A Triumph Swordfish 1500 - On The Road - Page 23

molleur · #**441** 24th September 2019, 13:57

the "Revival" should be on everyone's bucket list!

Paul L · #**442** 22nd October 2019, 17:21

Molleur - Agreed.

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It has been a while…
Just a quick update from me, as, prior to today, I hadn't even started the car up since I got back from Goodwood.

But with a rare bit of sunshine overhead, I sneaked out for a very quick spin to Sainsburys earlier.

( Just over 6 miles after a short detour on the way home. )

I'll post a better update another day and I'll also try to get back to replying to other build threads too.

Cheers, Paul.

deggsy · #**443** 22nd October 2019, 19:30

Yep more photos please Paul that one didn't work

Cheers, Deggsy

wharfedale · #**444** 23rd October 2019, 12:53

your pic have gone I get a no entry sign, other threads are OK, Keith

Paul L · #**445** 16th November 2019, 13:08

MOT #4
The good news is that my car has just passed its MOT.

The bad news is that is now appears that all my photo links are not working here.

So, if there isn't a photo of my car below, taken earlier today, I am completely stuffed.

molleur · #**446** 16th November 2019, 14:23

Looks good Paul!

Paul L · #**447** 16th November 2019, 15:06

OK, I've no idea what is going on with the photos, one minute they are there, then they are gone and then they are back.

Hopefully, the photos in this post will now appear, so going back a few days...

Tuesday
I tried to start the car for the first time in around 3 weeks.

Which combined with the fact is was cold out, meant that the engine struggled to fire up.

In fact, I was just about to give up in order to avoid draining the battery when it finally burst into life.

So I took it for a quick spin to add some fresh petrol which I hoped would help.

Wednesday
I thought one of the bulbs in the main dials had blown, so I hoped it would be a quick fix.

In the end, I spent almost 3 hours F'ing and Blinding and scraping my fingers and hands in the cold.

What a complete nightmare, but at least all the dash lights now worked.

After checking the oil, I even gave the car a bit of a wash.

Then it was off to Enginuity in Acton for some pre-MOT work.

As for the last few years, getting the car to pass the emissions test has been a real pain.

So this time around, the garage would get the engine up first and then get the MOT test.

I also got them to look at the advisories from last time, so it was a 100% clear pass this year.

Saturday
Collected the car and as the weather was not looking promising, just stopped a couple of times.

Post #445 should have the first photo in it and this was the second one.

Note:
This last phone was actually taken with my new phone, as I finally have got one with a camera better than my 'build' camera.

With a bit of luck I will finally get a chance to post the replies to other threads that I've been promising for ages now.

Cheers, Paul.

PS
I also took this photo with my phone as we approach that 'Wembley Henge' time of the year.

Paul L · #**448** 16th November 2019, 15:22

While I try to get to the bottom of the problems with the photos.

Here are a few video links you might like…

This was a great ‘rebody’ for Remembrance Sunday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-eng...oter-into-tank

Then there was this large scale rebody to make Batmobiles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsMvgDvGdqg

Chip Foose has done an E Type that looks great.
( Apart from the size of the wheels and tyres. )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW6uF4Qotpg

One for the bike fans who may remember Wayne Rainey.

He has been in a wheelchair for over 20 years, but recently got back on a bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imqwHIjwO2w

And finally, the EuroMillions lottery jackpot is now at over £100m.

So perhaps you might be able to pick up something at this auction.

https://worldwideauctioneers.com/riy...erby=lotnumber

Lots to pick from, but I really like #14, #61 & #75.

Paul L · #**449** 8th December 2019, 17:01

Swordfish Sleigh
Finally some car related news from me…

Needed to drop off some Christmas pressies, so loaded up.

Then had a trouble free run into Shepherds Bush.

In a great bit of timing I turned a corner on the way home and found myself behind a vintage Alfa.

Not an expert, but something like a 6C, as the bonnet was almost as long as my car.

