Can You Stop a British Car from Leaking Oil?

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  • Опубліковано 20 жов 2023
  • This 1971 Triumph Spitfire is leaking, a lot. We reseal the timing cover and oil pan.
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  • @WatchWesWork
    @WatchWesWork  7 місяців тому +367

    Trigger Warning! - If you are an uptight Brit who enjoys pedantically policing pronunciation, this is not the video for you.

    • @criggie
      @criggie 7 місяців тому +22

      Wes - you jest about 1970 production with 1870 design, but my 1973 Series 3 Land Rover has four BA#2 bolts in the steering relay - that spec literally dates from 1884 and is still used to thread a dart body to the flight/tail.

    • @paulleeson1218
      @paulleeson1218 7 місяців тому +17

      Oh no, you didn't pissmronounce something did you ? Lol, This Brit loves all of your output, and your input too for that matter :)

    • @borntwisted
      @borntwisted 7 місяців тому +28

      Let me explain... All the "faults" were actually features.
      Back in the day men would like to repair their cars on a Sunday to avoid having to deal with the wife while, you had a hangover from Saturday nights drinking and to avoid lending a hand cooking the Sunday dinner.
      Because nothing was open on a Sunday you couldn't buy parts, so you would then have to cycle to work on Monday, which undid some of the health costs of the drinking on Saturday. Hopefully you can see the genius of all this now.
      It was also nice to hear your apologies and correct terms for a change ;)

    • @kimrunealund5575
      @kimrunealund5575 7 місяців тому +10

      You need a cup of tea darling😅

    • @Bunk599
      @Bunk599 7 місяців тому +5

      I am only 50% Brit...I thought you did just fine.

  • @callmebob9895
    @callmebob9895 7 місяців тому +214

    The smile on your face whilst driving the car gave it away, our British vintage cars are the bees knees. All you required in the 60's and 70's was an adjustable spanner (sorry wrench) and a hammer, and you were a mechanic. Also thank you for correcting your pronunciation of key words, remember it's called English for a reason. Keep up the marvelous work dear chap.😀

    • @TXH1138
      @TXH1138 7 місяців тому +16

      He would get the same smile from a Go Kart.

    • @jonathanstancil8544
      @jonathanstancil8544 7 місяців тому +14

      ​@TXH1138 that IS a go-kart!😂

    • @markfowler2066
      @markfowler2066 7 місяців тому +5

      Having lived and worked in the UK, and being quite old, I am one of the fortunate few who remembers the Dembreigh automobile.

    • @markfowler2066
      @markfowler2066 7 місяців тому +5

      There were two models, the Dembreigh Chauvinist, and the Dembreigh Super Chauvinist. The only difference was the Super Chauvinist was made in the morning before the workers went to the pub for a pint or two at lunch.
      Which is why I always paid attention to the time stamp on every car and truck I have acquired over the years. Never buying a Ford made on Friday it's just not nearly good enough.

    • @572Btriode
      @572Btriode 7 місяців тому +16

      @callmebob9895 I concur.
      No such thing as American English, it's just spelling mistakes.

  • @divadyrdnal
    @divadyrdnal 7 місяців тому +225

    My father was a mechanic who specialized in foreign autos…Triumphs (most English cars) made the family lots of money! The oil leaks were his favorite thing to tease owners about (dad hated oil leaks), he would explain to them the rust prevention system was factory installed…

    • @richardayres7958
      @richardayres7958 7 місяців тому +9

      … but does not work!

    • @davidmuirhead1060
      @davidmuirhead1060 7 місяців тому

      Only on the bits it leaks onto, everything else just dissolves. @@richardayres7958

    • @barrymcgrath5249
      @barrymcgrath5249 7 місяців тому

      cant argue with that@@richardayres7958 🙃

    • @jimrt1738
      @jimrt1738 7 місяців тому +12

      One modification was a oblong washer plates or a long strip drilled with the same holes as the Sump pan along the front and back also down the sides Triumph motorcycles had a drip tray as mandatory 😂.👍👍

    • @jimrt1738
      @jimrt1738 7 місяців тому +7

      Don’t take on a classic mini ever.😂

  • @dougr.6734
    @dougr.6734 7 місяців тому +9

    Props to the Brits for making an oil pan that comes off without lifting the engine off the mounts.

