T h e M a g a z i n e O f T h e T o r o n to T r i u m p h C l u b S u mm e r 2 0 1 1

Precious Cargo Triumphs Around Georgian Bay

Triumph Rallying • Reliable Standards • Bonnet Release Fix PARts & AccEssoRiEs FREE cAtAlogs 17 contents Summer 2011 18

Member’s Pages From the Editor ...... 5 From the President ...... 7 Club Hub ...... 9-11 Owner’s Manual ...... 15

Activities Events: Calendar ...... 12/13

Features “Keep’em On The Road”™ 24 Marque My Words: Tale of Two Fours ...... 17 Quality Parts & Accessories Cover Story: Fully illustrated catalogs with the parts you need. Around Georgian Bay . . . . . 18-21 Specify your make and model to get a FREE catalog. Historically Speaking: Fast Service, Simple Ordering and Convenient, Quick Delivery. Triumphs in Rallying Pt2 . . . . 22/23 T h e M a g a z i n e O f T h e T O r O n TO T r i u M p h C l u b S u MM e r 2 0 1 1 Reliable Standards ...... 24-27 22 Restoration: TR2, TR3, TR4, TR4A MGA 100-4, 100-6, 3000 TR250, TR6 TR6 Engine Rebuild ...... 28/29 MGB, MGC Sprite TR7, TR8 Midget Been There Fixed That: GT6, Spitfire Alpine, Tiger On the Cover Precious Shafted by a Yoke ...... 31-36 Patrick Caria’s 1974 1/2 Broken Bonnet Fix ...... 37/38 TR6 leads a line up of TRs Cargo Triumphs around www.VictoriaBritish.com aboard the Chi-Cheemaun Georgian Bay ferry to Tobermory Shop Online ... Fast, Simple & Safe Orders - Catalog Request -Status Photo by Andrew Grace Trimph Rallying • Reliable Standards • Bonnet Release Fix 1-800-255-0088 11 Ragtop.2.02.indd 1 11-07-20 2:44 PM

Ragtop Summer 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 3 VICTORIA BRITISH LTD.® PO Box 14991, Lenexa, Kansas 66285-4991 I I INSURANCEINSURANCE

ANTIQUE, CLASSICANTIQUE, AND SPECIAL CLASSIC INTEREST AND SPECIAL INTEREST TM TM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCEAUTOMOBILE TM INSURANCE TM from the editor

SUBMISSIONS INSURANCE Format: MS Word files are preferred. Send via Now available across caNada email or on CD, 10Mb limit on email files. Send INSURANCE photos separately, do NOT embed in the text file. TM ANTIQUE, CLASSIC AND SPECIAL INTEREST Hard copy submissions are acceptable, but not AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE TM preferred. Graphics must be in major graphics for- INSURANCEANTIQUE, CLASSIC AND SPECIAL INTEREST TM mats, jpeg, tiff or Photoshop files. In Person: To the Rosie Days Ahead TM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE editor at the monthly meetings. Mail: 2421 Poplar Crescent, ANTIQUE, CLASSIC AND SPECIAL INTEREST TM Last issue I lamented about how cold it had been and how the spring AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE TM Mississauga, Ontario L5J 4H2 E-mail: [email protected] was late coming. What a difference a couple of months make! As I write this it’s as hot as Dante’s Inferno and my grass is browner ADVERTISING than Glen D’s Spitfire The good news is I’ve finally got Rosie back on Contact the Club’s advertising representative for the road and she’s looking as sexy as ever. She now has her wire wheels details of dates and submissions. Submit ads as back on and her belly isn’t dragging on the ground anymore, which is high resolution (min 300 ppi) PDF files, saved for print in CMYK format, fonts embedded, by E-mail more than can be said for her owner. Like any good woman, you just to [email protected] don’t realize how much they brighten up your life, until they’re not The advertising year is from Jan.1 to Dec. 31. A there... I’m pleased to say my life lit up again after only a few minutes of copy of Ragtop is sent to all paid advertisers. being back in the saddle. Those who follow my ramblings here will be pleased to know my eldest son’s wedding 2011 ADVERTISING RATES Rear Cover ...... $500 per year looms ever closer and my house projects continue apace, in readiness for the UK invasion. Inside Front Cover ...... $475 Family room (done), hallway (done), main floor washroom (done), new roof (next week), TM TM Inside Back Cover ...... $450 new carpets (ordered), front yard (nearly done), back yard (still a mess), kitchen (I know MODIFIED, STREETMODIFIED, ROD AND STREET CUSTOM ROD AND CUSTOMFull Page Inside ...... $305 AUTOMOBILE INSURANCEAUTOMOBILE TM INSURANCE TM Half Page ...... $185 dear, I’ve only got one pair of hands), front bedroom (to paint), spare bedroom (to paint), TM Quarter Page ...... $115 upstairs landing (to paint) and basement (Let’s screw the door shut!!) MODIFIED, STREET ROD AND CUSTOM Business Cards ...... $70 TM Not difficult to see why I’ve been absent from all of the events so far this year. TM MODIFIED,AUTOMOBILE STREET INSURANCEROD AND CUSTOM Full colour ...... $115 extra Second colour ...... $75 extra For a change, I actually had too much material for this issue. Whoa! Don’t stop sending TM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE Flyer Inserts ...... $190/issue (max 4 pgs) your stories in to me, I just wanted to say that I held some articles over for the Fall issue. TM MODIFIED, STREET ROD AND CUSTOM (All rates are for 4 issues, except flyers) Don’t forget, if you are bringing your car to British Car Day, you will receive your Fall issue of AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE TM [email protected] Ragtop when you drive into the park, as part of the BCD Programme. Those members who don’t attend BCD (and why not?) will receive their Fall issue in the mail as usual, after BCD. 2011 SCHEDULE Issue Deadline Mailed Some great articles in this issue, thanks to everyone who provided material. Please en- Spring ...... April 1 . . . . .End of April joy your Ragtop and Rosie and I will see you all soon. Now, where’s that paint brush? Summer ...... June 10 . . . . .End of July Fall/BCD Program . . .August 12 . Mid September Winter ...... Nov. 18 . . .Mid December — David Fidler General Enquiries [email protected]

Ragtop is published quarterly by the Toronto Tri- umph Club Inc. (“TTC”) and is distributed to its Sold exclusively by members as part of their annual dues. The TTC or the Editors cannot accept responsibility for the Sold exclusivelySold by exclusivelySold exclusively byby by Call or visit our website safe return of any submitted material. We will do our best, but accidents do occur. SoldLANT exclusively by & CO. INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. We accept no responsibility for errors or omissions. LANT37 SANDIFORD & CO. DRIVE, SUITEINSURANCE 100 STOUFFVILLE, BROKERSONTARIO L4A 7X5 LTD. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the TTC Execu- LANT LANT& CO.Tel: 905-640-4111 &INSURANCE CO. www.lant-ins.caINSURANCEFax: BROKERS 905-640-4450 BROKERS LTD. LTD. 37 SANDIFORD DRIVE,(a division SUITE of Wayfarer 100 STOUFFVILLE, Insurance Brokers ONTARIO Limited) L4A 7X5 tive or Membership. LANT37 SANDIFORD & Tel:DRIVE,37 905-640-4111CO. SANDIFORD SUITE INSURANCE 100 DRIVE, STOUFFVILLE, SUITE 100Fax: ONTARIO BROKERS 905-640-4450 STOUFFVILLE, L4A 7X5 ONTARIOLTD. L4A 7X5 Copyright © 2011 by the TTC. www.lant-ins.ca Non-profit groups may reprint articles from this 37 SANDIFORD DRIVE, SUITE 100 STOUFFVILLE, ONTARIO L4A 7X5 Tel: 905-640-4111 Tel:www.lant-ins.ca 905-640-4111 www.lant-ins.caFax: 905-640-4450 Fax: 905-640-4450 publication, where the author has not reserved Tel: 905-640-4111 www.lant-ins.ca Fax: 905-640-4450 rights, provided we get credited and both the au- thor and TTC receive a copy of the publication in 1-800-461-4099 its entirety. Distribution by Pillar Direct Marketing Services. 1-800-461-4099 Printed by Printwell Offset for the Toronto Triumph 31 Years Insuring Collector Cars Across Canada Club. 311-800-461-4099 Years1-800-461-4099 Insuring1-800-461-4099 Collector Cars Across Canada Canada Post Publications # 40022175 3231 YearsY ears InsuringI nsurI ng CollectorC olleC tor CCarsars aAcrossC ross CanadaC anada 31 Years Insuring31 Years CollectorInsuring Collector Cars Across Cars Canada Across CanadaRagtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 5 4976_Misc. Landad.indd 1 12/30/08 11:38:19 AM

4976_Misc. Landad.indd 1 12/30/08 11:38:19 AM Obsolete Auto_MG&TRIUMPH AD2.pdf 19/02/2009 8:22:06 PM

