Rapier

Why a "triple sprocket?" Simply to accomodate the three chains, one bringing the drive up from the crankshaft then two, one to each camshaft.

Mini-Cooper owners may be able to recognise the "Hi-volume" oil pump in its un-accustomed location on the front of the Rapier's cylinder head. Bj.

Hello Digger. Last first, NO the electric fan is not original, as Rapiers left the factory and being made for "English" conditions a fan was not required. The brass "tap" is in fact "original and its purpose is to direct which of the two petrol supply pipes is selected to deliver the fuel to the pump. One being the "main" supply, the other the "reserve". In actual fact both pipes draw petrol from the main tank. One going to the "bottom" of the tank the other stopping three or four inches "up". This acts as a "reminder" to the driver to refuel the car before it runs out of petrol. The trick is to remember to switch it back to the "main" supply when you refuel. You were very observant to notice the take-off pipe for the supply to the oil pressure gauge. Oil is delivered at "full pressure" to the over head camshaft bearings. All this makes the "under-bonnet" space appear to be a "bit crowded but everything does have a job to do. The "non-original" air filters require the rear one be "trimmed" to fit over the top of the steering box. The "Exhaust" side of the engine is not quite so crowded. The "non-original" oil pump, driven from the front of the timing chain "triple sprocket' on the front of the cylinder head adds to this.

Now something different. a simple test of your "old car knowledge?"Simply make list of everything that you can recognise. Remember, every single item that you see has my personal "finger prints" on it.

As "KG is definitely not for sale, I will have sit down some time soon, some where and work out a plan to bring it back to"top" condition for the comming years activities. First thing for the new year is a visit too our friend, "Jimmy's" panel shop to bring the car's appearance back to where it should be. That and giving it a complete "oil-change" and service. I will also need to work our plan of attack for the Morris. It too needs to be brought to "top" condition. Then some idea of what it's future is to be, worked out. Bj.

The Lagonda simply goes on and is almost self supporting. I did last night have a mystery call form a gentleman who said that he was calling from the US of A, wanting to buy a Lagonda Rapier. I very politely told him that my car was not for sale and suggested he look at the UK Rapier Register web-site.

Perhaps it is time for you to reverse the trend and for you to come and visit us. You would find us very welcoming. Bj.

Sitting here at my computer I have just had a sudden thought. I wonder how many of the people reading this really appreciate anything that I write here. I doubt very much that there is even one person anywhere in the world that could honestly say that actually understand what my life is! For a start I was born in November 1936. I had one sister six years older and one brother three years older then much later another brother born after the finish of ww2. My sister and my elder brother have both "passed" some time ago. I do not know when I last spoke to my younger brother, this despite the fact that he lives less than 10 kms away. We do not even exchange emails.

Having driven the Rapier for a "run"if about 100 miles yesterday I can report that the "bugs" in the electrical control box appear to be well under control (again) The electrical charge doing what it is supposed to do! i.e. Keeping the battery charged and supplying the current for the ignition and fuel pump(s). I used the term "pumps" advisedly. There are two seperate pumps the second one supplying fuel from the "Reserve" ie. the bottom 1/3 of the petrol tank rather than a seperate tank. To achieve this there are two fuel supply pipes, the second one drawing fuel from the "bottom" of the tank while the "Main" supply cuts out about 4 to 6 inches higher up. There is a seperate switch for the "reserve pump" on the dash-board. This should be left "off" until the reserve is required. Both are SU electric pumps. The main pump is mounted on the bulkhead, under the bonnet. The reserve pump is mounted on the chassis side member under the car. In addition there is a "two way" tap mounted on the bulkhead under the main pump under the bonnet. All relatively fool proof provided that the driver remembers to turn both the tap and the switch off after using the emergency reserve! This done, the driver is made aware that the supply of fuel is "running low" before it actually cuts out! All this does rely to some extent on be driver to remember to manage the cars fuel supply correctly. Nothing would be worse than running out of fuel in some lonely country road and finding that you has already used up the "reserve" (emergency supply). While the Rapier is a very intelegent and caring car it does rely to some extent on driver being prepared to co-operate with it. The fitting on the top of the rear mounted petrol tank showing the two pipes leaving the tank. Easily accessable,the 'two way tap" controlling the reserve fuel supply to the "petrol pump". The only problem with this system is that it does rely on the driver to remember to "manage" it correctly.

Not to worry, We have been out all day to day, leaving home in time to be at the start if the VSCC "Two-wheel brake rally" originally intended to encourage owner of early vintage cars to "Take them out and drive them". This event today is open to all Club Members driving their eligible "Pre WW2 car". A pleasant if a little tiring days motoring. We naturally went in the Lagonda Rapier. It performed well all day and did not "miss a beat".\ Bj.

The "bugs" or perhaps more accurately "Gliches" were all contained in the "Voltage regulator" - "Cut-out". These have now been corrected allowing the generator/dynamo to deliver a full 12 Volts to the battery/accumulator. Hopefully this will see and end to our problems and we can get on an enjoy driving the Rapier with out having to keep one eye on the "amp-meter". One bonus, if you worry about these things that we now have a correct "period" cover for the "Regulator". The only things now to worry the "purists" are thge nasty plastic (Blue) crimp-on terminal ends and the modern plastic covered wires.

All the "bugs" have now been ironed out and the Rapier is home again and to date it is charging exactly as it should. The auto-elect has even found a correct period cap to go on the voltage regulator. I have only driven the 20 kms home but next weekend we have another VSCC event and I am looking forward to a trouble free drive, just as it should be! After all we have driven well over 100,000 miles with no major troubles and the car is treated as one of the family. Bj.

On the subject of a New Project I should be getting the Morris project back from my son early in the NewYear so I will have something (constructive) to do again. In fact rather than a "New" project I will be getting an unfinished old one back. I am not sure how much work on it is still required. Bj.

Having said that I cannot but wonder how many other Australians use or visit this forum. Bj.

Again I am reminded that this in fact an American Forum and I am grateful for the leanancy that the AACA and its "officers" allow me as a "visitor". Especially as a visitor from "the other side of the world". i.e. Australia. Bernie j.

Thank you for all your support. I am not sure which way to go. I have the Rapier booked in with a local Auto Electrician later this week, he should be able to tell me what is needed. I do have a "new-old-stock" voltage regulator should the one on the car have a problem. Or it may be a simple matter of "adjusting" the original one on the car (below). Bj.

Right now I do not care whether we go away or not. First thing is to sort out the ongoing problems that I seem to have with the Lagonda Rapiers "electrics"! I have a new "Control box" but need someone with a "volt meter' and the knowledge of how to use it in diagnosing what the problem in the "Charging circuit" is.

Now three or four years later we have decided, we will not be taking the Lagonda Rapier away overseas again. The cost and the additional effort is no longer the "adventure" it may have been when we were three or four years younger. At age 86 I no longer need the extra stress that it all involves. IF we go away at all this will probably be restricted to visiting our friends in England. Even so, driving will be restricted to roads away from the larger towns and mainly country roads and smaller villages.

Now some time later I have just realised, If I am going to talk about the Peugeot I really need to switch to the French Cars section. Bj.

To answerer my own question, No I just need to retrieve my earlier Morris project from its present "resting place"with our son Steve at Yarra Junction. BUT this will not happen for some weeks, After Christmas, he tells me. By then anything may have happened and I may have changed my mind. I do have some cosmetic (panel) work to be done on the Rapier and by the time that is done any one of a million things may have happened to change my mind. For a start I now have the Peugeot back from our daughter Anna and it may benefit from a "tidy-up". You can work out just what the "405 SRi" is meant to indicate. Bj.

I have only yesterday collected my Peugeot back from my daughter. She has had the car on loan so this morning I had my first drive in it for some time. It is really a pleasant car to drive even for a short 4 or 5 mile run. As you can see from todays photograph it is a 405 SRi. Unfortunately it suffered some severe hail damage to the front (mainly bonnet top) which has slashed its value to almost nothing. This does not affect its drive-ability or its comfort. Bj.

We find that by entering these "local" events we see far more of the "interesting" countryside than we would otherwise and we get to meet the local people who we could not otherwise meet.

It is just as well that I keep these things, we visitedJersey in 1999. a little more than two years ago. The ding in the right rear mudguard was the result of narrow "lanes" and stone walls. Otherwise a really interesting place. Sadly I cannot see us visiting there again. For people who do not know, Jersey is just off the coast of France. Some Ferries going between the UK and France include a stop in Jersey Bj.

My friendly repairer has looked at the damage and prepared a quotatiom, I am now waiting to the insurance assessor to come and look at it. I have a small "ding" on the other rear mudguard a memoto from our visit to the Isle of Jersey two-years ago. It may as well be repaired at the same time. I did think about changing the colour but white cars seem to be my "thing".............. Bj.

As if to prove that I am not infallible The Rapier now has a dished in left hand rear mudguard. This happened while unloading it off the back of a "tilt-tray" tow-truck. It ran back hitting the rear of the VW Jetta fortunately no damage to the VW but the Rapier will require some expert attention both to repair the mudguard and to repaint it. The paint is a "two-pack" acrylic requiring both special equipment and some expertise to apply it.