  • @johnmclean1046
    @johnmclean1046 7 місяців тому +359

    Wes with your sarcasm, dry sense of humour and your new found talent with language you could pass for a English man ( I’m a Scot a totally different animal altogether)

    • @thomasfrancis5747
      @thomasfrancis5747 7 місяців тому +11

      IIRC Wes has briefly lived/worked in Scotland (on water turbines).

    • @davidmuirhead1060
      @davidmuirhead1060 7 місяців тому +19

      I'm a Scot too. At least he is attempting to assimilate our form of English. Lang may his Lum Reek!

    • @johnmclean1046
      @johnmclean1046 7 місяців тому +5

      @@thomasfrancis5747 oh right that’s maybe where he gets a lot of British terms from

    • @johnmclean1046
      @johnmclean1046 7 місяців тому +4

      @@davidmuirhead1060 he speaks better than me

    • @davidmuirhead1060
      @davidmuirhead1060 7 місяців тому

      I think we could blame Dick Van Dyke for that.@@johnmclean1046

  • @matthewhodder3029
    @matthewhodder3029 7 місяців тому +67

    From England - I love the translations and the gentle dig at British engineering. Funnily enough we do the same about American engineering

    • @matthewhodder3029
      @matthewhodder3029 7 місяців тому +4

      Please tell me there was no milk in your tea, just lemon

    • @an04ker
      @an04ker 7 місяців тому +2

      American engineering😂 it’s the pits. I repair forklift trucks. Thankfully we don’t see any American ones these days.

    • @CPTVCAMgmailcom
      @CPTVCAMgmailcom 7 місяців тому +9

      @@an04ker- I, personally, can’t believe we were able to plant 6 flags on the moon and create things like the SR-71 with our “terrible American engineering”. Crazy! 😂

    • @Andrew_Fernie
      @Andrew_Fernie 7 місяців тому

      I wondered the same. I saw the Earl Gray and thoght "I hope you're not going to put milk in that"@@matthewhodder3029

    • @DaDaDo661
      @DaDaDo661 7 місяців тому

      Limeys and Europoors. America always live rent free in their heads

  • @simonneep8413
    @simonneep8413 7 місяців тому +2

    Ahh memories of sitting on the parcel shelf, flipping open the fuel cap and getting a good whiff of leaded petrol VOCs. Back in the day when you could cram 2 kids on the parcel shelf and nobody cared!

  • @Brad.whatthe
    @Brad.whatthe 7 місяців тому +51

    Your probably up for an award (OBE) for unleaking a British engine, and the dry jokes (jokularities) we’re right on point as usual, thanks Wes

    • @user-gl5kj1fm5x
      @user-gl5kj1fm5x 7 місяців тому +3

      NO its un British if it does not leak all British engines work on a total loss philosophy it mandatory

  • @arb1691
    @arb1691 7 місяців тому +156

    This is one of the most awesome and under-rated channels on the world wide web. Love Wes' work, his humor, and the entire presentation.

  • @mylor1066
    @mylor1066 7 місяців тому +10

    I really appreciate the translation to English.
    Also kudos and extra points for drinking earl grey.

    • @WatchWesWork
      @WatchWesWork  7 місяців тому +3

      I'm sure I missed a lot.

    • @cockerhamsands
      @cockerhamsands 7 місяців тому +2

      @@WatchWesWork turn signals = indicators

  • @enigmatube5437
    @enigmatube5437 7 місяців тому +5

    Wes, I am one of the unfortunate Americans that fell in love with British sports cars. My advice, love them in spite of what they are. I spend countless hours fixing, rebuilding, re-rebuilding and cursing in the most creative ways known to man. (I once did a grammatical correct 7 word sentence using nothing but strong references to unspeakable acts between family members) while rebuilding lever arm shocks. It’s is all worth it when the planets align and I get that perfect ride in a low slung convertible on a brisk fall day. Power on my friend

  • @henrinaths1
    @henrinaths1 7 місяців тому +1

    I drove a ‘68 triumph spitfire across Canada in 1975..With my new bride.
    Other than a water pump and resulting warped head and replacing the clutch, the trip went rather smoothly.
    I Filed down the head, parked on the side of the road, bolted it back down. With the same gasket. Drove to Calgary picked up a head gasket and water pump installed it and drove to almost Golden when the clutch packed it in. Hitchhiked back to Calgary picked up a clutch. Put it in the next day. Drove it for another 50,000 miles. Had a blast. Best sports car ever.
    Edit. The best part was the trip cost $68.00 in fuel.

