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Hi guys Thought I'd update you all once again on how the restoration is going. I've taken a few more pics that can be seen on the Yahoo Group Webpage in the Nigel-71-Midget Folder. Basically the rear axle is back on the car with the rear springs and backplates, brakes and hubs all reassembled. I've also nearly completed the left hand side (RHD Drive) front suspension. Putting the front and rear suspension components back on before all the spraying is finished is a bit out of sequence, but due to the restriction on space within my garage, I now... MORE
Hi all! I got my new sealed beams from that place up North, they were really good. Unlike MOSS! ;) Anyway, They work fine, I had to been the chrome in three new places , as the 'Werner' beans had slightly different lugs and needed new holes to slot into the bowl. Aside from that all is good! Now, as for brackets.... I was hoping to be able to buy some. But can't find any. (I am going to attach the bracket to the bumper screw/bolts. So any recomendations there? Or am I going to have to buy 1... MORE
The Concord (in principle) is not done, percieved "national attitude" notwithstanding. It's timing was bad among other world events. Had times been good and/or had they been able in enlarge it (more passengers) or develop a more fuel efficient engine(s) for it (R&D costs at a time when there was no money?), the larger capacity or more fuel efficient versions would be flying today. OTOP ("paw" - obligatory cat content, Guy Weller...I caught that "chock" comment, fella....watch it!!:).... "today" , we have email and electronic conferencing. You can see how circumstances combined against supersonic international global flight world-wide. At... MORE
Yeah, yeah , yeah !!!!!! military planes don't count though. but relatively speaking is it more expensive now? i.e if an average Joe was paid $100 a week and petrol was $1 a gallon in 1970 then in 2003 he is paid $1000 a week and petrol is $9 a gallon , relatively speaking the petrol is cheaper now. Federal and local taxes etc not withstanding of course I don't know the actual figures which is why I'm asking. I believe in GB the pro rata is about the same, but of course stand to be corrected. And cars... MORE
Hiya, Alan... All a question of extent in terms of earning and price ratios. I will give you an example. In 1958, my folks had constructed in gorgeous upper middle class suburbia a beautiful ranch style house in North Stamford. It went for $65,000. The average annual salary of an American Airlines Captain was around $55K or a little more at that time. Today, that house goes for about 1.5 million. The average AA Capt's salary today..... $250K. See what I mean. Average salaries are no where near keeping up with average rising costs in a lot of ways.... MORE
I agree with you... Even as a pilot who loves airplanes, I could not agree with you more. As soon as the price of oil took off, they should've dumped it....no doubt about this. Had the price of oil remained pretty much where it used to be prior to Middle East "nationalization", it would have been a real winner methinks in terms of international travel. But no way they could make this pay with such small passenger capacity at modern petroleum prices without charging horrendous fares. Big mistake. But is is one of the reasons I love the English... MORE
Alan... Which came first? The chicken or the egg? :):) Oil is basic power for production...of nearly anything and everything. There are other factors of course like normal inflation, with or without the cost of basic power tripling over a short period. Oil was US$ 9.00 bbl. back in the early 60's, if that. Airline kerosene was US 15 cents a US gallon under fleet purchase, if that, back then. As a kid, leaded high test ran about 40 cents a gallon or so. The foregoing notwithstanding, the modern cars of today are far safer/better machines for sure. Part... MORE
"NIH syndrome" Are you kidding? We did the SR-71 along with the Blackbird! Boeing was ready to go on an SST but, the powers that be voted in favor of a "bus" instead, thinking it more important (and far more of a corporate money maker in the long run) to transport "more" at less speed, then "few" at high speed, in view of airline de-regulation over here and the terrific growth in traffic they felt this would produce (which it sure enough did). Also, of course, the SST could never be used over the states considering sonic booms. The... MORE
Yep Good idea at the time and the future looked good but not so good when oil prices went up and they realised people did not want sonic booms overhead then interests and potential orders evaporated, that's when they should have dropped it ! Terry "terry.isherwood" 27032... MORE
What's the NIH syndrome? The US decided the Concorde wasn't worth it because we carry vast numbers of people and our market is more suited to "large bus" configurations...inclusive of economical international travel. Noise abatement began rearing it's head shortly before the Concord was ready. The move to more quiet operation of airliners (and all but required/necessary military operations) was well along and on it's way by the time the Concord arrived. So, it had to be worked into the plan accordingly. Bad timing. Same with nationalization of Mid-East oil...bad timing. But the thing that killed mainly killed them... MORE
Martyn That's why you're meant to put the seal on while you're doing trial fits of the door, when rebuilding the body. (I've got this to come as I didn't put the seal on either!) The body side of the latch has a lot of adjustment potential, it's screwed into movable plates. Getting the doors to fit just right on these cars, really is one of the trickiest jobs to get right. The only lock/latch that doesnt have must adjustment potential from what I can recall is the one on the door itself. I suggest loosening off the hinges... MORE
