First evening of ownership..
Discussion
Just picked myself up a 1997 4.2 from another PH member ( cheer's Andy! ) and my what an adventure the drive home was. I had mentally prepared myself for embarrassingly stalling in central London traffic, possibly climbing a tree and one or two electrical issues.. visions of being stranded at a petrol station for one, only knowing half the dead battery secret entry technique.
But! Oh did we bond.... In a fleeting moment of distraction from the fact I seemed to be traveling the one route with a distinct lack of petrol stations ( 97 of course ) and an ever decreasing fuel gauge.. Nice chap in a Gold M3 flashed me, assume it was a flash. He was so far up my arse, i though we we're already on a second date.
Needless to say I responded in a courteous and subtle way.. by dropping a cog, flooring it and absolutely leaving the M3 behind dead. Alas... it was at this lead footed moment, the throttle cable decided to come off the cam and jam at 6k in 5th. ( narrowly escaped a change of underwear moment on that one ).
Mild panic, loud revs followed by dropping back to neutral killing the engine and a leisurely coast to the worlds narrowest hard shoulder ( whilst swearing at the indicators of course.. ) after four lanes. I had just a moment of torrential swearing before deciding to investigate.
After some prodding and very rapidly realising the turbulence from the passing lorries would take both my door and any remaining dignity.. best close that properly.
I spotted the aforementioned issue and instantly thought, aha! Zip tie will hold the slightly slack and stiff throttle cable on the cam till I get home ( +100ish miles from that charming spot of the M25 near the Dartford Tunnel ). D'oh! ( and this is very odd for me.. ) no Zip ties, to hand.
Queue sawing shoelace with house key and several knots later.. back in action! And revving better than before.
Excellent, onwards! Till 10mins later when I was feeling confident and poking the throttle a bit, the bonnet started it's nervous just out of pin holding twitching.. Queue hard shoulder, much swearing at the knob and testing it was closed.
Onwards... for 10mins and repeat.
Finally Success! Sped up, no wobbling beyond the usual, we're good to go!
Oh f*** completely forgot about the fuel gauge.. much coasting later and a new found love of sign "services 1m" we had a full tank.
So home safe and sound, a mental list of little jobs that need doing and a full bond with the car.
Don't you love TVR's!
Ps: Heated gear knob and left arm from central tunnel, what a nice design touch. Popular in wooden rooms in Sweden no doubt.
But! Oh did we bond.... In a fleeting moment of distraction from the fact I seemed to be traveling the one route with a distinct lack of petrol stations ( 97 of course ) and an ever decreasing fuel gauge.. Nice chap in a Gold M3 flashed me, assume it was a flash. He was so far up my arse, i though we we're already on a second date.
Needless to say I responded in a courteous and subtle way.. by dropping a cog, flooring it and absolutely leaving the M3 behind dead. Alas... it was at this lead footed moment, the throttle cable decided to come off the cam and jam at 6k in 5th. ( narrowly escaped a change of underwear moment on that one ).
Mild panic, loud revs followed by dropping back to neutral killing the engine and a leisurely coast to the worlds narrowest hard shoulder ( whilst swearing at the indicators of course.. ) after four lanes. I had just a moment of torrential swearing before deciding to investigate.
After some prodding and very rapidly realising the turbulence from the passing lorries would take both my door and any remaining dignity.. best close that properly.
I spotted the aforementioned issue and instantly thought, aha! Zip tie will hold the slightly slack and stiff throttle cable on the cam till I get home ( +100ish miles from that charming spot of the M25 near the Dartford Tunnel ). D'oh! ( and this is very odd for me.. ) no Zip ties, to hand.
Queue sawing shoelace with house key and several knots later.. back in action! And revving better than before.
Excellent, onwards! Till 10mins later when I was feeling confident and poking the throttle a bit, the bonnet started it's nervous just out of pin holding twitching.. Queue hard shoulder, much swearing at the knob and testing it was closed.
Onwards... for 10mins and repeat.
Finally Success! Sped up, no wobbling beyond the usual, we're good to go!
Oh f*** completely forgot about the fuel gauge.. much coasting later and a new found love of sign "services 1m" we had a full tank.
So home safe and sound, a mental list of little jobs that need doing and a full bond with the car.
Don't you love TVR's!
Ps: Heated gear knob and left arm from central tunnel, what a nice design touch. Popular in wooden rooms in Sweden no doubt.
t myself every time i heard a noise!
Yup, CAT's are there alright. We're replaced only a couple of years back too.
£33 of fleabay for a new Throttle cable, bargain! Door seal ( to remove the Owl from the passenger window ) and window felt are also ordered to sort the glacial speeds out this weekend.
I'll say one thing, i have yet to find a job that somebody has'nt already posted a how-to on the net and at least three companies selling the spares. What a great community!
£33 of fleabay for a new Throttle cable, bargain! Door seal ( to remove the Owl from the passenger window ) and window felt are also ordered to sort the glacial speeds out this weekend.
I'll say one thing, i have yet to find a job that somebody has'nt already posted a how-to on the net and at least three companies selling the spares. What a great community!
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