[mycarhasablower]

i donnt know shyam, i really think you shouldve left the tw holes alone. since you dont have access to the back side of the panel(or do you, the picks say you dont) the welding will burn away paint and cause corrosion. Infact high temperature wouldve started it for you. I would avoid welding a panel unnecessarily if i didnt have access to the back of it

EDIT: just noticed that in the second pic he is planishing the panel with a support behind the panel. Maybe i spoke to soon since i am experiencing this behind panel access problem with my contessa resto

[ameet_pv]

Hi, Shyam
The Restoration of the Herald has turned out well Also congrats on getting the fitness done. Have been following your thread. Hope the imported wheel cylinders serve you well. I too faced reliability issues with NOS wheel cylinders in my Gazel & Herald had to live with it. Keep/repair the exhaust as original, you will like the sweet sporty exhaust note.
Keep the snaps coming

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by Stanher

the underside/wheel-wells are due for some special treatment, as are the floorpans.

More to come tomorrow.

And yes, as mentioned, here it is, all done today! Turned out well for the most part. I like the finish especially on the front inner mudguards and front chassis rails, which are most visible. And done just in time (monsoon) I guess!

















Now a couple of other problems had cropped up earlier this week on our return from the RTO to the garage. The self-starter 'bendix' was found to be slipping upon ignition. Then the problem was found to be with the solenoid switch. Unfortunately an original replacement is not available new for now, there is only a 'duplicate' one that is bound to fail anytime (this one is "Prestolite" brand, not sure if these originally came on these cars or Lucas)
So we've borrowed a similar one from another Herald parked at the garage just so we can safely run the car on Monday for the Deccan Heritage rally!

'worked fine when we tested it today. But we might borrow a self-starter too tomorrow just in case.

All the work should be done by tomorrow afternoon.

[samsag12]

Thats some nice underbody coating Shyam bhai. Just curious to know how was it applied, i mean was it applied by a brush or a piece of cloth.
PS: i used it on my car too and must say its a great product, will last longer than most of the other rubber seals. Did it cost somewhere around 150 or so a ltr.

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by samsag12

Just curious to know how was it applied, i mean was it applied by a brush or a piece of cloth.
PS: i used it on my car too and must say its a great product, will last longer than most of the other rubber seals. Did it cost somewhere around 150 or so a ltr.

It was SPRAYED on bhai!!

Glad to know you too used it. It costs much more here, 500/- a ltr/kg. I had to use 2 tins.

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by Stanher

It was SPRAYED on bhai!!

Glad to know you too used it. It costs much more here, 500/- a ltr/kg. I had to use 2 tins.

They have 2 - 3 varities of the underseal coarting, i saw one for 300, 350, 500 and 700. Frankly speaking I was not able to chalk out the difference between them. I used the cheapest one . And spraying is a big headache, I know beacuse I only sprayed the coating

[chanu]

Great going Shyam, I am sure she is going to seal the show, CAUTION: BEWARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO HAVE HER, I am excited for tomorrow to see your beauty in real and as well as others. Does this under coat come in only black or other shades, I was thinking why not for my boy (Willys). All the best Shyam, see you tomorrow.

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by chanu

I am excited for tomorrow to see your beauty in real and as well as others. Does this under coat come in only black or other shades, I was thinking why not for my boy (Willys). All the best Shyam, see you tomorrow.

I bet you are, bala! I am all the more to drive her down tomorrow- yes, this time it will be ME myself for a change! Mech./garage guys just managed to finish getting her fixed up and ready (needs a wash though) for tomorrow! 'couldnt get the floorpans inside 3M'd though! I plan to get it done after the rally but atleast I could have a chance to get them 'prepared' properly before applying the anti-rust as manish had described.
AFAIK, this coat comes only in black. I feel that's best for underbody.

Incidentally, got the brake m.cyl kit changed as well today (with a GIRLING one from UK) and fitted the original rubber boot for it as well. So now both clutch and brake m.cylinders look and work the same! The front wheel cylinders are on their way out I'm told so will have to replace them soon.

But a couple of mechanical niggles developed where the recently overhauled fuel pump started acting up again!! ie. wasnt pumping enough petrol to the carb, which resulted in the car going off in slow idling!

'couldnt figure this out, and with the limited time we had, we had to borrow the fuel pump from another Herald parked at the garage just for tomorrow. Now this happens to be a different type, seemed to one fitted to Fiats and Ambys?

The pressure from this was the other extreme! which would cause overflow into my carb. So had to change the carb. 'head' to one taken from my Companion (also parked there), which was found to be compatible with this pump. As the original metal pump-to-carb and fuel-line to pump fuel pipes couldnt fit into this pump, temporarily fitted a plastic and rubber one just for tomorrow. Working fine so far! :Phew:

'will revert to the original pipes and carb head once the fuel pump can be fixed/replaced.

As you can see, CAN is rather mucky for now, so will be giving her a clean-up on the exterior before leaving tomorrow. She's parked at the garage itself for today.











