Emergency parts
Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 18-Jun-2003, 02:05pm
I would recommend a good toolkit including a good set on combination spanners and a socket set, breakerbar, screwdrivers etc... foot pump, spare fuses,
rotor arm, distributor cap, points set.
Possibly a bottleof water, some oil and spare fuel (you know what our fuel guages can be like).
Apart from that your guess is as good as mine - you know your car better than I.
Of course the best solution is to get an 'A' frame towing dolly and pull another spitfire along behind you
Seriously again - like in the advert the best emergency part you can have is your RAC/AA/Greenflag card and a mobile phone that works wherever your going. Don't forget to check your cover.
Also, your TSSC self help scheme handbook
I fixed two broken down spitfires this week! Just happened to drive by and lend a hand
NiG
http://www.niginthecar.net
Possibly a bottleof water, some oil and spare fuel (you know what our fuel guages can be like).
Apart from that your guess is as good as mine - you know your car better than I.
Of course the best solution is to get an 'A' frame towing dolly and pull another spitfire along behind you
Seriously again - like in the advert the best emergency part you can have is your RAC/AA/Greenflag card and a mobile phone that works wherever your going. Don't forget to check your cover.
Also, your TSSC self help scheme handbook
I fixed two broken down spitfires this week! Just happened to drive by and lend a hand
NiG
http://www.niginthecar.net
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Emergency parts
Posted By : John Tabor, 18-Jun-2003, 09:50pm
Peter,
All good advice on the tool/spare front. My two-penneth worth would be the Haynes or equivalent manual. I am always amazed by how reliable our cars are. My car is in pretty rotten condition mechanically (ask any Essex member at the last meet when I had to put it in gear to stop the engine!) but it has only let me down once in 18 months. Things leak, rattle and smell, but even on 2 cylinders it keeps going!! All the spares are a good idea as a re the tools but I hop and suspect you'll need few/none of them!
Good luck! John
P.S. I hope I get to work tomorrow now I've said that!-
Emergency parts
Posted By : Andy Vowell, 18-Jun-2003, 10:37pm
A thottle cable is worth carrying too (I find Shimano moutain bike stainless steel cable is best).
In contrast and going to the extreme where boot space is unlimited, when I go racing we take:-
Trolley jack and axle stands
All my spanners, ratchets, drivers, clamps, files, saws, and a variety of hammers
Tap and die set
Battery drill and bits
Multimeter
Compression Tester
Tyre Pressure gauge
Torque wrench
Torch
Haynes Manual
Bucket and sponge
All ignition spares (including electronic module and optical eye)
Throttle cables
Selection of rubber hoses
Head gasket set
Valve Springs
Brake fasteners, springs, split pins etc
Pair drive shafts
Pair Front uprights
Full set of wishbones
Gearbox
Clutch
Differential
Oils (full reload) and filter
Brake fluid
20 Litres full fat leaded fuel
Wide selection of fastenings (nuts, bolts, washers, self tappers etc)
Chemical Metal (magic stuff that will stick anything)
Gaffer tape (3 colours to suit paintwork)
Electrical stuff (wire, fuses, connector's bulbs etc)
Steel and Aluminium plate off cuts
All for 15 minutes of adrenalin.
WE CAN REBUILD HER!!!!
Cheers
Andy.V
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Emergency parts
Posted By : Adrian Lee, 19-Jun-2003, 01:23am
Your car must be really shafted?....................your tools weigh more than the car.................get real?-
Emergency parts
Posted By : Peter Hazlett, 19-Jun-2003, 10:01am
Well touch wood I shall have no problems.
John, cheers for that tip... on the way there it's a through the night dash to catch the 5am ferry but on the return trip I might just take your advice and have a leisurely trip off the A75. I know the road (the A75) all too well, it amazes me the speed that those lorries can keep up!
Andy, thanks for the comprehensive spares list but think I might just stick to duck tape and a screwdriver all the same.
Cheers all
(if you hear a knock on your door at 3am Saturday morning it might just be me ;-)-
Emergency parts
Posted By : Graham Reeks, 19-Jun-2003, 11:16am
if you turn up without Pizza, though I wouldn't be happy!-
Emergency parts
Posted By : Don Cook, 19-Jun-2003, 01:19pm
If Peter turns up on your doorstep Graham he is seriously lost!
Next time I need anything doing to my car I'm going to pretend to break down outside a race track on a TSSC racing day - Andy, Nigel get your tools ready.
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Emergency parts
Posted By : Chris Wilson, 19-Jun-2003, 07:34pm
Peter,
If you turn up at my door at 3 a.m. any morning - then I'll know your lost and will want to look at me map book!!
Regards
Chris
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Emergency parts
Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 19-Jun-2003, 11:07am
Andy's car is a well prapared racer, you got to realise this 'Kit' is supposed to cover all eventualities 'cos if the car fails, he will have wasted a weekend AND his entry fees. This can amount to a serious amount of cash.
With a bit of luck you should be able to see a good picture of it in the next courier with me and Bernie crawling over it - doing a bit of problem solving.
When racing, you kinda build up these 'spares', I also carry all of the above, plus (now) a generator, angle grinder. Unfortunately, last time out I needed a complete spare car!
The tools are carried in the TOW vehicle, the spitfire just does the roundy, roundy, racy, racy, bit
Its the first spitfire I've been in that doesn't shake, rattle and roll at 100mph+! (Yes it IS that quick).
On the other hand I drive my GT6 everyday, and my toolkit consists of, spare rotor arm, jack, hammer and a bit of oil.