I got the door reassembled and hung in place but with the new door seals it does not close completely. It appears that the seal is holding the door off. I can not seem to get the latch adjusted far enough in to pull it closed. Does the body side of the latch have some adjustment? The hinges can be adjusted some but that only affects the door gaps. Thanks for the answers. BTW the manual doesn't say much on this topic. Martyn "Martyn Eastwood" 27001... MORE
No, no, rdgard.... This wasn't aimed at you at all. My response was to Terry who complained (understandably) how the British citizen had to underwrite the costs of Concorde operations and what a losing proposition the whole thing turned out to be as a passenger carrier, despite the technological knowledge/insights, etc. it's manufacture engendered to the aviation industry as a whole. I mean, let's face it. Had oil prices remained reasonable as in pre-Concorde production days, many more of these planes would still be flying today. Good concept, good idea, poor timing with respect to nationalization of Middle East... MORE
Hey, Terry... The English/French did a magnificient job. If the Arabs hadn't nationalized oil and artificially set prices, the Concordes would have worked out just fine. Hindsight...always "20/20". But maybe the powers that be should have dumped the Concorde a lot sooner than they did, eh? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26979... MORE
"To say nothing of the tune-up costs" Yes, really! I think they hold 13 quarts of oil and have two oil filters as well. Not inexpensive to keep up, for sure. While we have you here, what sort of clutch/slave cylinder set-up are you using for the 5 speed conversion, Mr. A? I thought you used spridget parts but everybody tells me that in these respects, you're a Datsun kinda guy! Inquiring minds......:) Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26976... MORE
Nigel... LBC=Little British Concord...LMAO..:):) I agree with you though. I admire and respect the technology as well of course and as a pilot, love the airplane BUT.... at modern oil costs it's impractical and yeah....it IS noisey and most especially so on departures, no doubt about it. And while one can excuse this in a military application ('cause it's "The Sound of Freedom" and thus, a necessary evil) but in a civilian one.....can't say as I blame you a bit considering you live under an aircraft departure corridor. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26973... MORE
Chris... Volvo dyanamos were probably of higher capacity most likely, though I do not know this for a fact. I would have loved to have kept my original BE gauges and most especially the mechnical tach. As a matter of fact, we looked into increasing the capacity of the stock generator but the gen itself was too small to really upgrade it's output decently according to a fellow who does this sort of stuff and with an halos., electric fan, fuel pump and sound system, the stock gens would burn out within a couple of months. I finally just... MORE
One idea I have seen with this is to remove the locating pin from the cylin der and tap out the hole. A small screw can then be used into the cylinder. _____ From: amukdigiphoto [mailto: amukdigiphoto@... ] Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2003 5:52 PM To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com Subject: [midgetsprite] Re: Rear brake assembly David Thanks, I didn't but it's a very good idea, and I'll certainly try it next time. I have to confess rather sheepishly that I scored 1 out of 2 on the circlip test! I hit upon a problem that I solved with my usual finesse... MORE
Lori I bought a 65 for restoration back in May, here on the civilised side of the pond (that should be good for a few replies) for the equivalent of $1000. Mine was a runner and was on the road in in March 2002, I would not have wanted to drive it though the floor was almost completely rotted out, rear spring hangers about to collapse no outer sills and inner sills rotted through. The car had been reinforced with angle iron and 1/8 plate some of which I was able to pull off with my bare hands. The... MORE
Are there any tricks to getting the door glass back in the "tracks"? The seals have been replaced in the channels and that might be the problem as in too thick on the bottom, no smart &ss comments on that one! I tried loosening all the bolts but the front channel/vent window will not fit. Does anyone have a suggestion. Almost done with the car, after all this work this is a pain in the butt. Thanks. Martyn "Martyn Eastwood" 26904... MORE
David.... I'll tell you......maybe you should leave it as is and just fix the oil leak(s). For what you've got is an excellent (though unintended) anti-corrosion/rust coat, if you seriously think about it. It's also a sound deadener as well. One of the best "coats" one can use to "insulate" the body is....tar. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26896... MORE
it's worth giving it a go with a hot power washer - this should go some way towards getting the worst of it off. Do they have the coin-in-the-slot ones at petrol/gas stations over there? David "David Jacobs" 26890... MORE
Gingerino... Considering the clutch problem is intermittent along with the fact you found (really) low fluid level in the master cylinder after the hard braking incident, I would suspect air has gotten into the line, rather than any mechanical problem. Bleeding the system (well) will tell the tale. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26831... MORE
Ok...I get the Castrol 20w50 and put it in the engine. Crank her up and she hums just sweeeeet. So, I go out to drive her. When I push in the clutch she idles down way low like something's dragging on the engine and the little red ignition light comes on. I give her a little gas and we seem to be fine. No problems putting her into gear so I go for a drive around the block. I get to the end of the street and can't get her in first. I get her in second and we... MORE
Well, in that case, I do, I use 20/50 oil in the engine and gearbox. I still use some Duckhams 20/50 I bought a year or two ago. R "Roger Stinson" 26821... MORE
