MOT AND SEATS

The garage that the previous owner always used for servicing and MOT has moved to Caterham and although I was prepared to drive the five miles or so for an MOT as they knew the car intimately, I was told that they no longer carried out MOT's but they did recommend a garage close to where they used to be and B & W in South Croydon were happy to book Stella in for last Tuesday. After the usual 45 minutes I was given the thumbs up, with just the advisory of oil leak from gearbox, something I am well aware of that will be sorted when the ZF 4 speed box is fitted latter this year. Very satifying, and a lovel smug feeling welled over me.

The next day my friend Gerry and I drove to Faversham in deepest Kent to South East Trimmers where Jim had a pair of re-foamed and re-covered front seats ready for me. I had made contact a couple of weeks earlier and he said that rather than dropping off my seats with him for a couple of weeks he could fit an exchange pair, so that is what we did. Very smart they look and supportive. I will now vacuum the carpets as previously it hadn't been worthwhile as they were forever covered in yellow crumbs of old, dead foam.

DRIVE IT DAY

I forgot to mention in the last post that I fitted the new rear shock absorbers, before I fitted the stainless exhaust and for once it was as easy as predicted.

I had several oportunities to go for a run in Stella over the last couple of weeks, one drive was a fast run around the M25 to Staines and she drives as if on rails. no more wandering from one side of the lane to the other and absolutely no sign of overheating. This was also probably the first long run since having the extra boss fitted to the radiator and it seems to have paid off.

Anyway, Sunday 23rd of April, as well as being St Georges Day was national Drive It Day and at the last minute I registered with the Croydon Rotary Club for its organised run from the large vineyard in Dorking, Surrey to The Chatham Dockyard in Kent. The route was through many lovely villages and the sun did its best to shine, so it was roof down for the whole 60 miles.

Approximately 68 classic cars did the run and we were in a small convoy of three cars and the six occupants of those three cars spent several hours enjoying the attractions of the dockyard. The Ropery and a cold war submarine took up most of our time, before we set our sat navs and raised our hoods before setting of for home.

130 miles and no problems at all, GREAT!!!!

BRAKES EXHAUSTING

I started off bleeding the rear brakes using the vacuum tool that I bought when I was building Marjorie, my replica Morgan three wheeler kit car. The right hand brake bled quickly with the fluid being drawn through via the vacuum, but when I transferred to the left brake I only drew through bubbles. I called on a chum to press the brake pedal in the time honoured manner and after a few pushes just fluid was coming down the clear plastic tube, but as I closed the bleed nipple brake fluid poured over the back of my hand. A quick nip up of the brake pipe connector to the brake cylinder and the leak stopped and my chum said the brake pedal was firm, that was obviously why I only got bubbles when the vacuum was trying to suck the fluid through.

I adjusted and connected the hand brake cables and refitted the wheels. With the wheels back on the ground the engine started first turn of the key, which was very satisfying. Whilst sorting out a non working horn I left the ignition switched on when I went indoors for a cup of coffee, on my return Stella refused to start and the coil was to hot to touch. Robsport had a new coil with me next day and I was able to drive the car onto my hydraulic ramps and pumped up in readiness for replacing the exhaust system.

Much to my surprise none of the many nuts clamping the exhaust failed to undo, although I did cut through the long lengths of pipe with my disc cutter to make its removal easier.

I started fitting the new stainless system, front end first, leaving all connections loose. That was enough for one day and on the next I jacked up the back end and completed the installation. When everything lined up I tightened all the clamps.

Out for a test drive once I had the front wheels tracked at my local tyre depot and it was all I had hoped for. No more clonks, creaks and groans from the back end and the front now steers perfectly with no more wallowing and wandering, fabulous. Ready now to enjoy the dry, bright weather we are currently expierencing.