from the president Toll Free Order Line: ...... 1-800-265-7437 Customer Service / Technical Advice: ...... 1-519-337-3232 24 Hour Fax Line: ...... 1-519-336-5936 Executives President ...... David Tushingham 905 830. .9124 Website: ...... www.obsoleteauto.com Vice President ...... Ian Parkhill 905 .637 .2034 Secretary ...... Andrew Grace 416 763. .3824 Driven to Extremes Business Hours: ...... Monday to Friday - 8 AM to 5 PM Treasurer ...... Chris Lindsay 416 .233 .7360 Membership ...... Scott Douglas 905 .334 .4020 Director of Communications . . . David Fidler 905 829. .9340 For me, it has been a bit of a strange driving sea- Director at Large ...... Wayne McGill 905 847. 5532. Director at Large ...... Scott Douglas 905 334. .4020 son thus far, characterized by “extremes”. 142 Kendall Street, Point Edward, Ontario CANADA N7V 4G5 Past President ...... Johan Aaltink 705 .456 4276. We had so much rain this Spring, it didn’t Ragtop Magazine seem like we were ever going to be able to Editor & Publisher ...... David Fidler 905 829. .9340 get the cars out of the garage and on the open Distribution . . . .Rod . Jones - Pillar Direct 416 755. 9494. Art Director ...... Michael Cleland 905 873. 7704. road. It was “extremely” depressing. The Ancast- Advertising Sales ...... Ian Parkhill 905 .637 .2034 David Fidler 905 829. 9340. er Flea Market was downright miserable and I MG & TRIUMPH Specialists Club Photographer ...... Larry Llewellyn 416 .245 9217. was “extremely” cold and soaked right through Website to the bone. Unfortunately, I was unable to at- Web Manager ...... David Copping 905 827. .6970 Website Classifieds ...... Vic Whitmore 905 .889 .7261 tend Spring Fling this year due to some labour David Copping 905 827. .6970 Browse the website unrest at work that had me spending quite a bit Club Coordinators of time working far away from home. Not being www.obsoleteauto.com for Meeting Coordinators ...... Ian Parkhill 905 637. .2034 Scott Douglas 905 334. .4020 able to attend Spring Fling or work on my cars updates on stocked parts and secure Interclub Coordinator ...... Tony Fox 905 632. 0479. Ambassador at Large ...... Wayne McGill 905 847. 5532. left me “extremely” dissapointed. Regalia . . . . . Clive & Jacquelynne Huizinga 905 .884 2091. access to online ordering. The parts Historians ...... Wayne McGill 905 847. 5532. Fortunately, I was able to attend our annual Summer BBQ that featured the “extreme” C Frank Manning 905 643. 2359. talents of Jack Willekes and Brian Clark who once again donned the aprons and manned you need, any time or day. Volunteer Coordinator ...... Chris Lindsay 416 .233 .7360 M Sponsors ...... Frank Manning 905 643. 2359. the grill. My first “official” driving event of the season was the Around Georgian Bay Tour. I Motorsports ...... Simon Rasmussen 905 .853 .2514 Y was “extremely” happy to be driving along great roads with even better company. My hat is Marque Coordinators CM off to Clive and Jaquelynne Huizinga for organizing such a great event. What are we going TR2, 3, 3A & 3B ...... Malcolm Taylor 905 .880 0079. Alistair Wallace 905 627. .2941 MY “around” next year? TR4, 4A, 5 & 250 ...... John Lille 416 231. .3092 TR6 ...... Fred McEachern 905 .727 2987. I have just returned from our Nation’s Capital having spent a great weekend with our CY Spitfire-GT6 ...... Don Johnson 705 721. .1231 Ron Pincoe 519 941. .0976 friends from the Ottawa Valley Triumph Club during the 26th Annual Canadian Classic. On CMY Stag ...... Tony Fox 905 .632 0479. our return journey, some of the Classic participants stopped in Lindsay to attend the “Brits TR7 & 8 ...... Larry. Llewellyn 416 245. 9217. K in the Park” show. A fantastic show as usual. As I returned to my home in Newmarket after Event Coordinators British Car Day Co-Chairs David Tushingham 905 830. .9124 the show, I glanced at the thermometer hanging outside my kitchen window. The mercury Tony Grosso 416 .266 .7589 said 100 ºF and I was “extremely” hot! 26th Canadian Classic ...... Ottawa Valley Triumph Club/ ...... David Tushingham I am looking forward to the second half of the driving season. It should be “extremely” Spring Fling 2011 ...... Don Johnson 705 721. .1231 Around Georgian Bay Tour . . . Clive Huizinga 905 884. 2091. interesting to say the least. Annual BBQ ...... Brian Clark [email protected] Jack Willekes 905 .820 0269. Cheers, General Mail/Membership Request a FREE copy of the GARAGE SALES! Mail P .O . Box 39, Don Mills Ontario M3C 2R6 — David Tushingham Ragtop Mail & E-mail: Chronicle. That’s right. Check out our annual 2421 Poplar Crescent, Mississauga, ON, L5J 4H2 [email protected] Call: 1-800-265-7437 or 519-337-3232 Spring or Fall Garage Sales and browse Email: [email protected] endless deals. Joerg Hess Each issue is packed with super deals Payment Options: on parts and accessories along with Visa, Mastercard and American Express technical articles to help you do the job. Shipping: Canada Post and most A great resource for YOUR sports car! P.O Box 633 Tel: 519-323-4028 courier services Mount Forest, Ontario Cell: 519-589-7901 Canada N0G 2L0 Fax: 519-323-2820 British Classics Email: [email protected] ALL TO PRESERVE AND DRIVE THE TRIUMPH Global Parts & Car Logistics www.bmciltd.com

TRADING LOGISTICS Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 7 club hub

TRF Is the World’s Greatest British Sports Car Company Meeting Reports The Roadster Factory is large enough to be a major parts by David Fidler manufacturer and distributor but small enough to know our April conversation in The Chart models very well, also small enough to offer very personal Room, while car videos played service to all of our customers. TRF is British Motor on the flat screen TV. After wel- Heritage Approved, we are famous for high quality and coming some first timers, David reasonable prices, and we offer expert engine, gearbox, and Tushingham gave an update rear axle rebuilds from our own shop, known as C.A.R. on upcoming events, which Components. Whether you show your car in concours included the Around Georgian events, enter it in competitive driving events, or drive it to Bay Tour, presented by Clive & work every day, you can do so with confidence, knowing that Jaquelynne Huizinga (see page 18) and of course, the Cana- The Roadster Factory will always be here for you—on-line dian Classic, which this year is or just a phone call away. New member Garth Saddler (left) chats with Cam Theroux at Jake’s hosted by our friends at the Ot- tawa Valley Triumph Club (see May next issue of Ragtop for a full report). I made Subscribe to TRF’s E-Mail Newsletter L-R Alistair Wallace, Scott Douglas, David Fidler and Chris Time to test the early season weather with my usual plea for editorial submissions to Every week, twelve-thousand Triumph and MG Lindsay are ready for business at Ancaster. Note the new a social night at Jake’s Boathouse in Bramp- Ragtop and I must thank John Lille, Terence TTC corporate banner and special shirts (thanks to Dion ton. Despite cooler than forecast tempera- McKillen, Alistair Wallace and Dion Widrich enthusiasts in countries around the world receive an Widrich for the banner, Clive Huizinga for the shirts and tures and some rain, a couple of members for stepping up to the plate and offering Michael Cleland for the artwork!) E-Mail Newsletter from Charles Runyan. The actually did drive their Triumphs and ap- material. Dion will be the subject of “Own- newsletter always includes wonderful offers on parts, As they were so close together, our April proximately 30 people enjoyed food and er’s Manual” in the Fall issue. shipping deals, and other TRF news. The newsletter meeting was combined with the season includes links to current Web Site Specials and Weekend opener event at the Ancaster Flea Market, Features which change every week. To subscribe to the on Sunday April 17th. Those who attended were greeted with sunny, but cold weather newsletter, please follow the simple instructions found for the drive there, but soon after on the TRF home page. Note that unsubscribing is also the wind picked up and grey clouds rolled easy if you change your mind later. in, bringing driving snow which made for miserable conditions for the outdoor ven- Join TRF Car Club dors and treacherous driving conditions Hundreds of customers of The Roadster Factory for those who drove their British cars to the belong to TRF Car Club. The club exists to promote event. Our president, David Tushingham, can attest to the severity of the climate, as TRF Customer loyalty, and it includes $300.00 in gift he attempted to sell some of his parts col- certificates each year that you can use as cash to lection to a dwindling outdoor audience, June washroom facilities. Brian purchase parts. Dues are $100.00 per year, but you also who had all scurried back into the warmth The slow start to warm Clarke and Jack Willekes get a parts credit in the amount of $100.00 every year of the main hall! weather and the driving cooked up a storm on the after the first. You will receive a membership card and The TTC did brisk business at our booth, season this year, meant a grill and everyone enjoyed manned at various times by yours truly, smaller than usual turn out burgers and sausages, ac- sticker. Beautiful club logo. Great T-shirts available. Chris Lindsay, Scott Douglas, Ian Parkhill, for what is normally our companied by the usual Please join on-line, or just phone the sales line, and ask Clive Huizinga, John Lille and Alistair Wal- busiest monthly meeting, accouterments and fresh to join TRF Car Club… lace (if I’ve missed anyone, please forgive the annual BBQ. Although salad, cookies and cakes. my poor memory). We had the usual rush the cool winds off Lake Plenty of Spits at the BBQ Ample supplies of hot cof- of membership renewals, which we al- Ontario, did nothing to fee kept us warm, as did The Roadster Factory ways appreciate, plus a significant number chill the spirits of almost 50 people and 30 chasing after napkins blown away by the P.O. Box 332, Armagh, Pennsylvania, 15920, U.S.A. of new members signed up at the show, cars in attendance. The new venue at Coro- breeze! Our sincere thanks to Brian, Jack thanks everyone and we hope you’re en- nation Park in Oakville was a hit, with lots and their spouses and friends who assisted Telephone: (800) 234-1104 • Fax: (814) 446-6729 joying your membership! of parking, a covered eating area and new in preparing the food and event. Internet: www.the-roadster-factory.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 9 club hub Malcolm Mac- Donald on the Mosport track Welcome New Members! my hopes were nearly shattered. of Italy”. We watched some great Vintage Miss Penny Lane Up and Running... Then, as though Penny knew what was racing action from the infield that included Name Location Vehicle Year up, she guided me to another entrance a couple of very fast TRs that placed well in Paul Balmforth Waterloo Many of you will be aware of Larry Llewellyn’s trials and tribulations with niggling breakdowns where stunned (or asleep) security guards their class. The “wanna be” race car drivers Richard Clark Barrie Spitfire 1979 to his infamous TR7 ‘Penny Lane”. Well, she’s currently behaving herself and Larry took her watched us pass and, to her delight, we took to the track after lunch for three fun somewhere special to celebrate... wound our way around the police horse filled parade laps. A great way to spend Stefan Ekborn Toronto Peter Gabriels Egbert ”The Power stables, around the fountain near Dufferin the day! of Dreams” Street and yes... we were on the track – the David Grant Beeton site of the 2011 Indy! To put her in the lime- Walt Hayward Whitby TR4A 1967 She was in her element, driving through In Brief... light and stroke her ego, Jim Hill Brantford TR6 1974 the turns, back and forth along the lines of I took an evening tour Billy McDonald Waterloo Spitfire 1500 1976 least resistance, clean, speed wasn’t an is- along the 401 east to the Website Garth Saddler Oakville GT6 1968 sue... it was great to know she could do it. DVP, south to the Gardin- A website review meeting was held in the And then the Start-Finish Line loomed... we Alf Zeller Oakville TR4A 1967 er. I never told her where spring and more improvements are in the made it... we lived the dream. I was taking her. The air works. These will include upgraded graph- New Members from April 6, 2011 to July 18, 2011 Then the security guards asked us to was warm, after a long ics, rewrites of some of the existing text leave! hot humid day and “She and a cleaner layout with improved func- great if you could encourage them to re- purred like a kitten”, as Captain John’s Floating Restaurant” (it’s still tionality. The forums continue to grow and new/rejoin or at least find out why they the cliché goes. Floating, but the name has changed), little TTC Day www.autophile.cabe more active, with 155 registered users haven’t, so we can make any necessary As we got to the did she know what was in store for her. and lots of great advice and information. improvements. Gardener, then headed Then there they were, the Princes’ Gates... at the Vintage west, down onto the gateway to a dream. Under construction Races, Mosport, Lakeshore, past “The Old with “do not enter signs” all over the place; Regalia British Car Day Sunday June 19th Due to Clive and Jacquelynne Huizinga’s Plans are well in hand for this year’s show involvement with planning the recent at Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Sunday Georgian Bay Tour, selection of a supplier Sept 18th. A request for volunteers will has been delayed. Please monitor our web- be e-mailed shortly, if you don’t have e- site for updates. mail and would like to offer your services please contact our volunteer coordinator, Chris Lindsay on 416.233.7360 or any TTC Membership officer. Our “Fast Lane” pre-pay service will Is now at 336, including our advertisers be offered once again, this will save you The sun shone down upon us as we at- and sponsors, and continues to creep $5 off the regular admission price and get tended the annual “Field of Dreams” car upwards. We have lost some members you into the park faster, you’ll also receive show at Mosport International Raceway. due to car sales and relocation, but some your window card in the mail prior to the business card There were some great cars on display with have just not renewed. If you know any- show. Fast Lane registration will be avail- ads this year’s featured marque being the “Cars one in the latter category, it would be able soon at www.BritishCarDay.com DRB Motors Classic and Antique Vehicle Appraisal Hub 94 Automotive Consulting Maurice 45 years Classic Brit Specialist 91 Rylander Blvd. Unit 7-142 Phil Law Scarborough, Ontario Bramhall Wilf Eden Home 905-884-2001 Cell 647-226-9494 Retail Sales Tax Appraiser M1B 5M5 Services include: Licenced Mechanic 647-393-4856 Mechanical consulting, minor mobile repairs, assistance with winter lay up, Vehicle Restorer [email protected] spring commissioning and pre-purchase inspection-all makes and models. www.tlcappraisal.ca

