After a few turns, 326 fired up (filling my car with smelly black fumes in the process) and quickly settled to a purr. Having not turned a wheel since the end of August, and before the truly cold weather arrives together with salty roads, a quick run out was required to keep everything in order. So we had a quick spin along the A52 to the Bingham roundabout and back, some 25 miles. No problems at all - good to be back behind the wheel actually!
Then on with the work.... The main plan today was to start fitting the battery isolator switch. Having had this proper Lucas period switch in a box for over 9 months, I thought that it was probably time for it to go on. Drilling the hole was easy given that the wood is well seasoned and soon it was in place. The cables had been made up over the summer so the new negative cable is now on. All that remains is soldering / crimping the spade connector onto the existing negative lead. The solder I had made little impact so I think more solder and a blow torch will be better! So a job two thirds done.... Still - looks pretty neat I reckon!
I then fitted the LED front side lights and two of the four LED bulbs needed at the back for the sides. After faffing with the earth leads on the battery (no lights at all initially) the side lights then again burnt out the fuse wire. Once that had been replaced, the circuit was back on line so the bulbs were swapped. The new lights are so much brighter and given the speed of 326, any additional light is welcome!
After that, because the temperature had dropped so much, not even the coffee was keeping the cold out so 326 was put back to bed in the barn once more.
There are a few winter tasks to be completed so as and when time permits.....
