Triumph Herald - Restoration (part 1)
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August 1998. Cleaned & polished and doesn't look too bad....from a distance. Once home, and after closer examination it was becoming clear that she would need a bit of attention. There were some obvious things, like the header rail on the hood frame had become detached from the side rail, and it looked as if a passenger had taken a bite out of the dashboard.
The header rail couldn't be attached to the side rail as the bracket had rusted and snapped. This didn't make for easy stowing or raising of the hood. This was replaced with a new item from Canley Classics.
The duct tape on the dashboard below is hiding a big hole, a good second hand item was found through the TSSC classified pages.
A common problem with Heralds is that the front foot wells rust. I knew the drivers side had been repaired, but I didn't quite appreciated how badly. Someone had left the old rusty foot wells in place, then with sheet metal fabricated the panel and welded it in over the top.....very messy.
My welding skills are non-existent, and I had no intention of learning, so in need of a 'classic friendly' welder. I was recommended Dick Griffiths at RMG Coachworks in Farnham. After lots of sucking air through teeth, and shaking of heads, we fixed a date for Bluebell to have some new metal.
Now that's how they should be done. Correct panels neatly welded into position.
Boot and underneath rear seat needed attention.
Both seatbelt anchor points had seen better days.
Old faithful - Plenty of black Hammerite to smarten things up.
And to finish off, a new carpet set.
With the Herald heavier for all the new metal, and my wallet considerably lighter, she sailed through the MoT, except for the obligatory "your headlights need adjusting a bit". (Is it just me, or do MoT testers say that to everyone?)
I would have to leave the bodywork for a while, as I wanted to get my hands on the oily bits, I needed something reliable, safe, and with a few modifications just to help cope with modern day traffic. The modifications couldn't be drastic, as I wanted the car to be basically original, so over the next few years I slowly set to work.
Brake overhaul - I fitted copper brake pipes, Goodridge brake hoses, cross drilled discs, EBC Greenstuff front pads, rear cylinders, rear shoes, master cylinder, replaced the seals on the calipers, and once reassembled filled up with silicone brake fluid. A short time later the handbrake was to get new cables and brackets.
Front Suspension overhaul - All bushes, trunnions, springs, shocks, track rod ends were replaced, and the rubber anti-roll bar mounts replaced with solid ones.
Rear Suspension - Again all the bushes, springs & shocks were replaced. It was only when the new suspension was on, did I notice how creaky it was before!
Gearbox - I fitted a reconditioned gearbox, this time with synchromesh on all 4 gears. A new clutch went in whilst the gearbox was off, repair kits for the master & slave cylinders, copper pipe and all refilled with silicone fluid again. The master cylinder died about 6 month after this, so that was replaced with a new one.
Half shaft rebuild - This is not a job for the faint hearted. For anyone considering doing this job, you should think about buying reconditioned units, it seems expensive but how I wish I'd taken this route.
Other jobs carried out included fitting an alternator conversion, halogen headlights, new loom, Aldon Ignitor electronic ignition & Flame Thrower coil, and a stainless steel exhaust.
In June 2000 I discussed with Dick at RMG about sorting out the front assembly. The trouble with my existing front end was that the bonnet was out of shape and the leading edge where it joins the front panel was inwardly a bit rusty, OK it was rotten.
So the same month I visited Dick, who had now moved to Odiham, and dropped off the 'new' front assembly and a big box of bits to make it as good as new. Now Dick is a great guy, a true craftsman and a real gentleman, but he can be a bit slow....fast forward over 3 years and my 'new' front assembly had managed to find its way into a very dark corner, and the box of bits are still, a box of bits.
Now in the 3 years or so I had spoken to Dick regularly, there were many reasons for the lack of progress. I may have made my first mistake when I said there was no rush. I think reminding him it was its 3rd anniversary was sufficiently embarrassing and work was underway, all be it very slowly.
February 2004 arrived and the new front assembly needed a trial fitting, the Herald was needed in the workshop. The plan was to leave her there for a week whilst the fit was assured, the old bonnet to be refitted once Dick was happy, so I could have her back while the prep and painting was done.
Like all great plans - it went wrong. The fit proved to be tricky, and with other adjacent panels not being the best aligned, it proved to be a tough job.
So here we are heading for the end of April 2004. The first major Triumph show of the year is only 2 weeks away, and I'm desperately hoping to have it for the SEM at Leatherhead on May 9th. It might happen, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The bonnet fit is as good as it's going to get, and the new front valance needs some tweaking, some filling and preparation is still needed.
A call to Dick on Wednesday 5th May to get an update, the SEM is this weekend and getting it ready is a real possibility, but only if I can go down on the Friday to help with the refit. With a day off booked I headed down to Odiham first thing full of hope. The bonnet & the valence had been sprayed on the Thursday afternoon and left to go off overnight.
I arrived to find Dick washing down the bonnet, things we definitely looking up. I spent a while removing trim and lights from the old bonnet. The rest of the day was spent refitting lights, chrome, adjusting the bonnet, and fitting the valence. At 7pm we were both getting tired so called it a day. There was only a few bits left to do, and I could finish those off at home on the Saturday.
So that I can finish off a few bits on the Saturday, Dick delivers the car to my house that evening. Saturday is spent fitting the remainder of the rubber bumpers, mud flaps, and cleaning off the excess rust protection.
Sunday is spent washing and polishing, making her look good for the SEM.
At the 2004 SEM.....
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