10 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 11

RAGTOP 45 events Membership Renewal Reminder (Thank you if you have renewed since press time) Events Calendar Renewal Renewal Name Member # Date Name Member # Date Geoff Anderson ...... 2911 . . . . .07/26/11 Bradley LaDouceur . . . . 3210 . . . . .08/08/11 For Full Event List & More Details Go To TTC cars can be located together, so come SEPTEMBER 2011 David & Barbara Anschuetz . 2339 . . . . .09/01/11 David & Carol MacLellan . . 2171 . . . . .08/01/11 www.TorontoTriumph.com out for a fun night and check out all of the 28th Annual Bob Berger ...... 1809 . . . . .08/01/11 Alex & Sharon Mcleod . . . 1520 . . . . .08/01/11 other “classics” on a nice warm summer British Car Day Dave Butters ...... 2896 . . . . .09/13/11 Alex McMillin ...... 3207 . . . . .08/08/11 evening!_ Sunday, 18th, 8:30 am Les & Moira Campey . . . . 1531 . . . . .09/01/11 Trevor & Dorothy Metcalf . . 2336 . . . . .09/01/11 AUGUST 2011 Bayview Glen Church, 300 Steeles Ave. East Join us for our 2011 British Car Day, at Bron- Alex Christie ...... 3200 . . . . .07/21/11 Ian Millar ...... 2916 . . . . .08/23/11 Brits on the Lake (just east of Bayview Avenue, north side) te Creek Provincial Park, Oakville. Details Doug and Maureen Crane . . 2267 . . . . .08/01/11 Lyal Moffatt ...... 2835 . . . . .07/24/11 Sunday, 7th, 9:00 am www.thornhillcruisers.com will be posted soon at Bob Dodd ...... 3206 . . . . .08/03/11 Anthony Parkins . . . . . 3184 . . . . .08/06/11 Come out and have fun with your fellow LBC www.BritishCarDay.com Anthony Fox ...... 1821 . . . . .09/01/11 Bill Perkins ...... 3212 . . . . .08/16/11 enthusiasts at the 3rd annual “Brits on the Lake” Mark Gillies ...... 2664 . . . . .08/01/11 Robert & Allison Polutnik . . 2844 . . . . .08/21/11 in Port Perry, ON. This event gets bigger each Andrew Grace ...... 2842 . . . . .07/28/11 Warren Rice ...... 2912 . . . . .07/26/11 year and now attracts over 200 British Cars and UK Car Day III Paul & Helen Griffiths . . . 1027 . . . . .07/28/11 Gerry Schnurr ...... 3211 . . . . .08/16/11 Motorcycles. Sunday, 21st, 9:00 am Dave Heathcote ...... 3202 . . . . .07/27/11 Peter & Patricia Simpson . . 2546 . . . . .09/01/11 The Greater Rochester Triumph Touring Club David Hughes ...... 2919 . . . . .08/05/11 Kieren Smyth ...... 2734 . . . . .09/01/11 and the Webster Lions Club present UK Car November 2011 Samuel R. James & Teresa Dinnigan ...... Archie Thomas ...... 1069 . . . . .09/01/11 TTC Annual General Meeting Cruise Night Day III at the Riverbend Pavilion in Genesee ...... 1874 . . . . .09/13/11 Geoff Van Der Lee ...... 2484 . . . . .09/01/11 Tuesday 15th - 7pm Monday, 15th, 5:00 pm Valley Park, Rochester, NY. UK Car Day is the Chris Janzen ...... 3205 . . . . .08/07/11 Helmuth & Brigitte Vorkoetter ...... Canadian Aerospace Museum, Downs- We have been invited again to participate only all-British Car Show in Western NY. This Steve Kennedy ...... 2917 . . . . .08/24/11 ...... 2265 . . . . .08/01/11 view. Come and support your club, hear in another of the Thornhill Cruisers special year’s event features a Concours Judging Andre Laberge ...... 3208 . . . . .08/07/11 Dion Widrich ...... 3215 . . . . .08/30/11 events - The British Invasion! They will be Class. For more information go to www.UK- about new things for 2012 and vote for setting apart a special section so that all CarDay.com officers! Free pizza & pop. Please go to www.TorontoTriumph.com and renew today! Valid as of July 18th 2011

t t We p i ee TOYOTA TO TRIUMPH K Driven by Quality and Passion... 5–Speed Conversions Flat Tappet & Ethanol fuel problems Solved!

• Reduces engine friction TR-2 through TR-6 • Keeps parts wet & minimizes cold start wear. High • Increases compression Performance • Reduces engine wear, heat, Additive noise & vibration and friction in for Engine, gearboxes and differentials • Removes sludge and varnish Hydraulic, from engine parts Synthetic, and • Withstands frictional contact up Gear Oil. to 200,000 psi

Day Distributing TOLL FREE 1-888-808-3185 176 Victoria Street OFFICE 905-898-3185 Newmarket, ON CELL 416-697-0891 L3Y 4E1 Day Distributing Herman van den Akker Day Distributing www.daydistributing.caTOLL FREE 1-888-808-3185TOLL FREE 1-888-808-3185176 Victoria Street 176 Victoria Street P.O. Box 6812, Pine Mountain Club, CA 93222-6812 OFFICE 905-898-3185 Newmarket, ON OFFICE 905-898-3185 Newmarket, ON Phone: (661) 242-1253 • E-mail: [email protected] CELL 416-697-0891 L3Y 4E1 CELL 416-697-0891 L3Y 4E1 www.hvdaconversions.com www.daydistributing.ca www.daydistributing.ca

12 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 13 owner’s manual Pssst! Getting to know our members Want Some Great Advice? Alistair Wallace

You could search big catalogues for the best price Name/Owner: Alistair Wallace Location: Dundas, Ontario You could buy parts from various suppliers Joined TTC: September 2008 Background: Born and TTC Position: TR2, 3 and 3A Marque Coordinator raised in Winnipeg for 10 years, You could pay huge shipping and crazy broker fees Triumphs Owned: 1960 TR3A, TS 72171L we then moved to Toronto due to Born: July 14, 1967, Winnipeg, Manitoba Dad’s job. After high school it was You could be returning the parts Occupation: Senior Project Manager, Optech Incorporated on to the University of Waterloo for an undergrad in Physical Hobbies: Learning about and working on my car, hockey, bird watching, You could... Geography. This was followed rock climbing and anything that my children are involved in. by a graduate degree at Wilfrid 1565 Hwy 5 West, RR#1 ...but why would you? Favourite Music: Neil Young, Frank Zappa, Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz, Laurier University in the field of Troy, Ontario, L0R 2B0 Jack Johnson, the Hip, Stones Who, King Crimson, Genesis, Led Zeppelin Glaciology. These studies were and on and on… basically all except Country highlighted by many field trips out We are your local source for quality parts and only stock west to Banff and Jasper National Toll Free 1-888-485-2277 Pets: None…yet Parks for mountaineering, glacier Local: 905-627-9995 the best. When you consider the benefits of friendly local Children: Three - Aiden 7, Teighan 6 and Caitlyn 3 travel and data collection. I met 24hr Fax: 416-410-6479 service, no quibble exchanges, next day delivery or same Married: Yes ..12 years to my wonderful wife Corinne Corinne in graduate school and E-mail: [email protected] day pick-up, plus great advice and customer service, Favourite Movies: Apocalypse Now, Dazed and Confused, All Bond we were married just before she British Auto Sport is hard to beat. movies, Bullitt and Gone in 60 Seconds finished her Ph.D. After three What would I buy if I won the lottery: A few more Triumphs and a children and a move to Dundas 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Coupe Stabilimenti Farina and a Jaguar XK150 for came the TR3A. This car has Try us for your next project! my wife. presented a whole new learning opportunity – one that is most Three People I would invite to dinner: Reinhold Messner (Mountain enjoyable. ragtop Climber), Pete Townsend (Guitarist) and Steve Martin (Comedian) British Auto Sport Favourite Meal: A barbequed steak (med rare) potatoes and a cold beer. Toll Free 1-888-485-2277 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 15 marque my words AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY Tale of Two Fours by John Lille – TR4,4A, 5 & 250 Marque Coordinator AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY My interest in British sports cars be- ming at a Girl Guide camp in the Lauren- tors in Toronto did not have any red TRs to gan in high school. Living in the Bloor and tians , I decided to celebrate Canada’s Cen- sell, which is the colour I really wanted, so I tennial in Quebec City. On the way home settled for a green one with IRS. AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY Immortalize Your Ride Royal York neighbourhood in Etobicoke, Ontario, I envied many of the “rich kids” I took the back roads. Near Marieville, on Being very busy with studies, I didn’t At The Car Studio, we share your with MGs, Austin- Healeys one of those three lane have much time to work on the car other relentless passion for what you drive. It’s what drives and Triumphs. roads, where you alter- than to upgrade it with stiffer springs, fog AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY us to create stunning images that immortalize our client’s vehicles. Angles, lighting, background In my final year at the nate with traffic going in lights and a Stebro exhaust system. selection and meticulous retouching all come together University of Western On- the opposite direction be- After graduating in the Spring of 1969 to create the magic of images you’ll admire for years. tario, I befriended a chap tween two lanes and one we moved back to Etobicoke. The elderly AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY Located in the GTA, and with plenty of free parking, whose parents bought him lane, I was suddenly faced neighbours probably didn’t know what to our unique facility offers group rates to Car Clubs, one of the first TR4s. The with three sets of head- make of us. Joanna had a souped up ‘68 as well as dealer requests or individual enthusiasts. elective class that we took lights aiming for me. Hav- VW window van and me with the rum- bling Triumph. I spent a lot of time playing AUTOMOTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY Call 416-679-9338 or visit thecarstudio.ca was extremely boring, so we sat in the back ing no choice, in order to avoid a collision, to fi nd out more. row of the lecture hall and talked Triumph. At I hit the narrow shoulder, skidded across with the car redoing the dashboard, all to that time, I promised myself that someday I the highway and flipped the car end over remove the ashtray. too would be a proud owner of a TR. end. About an hour passed before some- By 1972 I finally got around to having it

Ragtop_ad.indd 1 6/29/11 1:11:00 PM ADVANCEADVANCE AUTO-WIREAUTO-WIRE LLC. LLC. BRITISH & REPLICA CAR WIRING painted red. Two years later the R&M Paint people resprayed BRITISH & REPLICA CAR WIRING it using an experimental ure- Steve Carrick ADVANCE thane paint (the price was 8277 WoodparkWiring Dr SW Harness Driving Lights & Auxiliary Fuse right). This coating has proven • AUTO-WIRE• LLC. to be very durable and can be Byron Center, MIHeadlight 49315-9339 Relay Kit Instruction Manuals • BRITISH• & REPLICA CAR WIRING touched up with Lacquer. Unfortunately the [email protected] SteveADVANCE• Auxiliary Carrick Fuse Panel • Technical Assistance In the early months of 1965, working body called an ambulance which took me paint did not make it to market. • FogAUTO-WIRE & Driving Lights LLC.• Stock Schematics as a systems analyst at Simpsons, the bug to a Montreal hospital. I was covered in dirt Wire wheels, Webers, stainless steel [email protected] 8277 Woodpark Steve Carrick Dr SW really bit me. While “working” in the same with many “scratch” wounds. Other than exhaust, Koni shocks and overdrive were 616-889-9707BRITISH ADVANCEAUTOWIRE.COM& REPLICA 8277 CAR Woodpark WIRING Dr SW office, Art Pierce (TTC Member # 1650) and pulling every muscle in my back and being added in the early years. I have done all of Byron Center, Byron MI Center, 49315-9339 MI 49315-9339 I spent many an hour discussing the merits sore, I survived, but it wasn’t until well after the maintenance and repairs myself, ex- AuthorizedSteve Carrick Dealer of Triumph Sportscars. The bold step was midnight before I was sent home. The car cept for an engine rebuild in 1972 and the 8277 Woodpark Dr [email protected] taken in March, in that both of us, for about was a total write-off. The tonneau was the no-lead conversion to the cylinder head. [email protected] Center, MI [email protected] $3,200, bought white TR4s, each with red only part I salvaged and to this day covers The car has more than 225,000 miles on [email protected] 616-889-9707 ADVANCEAUTOWIRE.COM interior, whitewalls, tonneau cover and a Art’s ‘65 TR4. the clock and bears many “battle scars”. Ev- [email protected]@comcast.net Smith’s AM radio. After that unfortunate experience, ery time that I mention to my local body Authorized Dealer By 1967 we were settled in Montreal. the decision was made to go to Graduate shop guy Ralph that the TR needs a paint 616-889-9707 ADVANCEAUTOWIRE.COM Since my wife Joanna was teaching swim- School in London, Ontario. Eglinton Mo- job he says, “not yet!” ragtop 616-889-9707Authorized Dealer ADVANCEAUTOWIRE.COM Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 17 Authorized Dealer cover story Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear Around Evening refreshments in Tobermory. What has Georgian Tush got on his head? New Member Bay Drives New Tour Crossing to by Dave Sims Manitoulin photos by Author & Andrew Grace s newcomers to the TTC and soft surrey top on as a concession to the – a lovely sight! The hotel was great and withA our recently acquired 1968 TR250, this grey skies. A great plan – until the roof we walked (and walked, and walked...) to was our first club event and a good “shake- came off after about 10 miles! Managed to Kelsey’s for supper, then took a taxi back to down” trip for the car. We had been ea- re-seat it and off we went for another 10 the hotel. A great first day! gerly anticipating this weekend for several miles before it unhooked itself again. After Saturday morning was still overcast and a convoy of 28 (mostly) British, (mostly) Tri- months, so it was slightly disappointing the third time we decided to stop and deal rainy, but it was an impressive collection of umph veteran vehicles makes for a very stir- to wake up on the Friday to overcast skies more severely with this recalcitrant roof! A Triumphs which lined up ready to head out ring sight – gets the old British corpuscles and a forecast for rain. However, having big screwdriver and some muscle power in for Sudbury. I think we all took the wimpy standing up and saluting! We elicited a lot a British background means we have lots a parking lot in Acton saw the problem fi- option and kept the roof on... with the ex- of stares, waves and tooting of horns from of experience of coping with wet summer nally resolved, which was fortunate as the ception of Tush (David Tushingham) who, drivers we met on the road. We had a lovely weather, so we set off for Midland, leaving rain became heavier and more persistent with no travelling companion on this trip to dinner at the Lakeside restaurant in Science home around 2pm – lots of time to reach for the remainder of the journey. As we got offer a dissenting opinion, opted to prove North, which was conveniently situated, Midland in a leisurely fashion, with a drive close to the hotel in Midland we started to the long-held theory of British drop-head just across the road from the hotel. As we of only about 130 miles. We left with the see other Triumphs zooming around town drivers everywhere that you don’t get wet in ate, the clouds broke up over the lake and the rain if you drive fast enough! We wend- finally we saw some blue sky and late eve- ed our way up the highway and stopped ning sunshine, as we enjoyed coffee and Andrew Grace changed John Lille’s flat in 9 minutes! for coffee in Parry Sound down by the lake, dessert. After dinner we saw some amazing then on to Pointe Au Baril Station for lunch film photography as we watched the Imax Line-up for the bridge to Manatoulin Island at the Haven restaurant, where we enjoyed show “Wild Ocean”. It had been a long, but some good home-cooked food. It was still enjoyable day so an early night beckoned. drizzling after lunch, but we all assured Sunday morning dawned bright and each other that it was looking brighter and sunny... a beautiful day in the offing. Clear a few more hardy souls opted to join Tush skies, warm sunshine and a gentle breeze in some top-down driving. We hoped Tush’s greeted our convoy of Triumphs as we theory would prove correct, as we got some steered our way through Sudbury and quite heavy showers throughout the af- headed off to Manitoulin Island. Too bad we ternoon. We had a fun stop at the French were not able to get a group picture at the River Trading Post which seems to sell just big Nickel in Sudbury... they wanted $5 per about everything! Shopping done and ice- car for the privilege! The scenery was lovely creams devoured, we headed back out en as we drove along and we managed to ar- route for Sudbury, where the skies started rive at the bridge at Little Current almost The author’s TR250, recently purchased from Drake’s in Kelowna, B.C. to clear just as we arrived. I must say that perfectly on schedule – just enough time

18 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 19 to get a few shots of the whole line of Tri- the terminal – very convenient. We filled the umphs before the bridge closed and we motel to capacity and the parking lot soon were away again, headed for the ferry at offered an imposing display. Tobermory South Baymouth. Arriving at the ferry ter- was busy, but not overwhelmed by tourists minal we were directed to the appropriate so early in the season and it was pleasant loading lanes then we had an hour or so to to stroll around town and visit some of the wait, so time for lunch. The weather was so interesting stores. Dinner was an enjoyable good that the ice-cream stores at the ferry feast at the Lighthouse restaurant – the terminal did a brisk business! The ferry ar- whitefish recommended by Clive was par- rived bang on schedule and it was soon ticularly good – and after dinner, on behalf time to roll on board for the 1 3/4 hour trip of all the tour participants, Tush expressed to Tobermory. Disembarking in Tobermory our appreciation to Clive and Jacquelynne we found our motel to be right next door to for a wonderful excursion. ragtop Sun finally arrives... late, in Sudbury The happy gathering

Waiting for the ferry – Michael Hunter and his TR3a are on the right (see story below) Triumphs as far as the eye can see

Tobermory-Harbourside Inn. the flood with towels. Upon our arrival at Luck Strikes Twice the Haven Restaurant, a fellow in a red pick-up truck stopped to see the caravan to those Who Drive TR’s! of TRs. Emblazoned on the side of the truck was “Randy’s Canvas Shop”. by Michael Hunter Another stroke of luck! Randy knew Chi-Cheemann Ferry arrives at South Baymooth and stern view heading for Tobermory immediately how to repair my ailing new My wife Rosemary and I began our which was situated beside a Canadian Tire top. The heck with lunch! I went up the hill epic journey around Georgian Bay on a Store. In the fifty years we have had the car, to Randy’s Canvas Shop. To my surprise I gray, drizzly July 24th from our little village Canadian Tire has never been in our plans, found a very well-equipped shop with sev- of Fonthill. Periodically, the TR-3 would but they assured me that their “brake man” eral bays. Randy installed 3 boat fittings, hesitate because the brakes were not re- Dave would be in at 8:00 am and the 3-A one in each corner and one in the centre of leasing, but that soon passed. When we would be first on the docket. Dave quickly the windscreen. Once again, PRESTO, prob- reached Barrie, it was pouring and as we diagnosed that the front brakes were lock- lem solved! drove up Bayfield Street the front of the top ing, he examined the calipers, then he Rosemary and I had a great trip and met completely detached from the windscreen. peered under the dash and quickly lubri- some very friendly club members and their We quickly sprang into action, straining to cated the bushings above the pedal and wives, but that’s not all! When we arrived re-attach the buttons on the windscreen, PRESTO – brake problem solved! home on Tuesday evening, there was a when we realized that we had torn out a We quickly joined the queue right on message on our phone from Midland. The stud from one of the corners. To add to the time and 28 Triumphs roared up Hugel Manager of the Canadian Tire store wanted dilemma, the brake problem returned, this Ave. out of Midland on the way to Point- to know how our trip went and if the repair time with a foul odour... and then resolved au-Baril. This leg of the journey was tense, was satisfactory? itself again. as the top decided to pop buttons periodi- Thank you Dave and Randy... I should On to Midland and the Super 8 Motel, cally, causing us to hang on to it and stem have bought a 649 ticket! ragtop