  • @markfowler2066
    @markfowler2066 7 місяців тому +87

    There's something absolutely magical about watching Wes, America's ultimate master mechanic, and Curtis, Australia's ultimate master machinist using adjustable wrenches/spanners.

    • @mo-tb2sq
      @mo-tb2sq 7 місяців тому +1

      A shifting spanner is just as dangerous as a set of $1000 snap on wrenches / spanners in the wrong hands

    • @ditherdather
      @ditherdather 7 місяців тому +4

      Curtis is pretty damn good at what he does, too. Agreed.

    • @ditherdather
      @ditherdather 7 місяців тому +3

      Another channel you might like is Vechor. He's an amazing body repair guy, and has a good sense of humor like Wes and Curtis do.

    • @stevejohnstonbaugh9171
      @stevejohnstonbaugh9171 7 місяців тому +1

      Don't forget Marty T, NZ's mechanical and electrical - hydro (washing machine) plant, electric four wheeler, etc. Wizard. Because you like this content, all three are mandatory! Marty T is not an every 4 day kind of contributor, but when he posts you know it will be a goodie!

    • @ditherdather
      @ditherdather 7 місяців тому +1

      @stevejohnstonbaugh9171 Agreed. I think Marty is from New Zealand, if I recall correctly. I love his channel.

  • @TheRealJerseyJoe
    @TheRealJerseyJoe 7 місяців тому +57

    As a former resident of England and someone who owned one of these back in the day...this brought back a lot of memories and gave me a good laugh. Well done Wes, carry on !

    • @paulleeson1218
      @paulleeson1218 7 місяців тому +5

      The spitfires & MGB GT's do put a smile on your face when the weathers right, cheap way to have a lot of fun.

    • @JohnSmith-tv5ep
      @JohnSmith-tv5ep 7 місяців тому +3

      ​​@@paulleeson1218now a days ,it takes A LOT of Quid to find parts for these old cars in the States! But that's why they're hobbies!

    • @paulleeson1218
      @paulleeson1218 7 місяців тому +1

      @@JohnSmith-tv5ep Absolutely John!

    • @JohnSmith-tv5ep
      @JohnSmith-tv5ep 7 місяців тому +2

      @@paulleeson1218 Had a 76 Midget 35 years ago, fun car to drive. So I surprised my wife 3 weeks ago with a 77 Midget. Made her very happy.
      Me....I thought so too at the time but I forgot I'm 30 years OLDER, and not as nimble as I was at 38 ! Forgot how hard it is to be a contortionist to tinker on these!

  • @johnbrookes9830
    @johnbrookes9830 Місяць тому

    I am impressed. Not only are you bi-lingual, you speak both English and American, but you also make tea using actual boiling water. As a Brit who has been to the USA many many times (and not just the coast) this is a rare thing in deed. Bravo!

  • @TheIcetemp
    @TheIcetemp 7 місяців тому +32

    Wes, of course it is an oil leaker. It's a Triumph. Had 3, never learned my lesson.😂

    • @mortson978
      @mortson978 7 місяців тому +2

      My '99 speed triple doesn't leak a drop. Don't know if that counts tho

    • @davidmuirhead1060
      @davidmuirhead1060 7 місяців тому

      you are lucky. A lot of British bikes got the reputation of being Boot Oilers! You figure!@@mortson978

  • @heatherbrown2761
    @heatherbrown2761 7 місяців тому +3

    Wes, a British car doesn't EVER leak oil! It is simply marking its territory. 😁

  • @AR-jq1hs
    @AR-jq1hs 7 місяців тому +1

    That car is perfect. None of that modern crap that makes today's cars so damn complicated. Pure unadulterated fun.

  • @justarel
    @justarel 7 місяців тому +2

    Grew up helping my dad work on cars like this. He was the go to guy for anything old, imported, or had a 2 stroke engine that nobody else would touch around here in Nebraska. Triumph, BSA, Fiat, Piaggio (yes they made cars), DKW, Trabant, Renault, Peugeot, SAAB, VW, Ctiroen, Whippet, even a few Morgans and BMW Isettas. He'd even work on old itialian scooters that the bike shops turned away and refered the owners to my dad. He had 2 loose leaf binders full of phone numbers to salvage yards all over europe and the UK that he'd collected by calling long distance and asking the operators at various telephone exchanges for numbers to the yards in their area and if the yard didn't have the part they say try in this town or village and he'd call there. Thanks Wes

    • @anonymuswere
      @anonymuswere 7 місяців тому

      Trabant, too? now that's what I call working on ANYTHING!