With nose-to-tail traffic along the A40, I was eventually able to pull along side for a brief chat.

"Nice day for it" always seems to go down well as a conversation starter.
( Especially as the couple inside had even more layers on that I did.

)

I then left them and headed for B&Q to pick up some lights for my mum's house.

I quite liked this view in the B&Q car park.

In other news, I finally managed to get a new 'real work' project.

Which means I can delay the sale of the car until the New Year when the warm weather returns.

With a bit of luck, I will get the front inner wheel arches and a tonneau cover sorted out before then.

Until next time, take care, Paul.

Paul L · #**450** 22nd December 2019, 15:50

Merry Christmas!
OK, I know I'm a few days early, but I've a real work deadline of 'before Christmas' to meet.

So things have been very hectic lately and I've already put in some laptop hours this weekend.

But some free time and some dry weather finally lined up for me earlier and I went out for a quick spin.

Here I am near the hop of Harrow Hill.

Where this marker is.

And here is the view towards the centre of London & Canary Wharf.

Note:
In the summer this view is blocked by all the pollution!

Then it was off to Sainsburys to stock up on more stuff for Christmas Day.

Thankfully, I'm currently sitting at around 95% ready. so not much left to do.

If I get the chance, I'll pop back in before the big day.

If not, have a good one.

Take care, Paul.

PS
Don't know if you saw the dash cam footage from the mini-tornado crossing the M25?

Well, we arrived on the other side of that carriageway just a few minutes later.

On our side there was a huge piece of corrugated roof across lanes 1 & 2.

"Let's be careful out there."

Paul L · #**451** 26th January 2020, 11:53

It has been a while…
Due to a mixture of Christmas, then catching the cough/cold doing the rounds and work being hectic.
(One day last week involved travelling for a total of 6 hours on trains to get to and from a meeting.)

So yesterday was the first time I had a chance to start the car up and it didn't want to start.

The battery sounded flat and there was no sign of life from the engine.

Thankfully, just before I was going to give up and put the battery on charge, it coughed.

So I tried one last time and it burst into life.

Something seems to be wrong with the both the trip and odometer as they think I only did 2 miles in an hour.

The speedo was working (I assume/hope accurately enough for the speed cameras).

But I'll worry about that another day and leave you with a traditional car park shot.

Which doesn't really do justice to what a great grey and miserable day it was.
(I could see the steam of my breath when stopped at traffic lights.

)

The roads were also pretty 'slick' and the car definitely tried to go sideways a coupe of times.

Until next time, take care, Paul.

PS
Last week my wife and I went to the Tutankhamun exhibition and it was mind blowing.

Some of the things on display looked brand new, despite being over 3,000 years old!

And that is before you start thinking about the skills required to make everything.

Dpaz · #**452** 26th January 2020, 12:52

It is good to get out, I remember, before I retired it could be weeks before I could get the car out, now I wonder where I found the time then! We went to the King Tut at the O2 years ago. The beauty and workmanship was incredible, but what got me were the smaller things where you could see chisel marks in the wood and imagine a long dead craftsman making it.

jones · #**453** 28th January 2020, 10:32

Nice to see you back! Was thinking of sending out a search party! A belated Happy New Year Paul

Paul L · #**454** 23rd February 2020, 11:07

Dpaz - It would certainly be interesting to know just how long some of these things took to make.

Jones Thanks Ian.

Unfortunately, a search party would find me working 7 days a week at the moment.

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The calm before the storm (Ciara)…
My last trip out in the car was on 8th Feb when one of my mates came to visit for the weekend.

With lashing rain in the forecast for Sunday, we decided to make the most of the lovely weather on Saturday.

My wife took a couple of photos, although this one doesn't look too graceful.
(Plus the double chin is encouragement to keep at my efforts to lose weight.

)

Whilst the sun was out, it was cold, so the extra layers were needed.

Headed out towards St.Albans where we stopped for lunch.