20 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 21 Hilman Minx – 1959 historically speaking Australian Redex reliability run the Monte Carlo rally, as both peted in rallies. Her request was refused a consultant on preparing and she took her offer to BMC who not the cars and as a driver. Three only reimbursed her expenses, but pro- Triumphs in cars were prepared for the vided an MGF for her to drive. She went tough, 2,000 mile Alpine Rally. on to have a very successful career driving Two cars were British Rac- BMC and Austin Healeys, and even Standard Phase 2 ing Green, with consecutive winning outright the Liege-Rome-Liege registration numbers PDU20 Rally, regarded as the toughest in Europe. and PDU21, the first being (Most events at this time had a “Coupe des left hand drive for Gatsonides Dames” or Ladies Cup for which female teams Rally and the other right hand drive for English- could compete. There were several outstand- man Ken Richardson. The third car was OVC ing women drivers at this time, fully capable of Competition – Part 2 276 which had recently taken 27th place at competing against men without any special Herald on Hillclimb the Mille Miglia, driven by Richardson. The consideration being given. Among them were engines were blueprinted, but to standard Ann Wisdom, Gilberte Thirion , Jo Ashfield, 1945-1960 specifications, sump guards fitted and the who drove a Vanguard in the 1956 Monte, and overdrives modified. Front bumpers were the implausibly glamorous Rosemary Smith, by Simon Rassmussen – TTC Motorsports Coordinator Annie removed and spotlights and extra loud ex- who drove a Herald in 1961, before moving Soisbault ternal horns fitted. Finally, a searchlight and to the . In 1964 Triumph were to lets her TR3a Halda Speed Pilot rally instrument for track- provide a works prepared Spitfire for entry by Vanguards and other Standards... cool down as ing time and distance completed the prepa- the SMART team of , the car being Ferrari TDF ration. With this basic preparation and some driven by Valerie Pirie.) Ann Wisdom 1950 Vanguard passes determined effort by the drivers Triumph In 1956 the TR3 replaced the earlier mod- A third type of event was the extremely won the Manufacturers Team Prize, greatly el, though with less success than Triumph he Triumph company’s assets had little car which looked somewhat like a tiny long distance marathon rally. The Redex enhancing the TR2’s growing reputation. had previously enjoyed. A notable result was Tbeen liquidated in 1939, and the factory Rolls Royce. (see story p. 24 - ed) an extremely tight schedule must be fol- Round Australia Reliability Run was estab- (It is interesting to note that many car achieved in 1958 by the new disc-braked which had produced cars was turned to However, a new series of Triumph Road- lowed. At the finish the competitors gath- lished in 1953, with a route that covered a manufacturers commissioned publicity TR3a, one of which finished 3rd in class on the production of war materiel. In 1945 the sters, starting with the TR2 of 1953, was to ered, or “rallied”, at a common finishing vast distance, but allowed time each night films of their rally efforts at this time. In ad- the Monte Carlo Rally, driven by Peter Bolton, factory and the rights to the Triumph name lead the way to a new sporting image for point. These events were held over rough for the drivers to rest and have a meal, so dition some event sponsors such as Shell a works driver and another, driven by Lt. Col. were purchased by the Standard Motor the company. The story of Ted Grinham roads, with checkpoints along the way to was more a test of endurance than speed. Oil, as well as Pathe, produced newsreels Crosby of the works supported British Army Company at the instigation of managing sourcing suitable mechanical components, ensure competitors remained on time. The first event covered over 10,000 kilome- of the events that are of very good quality. Motoring Association managed 1st in class, director Sir John Black, who later became Walter Belgrove working on an impossibly Different classes of cars with different per- tres of rough outback tracks, the intrepid Snippets of these can be found on YouTube in the Liege-Rome-Liege. chairman of Standard-Triumph. tight budget to design the bodywork of this formance potential had to maintain dif- teams contending with searing heat, chok- and the TTC has VHS copies of some of the By the end of the decade the sport was Initially post-war production was of parts bin special and of Ken Richardson and ferent average speeds. The schedule was ing clouds of dust, river crossings, punc- Triumph publicity films.) becoming more professional in its ap- models already in production before the Grinham together transforming the per- so tight the drivers and co-drivers were tures and broken springs from the rough The positive publicity gained from proach, the cars were more thoroughly war started, but by 1947 the new Vanguard formance and handling of the new model, forced to take turns driving and sleeping roads. The next year the distance to be these early successes persuaded the di- prepared, commercial sponsorship was Mk.1 was put into production. For its day is well known. The result was a car which in the car and the event was essentially a covered was increased to 15,000 kilome- rectors to allocate funds for a competition just around the corner and Triumph was this was a reasonably modern car, with filled the gap between the MG and the new race on public roads. tres! This type of event was to lead to the programme and about 5 or 6 events per soon to face competition from the pontoon fenders and coil spring front sus- Austin Healey, and whose performance and In England the common law concept famous London to Sydney and World Cup year were undertaken, for the remainder Cooper, Ford Cortina, Volvo 122 and other pension. Its aerodynamic lines later earned reliability were soon proved beyond doubt. of a right of way prevented closing public rallies of the next decade. of the decade. These included RAC rallies cars. ragtop it the name “the humpy Vanguard” for its roads, so rallies became navigation con- in the United Kingdom, sloping rear profile. The later Phase 2 Van- Rallying in the 1950s. tests, often mostly at night to increase the The TR2 and TR3. the Monte Carlo, the Al- Richardson, Gatsonides, Slotemaker and Kat guard was much better looking from the By the 1950s rallying increased in popu- difficulty, but driven at a relatively relaxed After the sensational speed trial in Bel- pine Rally and the pre- modern perspective! The Standard Com- larity and had evolved into distinct forms. pace. This type of event did not hold much gium, the TR2 had its first success on the mier Dutch event, the pany did enter Vanguards in rallies on the A new rally was started in Kenya, in 1953, attraction for foreign entries and success RAC International Rally in Wales. A car with Tulip Rally. continent with modest success. initially known as the Coronation Rally, for did little to enhance a manufacturer’s rep- no special preparation at all, privately en- Among those who By 1953 a new small car, the Standard obvious reasons, but later becoming the utation, so the European events became tered by a Manchester garage owner, John purchased TR2s was a 8, was put into production and the similar East African Safari Rally, one of the most far more prestigious. It was not until 1961 Wallwork, won the rally outright, with sec- young woman named but slightly more powerful Standard 10 be- notorious car breakers ever! that the winding gravel roads through ond and fifth places also going to TR2s. Pat Moss, the younger came available the following year. By now The continental rallies were held on Englands’ national forests, particularly the This caused a bit of a stir, but more success sister of Stirling Moss, the Triumph division, a much smaller en- public roads, closed temporarily to nor- Kielder, became available for use as special was to follow. who asked the com- tity, was manufacturing the Renown and mal traffic. A set route was to be followed, “stages” and the modern stage rally format Triumph hired Maurice Gatsonides, an pany to reimburse her the faintly ridiculous Mayfair, a pretentious often with multiple starting points and was developed. experienced rally driver and a winner of expenses if she com-

22 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 23 historically speaking The with American influenced body styling (1950s) was a common sight on Reliable Standards Irish roads in the 1950s and 60s The “knife edge” styling From Bicycle to Acclaim by Terence McKillen on the Mayflower was expected to appeal to to the Standard brand in 2001. t seems nowadays that in reading any slay set up shop in in the British American buyers Icorporate presentation material, one is in- Midlands. In pre-war Britain, Standard was In late 1944, the remnants of A 1955 Standard 10 – a similar variably met with an up-front disclaimer of among the top selling car manufacturers the similar to the immediate post-war Fords model belonging to an aunt was liability or a warning, usually in small print, and had been founded on Maudslay’s de- and the Triumph trade-mark and Studebakers) and replaced all the first and only Standard that the document contains certain for- sire to produce a car “composed purely of were bought by Standard the carry-over pre-war models. model driven by the ward-looking information which involves those components whose principles have for £75,000 and the company The Vanguard was actually the author as a teenager known and unknown risks and uncertain- been tried and tested and accepted as reli- renamed as The Triumph Mo- first true post-war design ties. Consequently, the reader is warned able standards” and went on to say that he tor Company (1945) Ltd. Triumph from any of the British that the following account should not be would “name [my] car the Standard car.” production was transferred to Stan- car manufacturers. mistaken for a scholarly or definitive his- The Triumph marque had its origins dard’s factory at Canley, on the outskirts of Later models included tory of the Standard and Triumph marques. dating from 1885 when Siegfried Bett- Coventry in 1946. the Phase 2 released It is merely a recounting of personal recol- mann began importing bicycles and sew- After the war, the fortunes of The Stan- in 1953 and in 1955, lections and a commentary on some of ing machines from Europe and selling dard Motor Company never regained the the all-new Phase 3 the cars produced by both the Triumph them under the Triumph name. A factory pinnacles of success achieved during the Mayflower was introduced at the 1949 was introduced which re- and Standard companies during the life- was opened in Coventry in 1888 and by mid-1930s. Despite the efforts of John Earls Court Motor Show making an instant sulted in variants such as time of the author. At a different time and 1902 a motorcycle division was added. Black and his long-time deputy, Alick Dick, appeal to those in search of comfort, full the Sportsman, Ensign, Vanguard Vignale place, the author has experienced the joys In the early 1920’s, the Triumph Cycle the company failed to tackle the innate equipment, and a very distinctive knife- and Vanguard Six. I have a recollection, Eight was joined by the more powerful of driving several Standard and Triumph Company began to build cars based on problems created by poor management edged styling. The radical design and name though unverified, that the Vanguard was Standard Ten, the first and only Standard models including the Standard 10, Tri- licensed designs from other companies, and falling productivity. On the Triumph with its Founding Fathers connotation, was used as a patrol car by the Irish police force model, belonging to a maiden aunt, that I umph Herald (949 cc and 1296 cc variants), but in 1923 the first Triumph model, the side of the ledger, the pre-war models were a bold but ultimately futile attempt to ap- or Garda Síochána, in the mid-1950s. had the opportunity to drive. , Triumph Do- 10/20, was introduced and had the dis- not revived and, during 1946, a new range peal to the US market where John Black ap- In the early 1950s a decision was made The Phase 2 Vanguard was powered lomite, Mk II, TR6 and the tinction of being the first British produc- of models was introduced starting with parently thought it could be presented as to apply the Standard name to saloon by a 2,088cc 4-cylinder engine rated at 68 final production model, a 1984 Triumph tion car fitted with hydraulic brakes. By the . Because of post-war a mini Rolls Royce. To my eye, its styling is models and the Triumph name to sports HP. The output could be raised up to 90 Acclaim, as well as being the proud owner 1930, the company name was changed to steel shortages, aluminium was used for still somewhat reminiscent of the present car offerings. Standard’s one-model policy HP through a modification of the intake of a Triumph bicycle in the 1950s! Triumph Motor Company and in 1936, the body panels and the cars were powered by day London taxi-cab. changed in 1953 when a new small car, the system and the addition of two carburet- The and the cycle and motorcycle division was sold. surplus engines being manufactured for A one-model policy for the Standard , was added and promoted tors. Standard Motors at the time supplied Triumph Motor Co. Ltd. had been in busi- The two marques later became part of Jaguar. marque alongside the range of new Tri- as the cheapest four door saloon available many of these engines to Ferguson Trac- ness some 43 years and 61 years respec- Ltd. which subsequently The short- umphs was adopted during 1948 with the on the UK market, yet it boasted indepen- tors for distribution in the United States tively when they finally merged in 1946, became Motor Corporation. lived Triumph introduction of the 2 litre Standard Van- dent front suspension, hydraulic brakes and the motor became the precursor of the year in which your scribe was born. It BMW acquired the Standard and Triumph guard, which had a clear and an O.H.V. engine. the four cylinder engines used in the early was an auspicious year, not only because brands following its purchase American influence on During 1954 the TRs and ultimately the six cylinder variety of these two events, but also for the British of BL’s successor, its styling (not dis- used in the TR5/250s, TR6s and 2000s. car industry in general as factories began Group, in 1994. Sub- A two-seater sports car was introduced to make the transition from war time to sequently, British at the London Motor Show in 1952 based civilian production. During the war years, Motor Heritage Ltd. on a modified Standard 8 or Standard 9 Standard had converted to production of acquired the rights chassis, Mayflower front suspension, and de Havilland Mosquito aircraft and making powered by a Vanguard wet liner engine fuselages for the Bristol Beaufighter while The 1946 all-aluminium (1,991cc), with a Roadster gearbox and twin Triumph made motorcycles for the Allied bodied Triumph Roadster SU carburettors. Its serious lack of luggage was powered by an 1800 cc armies. Originally designed as a space, however, resulted in production be- engine, surplus to Jaguar The Standard Motor Company had its Standard model, the TR2 entered ing delayed until the following year when requirements beginnings in 1903 when Reginald Maud- production in 1953 as a Triumph the tail was restyled to incorporate a gener-

