We're all going on a spring holiday....

Well, 326 is now on its hols in deepest Shropshire having been entrusted to the capable hands of Fire Engine Services for some much-needed work. The run across was uneventful with no problems at all, other than the A50 being the most boring road in the UK!! Crucially, the charging problem seems to have been sorted although you can tell that the plugs are sooting up yet again.....

First on the menu is a check of the brakes to see that they're OK then some new brake fluid. Then, a check of the clutch to try and sort out the 'bucking' in first and reverse. Then, time for a new rear roof so any summer showers can be repelled and so that the roof structure remains in good condition. After that - who knows, more likely let's see how much money is left!!


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All that glitters is chrome?

Well, after 2 months away, the badge backing for the front arrived back. Goodness, what a shock when I opened the parcel!

Because 326 had been stored with the nose poking out of the dutch barn, the badge backing was very rusted. So rusted, in fact, that when I rang around most re-chromers thought it too far gone.

However, as 326 has been carrying this around for all of its 58 years I didn't want to just find another one despite the fact that would have been the cheaper option. So, through a web search I found Bryan Purves Ltd down in West Sussex and he said he'd have a go. Here's the result - fantastic!! Just got to paint and seal the back of it and re-attach!

I'm the invisible man. Incredible how you can see right through me.

Well, a short visit tonight in preparation for next week's move across to Shropshire for some much-needed repair work. The rear number plate is back on, so I'm legal again. I also decided to replace the rear reflective marker panels since on A roads and motorways, moving at 40 mph in the dark or in poor visibility doesn't strike me as fun really, so any help in being seen is needed! Also, as 326 will be preserved in Op Fresco livery and they were already fitted, it keeps it in the condition it was when it left service.


The old and new - the older below, past their best and slightly faded:

That's better!

I also whipped the spark plugs out and cleaned them yet again (though not before I had to invest in a decent socket set as they were tight in...) - totally sooted up after the delivery journey and a couple of hours running to the extent she was almost mis-firing on the run out last week! Sorting the mixture and timing out is a must!!

I then messed about really, and tried the front vents, including the footwell side panels that had been painted shut and obviously not opened for a very long time! You can see the paint on the picture so a screw driver was needed as a lever:

Anyway, that's it now really - the next visit and run out will be to head to Shropshire next week!

Spring has sprung!!

Well, after the 4 month winter lay-up, it was time for a spring clean! So out with the jet wash for the first clean since I bought it back in November and, I suspect, for the first time in several years.

Luckily, as I've been prodding the brake pedal every time I've been, the brakes didn't bind at all after the months of inactivity which was a massive bonus! So, 326 was moved easily and quickly outside. Then, a good blast of the roof, body and underneath with a bit of Morris Cadence Traffic Film Remover which seemed to work pretty well when fed through the pressure washer with a rotary brush attachment.

That done and with the tyres pumped up, there was more than enough daylight left for a quick spin, so a couple of runs around the back roads clocking up another 10 miles or so. No problems whatsoever - battery charges, all the lights work etc. And, the opportunity for a few pictures of the gleaming 326 in the late afternoon sunshine! Then, back to bed in the barn, though not before I popped a few drops of oil into the two-tone horn compressor and - hey presto - they work!!

That done - time for home, though not before I had to borrow a battery charger as I'd deadened the battery on the MG by using the compressor....

A great day, all in all. Roll on summer and a few shows!

Lights, camera, action!

Well, got around to popping the new ignition / light switch combo in. Bit of a fiddle but it's done! So, ignition on - check. Side lights on - check. Headlights on - check. Headlights off - ahhhh..... So, a fiddle with the wires - nope. Open the bonnet - oh, there's another fuse box... Popped that open and had a fiddle with a suspiciously loose fuse - headlights on and stayed on. Perhaps it wasn't the switch after all.....? Anyway, tried to change the plugs but epic fail as they wouldn't shift! But all set for wash day on Wednesday, hopefully!