Servicing ‘t Kreng

With the spring in the air and the “driving-season” about to start, it was time for a long postponed job: Changing the hydraulic fluids in ‘t Kreng. It was the first time I did this job in the shed. And it was a bit of a squeeze with all the TR7’s inside!

As for the job itself, that is something I usually do every two years. Though this time it was almost three years since the hydraulic systems last fluid change. Mainly caused by the lack of use, as a result of which the fluids didn’t look to bad once drained from the system.

And with the proven two man bleeding method it didn’t take long to get the systems flushed and bled. Discussing the other two projects in the shed took more time 😊

This also meant I had to return this Sunday morning to finish a few smaller job. Like re-installing the brake failure switch, cleaning the wheels, and checking the tyre’s pressures.

Turned out the tyre’s pressures had dropped about 0,2 bar over the past 11 months (from 2,10 to 1,90 bar). So nothing to worry about. The same applied for the engine fluids. A gentle drive to wake her from her 11 month slumber is the next item in my TR7 scheduler.

Keeping away from the TR7’s

I decided to take a break from the TR7’s this weekend. Instead I went for a walk in the southern part of our province. It was a nice 10 mile long walk which roughly followed the valley of the Selzerbach between Holset and Wahlwiller. The fine early spring weather certainly helped to make it a nice day out. As did the very good local food!

Free range pig(lets) in a meadow just outside the village of Vijlen

Field crusifix at a cross roads near the hamlet of Hilleshagen

Entering the village of Wahlwiller along the narrow and overgrown “Höfkensgats”

A road crucifix on a crossroads in a small wood between Wahlwiller and Nijswiller

What looks like a tree encapsulated in ancient ivy,

in the Kolmonder forest, north of Mamelis.

Next week(end) ‘t Kreng will get some much needed attention in preparation for the coming driving season. She’s been idle for way too long!

DHC repairs #2: More bodyshell disassembling

I spent a few more hours in the shed over the weekend, for more disassembling of the DHC’s original bodyshell. Quite pleased with the progress so far. The doors are completely stripped, as is the interior safe for a few small parts that are pop-riveted in position. And I forgot to take the (cordless) drill with me to the shed. So a few more pictures of the shell’s condition;

Judging by the shell’s overall condition so far, the plans for the car’s repairs might shift a little. More on that later!

And to close this post one of those discoveries that makes one wonder why the British car industry didn’t survive. This was found underneath the sound deadening material in the driver’s footwell. Never seen such a part on a TR7 before. So wondering what it might be and how it came there!?

DHC repairs #1: Disassembling the spare bodyshell

With the main harness for the ’76 car ready, and the carnival season over, it was time to spent some time on the damage repairs for the DHC. As mentioned earlier there were two options available;

• Dismantling the car and repair the current body shell;
• Use the car’s original shell that has been lingering in a corner of the shed for many years;

I have since decided it would be best for me to strip the car’s original body and repair and paint that. After which all parts can be easily transferred to the repaired shell.

So whenever there was some spare time over the past few months, I have been to the shed to dismantle the body shell. Front of the car is completely bare now, as is most of the interior. And as stated before, it is a bit rough around the edges. But overall not to bad so far. Though I expect there will be some hidden horrors especially around the wheel arches and the sills.

But I will probably first have to spent some time and money on a better system to store the many parts now littering the shed! And a few pictures of the engine bay: