KD Triumph Blog

Busy Busy

2009-06-07T08:24:00.002+01:00

The good weather has certainly opened garage doors letting classic cars flood out ,I've never seen so many on the roads even during the week and on my way into work.Fantastic !!
Been busy as ever in the workshop with servicing and MOTs and the big restoration jobs coming on nicely (see projects pages)
Had some tasty cars in for repair recently one of which seems to of started something off with the workshop lads and myself to be honest in the shape of a TR8.
More to come on that one..
Mark McLean's Stag also been in for some gearbox work as this lovely motor is for sale at the moment and he wants it to be in top order for its new owner, is only just been in for sub frame and trailing arm bushes as he wasn't happy with the old ones.This will be a top car for someone as its proven itself with completing CT Round Britain recently.Details on CT website cars for sale.

Hmmm TR8s
KD

Show time Race time ......

2009-05-20T23:17:00.002+01:00

Good weekend coming up this weekend with Club Triumph @ Duxford war museum on Sunday 24th May then on the Monday 25th its the Jigsaw Triumph Race at Mallory Park a 30 minute pit stop race as part of the Classic Sports Car Club Race Weekend.See you there and good luck to all entrants.
God i wish i had a race car again !!!
Hmmm
KD

Show time..

2009-05-11T22:14:00.002+01:00

Went to a top car show last Sunday at Drayton manor park with the Speed Perv lads and was very surprised with the turn out and quality of cars, were so many to see that was only able to look at a handful up close.Hot Rods aren't every ones cup of tea but they certainly are mine specially on a hot sunny day with a van selling bottles of cold San Miguel cheap.A good turnout of Stags were there, a V8 Lemon and a rather ropey looking rallyish vitesse were spotted.
Time to get my Herald Coupe again i think and stuff a small block Chevy motor in it,supercharged and NOZ comes without saying....an but dream..
KD

GOOD LUCK

2009-04-17T20:31:00.002+01:00

Good luck to all you 'coast 2 coast' people doing the Club Triumph run this weekend, really do wish i was with you on this one but GT6 is still not finished and the lemon has a broken gearbox (she still managed to trailer a spitfire in today though)anyway
all the best to you and have fun nailing your Triumphs through wales on Saturday nite !! lucky buggers.
KD

Another RED ONE on its way

2009-04-16T23:20:00.002+01:00

RED MK3 Spitfires.......as Ami's gets closer to being finished another MK3 goes for paint also RED !, having just serviced and MOTd another local RED MK3 it did have a GT62 bonnet on though,it was All getting a bit confusing with customers key tags just saying "RED MK3 SPIT" side by side in the key cabinet.
Just had two RED TR6S in too, all very nice cars but please can i have another colour to work on for a bit of a change....even the Damson MK2 GT6 in at the moment is looking very RED..
Enough moaning.
KD

Ami's MK3

2009-04-16T23:04:00.002+01:00

Well its back from paint shop and looking dam good so on with the build up and should be back with her for the weekend.Roof off as soon as possible i have been assured.

GT6 OK SPIT 3 OK

2009-04-04T18:24:00.003+01:00

Just a quick update on the cars mentioned recently..
The "MOT" work GT6 done before my holls was a success and further works/restoration were booked in for the winter.
The Spitfire MK3 front end smash has had all work done now to get pannel gaps as good as they should be,got the chassis parts from stoneleigh show which was a bonu as all of the original chassis extension parts were smashed beyond recognition, you would think it should be fairly straight forward with the fitment of a brand new Heritage bonnet..hmmm no where near but 2 days of bonnet juggling cutting welding stretching saw perfect gaps all round and the car is currently at the paint shop.
KD

Loving it....

