A Car Story

I know I write often about the fuel problems we have with our cars.  But it is still the single most common problems to poor performance of the cars we have come to the shop.

It doesn’t seem to help much to flush the fuel system, or even replace most of the major parts, such as the fuel pump, lines or fuel tank.  The ethanol acts like a very strong cleaner that takes everything that is in the fuel system and takes it right to the carbs.

Here are some pictures of a gross valve and a float chamber of a TR 6 that has been running on our local fuel.

The needle assembly on the left is the old unit and the one on the right is the replacement.  The next picture shows the float chamber as we found it after we drained the fuel off.

Yes, that is rust sediment, a lot of rust sediment.  The startling thing is that our customer had a fuel filter in place between the fuel pump and carbs.  The float chamber on the left is the first chamber.  This is one really big problem.  I have always contended that the filter is needed, but this shows that we need to change the filter at least every other fuel tank.

Keep and eye on your system and let us know what you find.

Enjoy the ride!!!

I know it has been awhile.  Now that the weather is changing and it’s raining and cold outside, I have move motivation to update the blog.  Here’s some fnal photo’s of the great little black Mark II Spit that we finish off this summer.

It really turned out great.  It’s black on black on black.  It has chrome wires and some really good looking chrome trim.  It has several serious performance upgrades to the motor and it’s attached to a short throw 5 speed and performance exhaust.

There a few upgrades to the interior and the suspension has been upgraded with fully adjustable shocks on all corners.

Now that it’s done, it not only looks good, but it runs and handles very good.  The owner is very happy and drives it regularly.  Look for it around the Newberg area.

Enjoy the ride!!!

It has been a long and busy summer.  Things have been very busy around the shop, and were are getting cars back on the road as soon as we can.

I apologize for not keeping up with my blog posts.  It wasn’t for lack of things to talk about.  There were several car shows, several resorations have been completed, and of course there was the ABFM.

I will try to get you all updated with what’s been going on and what the winter holds.

Thank you for staying with me and supporting the adage that “every car has a story”.

I feel very bad for the people who put on the Concours d’ Elegance in Forest Grove.  It was suppose to be great weather for a car show.  High clouds, cool temperatures and no rain.  That didn’t work out.   We had prepared four beautiful cars for the show and they weren’t all able to get there due to the weather.

Better luck next year!

Hey, all you fun loving British Car Nuts.  There is a new event that is coming every Saturday.  In downtown Oregon City, they are having “Coffee and Cars on Main Street”.  This strictly a time to get your car out and just have some place to go and see a bunch of other car guys.

I have posted a flier below, you can get the details from there.  This is just a really fun event, and will be worth your time to check it out.

I’d like to say I’ll see you there, but I have to work on Saturday mornings.

Have fun and Enjoy the ride!!!

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For those of you who attended the 2011 edition of the Car Show in Sherwood, Oregon, you had the chance to see several hundred beautiful cars.  Primarily know as a custom / classic show, the event has been drawing greater numbers of different types of classic cars.  From our standpoint, there were several Triumphs, MG’s, Mini’s, Jaguar and Austin Healey’s.

It is this last group that draws our interest for the post.  A customer of ours took his BJ7 to the show for display.  It was a car we had finished the restoration on a few months ago.  The judges thought enough of the car to award it the first prize winner for pre-1969 import.  It should also be noted that the Austin Healey Club took first place as a group for Best Club Representation.

Here is a picture of our winner.  Congratulations Jerry!!!

The following are a few of the latest cars we have in for sale.  These are customer cars and most of the are at the shop right now.

Here is a picture and brief description.  If you have questions, give me a call.

Here is a ’77 MG Midget .  It runs and drives, and the car is in very good condition. We have serviced and taken care of this car for several years.  The owner drives it regularly and has taken very good care of the car.

They are asking $7K.  I know they will listen to offers.

Here is a 1980 MGB.  This is a great car.  Nothing flashy, very dependable, and is very good condition.  Our customer is moving from the area and needs to sell.

He is asking $3,500.00 that is a very good price for this car.

Here is a great little Spitfire.  We fully restored this car about three years ago, and it has very few miles on it since.  It has a new motor, new overdrive transmission, new interior, new top, new paint, all new suspension and brakes.  This is a very nice Spitfire.

The customer is asking $6,500.00

Here is a ’72 MGB.  This car has been setting for several years.  Our customer is wanting it to go to a good home.  It doesn’t run, and it need a lot of TLC, but it is a chrome bumper car and it would be a great project.  It’s all there.

Our customer is asking $1,900.00 and will listen to offers.

Enjoy the ride!!!

On a recent trip to the home island, I was lucky enough to get the time to visit the mecca of British Car Owners.  In Gaydon, I stopped by the British Heritage Motor Centre.  This is a wonderful place to visit.  I can’t even tell you how much it cost, because as soon as I walked through the doors, I saw rows after rows of beautifully restored British Cars.

This is a very modern facility and they have done a excellent job of not only providing awesome examples of very well restored British Cars, but have also provided a very interesting series of displays that tells the story of how the auto industry of the UK started as a series of small cottage manufacturing companies that grew to an influential industry that at one time employed over 500,000 workers.

Here’s a picture of me before entering-

The neat thing is that this isn’t just about the sports cars we all know and love.  There are displays of just really interesting vehicles-

Special time was spent on the great MG and Austin Healey cars-

Of course let’s not forget the oddities-

Then, they even had an MGB/GT sliced in half, and I mean everything was cut right down the middle.  I felt bad that the cut a perfectly good GT, but it was really interesting.  This would be the best “show and tell” toy to have in the shop.

Finally, the most important part of the trip was my opportunity to meet with the man responsible for the entire operation.  His name is Stephen Laing.  He has done a fantastic job of presenting and preserving the history of the British Auto Industry.  He is to be applauded for his efforts and the work of his crew here at the museum.

Thank you Mr. Laing for a job well done.

In trying to keep all of my customers, and fellow British Car Enthusiast, well informed, I want to suggest a possible “dinner out” destination.

This restaurant is owned and operated by a fellow British Car Enthusiast.  He has a very nicely done ’73 triumph GT 6.  He also happens to have a very nice place to eat.  The establishment has only been open for a few months, but he is doing well and the food is very good.

Please stop in and ask for Jake and tell him you are a fellow British Car Owner.

Here is the information-

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I am sure our customer never imagined that when he was driving his Sprite down from Alaska in the sixties, (I am pretty sure the ALCAN highway was pretty much all rock back then), that here in 2011 he would be driving the car, back on the road again, and looking as good as new.

This is a very sweet early Sprite.  He did take a few liberties, and upgraded to a 1275 that I juiced up a little.  He also replaced the smooth case with a rib case.  The rest of the car is just right.  He went with the original color of red for the interior and white for the car color.  The single hoop roll bar really makes the car stand out.

I am pretty sure the car will see some road time, maybe not as fast as in the sixties, but still it will be able to get up and go when the urge hits.

Here are a few pictures of the project-

Enjoy the ride!!!