24 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 25 The Michelotti-styled Triumph The based on the Herald, first introduced in 1959 The TR7 was the only all new Honda Ballade/Civic was introduced was the successor of the Triumph introduced under in 1981 - the last model in the Standard 10 Rover-Triumph historic Triumph line

the inner edges of the rims when the car hit Standard-Triumph was even- Jaguar-Rover-Triumph, other than for a brief known British motor trade names, some cally motivated trade unions on ous boot and the chassis stiffened. the road again, not unlike our Irish Setter tually acquired by Leyland Motors in De- period during the mid 1970s, when all the dating back to the very start of car manu- the other side. That production car was badged as skating over hardwood floors, legs going cember 1960, catching industry watchers BL car marques were grouped together un- facturing. Such brands included Austin, Over the 38 year span of the Standard- a Triumph and the TR2 became an immedi- in all directions! I was following in a Lotus 7 off guard as Leyland were better known for der Leyland Cars. Morris, Riley, Wolseley, MG, Jaguar, Daim- Triumph marques during my lifetime, my ate success. which was not exactly suited to those road building commercial vehicles, an observa- The only all-new Triumph model intro- ler, Rover and of course, Standard and Tri- fondest memories are of driving my father’s Following Standard’s acquisition of Tri- conditions either, but for different reasons. tion not lost on the Guardian newspaper duced as a Rover Triumph was the TR7, umph. British Leyland was intended to be Triumph 2000 Mk II during the early to mid- umph, Harry Webster’s design and chassis Webster continued work on the de- when it announced “A surprising merger which was manufactured at three different a conglomerate to rival General Motors in 1970s but as a 17 year old, I really enjoyed a engineering abilities helped the revival of sign of the Triumph TR series roadsters between Standard-Triumph International factories, each of which ended up being the worldwide market and at the time, was few days of top-down driving in a Triumph the Triumph marque through the 1950s. and brought in Italian stylist Giovanni Mi- and Leyland Motors was proposed by both closed. The first was at Speke, the strike- viewed as the only way for the British mo- Vitesse around the Wicklow Hills while By the end of the decade, however, the chelotti, to work with him on many of the companies.” The all-share offer by Leyland prone Leyland-era Standard-Triumph tor industry to remain competitive. Rivalry dreaming of one day owning a TR roadster. small Standards were losing out in the UK Triumph models including the TR4/4A, was worth £20 million. The Triumph or Rov- works in Liverpool, then the original Stan- between the individual marques, which I was recently able to satisfy that long- home market to more innovative competi- TR5/250, Herald, Vitesse, 1300, Dolomite, er Triumph BL subsidiary used the former dard works at Canley and finally the Rover had previously been competitors prior to held dream with the acquisition of a 1973 tor designs, and the decision was made Spitfire, 2000, and Stag. The TR6 body style, Standard engineering and production fa- works in . the merger, resulted in a product range TR6, although I have to admit that the to continue only with the Triumph brand. although based on Michelotti’s TR5/250, cilities at Canley until it was closed in 1980. Plans for an extended range of mod- that was full of duplication and inconsis- Stag remains my all-time favourite Tri- Consequently, the 1959 replacement for was actually a Karmann-modified design. Although the Standard brand finally els based on the TR7, including a fastback tencies. BL eventually became unmanage- umph model and ensures my continuing the Standard Eight, Ten and Pennant was In 1967, Webster became chief executive ended in 1970, the last Standard car, an variant with the product name “Lynx”, were able and financially crippled and inevitably interest in the BBC television series New introduced as the , but with engineer at Leyland Motors where he suc- Ensign Deluxe, was produced in May 1963, ended when the Speke factory closed. The entered bankruptcy. Tricks, currently showing on PBS, where substantial mechanical components still ceeded the renowned Sir Alec Issigonis as but the name lived on for a further 24 years four-cylinder TR7 and its short-lived, Rover- The demise of British Leyland and its suc- detective Gerry Standing, played by De- carried over from the small Standards. BLMC’s technical director. on models manufactured in India. At the engined, eight-cylinder derivative, the TR8, cessor, the , together with the nis Waterman, owns a green, 1977 Tri- The Herald’s rack and pinion steering was Problems with the early fuel injection same time, the final Vanguard models were were terminated when the road car section famed Triumph marque, mirrored that of umph Stag roadster. light and manoeuvrable, affording a tight systems in some export markets resulted replaced in the product line by the new Tri- at the Solihull plant was closed in October many other once famous British industrial The fact that the TR6 and the Stag can turning circle. Coil and double-wishbone in undeserved criticisms of unreliability of umph 2000 models. I recall the 2000 Mk II, 1981, although at just over 115,000 units, institutions and fell victim to a number of cu- still hold their own against many current front suspension was fitted, while the rear Triumph products although poor quality introduced in 1969, as a very comfortable the TR7/8 outsold all other Triumph models. mulative causes including serious undercapi- car designs as well as being reliable drivers suspension, a new departure for Triumph, control was also an issue. The injection sys- family saloon which provided me with an The last Triumph model was the Ac- talisation, failure to grasp innovative changes 38 years later, is a testimony to Webster’s offered independent springing via a sol- tem lacked the ability to compensate for early introduction to automatic transmis- claim, introduced in 1981 for a three year being made in car design and engineering, brilliant engineering and the timelessness idly mounted single transverse leaf-spring the mixture adjustment at altitudes great- sions which weren’t a commonly available production run, which I had the opportu- production over-capacity, increasing foreign of the Karmann and Michelotti designs, bolted to the top of the final drive unit and er than 1,000 meters. One of the reasons option in British cars of that era. The front nity to drive on several visits back home to competition in the UK market, poor reputa- and I suppose, to those misguided and swing axles which was horribly prone to advanced for the Lucas system’s unpopu- end of the Mk II followed the lines of the Ireland, courtesy of my father who had a tion for quality, pompous and ineffectual possibly maligned, British trade unionists wheel tuck-under, reportedly as much as larity was a lack of follow up in research well established . As the last long-standing, but almost equally divided management on the one side and hard-line, of the 1970s – a Triumph of Reliable Stan- 20 degrees, that made for sudden, usually and development and, apparently, the big Triumph car, production of the 2000 loyalty to the Triumph marque as well as to socialist-leaning, self-destructive and politi- dards indeed! ragtop alarming, oversteer, a problem also known unwillingness of Standard-Triumph dealers ceased in 1977, when it was supplanted by the Roots Group (Humber, Hillman, Singer, to Spitfire owners. I have a vivid memory of to attend training courses for the mainte- British Leyland’s then corporate executive Sunbeam etc.). Although I suspect deep being on a geology field trip in nance of the car, the Rover SD1, some models of which down, he was actually a Jaguar aficionado. Connemara, in the west of Ire- equip- continued to use engines derived from the The Acclaim was essentially a rebadged land, watching a fully load- ment. Triumph 2000. Honda Ballade-Civic built under licence by ed Triumph Herald Es- For most of its time under the Triumph at the former Morris Motor Com- tate dealing with the ownership of Leyland or BL, the Tri- pany factory in Cowley, Oxford. very bumpy roads. umph marque resided with the The Triumph name was not used after The car became air- Specialist Division which 1984, when the Acclaim was replaced by borne going over went under the names of the Rover 200, a rebadged version of Hon- the crest of a bridge Rover-Triumph and later da’s next-generation Civic model. and I could swear that At its peak, BL (or BLMC) owned nearly the rear wheels momen- The Triumph 2000 introduced 40 different manufacturing plants across tarily touched each other the author to automatic the UK and operated some 10 brands The author’s 1973 TR6 Roadster before splaying out almost to transmission in the early 1970s including the vast majority of the well-

26 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 27 The two Sixes at the bits & pieces Copper Kettle British Pub in Glen Williams

rings were right on specifica- ther to labour nor to over-rev the motor. tion. A set of new pistons and After a few hundred miles, the engine oil new con rod bearings were was drained and carefully inspected for any sourced and installed without metallic content – none found. New oil was difficulty. It is important to added and the filter replaced. Sometime bear in mind the necessity of in the near future the cylinder head bolts TR6 keeping each con rod cap and will be re-torqued. This will also require the bearing together with its cor- removal and subsequent readjustment of responding con rod (they are the rocker arm and valve clearances. Engine Rebuild numbered from 1 to 6 starting We sourced parts for this job from all of from the front of the engine), our friendly British car parts suppliers includ- by Terence McKillen ensuring that the pistons are Removing the con rod bearing caps ing British Autosport, Peninsula Imports and attached to the con rod gud- Obsolete Automotive with some ancillary ne Saturday afternoon in late were excessive oiling of three of the geon in the proper orienta- nated and all of the spark plugs de- items coming from neighbourhood May,O together with fellow TR6 enthusiast, spark plugs (#1, #2 and #4). We had tion (“front” or arrow on the pict normal colouration – now I can Canadian Tire and NAPA stores. Colin Pillar and our long-suffering wives, recorded cylinder compression read- piston head facing forwards) start to tweak the carburettors! Perhaps the hardest part of this found us on a leisurely jaunt through the ings ranging from 112 to 120 psi. The with the con rod sitting on the To facilitate the easy reinstalla- partial engine overhaul was the re- country roads north of Oakville around motor otherwise seemed to have good right hand side and the gaps tion of the sump and gasket, we installation of the exhaust manifold. the headwaters of 16 Mile Creek and then power and torque and there were no in the rings alternately spaced manufactured two studs to act as Two of the six stud nuts and clamps on over to the Credit River at Glen Wil- discernable metallic/mechanical nois- and staggered away from the a guide in holding the gasket in on the lower part of the manifold liams. Somewhere around the junction es emanating from under the hood. thrust side of the piston. place until the sump could be pre- are extremely difficult to reach, es- of 17th Sideroad and Hwy 7 we became We removed the cylinder head A week later, on June 9, the sented and bolted in place. Once pecially if the carburettors are not Normal coloura- separated in traffic, with Colin heading on June 2 and took it over to Howie head was back and torqued four bolts are in place the studs can removed, and require an inordinate tion returned to all south on Hwy 7. We continued separately Cunningham at R&B Automotive in down, carefully following the be removed and the remainder of amount of dexterity to get back in 6 plugs in the expectation of a rendezvous at the Oakville for a complete overhaul/re- proper sequence of tightening the bolts torqued to specification. place, to say nothing of the risk of Copper Kettle Pub in Glen Williams. The placement of the valves, guides, springs, A check of the gaps in the old compres- of the cylinder head retaining nuts. Two of We applied a very thin, smooth lay- skinning the back of one’s hands! fact that Colin knew of our whereabouts seats and collars, although Howie thought sion rings indicated more than double the 14 cylinder head studs are slightly lon- er of Permatex black gasket maker on all I am greatly indebted to Colin and his and was able to locate us a kilometre or that weak valve springs were probably the standard specification of 0.012-0.017 ger than the others. This is not referred to gaskets except the head gasket, manifold neighbour Sean, a former MGB aficionado, so before he could actually see us, was causing most of the trouble at the head inches confirming our earlier observation in the Manual or the BLMC Work- gasket, the lower side of the rocker cover for their unstinting help with this project. not due to some satellite tracking device level, but noted that the exhaust valve of the loose fit of the pistons in the sleeves. shop Manual, but the Haynes Manual sug- gasket and the carburettor gaskets. We completed it in 11 days, but in effect or extra-sensory perception on his part, guides were also worn. While at Howie’s, However, we were happy to discover that gests that they should be utilised as the Following replenishment of fluids, the spent about 18 working hours (or a total but due to an inordinate amount of blue I momentarily debated shaving the head the sleeves themselves still remained cy- two rear most studs on the right hand side motor was cranked smoke being left in our wake - being to increase the compression ratio, but de- lindrical, rather than ovoid, and after some of the engine block. using the starter more reminiscent of the smoke screen a cided to keep everything stock. very modest honing to remove the worst The cylinders and bearings were oiled motor (no plugs destroyer or frigate on a North Atlantic Meanwhile, we dropped out the sump of the scoring, were within normal specifi- and the motor initially turned over by or distributor) to patrol might have laid down. and removed the connecting rod caps to cation as the gaps on the new (normal size) hand and then using the starter motor to ensure lubrication Once the air had settled and over some facilitate an inspection of the pistons. It be- provide input for a number of rotations to and initial seating al fresco refreshments across the street – came immediately apparent that we were ensure smooth operation. The cam follow- of the pistons and unfortunately the Copper Kettle was not in to more than just a replacement of pis- ers, push rods and rockers were reinstalled, rings. This was fol- open at the time - Colin and I decided that ton rings. The #1 piston head had a small all of which had been carefully kept in or- lowed by a squirt it was time, sooner rather than later, to knick on the back edge, the #4 piston had der at the time of removal. or two of gasoline tackle what we thought would be a pos- a hairline crack on the wall and the rings Other ancillary parts such as the sump, in to each cylinder sible valve and ring job to see if we could on the #2 piston were locked solid – coin- intake and exhaust manifolds, water pump, and some further reduce the oil consumption of my 1973 cidentally the same three cylinders with coolant hoses and miscellaneous cables cranking taking Six. I had been hoping to get through the fouled spark plugs – note to self, spark were refitted and of course, the rocker pad care to catch the The two longer head studs are at the rear right side the summer motoring season before plugs do more than just provide the spark! and valve tip clearances had to be set for ejected gas/oil mix- tackling the overhaul in the Fall, but the There was also evidence of some modest each pair of valves in turn. ture in well-positioned rags. The spark of 36 man hours, including breaks for beer smoke screen was becoming too much scoring on other pistons and correspond- Cylinder compression was rechecked plugs were inserted and the leads from the or other refreshments) to get back on the of an embarrassment. Other than the ex- ing cylinder sleeves. We also detected no- and now found to fall in the range of 125 distributor cap reconnected. A little choke road without missing too much of the cessive blue smoke which became much ticeable lateral movement of the pistons to 135 psi, a distinct improvement on the and she fired on the first crank! summer driving season. more plentiful when the engine had been within the cylinder liners when the con- The front two-thirds of the Six with arrow showing the pre-overhaul numbers. More importantly, The engine is currently being run-in at Now, if only the Copper Kettle was running for some time, symptoms noted necting rods were manipulated. nicked #1 piston the blue smoke has been completely elimi- modest but varied speeds taking care nei- open! ragtop