    • @davidfrank6666
      @davidfrank6666 6 місяців тому

      @@anonymuswere but, he got a nice upgrade on the steering wheel.

  • @almclean4835
    @almclean4835 7 місяців тому +5

    You weren’t the only person not able to see, I was crying with laughter all the way through. Turn signals ? Indicators, old boy 😁. British cars are meant to leak oil

    • @jakleo337
      @jakleo337 7 місяців тому +1

      Sounds like a certain Detroit diesel engine that will go un-named.

    • @poweredbyford87
      @poweredbyford87 7 місяців тому

      ​@@jakleo337we always knew if a truck had a Detroit in it without looking when it came in for a PM cause we'd just go back to our parts department, get the stuff real quick, and come back to find an oil slick in the bay

  • @braddokken9191
    @braddokken9191 7 місяців тому +54

    Another terrific video Wes! I can't believe you actually got that thing to seal. I bet it took a lot more time than you showed getting that pan trued up. I laughed so hard when you found the correct helicoil as you are putting everything away. I related to that in a very intense, personal way.

  • @shanco73
    @shanco73 7 місяців тому +11

    As a Brit born in 73 i have seen many old British cars like this become classis cars. I have worked on a lot of them, although mostly minis of that era. I was laughing my head off watching this. I like the spitfire but prefer the MG's and Mini. Great video as always. Great to see the smile on your face at the end during the test drive. Great video Wes.

  • @billgeorge7804
    @billgeorge7804 7 місяців тому +1

    It wouldn't be a Triumph if it didn't have an oil leak. I rebuilt a Spitfire from the chassis up for a friend, with extensive machining on the engine to true up some bloody horrible tolerances. That was forty years ago and that car is still running today . . . yeah, it still has a few tiny oil leaks too but according to my friend, that's what stops it from rusting. Just be eternally grateful it wasn't a Triumph Stag . . . or the Dolomite Sprint, either one of those actually reduced me to tears! When Triumph was absorbed into British Leyland it all got infinitely worse! Every surface needed double gaskets and RTV to stop leaks!
    Great vidio sir thank you.

  • @x01e
    @x01e 7 місяців тому +11

    Some youtube channels try to enhance their videos with cutsie video scenes that dont work, but for you it comes off so natural it works perfectly. Bravo 👏 you have really elevated your videos.

    • @WatchWesWork
      @WatchWesWork  7 місяців тому +9

      I try not to overdue it. Sometimes it works. Other times not so much.

  • @neilmorten6416
    @neilmorten6416 7 місяців тому +7

    As a British ex-pat of nearly 25 years, I DO appreciate your British translation. The only one you missed was the accelerator, sorry I mean "Gas" pedal. Cheers!

    • @despairsquid9995
      @despairsquid9995 7 місяців тому +1

      Gah, you got in before me with that one!

    • @for2utube
      @for2utube 7 місяців тому

      I reversed the car out of the ga-ragh. That’s funny because last night I reversed it in.😊

    • @gibbo9089
      @gibbo9089 7 місяців тому +1

      Dont forget the "turn signals" - I mean indicators.

  • @macgvrs
    @macgvrs 7 місяців тому +6

    You may find this interesting. I had a 1977 GS750 Suzuki motorcycle. The valve adjustment required special tools I didn't have. Took it to a shop to get the valves adjusted. Twice they put a new gasket in the cam cover but it would always suck in and leak. After the second failure I told them to not use RTV. Just use the gasket. They got mad and said do it yourself and handed me a new gasket. So I did, in the parking lot. It never leaked after that. There are times, maybe many, when just the gasket dry works best.

  • @ThermoCoupleNZ
    @ThermoCoupleNZ 7 місяців тому +9

    Wes! I feel your pain!, I spent 8000 hours of my apprenticeship working on great examples of British engineering.... best 4 years of my life...

  • @arlynsmith9196
    @arlynsmith9196 7 місяців тому +14

    What a delightful sense of humor! Much appreciated in this age of overly serious crap! And good job on the repair!