Did polish the Jalwa twin horns today- they look good as newly painted now!

[Stanher]

Finally back home today!! The insides of the floorpans had been 3M'd too (albeit by brush) yesterday. 'couldnt make out how well it was done though as the mats etc. were already fitted back in place when I went.
However, despite running well enough today, tis still not as fit as it should be mainly because of the brakes (now nearly non-existent!) but luckily it was my mech. who was mostly driving today. Also the self-starter begins to keep running on its own when the engine heat builds up over a long distance! So had to make a couple of stops on the way home. But got to take a few nice pics. too!

I'll be purchasing the new wheel cylinders and fuel pump plus getting the self fixed shortly.








On a lighter note, CAN again attracted many admirers today, and not just 'live' ones!

[Stanher]

Update! The ailing self-starter's been fixed, with a new Bendix finally (and forunately!) obtained here! The carbon bushes inside also had to be replaced.

Now all fitted and ready to fit!







Also got a working replacement fuel pump with a new outlet pipe as the old one had a crack at the join...!



and a new starting solenoid as well. Interesting name there...definitely a desi brand!!




Aaaannnd, CAN's got a new sticker too now- and yes, it means what it says!

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by Stanher

Also got a working replacement fuel pump with a new outlet pipe as the old one had a crack at the join...!

Attachment 599346

The outlet pipe reminds that I have a lot of those nuts (hollow type), Ferruls (those brass ones) and the copper / iron pipes of that sizes. These fittings are very common in gas conversions done in cars and also popular in HVAC industry.

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Shyam - the car looks nice now. Can you get the number plates repainted in the classic style? .

You can use the mechanical fuel pump of the Padmini. The mounting hole center distance is same in both cars (44.5 mm). You will need to use the drive lever from your old pump as the lever configuration is more vertically inclined in the herald as compared to horizontally inclined in the Padmini. You can use Maruti 800 fuel lines. They will be a tight fit on the BLG3 connectors but I have fitted them and got away with it. If I am correct, the herald carburettor fuel line input connector size will match the Maruti 800 fuel line ID. If you still want "originality" and cannot replace the defunct mechanical fuel pump due to this reason, you can remove its operating lever so it will not work, connect it to the engine only for appearance / to prevent oil coming out and use the UCAL FACET electronic fuel pump nicely hidden away somewhere inside the car. . For solenoid, you can use the Lucas TVS starter motor solenoid of the Padmini as well. Lucas TVS still makes them and they are available in the Lucas TVS stores. They are used in Minidor / LCVs and heavy commercial vehicles. Please get rid of the "local" solenoid. At best, it is unreliable, at worst, you could have an uncontrolled starter motor operation on your hands which will ruin a perfectly good starter motor.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear Shyam - the car looks nice now. Can you get the number plates repainted in the classic style? .

Sorry sir I didnt get what you meant by classic style?
AFAIK, I did get the number painted in the 'classic' style, ie. the Stencil font (was common atleast down South; even the old regn. CAN 1526 was painted this way, albeit then black plates with white lettering), and the digits are slightly bigger than the first half of the number. I'm reluctant to revert to the older black plate with white lettering, which is not recognized now as I fear that could attract unnecessary attention from our friendly local thullas even though I drive the car out into the city on few occasions.

Incidentally, I try not to pay too much attention to the number...doesnt make me feel too content, for obvious reasons!

If you still want "originality" and cannot replace the defunct mechanical fuel pump due to this reason, you can remove its operating lever so it will not work, connect it to the engine only for appearance / to prevent oil coming out and use the UCAL FACET electronic fuel pump nicely hidden away somewhere inside the car. .

I might do just that should (God Forbid!) the 'new' fuel pump fail as well!

For solenoid, you can use the Lucas TVS starter motor solenoid of the Padmini as well. Lucas TVS still makes them and they are available in the Lucas TVS stores. Please get rid of the "local" solenoid. At best, it is unreliable, at worst, you could have an uncontrolled starter motor operation on your hands which will ruin a perfectly good starter motor.

Do you mean this solenoid?

Triumph Herald 1959-1971 Starter Solenoid Lucas Type | eBay

I've seen this fitted to a few Heralds and I'd even asked my mech. about fitting it but he said there has to be some changes made in the concerned wiring or else it will cause a load on the starter.

Incidentally, there is a 'push-button' type solenoid also for sale on ebay right now:

TRIUMPH SPITFIRE HERALD CLASSIC Push Button Solenoid | eBay

I've seen these fitted on Heralds as well, even our Gazel had one! If only I could afford it now...!

[KkVaidya]

Originally Posted by Stanher

Sorry sir I didnt get what you meant by classic style?

Hi Stanher,
I have got 2 pictures that have the Classic style number plates. I feel, there should be no PLASTIC on classic cars. In those days, there was no acrylic so people used metal fonts pasted on aluminium plates. Those wanting something cheap would get the number hand painted!

[Durango Dude]

My dad had one of these and it was a sky blue example he loved it very much.