28 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 29 BACK THEN WE WERE THE EXPERTS been there fixed that AT INSURING ‘57 CHEVYS Shafted

by a by Terence McKillen Yoke (with the assistance of Colin Pillar)

espite the title, we’re not was completed and the old rigid shaft Dreferring to the Richard Roundtree was reinstalled, not without some character from the 1971 movie of difficulty, until a replacement arrived the same name, but to recent expe- from a wrecking yard somewhere in riences removing and re-installing, the depths of rural Ohio. on four occasions, the drive shaft of Upon inspection, the “new” shaft my 1973 TR6. appeared to be in good working or- Before describing the procedure, der, being nicely lubricated with mo- some explanation is required as to ly-graphite grease and the front yoke why anyone in their right mind would slid perfectly on the splines. The old repeat this operation four times in U-joints were removed and replaced quick succession? with new ones recommended by Fred On the first occasion, the drive MacEachern and the whole thing was AND WE STILL ARE. shaft had to be removed in prepa- painted and made ready for installa- ration for the installation of a new tion once the differential had been tak- clutch. We experienced difficulty en out for some much needed mainte- separating the drive shaft from the nance by Joe Dukovac at JD Auto. rear flange of the transmission after The first outing of the car follow- removing the four bolts attaching ing installation of the new drive shaft the U-joint to the flange – we were was to the Ancaster British Car Flea only planning on disconnecting the Market in mid-April when the main problem of the day wasn’t the bit- A LOT OF INSURANCE COMPANIES SAY THEY KNOW CLASSIC AND ANTIQUE CARS. BUT WE BELIEVE NO ONE KNOWS THEM forward end of the drive shaft to al- low the transmission to be removed. Jim to be prone to jamming, sometimes per- terly cold temperatures or the snow and BETTER THAN STATE FARM. AFTER ALL WE WERE INSURING MANY OF THESE CARS LONG BEFORE THEY BECAME CLASSICS. Lovell’s famous words from the Apollo 13 manently, in the female grooves if regular sleet, which the recently rebuilt heater AND AS THE WORLD’S LARGEST CAR INSURER, WE CURRENTLY INSURE WELL OVER 120,000 OF THESE UNIQUE MACHINES. lunar mission, “Houston, we have a prob- lubrication is allowed to lapse. Despite all coped with wonderfully, but an annoying WITH STATE FARM YOU’RE ALWAYS SURE OF GETTING COVERAGE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU---AND YOUR CAR. AT SOME OF lem,” came to mind as we discovered that efforts to separate the two parts of the and pervasive vibration emanating from THE MOST COMPETIVE RATES AVAILABLE. PERHAPS THAT’S WHY SO MANY CLASSIC AND ANTIQUE CAR OWNERS INSIST ON the forward yoke was no longer sliding on drive shaft, we abandoned such attempts the transmission tunnel at anything more INSURING THEIR AUTOMOTIVE TREASURES WITH STATE FARM THAN WITH ANY OTHER COMPANY. its splines. As with the half-shaft splines and settled on sourcing a replacement than walking speed. One early diagnosis SO CALL YOUR STATE FARM AGENT TODAY AND YOU’LL LEARN THAT JUST LIKE SOME CARS, SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES (more later), the male components appear shaft. In the meantime, the clutch work was that it could possibly be the difference ONLY IMPROVE WITH AGE.

ULTIMATE Car Care WAYNE C. MCGILL TRANSPORTATION AGENT PRODUCTS Langka - Professional UNIT 21 - 2345 WYECROFT ROAD STATE FARM Paint Chip Repair SY LANGER OAKVILLE ONTARIO L6L 6L8 INSURANCE COMPANIES BUS CANADIAN HEAD OFFICES: . 905-847-5671 23 Markwood Lane Manufacturer Approved EMAIL: [email protected] AURORA, ONTARIO Thornhill, Ontario L4J 7A6 Convertible Care Phone: 416-580-7327 Web: www.wheelwax.ca DIY Power Bleeder for Email: [email protected] Brakes/Clutches LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR STATE FARM IS THERE.

Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 31 Rimmer ad 'D overseas' 08 1/7/08 14:44 Page 1

The differ- ential nicely refurbished by JD Auto FREE between new polypropylene bushes that A BRITISH COMPANY SUPPORTING BRITISH CARS CATALOGUES we had used on the differential mounts being more rigid than the original rub- the front pipes attached ber bushings but it later became obvious to the exhaust manifold. that there was a distinct defect in the drive One hears occasional shaft manifesting as a measurable “wow” horror stories on difficul- at the front end of the shaft, which meant ties encountered in sepa- the drive shaft and differential had to be For those who may be contemplating rating the various sections of the exhaust removed for a third time and we reverted the removal of a drive shaft or rear differen- system and the necessity of cutting pipes, back to using the original, drive shaft un- tial, the following observations are based etc., but we did not experience any great 75,000 SQ FT OF SPACE til a second replacement could be sourced on this newly gained experience. difficulty and in fact, achieved complete FULL RANGE OF PARTS & ACCESSORIES and installed. (This vibration can be caused Unless the gearbox is being removed, removal in a matter of 15 minutes or so. by the driveshaft being out of balance or all of the work is accomplished underneath On reattachment, it is important to get a Great prices! “out of phase”, it is important when remov- the car and is facilitated by use of a ramp, good seal between each section of pipe, ing and replacing the same driveshaft that it pit, hoist or secure axle stands. The more but not to over-tighten the U-clamps and Great service! goes back exactly the same way it came out. clearance under the car, the easier the job thus avoid crimping the pipes which prob- PARTS PICKED FROM 1000’S OF LOCATIONS Marking the flanges on the gearbox, drive becomes. Complete removal of the drive ably contributes to some of the aforemen- shaft and differential flanges BEFORE remov- shaft requires either the removal of the tioned difficulties. al is the best way to ensure this. Also, there gearbox or the differential – our experi- With the exhaust system out of the way, WANT A PROFESSIONAL are two arrows on the sliding spline sections ence suggests that it is easier and quicker access to the front and rear shaft U-joints of the drive shaft, these MUST be aligned thus to remove the differential. is now possible. The removal of the two PARTS SERVICE —> <— to ensure the U-Joints are “in phase”. The first order of business is the removal sets of 4 bolts can be somewhat trying be- SALES OFFICE See Universal Joint sidebar p 36 - ed.) of the exhaust system and muffler leaving cause the original design did not provide AT THE RIGHT PRICE?

COME TO THE EXPERTS Transport Books We stock MG Rover and parts too. STAG . TR2-8 . SPITFIRE . GT6 . HERALD Cars, bikes, boats & planes... VITESSE . DOLOMITE . 2000/2500 trucks, tractors, tanks & trains Rimmer Bros tick all the boxes:- th I Competitive prices Our 37 year! I Canada's largest selection of AUTHORISED PARTS DISTRIBUTOR Great customer service Original Parts & Accessories motoring books & popular ROVER SD1 . /45/25 I Efficient mail order anywhere Phone: 416-822-0096 or 905-616-0421 . motorsports videos. MGF/MGTF MG ZT/ZS/ZR Toll Free: 1-866-532-3630 ROVER 200/400/600/800 I World’s largest Triumph stock METRO/MINI . MAESTRO/MONTEGO Triumph books a specialty: Email: [email protected] I Free catalogues Web: http://www.a-professional-appraisal.ca LAND ROVER historical, pictorial & technical. AUTHORISED PARTS DISTRIBUTOR I Trade enquiries welcome Original Parts & Accessories Mon-Sat 10am-5pm CLASSIC/P38A/SERIES 3 I Easy to use website DISCOVERY 1 & 2 . FREELANDER free parking – free mailing list DEFENDER . ROVER V8 ENGINES www.transportbooks.com PARTS SALES & ENQUIRIES Tel: 01144 1522 568000 SALES COUNTER VISITORS WELCOME 16 Elrose Avenue Trade Enquiries: 01144 1522 567111 & VISITOR We are open:- MON – FRI; 8.30am to 5.30pm, Fax: 01144 1522 567600 CENTRE SAT; 8.30am to 1pm. Toronto, ON M9M2H6 Canada E-mail: [email protected] BROWSE OUR (416)744-7675 (800)665-2665 CATALOGUES www.rimmerbros.co.uk ON YOUR PC Rimmer Bros. Triumph House, Sleaford Rd (A15), All our [email protected] Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln, LN4 2NA, England. Catalogues & current Price Guides are available on one CD. Small charge is made to cover burning & postage. Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 33

Ragtop 2009 - ¼ page - TRANSPORT BOOKS at DRB Motors Inc.

