Post by grumpynorthener on Feb 25, 2024 8:07:08 GMT
Latest phase of works at Grumpy Towers
I got Steve our builder in to replace all the gutters & downpipes
What they had fitted to the chapel when they undertook the conversion 30 some years ago were utter pants - undersized / incorrect falls / poor alignment with a 50 degree steep pitch on the roof resulted on more water overshooting the gutters than physically falling into them and what little rainwater was captured by the gutters ran away from the down pipe rather than into them
I got utterly fed up of attending to having to clean them out - fix leaks etc
Steve installed new deepline gutters to the correct falls
Water tested everything as he completed each section
Also did the garage / workshop at the same time
Replaced the facia's on the utility & also repointed the lead flashing on the utility gable at the same time
Fitted hedgehog brushes to the new gutters that prevent leaf debris from blocking the channels (we are surrounded by neighbouring trees)
Another job off the very long list - One of my close neighbours has been observing Steve's work whilst he's been working for us and has now booked him out for several months for a large extension on his house
Post by grumpynorthener on Feb 29, 2024 10:22:15 GMT
Yesterday was spent catching up on some deliveries & collections - The freshly rebuilt Jupiter race engine was delivered to the Green Team racing HQ
Then a onwards journey whilst in the area to collect another members Javelin engine which is in parts - this is going with me on a Northbound trip next week to deliver it to the clubs engine builder
Then over to collect the trailer and bring it back to the workshop - I always park the trailer without the handbrake on but for some reason the nearside rear brake was seized on - Just down to standing really - I've not used it for several weeks - I had minimal tools with me hence I had to get inventive to get the wheel off the the floor - I always travel with the correct wheel nut sockets & breaker bar and I just happened to have a suitable hammer with me - several moderate taps on the drum released the shoes - Trailer is due a service and I'll investigate further but I think its just a build of brake dust that is the issue
I have a few collections to undertake and this piece of sub standard scrap posing as a winch has had its days marked for some months - A intermittent fault on the wireless control is frustrating and the wire cable is a painful exercise
Whilst most people get what they don't want for Christmas myself & Mrs GN make a point of buying each other something that we physically have a use for - Mrs GN had her jewellery box topped up and me - well I needed a new winch
Mounting bracket extended and winch duly fitted
I also specified synthetic winch rope - the steel ropes just rust then fray
Came with a fly lead plus 2 remotes
And a cover - money very well spent - Its manufactured in the Far East but to excellent quality and was a fraction of the price of the European models - I fitted the identical model to the last trailer and it was faultless during my ownership
Post by toomanyprojects on Feb 29, 2024 11:52:31 GMT
Ooooh like the winch, money well spent indeed... The one on my trailer like your old one is rusty, albeit unlike yours is also manual so it makes it even harder to use
While winching on that Quattro last year I swore I'd replace it but not got that far yet.
Ooooh like the winch, money well spent indeed... The one on my trailer like your old one is rusty, albeit unlike yours is also manual so it makes it even harder to use
While winching on that Quattro last year I swore I'd replace it but not got that far yet.
