LBC ramblings, delete if you don't have time to waste!
I made a trip down to the next town on Thursday afternnon,
(Charleston) to visit a Triumph garage (Pelhams place) just to see what
was there. The drive down was great, and I spent a couple of hours supping
bear, and then getting a ride in the famed Pelham GT6 (man, I can't wait
to get the Spit 6 moving!). We were chatting about my rebuild experience with
the Midget and how I don't particularly want to do it with the GT6 motor.
Mark Pelham jested about how I could bring the Midget to him when the engine
breaks and he would do the job "right"....I snorted while hastily looking
for some wood to knock on.
Anyway, I left and started the drive home (about 45 miles). Why is it that
pick up/truck drivers think it's bright and original of them to make hand
signals to you about a)how small your car is b)you don't have the roof up,
although it looks like it may rain. Anyway, I digress. About 20 miles to go
in a dull little village called Villa Grove, I stoped at an intersection,
and there was suddenly a horrendous knocking-come-rumbling noise eminating
from the front of the car. I literally had a heart attack on the spot. Then
I got angry at Pelham for giving my car the kiss of death....damn mechanics!
Well, my mine raced at all the possibilities....blown bearings, shot crank,
broken rod etc etc. I was close to tears. It was weird though. It still revved
and pulled away...and the oil pressure was at it's usual 65 at speed, and
60 at idle. Anyway, I decided 'sod it' and continued to drive home....but
with my ears now searching for any sign of impending total failure of the front
end. I finally got home and popped the hood. It sounded bad. I stopped the
engine and rocked the motor back and forth by hand..."CLUNCK, CLunck, clunk".
I imagined the crankshaft suspended by only the rear main bearing and maybe
one or two rods still attached, the front end of the crank swinging freely in
the wind...actually the crankcase. I did it again....same sound.
There was no way the car could run smoothly with anything major wrong
in the engine. It sounded alot like a pipe banging on something...mmmm...pipe.
Theres only one pipe on this car...the exhaust. I started the car again
and gripped the exhaust pipe...OWWW! I got a rag and gripped the exhaust
pipe. Knocking noise gone! Time to fit a new exhaust hanger.
This car delights in trying to give me a coranary (sp?) when it's been
running well for too long. Does anybody want to swap a nice Midget for a TR6?
Hell, I forgot...the little sh*t can read email too.
Marcus
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