FHC resto nr. 11; Hole plugged ...

A short update on the progress of the body-work on the FHC. The boot area is almost sorted, with the donor boot floor welded in place.

But it wasn't as straight forward as it looks. With the old panels still in place it was obvious that there was something wrong. And with all panels removed and after taking some measurements it turned out that the rear of the right hand chassis leg was pointing about half an inch outwards from where it should be. But with all panels already removed that was easy to rectify.

Another problem was that the spare-wheel-well and the boot floor, as a complete panel, couldn't be fitted back to car. There just wasn't enough room to manoeuvre it back in place. So that was taken back to its original parts, which were than separately welded back in. At least this enabled us to get a much better alignment for all panels, in comparison to the factory finish ...

FHC resto nr. 10; A rather big hole

Due to work on my other two cars and a short trip to Wales, progress has been very marginal over the past month or so. But work has started again on the FHC. And last Wednesday the body was transported to a friend's place for the welding to be carried out. This is how the boot area looked a few days ago ...

And when I visited him this afternoon it was clear he hadn't been idle. When I walked into his work shop I was greeted by a very big hole were the boot used to be ...

And this a pile of cut up pieces was all that remained of the butchered boot.

Also the non original rear deck panel (with a small filler hole) had already been removed, revealing some more rot were the panel is fitted to the rear wings ...

And the front section of the spare wheel well has already been repaired, using parts from the boot of the yellow body I cut up in early April.

And I am glad I made the effort to remove the complete rear deck from the yellow body, as the remaining bits from the original filler surround had been badly butchered. As the underside of the rear deck is rather difficult to reach ones it is fitted, I decided to coat it with an epoxy primer.

Next visit planned for next Wednesday.

The 2nd edition of the Taith o Amgylch Cymru

How time flies, as it is already two weeks ago that we (René and I) left for England and Wales to take part in the second edition of Club Triumph's Taith o Amgylch Cymru (or A Tour of Wales in proper English). Last year we started in the South of Wales. This year's start was at a rather well known place, the Gledrid Services on the A5 near Chirk (for those who have done the RBRR that is). The organisers had again found some great driving roads, with about 80% being different from last year's edition. But sadly the weather again didn't cooperate. At the start it began to drizzle and it got worse throughout the first day, the green line in the picture below:

As I hate getting out of a car in the rain I didn't take much pictures during most of the first day. So no pictures of the EVO triangle, Mount Snowdon or some of BL's test roads around Bwlch-Y-Groes. The last one brought back happy memories from many years ago, when I took 't Kreng for a driving holiday to Wales in 1999. Time flies indeed!

But by the end of the first (driving) day there were even some dry spells, enabling me to take some photos along the route, without getting soaked:

Layby along the B487 north of Tre'r-Ddôl

Tim Hunt’s TR4 crossing the Nant-Y-Moch reservoir dam.

In front of the Nant-Y-Moch reservoir dam.

But always look on the bright side of life; the appalling weather was a good test for the car's hood. It passed the test for being Welsh-Weather-Proof with flying colours. Absolutely no leaks, but there were some damp patches starting to appear around the hoods stitching by the time we reached the finish of the first day in Aberystwyth.

The second day (red line in the picture at the top) started much better, dry! And despite lots of threatening clouds it remained more or less dry all day, enabling us to enjoy the scenery even more. And giving the opportunity for a few photo stops:

Llyn Brianne reservoir.

The supposedly remotest post box in the country, together with a telephone box

that had clearly been used for target practice, near Esgair Cerrig:

The A4069 passing over the Black Mountain, and ranking as one of the top 10 driving roads in the UK.

The sheep also seemed to like it very much, especially the barriers:

And some pictures of one of the little, hidden away, driving gems.

The unclassified roads over Mynydd-y-Betws:

A big thank you for Anthony and Michael for organizing this great event for Club Triumph!

After the event we slowly returned home via Usk:

In the back yard of the Olway Inn Hotel on the outskirts of Usk

The evening sun lighting up the countryside, Chepstow Road east of Usk

Salisbury

And like last year we spent a few days in and around the lovely city of Salisbury.

Starting with a stroll through the city’s centre:

Harnham Gate Salisbury

Minster Street Salisbury

New Street Salisbury

Market Place, Salisbury

Bishop's Walk Salisbury

Bridge Street Salisbury

Old Sarum

Visiting the remains of the he ruined and deserted site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury.

Situated on a hill about two miles north of modern day Salisbury near the A345 road:

Salisbury Cathedral

And finally we spent a few hours in and around this iconic building

(Ohne Wörter, as the Germans say!)

And the car? Well she behaved quite nicely over the ±2250 kilometres that were covered during the week. The gear box oil change clearly has improved the gear changes. They are still not wonderful but on the other hand the 'box is still fairly new, so will see how it develops over time. The other problem was the fuel gauge, and as I hoped, it looks like it has solved itself. The gauge returned to something resembling a working condition over the week.

The only thing that needs sorting sooner rather than later are the (front) brakes. During the 10CR I thought the pads locked up inside the callipers, but it seems that when these pads get cold (as in not being used for some time) they don't work as they should. When in regular use they behave as they should, giving decent stopping power. But when they are cold it's like they are covered in grease and they need a second or so before they start to work, scary! At least they produce lots of dust on the wheels!

Edited on the 8th of May 2024: 10 Years after the second edition of the “Taith o Amgylch Cymru“ started, it was time to freshen up the pictures I took during this event in 2014. I also added some extra pictures, and edited the text where necessary.