NiG
http://www.niginthecar.net-
Emergency parts
Posted By : Graham Reeks, 19-Jun-2003, 12:48pm
i just sling my whole toolbox in the GT along with overalls and gloves ... don't want to get the suit dirty on the way to work! -
Emergency parts
Posted By : Adrian Lee, 19-Jun-2003, 06:06pm
Is there anything salvagable from the front of your car Nigel?.....................looked quite a nasty shunt .-
Emergency parts
Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 19-Jun-2003, 09:03pm
The chassis has had it, but the body tub is saveable. The radiator is shot and I'm not going to use the nearside suspension parts again.
The rest is being transplanted along with new engine mounts (they were ripped apart) and new engine front plate. Useable spare will go into emergency store and probably get karted around the country in the Van - the body and chassis will be 'mostly' thrown.
Oh yeah - bonnet is no more!
NiG
http://www.niginthecar.net
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Emergency parts
Posted By : Don Cook, 18-Jun-2003, 02:36pm
Hi Peter
Having recently undertaken a tour on Northern Europe I'll give you some idea what I took. The car had things like points, condenser, plugs, leads, distributor cap etc replaced anyway so I took all the old stuff (worked pefectly well when replaced). I packed in some other bits and pieces like oil, bulbs, lengths of wire and connectors, a trunnion, fan belt, rad cap and thermostat, some lengths of water hose, carb diaphragms, assorted nuts and bolts, fuses and tape.
There are, of course, some items that you need to take that are mandatory depending where you go. Such as: warning triangle, spare set of bulbs, first aid kit.
In terms of tools - take all the usual spanner sizes, I also took a small 3/8 socket set. Feeler guages, big adjustable, pliers, a few screwdivers, and include those odd tools that you've had for years but always come in handy (mine was a small clamp that I use to close up flexible brake hoses). In future I will include a small bottle of brake fluid!
If you have continental breakdown cover then make sure you have the contact number; last year Footman James came to my rescue in Belgium! Also take the TSSC handbook with all the contact numbers from people that are willing to help out in the event of a breakdown. Make sure the car is serviced properly before you go. Don't forget you're not a million miles away and all countries will have something you can use or adapt.
Where are you off to then?
Don
(oh and pay your credit card well before you leave - ahem!)
Having recently undertaken a tour on Northern Europe I'll give you some idea what I took. The car had things like points, condenser, plugs, leads, distributor cap etc replaced anyway so I took all the old stuff (worked pefectly well when replaced). I packed in some other bits and pieces like oil, bulbs, lengths of wire and connectors, a trunnion, fan belt, rad cap and thermostat, some lengths of water hose, carb diaphragms, assorted nuts and bolts, fuses and tape.
There are, of course, some items that you need to take that are mandatory depending where you go. Such as: warning triangle, spare set of bulbs, first aid kit.
In terms of tools - take all the usual spanner sizes, I also took a small 3/8 socket set. Feeler guages, big adjustable, pliers, a few screwdivers, and include those odd tools that you've had for years but always come in handy (mine was a small clamp that I use to close up flexible brake hoses). In future I will include a small bottle of brake fluid!
If you have continental breakdown cover then make sure you have the contact number; last year Footman James came to my rescue in Belgium! Also take the TSSC handbook with all the contact numbers from people that are willing to help out in the event of a breakdown. Make sure the car is serviced properly before you go. Don't forget you're not a million miles away and all countries will have something you can use or adapt.
Where are you off to then?
Don
(oh and pay your credit card well before you leave - ahem!)
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Emergency parts
Posted By : Peter Hazlett, 18-Jun-2003, 05:16pm
Thanks guys, have most of those bits now or on order. Not going too far afield but my first trek is London to Stranraer (400 odd miles) in one go (10 hours of not being able to hear myself think on the M6 !!). After that it'll be a leisurely tour round Ireland for a week before the long journey back to London (those are the legs I'm worried about).
Thanks for help.
P-
Emergency parts
Posted By : John Davies, 19-Jun-2003, 09:43am
Peter,
If you are going to catch the ferry, you may not want to dawdle, and the A75 coast road along Wigtown Bay is a visual treat anyway, except for the lorries catching the same ferry. If you are coming back the same way, leave the A75 @ Newton Stewart, and take the A712 via New Galloway that takes you back to the A75 @ Crockettford. This is a little used dream drive, much through open moorland over sweeping curves and corners.
Enjoy!
John
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Emergency parts
Posted By : James Carruthers, 18-Jun-2003, 05:38pm
I never go anywhere without duck tape... or gaffa tape... or elephant tape.. or whatever the brand is called...
You can fix anything with that stuff...
James
You can fix anything with that stuff...
James
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Emergency parts
Posted By : Chris Wilson, 18-Jun-2003, 06:51pm
Gawd! Looking at what you lot take on a trip is making me nervous!
Here's me with bog standard spitfire toolkit, reversible phillips/slothead screwdriver, copper/rawhide knockometer, handful spare fuses, rigid towbar, couple of rags and that's about it!! Oh, and since incident with white van man last week - have now added a notebook and pen to record any accident details and other useful info!!
Regards
Chris
1975 1500 (Wiv a grinning bonnet!)-
Emergency parts
Posted By : John Davies, 19-Jun-2003, 09:36am
How about a disposable, one-film camera, to record the incident? You could even put his mug shots up on the 'Net!-
Emergency parts
Posted By : Chris Wilson, 19-Jun-2003, 07:30pm
John,
Don't you just hate it when you normally carry a digital camera around with you but sod's law dictates that when needed most - it ain't no where to be seen!!
Part of my job involves having a camera in my briefcase for when I go out to investigate H&S incidents. Sod's law that evening I had decided to leave my briefcase at work with camera inside it!! Not anymore!!
Regards
Chris
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