2009-03-18T22:21:00.002Z

Well its back to work after a well earned holiday with the family in Devon.
Batteries recharged and the warmer weather is certainly working its magic.
The rusty GT6 was sorted and MOTd before my holls and booked for a total makeover during next winter, it certainly needs it !!
Stoneleigh show was good for me this year seeing plenty of faces and kicking off this years events, didn't like the halls much though or the Triumph parking miles away from anything as i like to go see the cars. Did see my old 2000 MK2 in the car park looking the bo@@$cks as is obviously been restored after the front end accident it was sold with..And my old knackered 1600 Vitesse too which could also do with a bit of work now (come on jimbo get it sorted) lazy students !!
My MK1 is earning its keep now as its being used as my daily driver and tow vehicle and looked quite good bringing in the latest insurance job Spitfire if i must say.
KD

MOT WORK ??

2009-02-19T21:46:00.004Z

Well were back into things full swing now with all the rebuild projects getting a bit of attention in one way or another,things don't change though do they as i found with a customers GT6 in for couple of small repairs for the mot as i poked a small hole to find the rear wing and most of the boot floor to be filler and rot and both just fell on to the floor in a heap to the owners horror.
Just be careful what your buying off eBay at the moment ! that bargain could leave a nasty taste in your mouth.....and mine , filler dust tastes very weird mixed with rust grindings.
KD

2009-01-21T09:05:00.003Z

Over the last week and this I've decided to sort the workshop out as it was getting in a bit of a state last year.If i don't do it now it wont get done till next year as the service and MOT work as started to come in already.
The projects and rebuilds have been pulled out and regrouped ready for work to begin again next week , they even have assessment forms on clipboards on the screen's WITH working pens !!
Feels good to clear out all the accumulated scrap and clutter and have a dam good early spring clean, May even paint the floor I've been meaning to do since we moved in.
The Saturday crew even got stuck in and jet washed and cleared up outside so starting to look a bit professional now. Scary ! Cheers lads, chips and martini,s on me at next pub nite!
Heres to a great 2009.
KD

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

2008-12-21T14:59:00.002Z

Wishing all you Triumph people out there a good christmas and new year. Hope santa brings you those desparatly wanted prezzies like, Minilights with track day tyres fitted, set of webers ,set of H beam rods, Newman race camshaft, 5 Speed gearbox conversion, oh and toblerone chockchock.
Nice pic of a christmas tree for you "motorsport style".ho ho ho.
KD

2008-12-19T09:21:00.002Z

Well im back to work now all be it on a 3 day (short day) week as still need to go back into hospital again on 24th for some final finishing.
Forgot how bloody cold that workshop can get even with a heater blasting.
First job was a nice GT6 head change as head gasket had blown after a garage had fitted a new radiator and water pump and overheated the poor thing so an unleaded head was fitted too as customer had been given one.So all in all a positive return and looking forward to a very busy 2009 in work and play..So glad im still very much into my old Triumphs its surprising how much i missed those rusty old wrecks or rather those lovely classics.
KD

BACK IN BUSINESS

2008-11-18T15:47:00.006Z

Just a quick update to let all you happy Triumph folk that after my little accident in friends car KD TRIUMPH will be business as usual as from 2nd week of December.
The website will have a little tidy-up and revamp too with customers' cars and projects page and cars/parts for sale page will actually have stuff for sale on it.
Will also have links to forums such as Club Triumph, TSSC and the Sideways forum.
KD

0 - 138 IN 9 SECONDS GT6

2008-02-21T22:12:00.007Z

This is definitely my kind of thing....but don't like the scoop much.

The perfect car for me for this years CT RBRR !!! could just see this leaving the Plough on its way to Blyth services...........

KD

Here we go ..

2008-02-17T22:48:00.008Z

Well the 2008 Triumph season has started with last weeks Stoneleigh show,this show is still the best by far especially with sunshine this year, cant remember the last time it was sunny an ive been going for 12 years now. Was nice to take my coupe out for the day too even with ts poorly engine, nearly never made it up the last hill to the show as took 2 big ish mates and 8 wheels id sold on eBay, the wheels not my mates!!car of show for me was this beauty....would love one of these one day, know any projects for sale ???
I finally parted with my 1600 Vitesse works look alike last week too as i do have too many cars around at present, two on eBay, she was sold to Jonny Jimbo Club Triumph guy whos been hastling me for it for ages so as shes been sat outside my garage sinc last march i decided to let her go keeping the engine from it for my GT6 RS . A smokey old 2ltr was installed and off she went as if looking for a fight again..
KD

