Bleednipple

Ah, our first FTS in 50+ rallies! Just before scrutineering the electrics started misbehaving. At first seemed like just the horn, had to jury rig that. Then after scrutineering things went all pete tong, ign switch circuits all out. Various poking about and multimetering with a torch but after couple of hours just couldn't find the issue so winched it back onto the trailer and that was that. Back at the ranch we've so far deleted the old solenoid (has a high torque starter with its own solenoid) having found a frayed trigger wire which seemed to fix things at first but no, same issu

For things that don't move but should move, WD40. For things that move but shouldn't move, gaffer tape. Nigel

Thanks Marco. That WR78G Super 4 has the same thread length as an NGK6HS, 12.7mm. The long reach (both NGK and Bosch) are 19mm. Nigel

Thanks Marco. I guess the opposite problem is that a plug that's too short will attract carbon fouling to the exposed threads in the plug hole? My car is a rally hack so has the plugs taken out fairly regularly, so maybe fouling on a long plug will be less of a problem. Nigel

Thanks Mick. I'll have another look with my motorsport mech guy tomorrow. We'll maybe try the long plugs again but shim them back a little for safety. We'll measure up the clearances as carefully as we can with the head on. Still can't believe I was so stupid. My old faithful engine had had a head repair under previous ownership and pot four used a long-reach plug. Rush of blood to head when buying plugs for the new engine. I bought it newly built off Fleabay, a lovely fast road spec on paper and all looked right but knowing I was taking a big gamble and I don't know all the head wo

Just had an "interesting" experience with plugs in my TR4. Have just been running in a new stage-2 tuned 89mm engine and by stupid accident I started it off using long-reach plugs (as used on the TR6) rather than the standard length TR4 spec. More specifically, the plugs I used were the new-fangled 'triple electrode' variant. The actual plugs were BPR6ET (E for extended reach, T for triple electrode). The potential for piston strike with a long-reach plug in a TR4 engine is widely reported, although I also picked up that some brave folk may actually have experimented with them, and s

The tabletops can be great fun, they certainly kept us sane during the 2020/21 lockdowns! In this weekend's Tour of Cheshire there are no fewer than five TR-mounted crews: Ken and Sarah Binstead - TR6; Paul and Sandra Heaney - TR6; Sally and me - TR4 and in the Clubmans class: Polly McIlveen & David Blackburn - TR3A; Malcolm & Carolyn Ling - TR4 ...and not forgetting Tony and Rachel Sheach, of this parish (TR4Tony VC) but out in their Golf this time. Nigel

Just to add - yes I think I met Thomas and Graham on the 2022 London-Lisbon, on which they were finishers (unlike us, we broke the gearbox of our Alfa somewhere up in the Pyrenees). Nigel

We did the HERO-ERA Sahara in 2022. Although not in our TR4, which would have been far from ideal, in terms of ground clearance particularly but also general survivability. We took our endurance-prepped 1961 Volvo PV544. The car had done the 2019 Peking-Paris with the previous owner. Even so we managed to give it a good rattling on the Sahara: bashed the front damper mounts (extra plates fitted since), shook out both front and rear screens (since made hold-in tabs) etc etc. This type of event is very harsh on the cars, it exposes every potential weakness. On the Sahara we managed se

After putting on camber adjustment kits my 5.5J Minators (Minilite wannabes) caught the upper wishbone bolts so I had to put on wheel spacers. Nigel

I'm guessing the OP is in North America, however for any Brits reading this, I'm also a fan of the Halfords cabinets: great value for very decent quality. Nigel

Yep mine has Tony's beefed up engine and gb mounts, clutch slave bracket etc. I'm running out of things to break (ha ha, if only). I'm salivating over that Space 1999 exhaust wrap and that bash plate looks a very good idea. Going to give our TR a little run out on the Tour of Cheshire (HRCR Clubmans champs) end of this month. Nigel

The best match I've found for my Signal Red TR4 is... a can of red that my son had made up some years back for his 1994 Honda Beat. Go figure. Nigel

I used to use a rechargable work lamp but found it frustrating when the charge ran out half way through something under the car and then had to stop to recharge it. Now I use a Ryobi One+ range work lamp, when it stops working mid-job a battery swap takes a few seconds. (Okay, Ryobi-shame me if you want but I've built up a bench full of their One+ system stuff and so far nothing has broken. But yes, stolen Makita kit would be better/cheaper. ) Nigel

Ah, sorry didn't spot that. No pun intended. Nigel