Dear Listers,
This is a group reply, but I will reply to each of you individually. You are all just the best! I've given myself a good shake, and after reading your replies, I've sort of got my thoughts together just a little more. Though Im still in a rather volatile emotional state. Ok, let me explain how I got the diagnosis. My Mum took the car to the local garage in Chingford (Im in Bromley, and the car is in Chingford at the moment) The garage used to be a Triumph dealer, and still has a Triumph "guru" there. They mostly do modern stuff now, but the guy there told me (I phoned him after he looked at it) he'd take a look at it for me, even though he wouldn't entirely be happy to actually do the job. He seems a real enthusiast, and I think his Triumph knowledge isn't in to much demand these days - so maybe he liked a challege. So he was good enough to take a look at it for me. This is what he told me, if my memory from a couple of hours still makes sense. The main bearings have gone, and it seems that they have been like this for a while (which is news to me, although I possibly drove the car like that for maybe 30 miles whilst it was making a noise, it wasnt making the noise when I arrived at Duxford) So he reckons that because its been like this for a while, the crankshaft (possibly, you all know what Im like with terminology) will have gone "oval" - so I would need a new crankshaft. Allegedly this is meant to be a big job, and it probably also means that the piston something-or-other also need doing, therefore everything else may as well be replaced etc etc etc. On to the gearbox, syncro on 1st and 3rd have gone completly (it still changes gear - I thought it was a bit rough - but it was fine really) So he reckons the gearbox needs to be replaced. He also mentioned that the rear spring was saggy - but Im not too worried about that at the moment - I reckon the shocks need changing. Now, on to the price, thats the price TRGB quoted me, for the engine and the gearbox to be reconditioned, and that was worse case where everything needs to be done. The price included transportation from Chingford up to them, which is 75 pounds. Now, on the advice of Bill, I've had a look in Loot (classified ads) and found a guy selling a some Triumph spares (1500 engine, overdrive, and a few other misc bits) which is not too far from Chingford, about 20 minutes away in fact. Im yet to phone up, but will do to find out some more. (There was a more interesting ad of a complete 1500 in all the way over in chester selling for 300 pounds - it has a "very good engine" - I'd buy it if it werent so far away and if I had somewhere to store the thing) The trouble is again, trying to figure out a way of transporting stuff - I guess an engine will fit in the boot of my Dads car. And where to do the work, having no garage. Unless of course I get the local garage to do it. Again, thank you everyone for your support, both emotional and technical. James /// [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list /// Send admin requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool /// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive /// Send list postings to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// Edit your replies! If they include this trailer, they will NOT be sent.
