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It has been a long road since winter 2011 when I collected my Sammio from Gary at Poole.
The simple 1 year project which has always had to take a back seat is now nearing completion. Having been through retirement from work, house move to Somerset with associated builders etc..etc.. this summer ( In lockdown ) I have made much progress.
So today as it is too windy and squally to do much , I prefer always working outside. I thought I'd take to the Forum and at last master uploading some pictures as now the car is looking good.
This year I have managed to spray the body, under my Gazebo booth, cut it back and polish it, get all the electrics in and working... Fibreglass bodies and earths... and broken original loom and corroded rubber bullet connectors....
Now working on the interior, panels made still finishing off dashboard, happy days crawling under there!
More Pics as I get on...
Interior pretty much complete now, all dash wiring working at last . Guess next on the agenda is start up, it's been a while since I had her running, but I hope fuel and maybe clean points and plugs will bring her back to life. Did have a problem with the mechanical fuel pump just not sucking enough from the tank, removed it and operated it by hand until I had fuel then was OK. I have an electric pump but not sure where to fit it or whether to at all...
looks great MikeD, keep at it! I'm getting psyched up to glue my miglia body on. I'm freaking out about positioning it right - one only gets one go at it. yours looks really nice.
My build must have started around the same time. My Sammio is ready for MOT but I am going to run it unpainted for a few months before it gets painted. Will probably pay someone to finish body and paint - I have had to so much cutting/shutting that I have had it with fibreglass!
Thanks for all the kind comments......Yes I am pleased with the paint. Not professional standard but cellulose sprayed outdoors then polished... I think it's acceptable. My aim is always " How does it look from across the road?? " It is more red than intended, but I guess that is a good thing ( Red cars go faster etc.. ) Having had the body so long the imperfections had mostly come out, although there are still a couple of star cracks. Still deciding whether to put numbers on it????
Interior pretty much complete now, all dash wiring working at last . Guess next on the agenda is start up, it's been a while since I had her running, but I hope fuel and maybe clean points and plugs will bring her back to life. Did have a problem with the mechanical fuel pump just not sucking enough from the tank, removed it and operated it by hand until I had fuel then was OK. I have an electric pump but not sure where to fit it or whether to at all...
Some interior pictures, the dashboard is an early MG Midget which I think works quite well, much better than my attempt at a fibreglass one. The seats are from a Jaguar XK, the rest is home made.
As for the fuel pump, seems no problem with it but it wont suck the fuel from the tank. Grafted an electric pump in and she started right up. Now a new pump on order.... The road test is getting closer.
Paul, thanks I really tried to make the interior not look too home made. I think too many cars are let down by the interiors, I blended a midget dashboard in after an unsuccessful attempt at using Gary's fibreglass one then made sure all fixings were not visible. Amazingly the Jag leather seats almost match the beige vinyl ( which is the old Herald rear seat cover!) The steering wheel was donated by a friend who had Spitfires for years.
Nearly ready for MOT if we are not locked down next week, had a radiator leak now sorted, all stickers now applied. Time to break out the overalls and helmet, its 2 miles downhill to the Test station so I should make that for the 1st run.........it is a long time since I bought the Herald in Essex and drove it around the M25 to Molesey
MOT booked for 4th December, took it up the road today to test brakes... they lock the wheels when you really push hard so OK with that. It will be almost 9 years to the day since I started.
Had words with the MOT man who will let me into the garage during the test so I can see what's what. Expect some advisories as it's been so long I have forgotten half what I've done.
It is lively, spins wheels very easily. I think it is going to be FUN.
I have not registered as MOT exempt as I consider it is "substantially altered"... So fingers crossed for the 4th
Well yesterday was MOT 3rd time lucky??? The other 2 attempts were washed out by pouring rain - now I don't mind getting a bit wet but I had no inner wings so would have had water from rear wheels coming into th cockpit and in front over the engine?
Anyway yesterday it was damp and I now have inner wings ( of a sort) so down the hill to the testing station, just 2 miles.
Arrived ok, the first time the car had moved under its own power for 9 years, really fun to drive.
So it was taken into the garage by Michael, who is a really helpful guy but alas, even though my V5 is correct - Sammio Spyder, Red etc, etc the DVSA have it on record still as a yellow Triumph Herald hence no test yesterday. .
So home I drove leaving the paperwork confusion with Michael, I thought all was well on the registration front as when the body was bonded on by Gary way back in 2011 he dealt with the rebody and registration update - hence my correct V5, and in this time of lockdown who knows how long this will take
So it was taken into the garage by Michael, who is a really helpful guy but alas, even though my V5 is correct - Sammio Spyder, Red etc, etc the DVSA have it on record still as a yellow Triumph Herald hence no test yesterday. .
So home I drove leaving the paperwork confusion with Michael, I thought all was well on the registration front as when the body was bonded on by Gary way back in 2011 he dealt with the rebody and registration update - hence my correct V5, and in this time of lockdown who knows how long this will take
Did you have the V5C with you at the MOT test?
A friend of mine told me he had a similar issue, the car was green, the V5C said green, but the MOT details said red. The mot tester corrected the MOT details on the spot from the V5C and proceeded with the test.
The MOT tester can enter the details manually into the system at the time of the MOT. They have done this for me on a couple of occasions for the same reasons as above.
Thanks guys, I had the V5 with me, all details correct, seems the only option his system was offering him was to create a new vehicle, which he didn't want to do.. I am waiting to hear from him.
That's what he needs to do because you are effectively presenting him with a new / different vehicle to what his system is showing him. Once updated the old donor car details will no longer exist.
Thanks Lucky, I guess the worry is / was getting into a minefield around IVA rather than it being a simple rebody. I'll talk to him tomorrow
Regards Mike
Thanks Lucky, I guess the worry is / was getting into a minefield around IVA rather than it being a simple rebody. I'll talk to him tomorrow
Regards Mike
The car has been rebodied and you have an up to date, correct V5. You don't have anything to worry about and neither does the MOT tester, he is being presented with the correct information.
in australia, when mine is finally ready, it will be still registered as a triumph herald due to the chassis. i have only control over the 'variant' part - so it wont be a herald coupe, but a "Triumph Herald Special". this keeps the orig 1960 specs and means i dont need (for example) a reversing light or hazards that were not on the original. and original emissions and noise which is nice as that was unregulated...
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