Blaketon rides again

[Blaketon]

I finally took the Traveller for a couple of short runs today. The first one was because I wanted to turn it around and reverse into the garage. I had changed the needles in the carbs to the same pattern as those in my late father's MG Midget (Has the same spec engine), which has been set up on a rolling road and I set the mixture/balanced the carbs. I decided to go for a short run as it was out, to see how it went. I have just finished rectifying a Wares five speed conversion (Mentioned elsewhere) and as part of the process, I have swapped to twin HS2 carbs. I have also tidied up the fitting of extra gauges, that were in the car when I bought it and added hazard warning lights, cigarette lighter (For the satnav - I input the route I want to follow, if I am going somewhere I don't know and it calls it back - like my father used to do with a map!!), rear fog lamp. The bumpers have been re chromed and the backs powder coated and the rear bumper plate, which is a bit low due to the tow bar, now has a hinged mount, held stut by magnets (It can be held up with a lever, if you are reversing off a ramp or trailer etc). There is a roller on the back of it, that will touch the ground first (With heater hose acting as the "Tyre").

The final job, on what I intend to be my final major "Project", will be to finish the new old front seats, that are having MGB/Midget headrest mounts welded into the frames (The OD of the MG part is a nice fit inside the Morris frame). I have done the driver's seat and now have to do the folding passenger seat. I have also made an anti tip device, similar to those found on Minis from 1980ish onwards.

I took the car for another short run, as my mother wanted a run in it. It's too soon to say what it's like but the new clutch feels better than what Wares had put in there. Once the gearbox is bedded in (It now has a shorter remote), I will get it set up on the rollers but it shouldn't be too far out, given that I had the Midget as a guide.

There's one bit of my father's work in there. I fitted an oil cooler and the thermostat was briefly fitted to my MG Midget 1500. That now has a stat in the sandwich plate, so the old stat has sat in box for many years, having had very little use. The mounting bracket was machined by my father, so I thought it was a nice touch to find a use for it.