You are welcome to the scrap one that I fell over this morning FOC Alternatively sub £250 will purchase something decent
That "freshly rebuilt Jupiter race engine" looks like it's in kit form! As the Haynes manual says "Reassembly is simply reversal of dismantling" so shouldn't take long. :-)
Post by grumpynorthener on Mar 6, 2024 9:13:30 GMT
The nearside trailer ramp decided to travel beyond its stop bracket and firmly lodged its self between the guides and the bracket which involved a major dismantling to free it - clever design for the guides but access is ill thought out - much muttering was made during the process but now after several hours work is resolved
Post by grumpynorthener on Mar 10, 2024 7:49:34 GMT
We managed to get some air into the front tyres but stood no chance with the rears and the rear drums were also seized but with a few blows from a decent hammer did partly free off but were still binding - The new trailer winch earned its keep and dragged it out of the barn and up onto the trailer
2 engines complete with gearboxes came with the car
But were buried at the rear of the barn thankfully John who owned the car & farm had a vintage back hoe loader that we put to good use to extract them with - Nick another club member turned up to collect some parts that I had brought with me and mucked in for a hour or so to assist with the loading
It took a good few hours to get everything loaded then strapped down
Disassembled cars are very difficult to transport safely
And its travelling a long way to its new owner
Some 450 + miles to the West coast of Scotland - But this is only part of the road trip for myself - more later
Post by grumpynorthener on Mar 11, 2024 10:58:49 GMT
Over the boarder
Comes with a case full of documented history
Cant blame the new owner for opening the curtains to this view daily
The Jupiter will join / share its home with a Jowett Bradford Utility
And a 1928 Hillman 14
Fitted with a rare original signalling system
From what I understand when turning the green & red light indicated on that side (non flashing) green indicating the intention of turning whilst the red indicating that it wasn't safe to pass / undertake on that side - the amber lights on both sides illuminated when travelling in straight direction
But the system confused other drivers and was banned from use within a few months of introduction - Surviving systems tend to be modified by owners so that the amber lens can be used solely for indicating the direction of turn
Back to the Jupiter - Although in many pieces and battered its a viable prospect for restoration and looks worse that what it appears
Now in its new home - The car was raced in period by Bill Smith who went on to race for the Ecurie Ecosse team - Bill sadly losing his life at the young age of 20 to a race incident whilst racing a Connaught at the Dundrod TT
The direct connection to the book is that the author has just taken ownership of the said Jupiter project - Further updates on the road trip to follow has its far from over yet
Post by grumpynorthener on Mar 12, 2024 18:22:39 GMT
Mrs GN currently works in Glasgow - Having delivered the Jupiter I'm less than a few hours away from her so I head over to meet her at the studio's where she works having arranged to park the Range Rover & trailer there for a few days - That allows us to spend a couple of days with each other
Really convenient too for meeting up with a fellow member that produces new water pumps for the Jowett engines - He's Edinburgh based so its not out of my way to pop & collect one that I had ordered for a Javelin
I hope some celebratory drinks were had for recent accolades
Unfortunately I was well on my return journey home when the awards were being announced so the celebrations will have to wait until she is back home for Easter
Post by grumpynorthener on Mar 15, 2024 9:58:56 GMT
Next one is a 1927 Jowett Short 2 Tourer
Again its a late members family that I'm advising
It appears to be all there - dry & well stored but needs further investigation but I was limited on time
Ideally they would like the car restored in memory of their father - It would be a few years before I could undertake it - I'll put some figures together for them and talk them through the process further - Its has a excellent ash frame but requires the engine & drivetrain rebuilding alongside the body / paint & trim - On paper a the restoration would far out way the value of the completed car but I appreciate that there is a great sentimental attachment by the family
Onwards with my travels then - I still have a car to collect yet
Post by grumpynorthener on Mar 16, 2024 7:07:59 GMT
I had another project car in Bradford to collect from the clubs spares department it was dark by the time I had it loaded - needless to say it was raining too
I also had a Javelin engine in component form to deliver there for the clubs engine builder to collect / rebuild
The Javelin project was being delivered to Coventry enroute home - My reward for going out of my way & helping others was that they closed the M1 which involved a longish diversion - then the top of the M69 again another longish diversion - More rain - lots of back roads whilst towing a loaded trailer - Worse was still to come with the trailer duly unloaded and on the final leg of my journey - 45 mins from home and a puncture on the A34 - Fast dual carriageway and no where safe to stop - you have to run on to the nearest layby with the tyre flat by which time the tyre is destroyed - Thankfully I run with a spare - duly changed roadside - its now 23:30 hours and its also raining heavily and I get soaked
Worse still it cracked the alloy rim on a previous repair - its already been repaired / rewelded twice - its going to be nothing but a liability to attempt a 3rd repair
A new rim is £700 + from the dealer - several sets on E Bay with tyres for £400 - £800 but I only need a single rim and not a set of 4 fitted with tyres of dubious quality - I locate a breaker in Ipswich who has the correct wheel rim with a useless tyre but £90 including carriage and it was delivered the following day
Dead tyre removed from the new / used rim - very minor kerb marks on the alloy and its the wrong colour but hey at £90 I'm far from complaining
Prepped - its now in primer
Apart from a new tyre I'd like to think that's where the story ends - but it doesn't - 2 weeks ago I had a new windscreen fitted to the Range Rover - on the Friday of my trip a stone chipped the new screen but it should be repairable - On the Sunday of the trip another stone = another chip this time directly in my vision hence not repairable - New windscreen time again