Ally's weblog

I’m afraid I have to be the bearer of bad news…

Ally was rushed to hospital yesterday morning. I was woken by her making a strange noise and when I checked she was having serious problems with her breathing and heart. The ambulance arrived fairly quickly and the paramedics did what they could before taking her in. Once there the doctors tried their hardest for several hours but ultimately they could not save her.

The exact cause is unknown at present and there is going to have to be a post mortem this morning. I’ll try to remember to update this blog post with any information when I know more.

Rest in Peace Ally my love… I will get KBA back on the road for you!

Simon

Finally, the long-awaited update on KBA. And, to be honest not a lot to report I’ve been ill for a few months and haven’t really had the energy to scrabble about under a TR7!

But, we have had a bit of progress recently. The new petrol tank is now sealed, painted and ready to go in, and also the replacement fan (a nice big electric one) is ready to fit.

So….the next challenge is how to get one of these:

into one of these…

Answers on a postcard please!

Oh KBA, whatever shall I do with you!!

It has taken her approximately one week of being on the road to find something else for me to fix. Two things, in fact! Firstly, the viscous coupling on the cooling fan gave up the ghost amid a series of very freaky noises, and then the fuel tank developed a leak.

Now the fan I can understand, it's old and easy to fix anyway - I'm going to fit an electric one courtesy of Wayne who has a spare (thanks mate!). The petrol tank issue I could well have done without. One, they are expensive, and two, they are a total pain in the posterior to remove and re-fit >

Serves me right for getting a TR7 that had been mouldering quietly for years off the road, I suppose....nothing I can do now but put on my oily car-fixing gear and get on with it!

Well, it only took me a year and a bit....D-day for KBA finally arrived. We eagerly went down to Darlington to collect her from Willow Triumph - so eagerly, in fact, that we didn't notice we had the wrong address for the garage and had to phone up for directions The green wedgey thing herself was waiting patiently outside for us, nicely polished and shiny.

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Many of you will remember back in March last year I bought KBA and said these fateful words: "Hopefully this will be the first and last time I have to see her on the back of a truck!!"

Er.....

I've fought and struggled with the stubborn little devil for over a year now, and decided after a particularly vicious bonnet-slamming-on-hand
incident that enough was enough. So I made a quick call down to Willow Triumph, and they came to pick her up today to finish her off for me and get her MOTd. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get to finish the work myself, but with the summer approaching I want her on the road!

I'll keep you all updated on the progress and hopefully will be writing about my newly fixed TR7 in a few weeks. I'll reserve judgement for now on the size of the bill - and hence the state of my bank account - until I find out the damage!

The troublesome TR7 is at last off her axle stands, and has got all four wheels squarely back on terra firma. After freezing temperatures, wind, rain, snow (and just plain laziness on the part of the mechanic) holding up proceedings for the last few months, we finally opened up the garage and started fettling.

So....the back brakes are finished. We then started the simple procedure of bleeding the braking system - note however that it really helps to attach the rear bleed nipple before you start . That 'little error' fixed, everything went smoothly.

She wouldn't start on the saturday, but that was just because of a dead battery. After charging it up overnight she roared into life at the first turn of the key I must be doing something right after all!

Got a few bits n bobs at Stoneleigh as well, an oil pressure gauge and also a spin-on conversion for the oil filter - hopefully to stop the annoying leaking. Roll on MOT time, she'll be ready for Spring!!

I have been a very bad Wedge owner this month....haven't really got a lot done on KBA. I hang my head in shame . The poor girl is still up on axle stands awaiting back brake attention! I've managed to rebuild them up to the point of having both drums back on and all bar one brake pipe attached. Unfortunately the final pipe is proving awkward and I really need a concerted effort in the garage to get it to screw into the back of the wheel cylinder. Then it's re-attachment of the handbrake cable and brake bleeding...she should be back on all four wheels soon.

KBA and I had visitors this weekend, my Aunty Margaret was very taken with her little headlights popping up and down . Uncle Jim listened carefully to the engine running and pronounced it to be "sounding OK". High praise indeed!

I will finish fixing the TR7 this week...I will, I will, I will!!!