I'd told my mate to expect a positive reaction when we were driving along.

But he was quite surprised at just how much of a stir the car causes.

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It never rains, but it pours…
My Mondeo suffered a complete refusal to start.

Obvioulsy, it was raining when I had to get the jump leads out of my tool bag.

The other thing I noticed was the tool bag wasn't strapped in as normal.

Which means I never got around to doing that either after Goodwood, or the MOT.

After a bit of an effort to push the Mondeo back far enough, I could jump start it.

I am sure it knows I've been looking at other cars on AutoTrader.

(Need to get a ULEZ compliant one at some point.)

Until next time, take care, Paul.

Paul L · #**455** 6th March 2020, 17:45

That was the week that was…

Saturday
I peeled back the covers to start the car after the hailstones had finished.

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Sunday
Not sure if I missed this the day before, or it was the rain that came afterwards.

Either way, my covers clearly have a leak somewhere.

Still I was able to nip out for a quick hour in the sunshine.

Got a friendly wave from a guy in a mint Mk1 Escort that was in the style of Harris Performance.

Although, don't let the sunshine fool you, it was COLD!

Note: You can also see the damage the tarpaulin is doing to my paint.

Who's dumb idea was it to build and then keep a car without a garage?

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Friday
Had the chance to quickly nip to Sainsburys at lunchtime.

Was stunned to see the evidence of panic loo roll buying.

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Until next time, take care, Paul.

micky1mo · #**456** 11th March 2020, 17:34

Hi Paul, I have one of those cheap plastic "universal" car covers that I don't use.
Your welcome to it if you want it.

But sorry, I'v no spare toilet paper.

Paul L · #**457** 21st March 2020, 17:42

Micky1mo - Thanks for the kind offer of a car cover.

But I really just need to get my act together and get a tonneau cover made.

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On days like these...

You wish London wasn't on a voluntary lock down.

Still, at least I could justify the very short drive to Sainsburys on a crisp Spring day.

As I needed to pick up some flowers for Mother's Day.

Unfortunately, I'll need to drop one bunch at my mum's door before chatting from a safe distance.

She is in her 80s and I've been taking up to six trains a day for various meetings with work recently.

Thankfully, my company has now switched to WFH and video conference calls.

Finally, with the sun dropping in the sky, this was a much nicer view that the photo suggests.

Let's be careful out there.

Take care, Paul.

Lucky@LeMans · #**458** 21st March 2020, 21:23

Sunday is supposed to be wall to wall sun shine ! It will be very tempting to go out for spin, from point A to point A. Is that frowned upon or ok if I don't stop ?

Paul, I think I saw a couple of rolls on the top shelf. If you run out there is always the Daily Mail !

Paul L · #**459** 22nd March 2020, 05:54

Lucky – Hi Paul,

It may be different where you are, but in London the advice is don’t make any unnecessary journeys.

On the roads, that means avoiding causing the regular traffic jams here that delay key workers doing key work.

So, for me at least, there is simply no excuse to take the Swordfish out for anything longer than 2.6 miles.

Ironically, I am now classed as a key worker because my day job is working in Transport (Railways).

I’ll post a proper reply about the virus in the separate thread that you started when I get the chance.

But for now, my local hospital (Northwich Park) was the first to run out of critical care beds a few days ago.

And we are still a few weeks behind the sharp rise in cases/deaths that Italy has experienced.

Emergency railway timetables will start tomorrow and who knows what the new normal will be, or when?

I been working 7 days a week on a report due out tomorrow that is already out of date.

Which is why I'm up early on a Sunday, so I should finish this reply and get back to work.

Take care, Paul.

Lucky@LeMans · #**460** 22nd March 2020, 10:50

Good advice Paul, I'll avoid the temptation to go out for a spin.
Yesterday seemed to be bikers day. Out in the garden I could hear them in all directions ! Living in rural Worcestershire there are long stretches of empty A and B roads, rarely do we see a traffic jam !

Stay safe