Triumph Herald 13 60 - Loud and rusty
Discussion
Crushingly bored so thought I'd post my car! Been building it for the past 6 months, previously bought as an unfinished project that was mostly standard but had a non-running 1500 spitfire engine in.
Put a 1300 mk4 spitfire engine (from a wrecked spitfire) in just before lock down, phew!
The previous owner (nice chap called Mike) had refurbed the chassis, refreshed the solid parts of the suspension, new brake lines in too, electrics mostly done too.
Paint is original in places, tatty all over and touched up. I like it, plan is to keep it ratty and I'll be clear coating it with rattle cans once the weather is more consistent. No rust where it matters.
I like old cars covered in stickers, so I covered it in stickers.
Things I've done since having it (well, with help from 2 friends)!
GAZ dampers on the rear plus a inch lowering block. Spring is standard, considering a stiffer spring, we'll see. Front are GAZ fully adjustable coilovers.
Drilled grooved brakes, mintex pads, replaced braided lines and new fluid.
Weller steel wheels (13 inch) off an old formula ford, 2 inches deeper/wider at back. Painted bronze.
1300 mk4 spitfire engine (large crank), is what was available from wreckers. Twin SU HS4 carbs with bigger jets. Not necessarily the right jets but it now works!
421 stainless exhaust manifold, into jetex silencer then straight 2 inch pipe to a cherry bomb tail pipe. It's loud and brilliant and my neighbours despise me.
New plugs, new distributor and leads, electronic coil and new wiring.
Alloy radiator, twin fans, new water and fuel piping.
Engine probably puts out about 80bhp, plan is to do a bit of head work (port/polish/skim 30 thou) and slightly lairier Street cam. 100hp would be nice.
It weights around 820kg according to stats, so it's good fun even though its slow.
Inside I got a half cage fitted, fia/msa approved. Done by Caged Laser Engineering, amazing job and really good to work with (great customer service, very patient with my annoying questions). Powder coated orange.
Safety Devices harnesses 4 point.
Red modern seat belts also fitted for when I can't be arsed with harnesses.
Putting interior back in so it's less rattly.
12 inch sub and 600w amp in boot, hidden Bluetooth stereo under-dash.
Finally got it running yesterday, plan is to take it for the weekly shop on Saturday! Final safety checks tomorrow...
It doesn't go particularly fast, but it feels and sounds fast and that's what I care about! It's 50 years old lol.
I've a brief video of the noise that I'll post. Here are some pics! Cheers!
Bought it so I could learn to do more wrenching myself, so easy to get access to everything so very little electronics for me to get wrong.
Plan was to start doing sprints and hill climbs although that's been paused due to current climate... Hope you like it, be gentle it's my first proper project!
Edit: front seats are out of an mgf, originally grey alcantara middle but dyed them black-ish. Tight fit but they're in and are adjustable!
Put a 1300 mk4 spitfire engine (from a wrecked spitfire) in just before lock down, phew!
The previous owner (nice chap called Mike) had refurbed the chassis, refreshed the solid parts of the suspension, new brake lines in too, electrics mostly done too.
Paint is original in places, tatty all over and touched up. I like it, plan is to keep it ratty and I'll be clear coating it with rattle cans once the weather is more consistent. No rust where it matters.
I like old cars covered in stickers, so I covered it in stickers.
Things I've done since having it (well, with help from 2 friends)!
GAZ dampers on the rear plus a inch lowering block. Spring is standard, considering a stiffer spring, we'll see. Front are GAZ fully adjustable coilovers.
Drilled grooved brakes, mintex pads, replaced braided lines and new fluid.
Weller steel wheels (13 inch) off an old formula ford, 2 inches deeper/wider at back. Painted bronze.
1300 mk4 spitfire engine (large crank), is what was available from wreckers. Twin SU HS4 carbs with bigger jets. Not necessarily the right jets but it now works!
421 stainless exhaust manifold, into jetex silencer then straight 2 inch pipe to a cherry bomb tail pipe. It's loud and brilliant and my neighbours despise me.