  • @bradkahler
    @bradkahler 7 місяців тому +18

    Having owned and restored multiple Spitfires and currently restoring a TR6 I can empathize with you on this one! Vendors now make a new steel replacement block for the aluminum block where you had to install the Heli coil. Had you removed the aluminum block to repair it you would have had to find a couple of small wood shims to seal the sides of the block. Old school technology at it's finest :)
    One other comment. The turn signals actually do self cancel IF the inner steering column is installed right and the switch itself isn't broken. It's easy to install incorrectly.
    Great video.

  • @Hunman2k
    @Hunman2k 7 місяців тому +4

    Not a gasket-engineer, but a mechanical engineer with aircooled VW backround. There is always the right gasket for a job, but never one gasket for all jobs. Your work ist really brilliant.

  • @BFT88
    @BFT88 7 місяців тому +16

    Wes as a fellow mechanic, I learned a lot of manufacturers started using RTV more because they can have robots apply just the right amount with precision.

  • @JHruby
    @JHruby 7 місяців тому

    I'm married to a Brit and I lived "over there" for years. For a Midwesterner, the British are endlessly fascinating. My theory of the British and thier attraction to little sports cars is this: To the British, 100 miles is a long, long way. On the rare occasion that the weather is fine, you want you spread joy out over those 100 miles as thickly as possible while(sorry, "whilst") driving a little British sports car.
    Somebody send Wes a flat cap and a whippet. He joined the club.

  • @suterfamily5578
    @suterfamily5578 7 місяців тому +110

    Wes, I have to admit, I was very surprised that you could get the oil pan off without lifting the engine a bit, but it makes you wonder if it was designed on purpose due to the leaking like a sieve design criteria. The scene where you cut to the kettle blowing steam apparently out of the side of your head is cinematic genius! Keep cracking on with these videos you're making me split a gut laughing.

    • @davidmuirhead1060
      @davidmuirhead1060 7 місяців тому +5

      Enterprising mechanics could also rebore the block and fit oversize pistons on the driveway with the engine still in the car.

    • @jamesbruno5896
      @jamesbruno5896 7 місяців тому +8

      Dude you were smiling on the whole test drive! 😂 Nice job!

    • @ianburit3705
      @ianburit3705 7 місяців тому +5

      And just to think it was previous Americans that butchered the car before young Wes got to sort out others' problems, I like that.

    • @lwilton
      @lwilton 7 місяців тому +3

      Same thing with an MGA. First step in pulling the pan is to pull the engine. I made some special wrenches to get to inaccessible bolts so I could pull the pan without removing the engine, or even having to take the engine mounts loose. Saved me a heck of a lot of time and effort over the years.

    • @hannahranga
      @hannahranga 7 місяців тому +1

      Same I saw that I beam of a front crossmember and thought good luck. I can only assume the engineer responsible was given a stern speaking to about not making mechanic's lives easier.

  • @troubleis5271
    @troubleis5271 7 місяців тому +42

    Cool and fun vid! As owner of the "MG equivalent" of this monster i have to say that everything Wes says about British Sports Cars of this era is 100% true!

    • @sjn7220
      @sjn7220 7 місяців тому +2

      Why don’t the British make computers? Because they can’t figure out how to make them leak oil.

  • @paralyse78
    @paralyse78 7 місяців тому

    Wes, owning an old British sports car is like having kids -- you love them, spend a ton of money on them, support them through good and bad. Sometimes they make you angry, sometimes you're super proud of them, sometimes you just want them out of the house. But at the end of your time with them, when you come home and they're not in the garage, you feel really sad. That poor car has been hacked up with the Weber and aftermarket FPR and the hot mess of a fan, but I could still see you enjoying taking her out on the open road. Just remember to carry plenty of spares, a fire extinguisher, and a poncho.

  • @kc360awareness
    @kc360awareness 7 місяців тому +2

    Gotta love the use of the UNDERused Permatex #3 Aviation sealer.
    That’s been my go to for last couple of decades. Thank you Johnny Barnett for teaching an young buck an old school tip!

  • @aaronbauer2448
    @aaronbauer2448 7 місяців тому +32

    I dig your dry sense of humor and really appreciate that you're injecting it into more of your videos. The steam and tea bit was nicely done.

    • @Ragnar8504
      @Ragnar8504 7 місяців тому +1

      Oh yes, a good rendition of steam coming out of his ears 😂

  • @jdretiree2433
    @jdretiree2433 7 місяців тому +6

    Edd would be proud of you. A spot of tea was well deserved!!!

  • @patrickmoodabe9728
    @patrickmoodabe9728 7 місяців тому

    🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👏👏👏👏 as a colonial New Zealander - this is some of your best work yet. This is real entertainment. Excellent. Old boy. 😅

  • @wxfield
    @wxfield 7 місяців тому +1

    Not only do we have millions in equipment in the field..we're still at the mercy of moisture and generally have a narrow window in which we can harvest and get it off to the plants we contract with.

  • @daletractor6637
    @daletractor6637 7 місяців тому +10

    The tea kettle 😂

  • @zznet2
    @zznet2 7 місяців тому +4

    I believe Colonel Lincoln was channeled heavily during this project.

  • @colddiesel
    @colddiesel 7 місяців тому +8

    I spent a weekend bingeing, firstly on Wes' recommendation of Snowball Engineering from a tiny town Brandsby in North Yorkshire UK. A rather dour young man but a real talent and everything that leaves his workshop looks better than the original that came in. Then there was Marty T from NZ who with surprising ease took a petrol fuelled ATV and converted it to electric power of scary performance. And finally Wes who got more fun than he almost cared to admit from the resurrection of that Spitfire. For this ancient at least, it gives me a real buzz to see the high quality problem solving, and workmanship quality shown by these young men. Great stuff and that grin on Wes' face was 100% pure enjoyment.

  • @user-bk3pl8bn7e
    @user-bk3pl8bn7e 5 місяців тому

    the smile on your face while driving says all you need to know.

  • @Andrew_Fernie
    @Andrew_Fernie 7 місяців тому +34

    27:52 As a Yorkshireman, I can tell you with authority that that is not a cap. It's a wooly hat.
    Thanks for the heads-up on the Snowball Engineering channel last week. Great channel 👍
    Edit: forgot to say: Great video Wes 👍👍

    • @Deekay1958
      @Deekay1958 7 місяців тому +4

      We Australians would call that a Beanie.
      But it appears that is an American term.
      My Head Hurts now.

    • @Watchyn_Yarwood
      @Watchyn_Yarwood 7 місяців тому +1

      Ditto on the reference to Snowball Engineering! I have never binge watched anything but Snowball got me hooked!

    • @chickenfishhybrid44
      @chickenfishhybrid44 7 місяців тому

      ​@@Deekay1958our Canadian brethren call it a "toque".

  • @charlesschneiter5159
    @charlesschneiter5159 7 місяців тому +23

    What a splendid episode 😉! That gig with the tea kettle had me laughing hysterically 🤣😅😂
    Thanks Wes for another this time very British episode! Jolly good fun it was!

    • @agistan7764
      @agistan7764 7 місяців тому +1

      @@daveide6396 Holy ducking freak. This ketter price is $400 (US) - I hope it comes with will papers. Reminds me of Dualit Toaster

    • @Jeff-qk6ue
      @Jeff-qk6ue 20 днів тому

      My favorite part was the old and crusty 5/16-24 helicoil kit he had not seen before he ordered a new one

  • @tomhumphries6606
    @tomhumphries6606 7 місяців тому

    Everyone who has driven a Triumph Spitfire knows how much fun it is, like the Austin Mini and the Morris 1000, all fantastic fun to drive.

  • @education5866
    @education5866 7 місяців тому

    The heli-coil-s-o-b, once again Wes, made me laugh out loud-and made my wife question my viewing choices!!!

  • @chrisj2848
    @chrisj2848 7 місяців тому +14

    That last jump cut would make TOT proud. 😂 Almost fell off my chair. What a beauty Wes!

    • @phrozenwun
      @phrozenwun 7 місяців тому +2

      Would that be the 1st hoarders curse? You never find the one you have until you buy a new one. Goes with the 2nd hoarders curse, you never need it until the day after you throw it away.

  • @wanderingweederspapa7878
    @wanderingweederspapa7878 7 місяців тому +3

    The ending is priceless...
    . You have the British car bug now😂

  • @SPEEDY-FABSHACK
    @SPEEDY-FABSHACK 7 місяців тому +5

    As an Englishman myself, your review on those cars was spot on. They were 30 years out of date at the time of production! Great work Wes, keep the content coming!

