Tumeke

Did you know that Stirling Moss raced a Super Snipe in a  rally across 15 countries in 5 days in December 1952?

I accidentally went for a long drive on the weekend, from Auckland down to Kaiawa through the back roads, then turned left back up the coast road.

This road has a few twists & turns including a hairpin or three, some hill climbs and sweepers. Rally country.

I wasn't in a hurry. I never am. But then, from nowhere, I noticed some of BMC's finest front wheel drive wizardry looming large in my mirror.

I thought I'd slow a bit further and let him pass, after all, 'said Barry was right up my bumper with lights on.

Barry won't pass. Hmmm.

Nailed it. First, Whooooorp! Second, Whoooorp! Third, Cough Whooorp! Speedo bouncing around 30ish. Whoosh!

Strangely (probably gasping from the blue exhaust smoke?) I left him behind. However, the first set of twisties were coming....

Slowed down hard. Bow thrusters full to port. Tyres protesting. HARD into a left hander. Mid corner bump in the road.....

SHIT.....

That's right - the rear shocks are stuffed.....

Entertaining I'll tell you. 

Said hydrolastic car passed while I changed my pants, however, not to be outdone I thought I'd give chase.

Surprisingly, I kept up -  no substitute for cubes in the hill-climb section I suppose.

Anyway, I knew the rear shocks were poked after some hairy corners on the way back from Hawkes Boes so promptly did some research and found that a Toymota Cressida (circa 1978-80) should do the trick.

I ordered a set of Gabriels (because they are red) from Rock Auto. Yes, they cost $14 each + $20 shipping. Ordered them on the 9th. Arrived today. Makes me wonder how Repco stays in business.

Old vs new. GABRIEL 81340 [shock Absorber] Guardian Shock for those playing at home

Old shocks came out easily. There doesn't seem to be any oil in them at all. Compressed with a finger and no chance of bouncing back. 

New shocks near perfect fit. Bushes are a little smaller, however some dish-washing liquid and a rubber mallet sorted fitment.

Red for Racing. Look out Alec Issigonis. We shall meet again......

All in all a trouble-free hour long Monday night job. Quick jaunt around the block yielded much nicer dampening. Might have to look at a sway-bar next.....

Ring-a-ding-ding....   Holy 2 Smokes!

196* Suzuki B100p - which is actually a 120cc two-smoke four speed with self-mixing oil - which is what the 'P' is for,

Last ridden in 1980 (legally) and ready for a refresh when time permits.

Poured in some fuel, watched the fuel hose & tap leak and ignored it. Three kicks and she started. LOTS of beautiful smoke.

Pumped up the tires and gingerly took her for a spin. Seems OK  - shocks are softish (to be expected) and the brakes could probably do with some attention. 

Gearbox seal is weeping so a new seal (tube of silicone) and some 20W/40 will also be on the shopping list. Otherwise moth-ridden surface rusted originality.

Long term would like to get her registered for Oldschool scooter / bike runs. Good times.

Small update: Hawkes Boes.

Big trip from Auckland. So, did the usual check the car before a long trip. Oil change, diff / gearbox check, coolant etc. All good.

Went to grab some cable-ties and gaffa tape and the radiator let go. Fluid into the fan, across the engine, up the windscreen etc. Thank goodness for good wiper blades.

Anyway, pulled the rad out and it was obvious that it was poked in more than one place.

The poked radiator.

With only 4 days till departure I had no choice but to get it re-cored, rather than scavenge something else and make it work (which would be normal procedure)

1 Million dollars later I have a new radiator.

Anyway, all fixed I  followed threeonthetree in convoy to Hawkes Boes AND kept up with his younger car comfortably. Which made me think,

The car is 54 years old. 

It has three gears.

It weighs a ton and a half.

It has a 3 litre straight six.

This isn't going to go well.

But then ....

It comfortably does a 697 MILE trip - that's 1121kms over three days. (note - without exploding/ breaking / other such stuff)

It averaged between 11 & 12 litres per 100km. (23ish MPG) I did worse than that in my turbo Subaru.

Wat? I'm impressed.

Guess I'll keep her for a bit.

Photocred: Roman. Humber at Hawkes Boes camping setup. (It's a BIG tent, not a small car)

Actual transcript from Rootes group meeting circa 1962:

"Good job there Jenkins on the Snipe engine! It's a beauty! That generator for the electric pixies is grand! Easy to get off is it?"

"Of course sir. We've used three different bolt sizes and made sure that you can only turn each one 1/8 of a turn at a time."

"Excellent. So, who will know which size each one is?"

"Um, well, erm, not many. Our head mechanic Barry says not to worry though"

I appreciate working on Japanese cars sometimes.

Decided to update the electrics with an alternator instead of the 'ol generator. What for making the pixies run faster at idle and stuff. The generator and voltage regulator were both a bit dodgy and fequently decided it needed 30 amps into the battery which was a bit silly. I'd tweaked it and got it normal only to have it change itself or do something else stupid.

The size difference is reasonably substantial and the weight difference was even more so. I'd used the ACR type alternators before on my Super Minx so thought I'd go with what I know. They're only about $120 trade which isn't too bad.

First hurdle was the bracket was quite different so a little fabrication was required. I'm a video editor, not a welder, but it'll do for me. Painted it black to blend in with the oil leaks.

Next I changed over the pulley so that i could use the original 1962 Rootes group belt. Still mint.

Fabricated another tension bar for the slightly updated position and found a belt in my collection.

At this point I threw away the voltage regulator as it wasn't needed and re-wired things to make them tidy. Big wire is for the big pixies, and goes to the starter solenoid and therefor batter and little wire goes to the warning light and amperage gauge. Voltage regulator goes to the bin.

Success. 14 Pixies.

Granddad spec 1962 Super snipe purchased a few months ago.

The 'ol Slumber is reasonably advanced for '62 with power assisted front discs, a hemi'ish head that makes casual observers by think there is more than one cam going on. 

Drive is through 3 on the tree. Plenty of torque - she can be left in top gear most of the time and pulls from pretty much standstill to motorway speeds.

She's no lightweight track car though. 15ft 8" long, 1544 kgs and an oil change will take 15 pints or 8.5 litres.

The paint looks like it's possibly house enamel, so I expect 40 seasons out of it, which is good as it has the usual 'nice from afar, far from nice' thing going on.

There's minimal rust as the old boy I purchased it off seems to have sorted most of that out.

Interior is glorious red stuff. Possibly leather but unlikely and lashings of walnut veneer. Picnic tables in the back for tea parties / lines of Raro etc.

Since I've picked her up I've done a few things which I'll blog about with photos in the near future.

So far  :

- Changed to negative earth so the pixies run the right way for radios and stuff.

- Given her indicators on a stalk rather than the toggle switch that was cable tied under the dash

- Found the horn relay (this took a lot of time...) and made it all horny

- Re-upholstered the front seat to stop all the foam falling out from underneath and my ass sitting on the frame

- Fitted a stereo, speakers and a sub

- Made head and air come inside the cabin other than from that of the engine

- Made it run on 6 cylinders

- rebuilt the fuel pump

Few other items on the agenda. Probably won't be slammed as it's quite nice to full her with 6 people and go for a cruise without loosing the exhaust.

So, watch this space.