New plugs, new distributor and leads, electronic coil and new wiring.
Alloy radiator, twin fans, new water and fuel piping.
Engine probably puts out about 80bhp, plan is to do a bit of head work (port/polish/skim 30 thou) and slightly lairier Street cam. 100hp would be nice.
It weights around 820kg according to stats, so it's good fun even though its slow.
Inside I got a half cage fitted, fia/msa approved. Done by Caged Laser Engineering, amazing job and really good to work with (great customer service, very patient with my annoying questions). Powder coated orange.
Safety Devices harnesses 4 point.
Red modern seat belts also fitted for when I can't be arsed with harnesses.
Putting interior back in so it's less rattly.
12 inch sub and 600w amp in boot, hidden Bluetooth stereo under-dash.
Finally got it running yesterday, plan is to take it for the weekly shop on Saturday! Final safety checks tomorrow...
It doesn't go particularly fast, but it feels and sounds fast and that's what I care about! It's 50 years old lol.
I've a brief video of the noise that I'll post. Here are some pics! Cheers!
Bought it so I could learn to do more wrenching myself, so easy to get access to everything so very little electronics for me to get wrong.
Plan was to start doing sprints and hill climbs although that's been paused due to current climate... Hope you like it, be gentle it's my first proper project!
Edit: front seats are out of an mgf, originally grey alcantara middle but dyed them black-ish. Tight fit but they're in and are adjustable!
Edited by jiggawhat2k on Thursday 9th April 16:57
Konrod said:
I like that! looks like a whole load of fun, although it also looks as if you're living in it, judging by the passenger seat.
Any problems with wheels hitting arches running that low?
Rather than spend money of the four, you could consider a six................
Haha I had all the tools and spares in it at the time, a true rolling restoration... Lucky I did, its been broken down multiple times and I've had everything I need to get it going again eventually. Any problems with wheels hitting arches running that low?
Rather than spend money of the four, you could consider a six................
Had to whack the inner rim of the arches on all 4 corners but no other modification, originally it did rub so I got lower profile tyres as a solution.
Ah yes a six, the dream. Maybe in phase 2!
Lovely. My first car was a white 13/60 Herald on an F reg if I recall correctly. Bought off the guy who ran the local chippy. Saw me through first year at Uni, with a knackered battery. But I lived at the top of a hill so we'd jump start it every day by running it down the hill till it caught!
Happy days! Always wanted to take the roof off and turn it into a convertible, but never had the money. Next car was a Sunbeam Stiletto. A bit quicker.
Happy days! Always wanted to take the roof off and turn it into a convertible, but never had the money. Next car was a Sunbeam Stiletto. A bit quicker.
carinaman said:
I like a lot of that. There was one in the family once that I think I did at least one long journey in.
The Triumph sounds great to my ears, as does the XK six, but there has to be advantages for the smaller, lighter Spitfire IV engine.
Thanks. Agree, main benefit to 4 cylinder is availability and cost, the engine in there now was £200 plus some new hoses, 6 cylinder engines are rarer so more expensive. The Triumph sounds great to my ears, as does the XK six, but there has to be advantages for the smaller, lighter Spitfire IV engine.
Also reckon there is a handling advantage to a bit less weight up front.
The six though, what a noise...
lockhart flawse said:
Great motor. Please keep the thread updated as you develop it.
Might be my eyes but the back exhaust box doesn't really go with the rest of the car does it?
Cheers will try to keep up to date. Might be my eyes but the back exhaust box doesn't really go with the rest of the car does it?
Totally agree, always wanted a cherrybomb so I bought one! Have grown to love the obnoxious noise, the rest of the car isn't subtle so I'm OK with a ridiculous back box sticking out the back lol
vx220 said:
Wow, IMHO that is the best looking car on PH for a long time!!!
Not too shiny with the clearcoat!
I'm sure they would love to see it on Retro Rides forum...
Thanks very much! Not too shiny with the clearcoat!
I'm sure they would love to see it on Retro Rides forum...
No shiny finish don't worry, going for a matt clear coat finish after I've done a round of light sanding on the flaky bits.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff