PAG 14, page 4
Sunday the 5th:
This is being typed tomorrow, i.e. today (Monday the sixth). Had a wonderful day rose at 5:45 am. Had some breakfast after my ablutions and took the dog out for his morning constitutional. Ready to leave at 6:30 but Richard was to arrive at 6:45; so had another cup of tea, Richard arrived and said he had a few things to do first and would be ready soon. Set off slightly later that arranged at 6:50 am. arrived at Stoneleigh later that wished at 10:05, very short queue found one booth with no queue and went straight in. Our first find was the for sale shed, which was not to Richard's liking as so many of them were not of the concourse standard which I think he believed all kitcars to be. The next hall we found was full of all the bits and pieces needed to complete a car, this he found of more interest. We eventually found where the Pembleton stand was situated and set off to find it. However we first found my friends from Vintage cars who had just finalised the take-over of the Royale Windsor and the sale under licence of all the spares for the Royale Sabre in this country, as the Sabre was sold to someone in Holland. Eventually we found the Pembletons and met Phil, made some measurements, took some photographs and picked some brains. Left Phil and his family to it as he was swamped with enquiries about the Super Sport, and set off to see as much as possible of the rest of the show before closing time. Found the Citroen Specials Club area and joined the club. Took some photographs of a couple of adaptations for the alternator, oh and saw the new owners of the BRA CV, took some photographs of that too. Found that it was five thirty and most people were leaving, however we wandered around some more stalls and picked a few more brains. Left the show area at six fifteen, three quarters of an hour late, and went back to the car for our tea. Left for home at just before seven o'clock, had an uneventful drive and arrived home at ten o'clock, ready for bed but had something to eat first, and a good stiff drink too.
Monday the 6th:
Ever had that morning after feeling where the phrase "Never again", slips from your lips? Well this was one of those mornings, it took me about twenty minutes to manoeuvre myself about enough in the bed to be able to 'rise'. Had a hot bath, spoke to Stephanie when she called and we have all decided to pop over and visit her at Ben's bungalow. I also called Richard and asked him how he felt, not too bad was the reply, so as that is what I would have said to him about my own condition I presume he is in as much pain as I.
Set off to see Stephanie as Pat didn't suggest it but I could see that she wanted to visit her as much as I. Went via a village the name of which I forget to see the Black Swan Inn, where Pat has arranged that we all (family member who we haven't met in years), will stay for a get together later this month from there we went to Ben's and stayed for tea. Arrived home about ten thirty.
Tuesday the 7th:
Hooray the steering column is off! I tapped at the outer sleeve's slot again, used the top steering column outer as a sliding hammer and shocked it off in no time at all. I removed all the floor bolts and the exhaust system hanger bolts from the body. Called Richard to ask if he could give Pat and I a hand to remove the body as we found that we just had not enough strength to lift and carry it as well. He popped around we took off the body, manoeuvred chassis around on its wheels and turned it over. Richard and I had some trouble removing the retaining bolts of the suspension and steering rack, eventually resorted to brute force and beat the living daylights out of them and shook all the rust loose. I then disconnected and removed the shock absorbers and took the nuts off the spring actuating rods for the front and rear spring systems, then I left it for my tea which had been ready for five minutes.
After tea I also assembled two workbenches, similar to Workmates but not that make. Tomorrow I hope to remove the spring packs and that should be everything off the chassis and I can call Phil Whitley and ask him to take it away, there are some repairs to be done on the chassis but nothing worse than anything I have done on cars in the past, so I hope he will want it.
Wednesday the 8th:
This morning I tried to remove the spring packs, I found that they will revolve but not undo, So I broke a screwdriver three times trying to hold the threaded part still while I undid the large nut. So I removed the brake line from the front of the engine compartment to the rear axle. It is now hanging in the garage, took off the wheels and tried to remove the front wheel mount thingy. All I managed to do was mangle the nut, so when Pat came home this evening I asked her to help me put the front and rear axle assemblies into the car as I had already arranged to have the village garage, Rookes's, do the work for me. When I lifted the rear of the chassis the damn front end fell off the breeze blocks it was stood on and I felt as if another disc had ruptured. However we managed to get the two axle and suspension arm assemblies into the back of the estate, took Pat to the Doctor's for her appointment then popped back to Rookie's where they took the axles out of the car for me. Then went back to the doctor's for Pat. Not a very good day today.
I rang Phil W about the chassis to see if he would still want it or not, yes he does, and he is coming for it either at the weekend or next week.
Continued in the next Issue of 'Pembletons Are Go'
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