  • @daltonfeltman5606
    @daltonfeltman5606 7 місяців тому

    The teapot steam 😂😂😂😂 God I love this channel! Wes you have a sense of humor for us sir. Keep up the great work

  • @ChevyConQueso
    @ChevyConQueso 7 місяців тому +3

    My buddy had one of these cars. My mom's 1991 Miata with a 1.6L was a racing beast comparatively, and that's one of the slowest cars I have ever had the pleasure of piloting. The Triumph met it's end when someone backed into the hood in the Whataburger drivethrough at less than 1 mph, and the insurance agent had no idea where to find parts for it, so he had to call and ask my buddy where to look. 😂 Buddy ended up taking a $7K check for a total out and fixing his Triumph problem permanently. For a damaged hood. He paid $500 for it, so it was a win. That car was terrible in every way, but lovable at the same time.

  • @ronaldheit196
    @ronaldheit196 7 місяців тому +11

    Definitely the best 32 minutes and 22 seconds of my day so far.
    I got a service call on a food vending machine being used as a cigarette machine bill acceptor issue so watching a Watch Wes Work episode is definitely going to be the best part of my day.
    I'll try to be like Wes and hold off on cussing out the engineers who designed that slightly obsolete FSI brand machine I'm attempting to get selling cigarettes again at a "gentleman's club".
    Ooh, I actually owned and drove a 68 and a 69 MG-B GT cars.
    Loved them but working on them required Zen Buddist preist level patience and the calmness of a saint to work on.
    Wes is right, driving little British sports cars are fun.
    Highly unsafe but a blast anyways.
    Thanks Wes for making my day much more calm.

  • @rodneymiddleton9624
    @rodneymiddleton9624 7 місяців тому

    Not bad! I didn't think that a British would run if it didn't leak! LOL! Now that the corn is gone the mice will come! Thanks Wes!!

  • @pauljohnstone4723
    @pauljohnstone4723 7 місяців тому

    My brother's English vehicle story. I live in Canberra, Australia which among other things is the residence of the Governor General. During the 60's + 70's his official car was a V8 Bentley . It was maintained by a massive group of Government owned workshops that cared for the commuter bus fleet, truck fleet, cars fleet and all emergency vehicles. Hated was the Bentley due to difficulty in doing repairs. The spark plugs were impossible to access. The motor was so tight in the engine bay that you could not remove the plug leads let alone unscrew the spark plugs. To change the plugs it was necessary to remove the inner guards. They was held in place place by many, many bolts with 1/2 inch heads. The bolts were about 4 inches apart and mostly inaccessible. Most could only be removed with an opened ended spanner as sockets could not fit. Removal usually took about 12 hours. Needless to say, the plugs were only changed when the car was almost impossible to start.

  • @TheDaisyraven
    @TheDaisyraven 7 місяців тому +30

    One of your most entertaining videos to date. Been watching for couple of years now, and they keep getting better and better. The comedic timing of the us to british terminology is priceless. Thanks

  • @skysurferuk
    @skysurferuk 7 місяців тому +6

    Just landed at the start of this vid. As a Brit, I can only apologise for what you're about to get into. Now I'm going to watch it. A Spit. Grief. Rear diff. Famous.
    Edit: Love your mickey taking of us, keep 'em coming, Wes! We deserve it putting things like this into the world... 🤣👍

  • @clydedoris5002
    @clydedoris5002 7 місяців тому

    I now see what people mean when they say older cars are easier to work on what a blessing these cars are

  • @knockywigglesworth1909
    @knockywigglesworth1909 7 місяців тому +1

    Mom will be upset.. and all the married guys finish the sentence... AT ME!😅

  • @chrisharris8727
    @chrisharris8727 7 місяців тому +24

    Great video Wes takes me back many years as a young lad aged around 14 watching my mates Dad working on these cars. I only lived about 8 miles from the Triumph factory and 10 miles from the Massey Ferguson factory in Coventry. I later did my apprenticeship as a Truck and Machinery mechanic but started out working on a lot of what now were old cars. I worked on many different makes and models of mainly British cars but with the odd German and French ones just for good measure. Your very right about the simplicity of these cars especially for the young lad I was back then to learn on. The Triumph Spitfire holds a special place in my memory as it was the first blown head gasket I replaced under supervision. So easy to do looking back but I was so proud when I turned the key and it started and drove perfectly. Later on my first clutch change was on a Triumph 2000 and again so easy looking back now but it was a great way to learn and a fantastic opportunity to help me step up to Truck and Machinery mechanics. Thank you for the trip down memory lane 👍👍

