ianc

Michelin X was available as an option from the early days of the TR2, and many TRs were so equipped. Great for mileage, but hairy in greasy wet conditions. My TR2 never wore out a set of Xs in some 60k miles over 5 years, spending a great deal of time at more than 80 mph (legal back then). Ian Cornish

in the 1960s, my TR2, which had been converted to discs, started to hold more pressure than intended to the front brakes. The brakes became very hot and the short term solution when on a journey was to release the pressure at one of the calipers, by letting out some brake fluid. This became a real nuisance, so I removed the innards of the restrictor valve - no more problems. Shortly after I acquired 4VC in 1969, I removed the restrictor valve's innards. If you get a "long pedal" on a journey, it likely indicates that the front wheel bearing(s) need adjustment or replacement

As expected, the one which Roger sold me is beautifully made and a perfect fit. Ian Cornish

And, possibly, of the machine, Charlie ! Ian Cornish

Correct, Hamish - good to know that you are like-minded. Alex is a GP and I am a realist - each of us will die eventually, but I have his support in trying to keep chugging along, enjoying the TR and seeing the grandchildren grow up. Alex has been insured to drive 4VC since he was about18 - first with me as passenger, then later without me beside him, although I'm not sure that has ever occurred. My Will, written more than 25 years ago, stipulates that the TR passes to Alex, but I am waiting to see what legislation the new Government puts in place before updating it because, as

I have a wine box (it held 6 bottles) which is full of various car magazines dating from 1976 with articles about sidesceen TRs. There's a second box, half full, with articles which mainly compare the various models of TRs. I don't wish to dump these magazines if someone would like to have them, free of charge. Too heavy to post, but I intend to be (as usual) at Brill (near Bicester/Thame) on the afternoon of Sunday 25th August and at Kop Hill with the Chiltern TRs on 14th & 15th September. After 15th September, the magazines will have to go in the recycling bin. I

Thanks to each of you for for your good wishes, which were added to those of the grandchildren singing me "Happy Birthday, Granddad" over the phone - all making for a very good day. And we were in Maddy's car returning from a good pub lunch when the heavens opened wide, so didn't get wet - sun now shining. April showers in July ! Ian Cornish

We have our sold summer to Tunisia. I was there in November, saw the dire need for rain - second hotel's well had run dry and locals were collecting from a single tap in the villge using containers. Since my return I have been checking the previous day's weather in Tunis on the back page of my paper, and fewer than 7 days of rain and 6 days of drizzle - I fear the crops, already affected by 5 years of very low rainfall when I was there, will be devastated, as will the country's economy. BTW, lots of archaeology, stunning mosaics (not just the Bardo) and very welcoming people.

Like IanV, I entered a roundabout in my drum-braked TR2 at about 30 mph owing to brake fade - and managed to get away with it. Scary. It was this sort of thing which determined that my next TR MUST have disc brakes, and I acquired a TR2 which had discs fitted (and a 3A front and had been re-upholstered). In that second TR2, I could get smoke off the front brakes yet still stop ! Ian Cornish

Agreed, Peter - frightening ! I nearly demolished a VW which pulled out in front of me on the A40 shortly after I had decelerated from about 80mph for a roundabout (early 1960s) and the drum brakes were still hot, and had accelerated to about 70mph. Ian Cornish Ian Cornish

In the 1960s, as my everyday car, I ran a TR2 which had been converted to discs (would not have bought it otherwise as drum brake fade was frightening when 100 mph was legal). It used the original Lockheed master cylinder and I had no problems in some 60k miles - just needed to keep an eye on fluid level. Ian Cornish

Here's a photo of my gearbox cover, showing the circular hole for filling the gearbox (plugged with rubber bung of same size as that in the floor) and access to the solenoid, for which I made a cover plate in thin aluminium. To remove the H bracket, one must release it from the floor and from the plate at the top, then tilt the top forward and the bottom backward. Since that photo was taken, I have changed to a 2-piece fibreglass cover from Racetorations, which makes life somewhat easier. Ian Cornish

Apologies for missing - I was showing round my brother, owner of a tatty TR3 in the early 1970s - hence forgot. Ian Cornish

You might require a double-ended right angle screwdriver to release the screws - a tool I made when I was an apprentice in the 1950s. Double-ended because there's 90 degree twist between the working ends of the driver. And each end is at 90 degrees to the shank. Ian Cornish