolseley Special is done got a Rego and WOF today so just some fine tuning as things pop up. its been a fun project and it go's pretty well for 1147cc and it handles like a sports car due to it being so light I guess . I will have it out of the shed here in Waimate by xmas and up to my Chch place for the missus to use so I can get back onto the race car. its been a while since I could work on it so I will not have it ready to race this summer but next summer will be my aim now. but happy wife happy life.

Hi Roger yes an interesting little car I have been working on it in my driveway on sunny days and have had guys stopping going past to ask what it is. everyone loves it and would like to take it home. I have been calling it a kit car but it is more a one off special and it handles like a proper sports car. it was cheap to buy and I have spent about the same amount on parts to bring it up to a usable standard so the girls can have some fun.

In NZ, finding a Datsun 1200 engine is now nearly impossible, They and a couple of other common small Jap engines went to SE Asia for forklift engines. By the container load.

I was thinking a Datsun 1200 engine would go in there easily and be a lot less trouble than the Herald unit...

Though it's not a 998cc version. But all the same, the Datsun would be easy and lighter and so on.

Not a Herald as one would know it - and yes we know that the original " T - Car " was based on a Herald chassis but what hotrod1 has is much more interesting..

" Year: 1965
Make: TRIUMPH
Model: HERALD
Colour: WHITE
Body Style: Saloon
Plate: FB3941
Engine No: GD54605HE
Chassis: 3G831317DL
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car/Van
Seats: 5
CC rating: 1,147cc
Fuel Type: Petrol
Assembly Type: Unknown
Country of Origin: Not known
Industry Class: PRIVATE "
" FB3941
Plate Type: Standard
Origin: NZ New
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 01-Nov-1965 "

Good luck with this project too !!.
The Carjam page has a front on photo of the car - close up .. and small !! Your photo !!!

[attachment=0]Hotrod 1 project 1418214.jpg[/attachment]

That is tempting but this ones for the girls so 1200cc will be fine and safe for them we will keep it at our CHCH place so it will mostly be on the flat, no roof so sunny days only, I am in the VCC so we have plenty of runs and outings to go to.
If I looked at racing it I would need to upgrade the brakes, bigger engine, work the suspension, fit a roll bar, wider rims and tyres, harnesses, reengineer the rear suspension [I have rolled one hot Herald already back in the day] it would never end and I have the clubman car for track work and sprints, a Corvette for Drags and an unfinished 36 Ford hot rod for cruising and enough parts to build a Formula junior type car if I can find enough room to start building it when the clubman is done. so best the girls have fun with this one.

I reckon that could be as much fun as the Clubman-type car...

Road use and all. Maybe whack a larger engine into it for even more fun? Period, of course, something with an alloy head around 1600cc in size. Sunbeam Alpine motor and box would do it.

Triumph Herald with a hand built alloy body done in the 80s the only Wolseley parts are the grill and badges. I purchased it in CHCH 3 months ago and a few weeks later a guy joined my car club here in Waimate and it turned out he was the guy who built it, I guess its a small world. really only got it for parts but when the missus and daughter saw me drive it out of the shed on on to the trailer they fell in love with it. so making it safe for them to drive. but it has been really well done so mainly a little resto and a few new bits.