3.75”x 4.9375” 3 ¾ x 4 15/16 9.53cm x 12.55cm

JENSENMERCEDES TRIUMPH AUSTIN-HEALEYAUSTIN ALVISJAGUAR ASTON BMW MARTIN BENTLEY ROLLS-ROYCE SUNBEAM LOTUS CORD TVR sufficient space for the use of a rachet or per and lower rubber or polypropylene rear and forward mounting brackets to DAIMLER MG RALEIGH VAUXHALL socket wrench. With some U-joints it is nec- mountings in the correct order for rein- safely support the differential in place essary to remove the grease nipple before stallation. Prior to the total removal of while the old drive shaft was removed BRISTOLLANDROVER PORSCHE ANGUS-SANDERSON WOLSELEYL R ALLARD RELIANT MORGAN the adjacent bolt can be removed. It can the Nyloc nuts, it is a good idea to wrig- and the new one installed. NE be worthwhile marking the relationship of gle the differential free and enable it to With two people, the entire procedure AUDI ARMSTRONG-SIDDELEY LANCHESTER STRAKER-SQUIRE the gearbox and differential flanges to the slide down the mounting pins, but not of removal and installation can be accom- TROJAN INVICTA MORRIS ARGYLL drive shaft U-joint flanges to make for easi- before having a suitable support in place plished with the car ready to go back on er reassembly as they are not symmetrical. (e.g. floor jack) to take the weight of the the road in less than three hours. 905-953-0052 Having separated both the gearbox and unit and lower it safely to the ground. If While you have easy access, don’t for- www.lnerautomotive.ca the differential flanges, the shaft will tem- the differential is just being temporarily get to lubricate the half-shaft and main porarily rest on the tunnel floor until the removed in order to facilitate the with- shaft splines and give a shot or two of differential is removed. drawing of the drive shaft, it is only nec- grease to all of the U-joint nipples. It is Dropping the differential first requires essary to lower it off its mounting pins also a good idea to replace the Nyloc nuts the removal of the two half-shaft inner and we rigged up a rope sling from the with new ones and tighten everything to U-joints from each of the driving flanges three flanges of the differential via the the proper torque setting. and then pushing each shaft up and out The lyrics of the Isaac Hayes of the way. Hopefully the sliding shafts theme song from Shaft conclud- will have been adequately lubricated over ed, “He’s a complicated man and the years and the male-female splines will no one understands him but his not be fused together as they were in our woman,” one is left thinking that first drive shaft. may not be such a bad analogy for Remove the Nyloc nuts from the four the relationship we develop with differential mounting pins, taking care the mechanical vagaries of our Tri- Seized front yoke to keep the large washers and the up- umphs! ragtop J.D. AUTO SERVICES

Josip (Joe) Dukova European Classic Car Specialists IMPORT, DOMESTIC & SPORTSCARS 301 Rexdale Blvd. Unit C, Etobicoke, Ont. M9W 1R8 Ragtop distribution provided by: Maintenance and Service TEL: (416) 746-1048 • FAX: (416) 746-9935

Complete Mechanical Repairs m N Drea BRITISh CAR ur Complete Electrical Repairs o REpAIR ShOp Y s Parts New and Used • TRIUmph Rexdale Blvd. U

Parts Fabrication g • mG

n i

r • LOTUS (416) 755-9191 Restoration of Body and Interior B • JAGUAR • Bulk Mail Service • Letter Shop Services List Management Order & Product Fulfillment • SAFETY & E-TESTING Martin Grove • •

34 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 35 Shafted been there fixed that by a Yoke The Universal Joint Broken Bonnet by Bruce Pinch The universal joint (or U-joint – originally known as a Hooke’s vibration. The U-joints, bearings, clutch, gears, etc. would be get- Release Fix joint) has been with us for quite a while. As you know, they are ting constant, reversing impact loads. As the angle of the drive- used to connect two or more shafts together that otherwise don’t shaft increases, so do the speed variation and the impact load. I came across this article a few years back up from underneath to do it. eral screws which secure the paperboard line up, but intersect at a point. The typical configuration has two To solve this dilemma, two U-joints are put into the driveshaft from the Obsolete Auto news magazine. This would require that you reach ALL glove box insert to the steel dashboard. “U”s, or “yokes” connected with a “cross”, or “spider”. A driveshaft in series, one at either end of the shaft. As one U-joint increas- THE WAY UP around the back of the motor Remove the insert. This provides relatively uses a U-joint assembly at either end, with an intermediate shaft in es speed, the other decreases speed. The net effect is constant Opening the hood of your TR6 after ex- and somehow grope around and find the free access to the firewall. between, to connect the transmission with the rear axle. speed in, constant speed out. periencing a broken hood release cable: hood latch, by feel alone. This is all but im- Looking down inside the “Black hole” If a car had a rigidly mounted engine, transmission and rear The hood release catch and latch on the possible. through the glove box door you will see axle perfectly in line, the driveshaft would not need any U-joints. TR6 are amongst the world’s most inacces- the heater hose connections at the fire- However, engines and transmissions are rubber mounted to sible parts when the cable snaps. It is prac- Try this instead: wall, and just to their right you will see the keep annoying vibrations from being transmitted to the vehicle tically impossible to open the hood from Underneath the glove box you will find a dual choke cables running through a rub- occupants. Since the rear axle is normally part of the suspension, underneath the car. steel brace running from the steel dash- ber grommet. it has to move to deal with varying loads and road conditions. In order to open the hood (without board panel forward to the scuttle. This While holding the dual cables in one All of this movement means the driveshaft needs to work with causing damage) it will be necessary to bracket stiffens the dashboard and sup- hand, force the rubber grommet through components that are constantly changing position. push the release lever on the hood latch ports the glove box insert. It is held in place the hole in the firewall with your other The problem is a single U-joint has a “dirty little secret”. As you sideway, moving it the same way that the with several screws. Undo the screws and hand. Use a small slot screwdriver to do increase the angle between the shafts, the angular velocity of release cable would if it weren’t broken! remove this brace. this. Now go and find a stout slot screw- the two halves is not constant. In our opinion it is not possible to reach Open the glove box door. Remove sev- driver at least a foot long. So, what does this mean? If an input shaft runs at a constant Looking at the diagram above, “C” is connected to the trans- speed, an output shaft connected to it through a single U-joint will mission and “D” is connected to the rear axle. run at the same constant speed only if the output shaft is directly The main purpose of the U-joints is to allow the rear axle to in line with the input shaft. As the chart below indicates, as the move up and down while still getting power. This doesn’t come for angle between the two shafts change, the output shaft will speed free though. As the axle moves vertically (up) and the driveshaft up for one quarter of a full revolution, and then slow down the angle lessens, the driveshaft needs to get shorter. The vast major- following quarter revolution. In other words, it will speed up and ity of British cars including MG, Austin Healey and Triumph use a • Diesel Engines • Parts Store 27 Erinville Dr. • Gasoline Engines • Complete Engine Machine Shop then slow down twice for every full revolution of the driveshaft. sliding splined joint between the U-joints on the shaft itself. One Erin • Marine Engines • Gasoline Injector Service of the exceptions is the Sprite / Midget. It uses a sliding spline on • Race Engines • Engine Balancing & Blue Printing Ontario Winslow Delaney | Creative Solutions 9 Forster Park Drive Oakville, Ontario Canada L6K 1Y5 • Vehicle Services • Cylinder Head Porting & Flow Testing 416.871.2358 [email protected] the end of the driveshaft where it slides into the gearbox. Canada www.winslowdelaney.com 2338 Wyecroft Rd., Unit K5-7, Oakville, Ontario L6L 6L4 To work properly the U-joints must be in proper “phase” with N0B 1T0 Telephone: (519) 833-COAT (2628) one another. Unfortunately, Murphy’s Law rears its ugly head. Tel: 905-825-2045 Fax: 905-825-0208 Fax: (519) 940-9798 Occasionally some enterprising person will disconnect the drive- www.fireballcoatings.com Your source for all your repairs shaft at the splined joint to save unbolting the four driveshaft flange bolts during a clutch job. When it gets reassembled no at- tention is paid to the “phasing”. If they are not in phase the speed change effect will be cumulative, making the situation much worse. It can get twice as bad as a one U-joint system! To make matters more confusing, many repair manuals show the phasing incorrectly. Referring to the sketch above, the “fixed” yokes (A and B) must always be parallel. Roughly ¾ of the cars I’ve worked on with driveshaft segments, have them out of phase. Check your own car out, you’ll be glad you did! This monograph may be reproduced only for non-- cial use without other permission of the author. Reproduction There would be a real problem with component longevity if for commercial use only by written permission. ragtop only one U-joint was used. The speed variations would be felt as Copyright © 2003 by Tom Sotomayor

36 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011 Ragtop I Summer I 2011 www.TorontoTriumph.com 37 YOU PAID HOW MUCH ?

IMPORTANT: WARNING: car, and maybe yourself. Measure back from the tip Carefully measure off and mark the screw- Great care must be exer- Do this job carefully to avoid paint of the screwdriver blade driver blade with tape cised during this proce- scratching or damage to the choke cables. If you don’t mind paying too much 1958 TR3 exactly six inches. Mark the dure. The positive battery After a new cable is installed, reassem- Colorado car, body screwdriver shaft at this spot terminal and cable are in close ble the glove box in the reverse order. for your parts, there is no need to is good, but it does with a piece of tape. proximity to the hood latch Don’t forget to push the choke cable show signs of previ- Insert the screwdriver mechanism. The purpose of grommet back into its correct position. ous floorboards re- through the firewall hole along marking the screwdriver shaft This is a great time to check the condi- read any further. If you would like pair. Paint is good, side the choke cables. Position with tape is to provide a guide tion of the heater inlet & outlet hoses. but has some tou- the screwdriver as shown in as to how close in toward the There will never be a better opportu- to buy your parts at the best prices chups. The engine is the photo, so that the tip of the battery terminal you are when nity to replace them. With the glove box strong with good oil pressure and compression, brakes redone and new Vredestein tires fitted on screwdriver contacts the hood manipulating the screwdriver. removed, the job is easy. With the glove refinished wire wheels. The interior was redone a few years ago and the top latch release arm (where the re- As long as the screwdriver box in place the job is impossibly diffi- in Canada, read on. Drakes’ British replaced. The sidecurtains need restoration. A good looking TR3 at a reason- The firewall after removing the lease cable attaches to it). Pull tip protrudes no more than cult! ragtop able price. $15,100 the screwdriver handle towards glove box insert six inches through the hole Motors can supply any part from the driver’s side of the car un- in the firewall, there is little Ragtop and the Toronto Triumph Club accept 1963 TR4 til the hood pops open! risk of contacting the bat- no responsibility or liability for any damage This is a rare one! It’s a good idea to have an tery terminal. or injury incurred in performing this proce- the Moss catalogs at the most Factory wire wheels, assistant push down on the Keep in mind that con- dure. It is intended as advice only and you overdrive transmis- hood slightly while this is tacting the positive battery do so at your own risk. We recommend the reasonable cost to you. But, don’t sion and rare factory taking place to relieve spring terminal would cause a di- installation of one of the back-up bonnet surrey top. This Or- pressure on the catch (this rect short to ground, dam- release mechanisms which are available on egon car has been in Necessary positioning of the screw- take our word for this. The next makes the job easier). aging your screwdriver, your the Internet. – ed. storage since 1988. driver blade for hood latch opening We got the car up and time you need something, send running/driving again though it deserves to be properly restored. us an email for a quote. We will The body is good with only surface rust from damp storage over the years. The engine is strong with good oil pressure and compression and the over- get right back to you with a price. drive works. This is likely one of the last project surrey top cars available anywhere. Priced right. $8,000 1973 TR6 California car in good shape, the paint is Many TTC members are already older, but still looks good. Comes with factory hard & soft believers. Get in touch for a quote tops. Engine runs well, brakes redone, all – [email protected] suspension bushings replaced and new tires fitted. The interior is in good serviceable condition and a new door panel kit has just been installed. Drive and enjoy a clean We are also a Canadian distributor for bodied car at a reasonable price. Reduced $8,900 Dayton Wire Wheels. Drakes’ British Motors Inc. (250)763-0883 Ph., (250)861-8051 Fax, email [email protected] 2286 K.L.O. Road, Kelowna, B.C., V1W 3Z7 WWW.DRAKESBRITISHMOTORS.COM 38 www.TorontoTriumph.com Ragtop I Summer I 2011