Nice Spit4

2008-02-07T22:14:00.002Z

Collected a lovely Spitfire 4 this week from a "gone to ground" triumph specialist. This beauty had been left for dead by the pevious restorer who had moved on. We had been asked to find her after collecting another triumph for another customer a few months back for the same reason, still back home now in Coventry for the restoration work they rightly deserve.
kd

YOUTUBE VITESSE

2008-01-30T21:43:00.002Z

Brummie daves vitesse eventually made its debut run round he industrial estate this week after a long wait. Poor thing started out as a lovely original 1600 saloon but 8 months in the KD workshop took its toll as a 2.6 tuned engine now sits where the wheezy 1600 once lived, type 12 brakes now junked replaced by vented capri items with fully adjustable suspension all round ,j type uprated box , nice revolution's with Yokohama's..hmm . check her out on youtube just put "brummie daves vitesse" in.enjoy..
well done brummie (big) dave , nice job.
kd

Wanna Herald mate ?

2008-01-21T22:32:00.001Z

Few months ago a couple of blokes turned up at workshop offering a herald 1200 for sale. Always up for a cheep herald i went outside to see..hmm , this is what they had. I said no.
KD

OK OK OK

2008-01-18T20:35:00.000Z

Ok will be updated this weekend i prommis, here a couple of pics to keep you keen.
kd

Blog catch up time.!!

2007-10-08T22:51:00.000+01:00

OK, over the next few weeks i will try to update my blog with this summers stuff from KD Triumph. A very busy summer indeed and a very pregnant wife (not so now) and a pc total failure were to blame for the absence of blog updates. We will also be updating the websits a taste too. watch this space.
KD

Hmmmm....

2007-07-19T00:01:00.001+01:00

after all that im having one of these, nice cold ice cold Stella !!

What a month...

2007-07-18T23:22:00.001+01:00

No i haven't been lazing around drinking coffee and chomping donuts from tescos instead of updating the blog well maybe a little we've had a relentless months work its been mad but very rewarding.
The head jobs got more severe with valve seat recession on a MK3 GT6 , we have bodily restored a MK1 VITESSE now up for paint, bodily restored a 1500 SPIT also in for paint now, the reliant robins water pump gave up the ghost and re commissioned a beautiful 1600 VITESSE ready for the Stafford show after a 12 year lay up in the TSSC museum.During that lot its been a service and MOT frenzy too fantastic !! I've said it once already in my blog and i will say it again ..life couldn't be better surrounded by loads of triumphs all day all being fixed restored and tinkered with...
on the cards this month is a MK3 SPIT for total body resto and paint a MK3 GT6 for some panels and paint, and cracking on with the EFI 2.5 SPITFIRE full rebuild..a page on the website is being made for a rebuild diary as we speak "THE BUILD BEGINS".
KD

head to head..

2007-06-23T21:48:00.001+01:00

As we were finishing the pigs head problem another one turned up. A MK1 Vitesse chuffing from the rear carb due to blown head gasket between no 5 and 6 cylinders.Nice replacement copper gasket on and all done.
kd

Buggered

2007-06-18T22:36:00.001+01:00

This is what was found after a friends Reliant Pig came in for a tune up complaining of not running nice enough even after having the RAC out to inspect the car telling him it was the SU carb that was at fault.
We opened the rocker cover to find a siezed valve broken spring and cap, looking further we found that the exhaust valve seat had fallen out wrecking the whole engine.
A replacement s/h 850 engine is going in tomorrow, good runner too as we had it fired up in the back of my transit van today.
kd

Not bad..

2007-06-06T22:31:00.000+01:00

Not a bad turnout at the Triumph night , lots of different cars to look over and good to see some old faces..
Will have to try and get this meeting back up the Weavers Arms Fillongley where it belongs.. not to keen on the bull n butcher or the 2 mile walk to the bar.
KD