  • @billlangdon5914
    @billlangdon5914 7 місяців тому +4

    You gotta admit you loved that test drive. The smile on your face said it all, lol

  • @stevedavies4320
    @stevedavies4320 7 місяців тому

    As a transplanted Brit and a former owner of a '64 Spitfire, the term 'Couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding' comes to mind. The guy I sold it to, junked the little 1147 cc and put in a Ford 1600 Twin Cam and gearbox. I did the welding on the converted prop shaft and the thing would do 120 mph..At least it DID until he put into a ditch!!! The rear end suspension on those things were similar to that of a Corvair-unsafe at ANY speed.

  • @seanwieland9763
    @seanwieland9763 7 місяців тому

    7:00 Knowledge bombs like this - and coated in thick sarcasm - are why we love Wes.

  • @davidmuirhead1060
    @davidmuirhead1060 7 місяців тому +6

    At long last, a car I can relate to! You are now a fully fledged British Classic Car Restorer. God help you when you get Italian Classic Cars from the same era. I was restoring these Classic Cars 40 years ago and it is refreshing to know that they still exhibit every bit of 19th century engineering traits you refer to. Seriously though, well done. Love what you do and how you do it. PS The bonnets on Triumphs like this need to be lifted from the centre - only problem is the sheet metal lip wants to shred the skin from your hands. Yet another quaint Classic Car quirk. Don't you just love Classic Cars!

  • @timgrovesUK
    @timgrovesUK 7 місяців тому +3

    Finally a decent (well maybe originally) car on the channel, as a Welsh/English expat living in KY it makes my heart sing to see such a beautiful example of British engineering 😂

  • @MyCustomCars
    @MyCustomCars 7 місяців тому +1

    Welcome to the Little British Car club Wes 😁

  • @johngassmann9581
    @johngassmann9581 7 місяців тому

    That final reveal was *chef's kiss*.

  • @jaxsonhugh9334
    @jaxsonhugh9334 7 місяців тому +13

    OMG!!!!!!!! I absolutely love that car. My friend had 3 of them and we basically had to rebuild all three of them 😂

  • @rickrosenkilde7002
    @rickrosenkilde7002 7 місяців тому +10

    The British humor was the best! In the beginning I thought for sure the repairs were going to be electrical, but next best repair is oil leaks as you revealed for a Triumph along with natural weight reduction strategies (aka rust). Great job with making me laugh this morning. Built in 1970, but designed in the 1870's!!! Ha,ha.

  • @martymiller4300
    @martymiller4300 5 місяців тому

    Love the ‘structural floor mat’ observation. I was told that British cars only had oil caps to foster false confidence. If you want to add oil you just pour it over the valve cover and let it leak in.

  • @Bunk599
    @Bunk599 7 місяців тому +9

    Wes your videos just keep getting better and you are definitely smiling more. Against my Dad's protests and advice my first two cars in High School were 60's British sports cars. He decided replacing motorcycles with British sports cars was the lesser of two evils. As you acknowledge in my mind the fun factor far outweighed the quirky designs and odd nut sizes. My first was a 1963 AH 3000 that I never should have sold....had college tuition to pay. It taught me how to work on cars.....constantly, Fifty years ago in a small rural PA town people wondered what was wrong with me to have one of those things when I could be driving a reliable Ford Falcon? As you discovered it is a Sisyphean effort to keep it going. I am in my 70's it remains my favorite car by a wide margin.

  • @Cody_1776
    @Cody_1776 7 місяців тому +20

    I ventured into the Diesel Technician trade a year ago (I know, poor career decision) and even after wrenching all week I still enjoy watching Wes work. I’ve been watching for years now. 👍

    • @frank-t6857
      @frank-t6857 7 місяців тому +3

      My father was a heavy machine mechanic (field jobs) for 35 years and denied me to become one. He later switched to a plumber and enjoyed it. I became a metal fabricator instead 😊

    • @rovhalgrencparselstedt8343
      @rovhalgrencparselstedt8343 7 місяців тому +3

      For me it was sadly the opposite, after having worked in the electronics recycling biz for a few years, my electronics hobby more or less died, and i've only sporadically done short few hour projects here and there ever since.

    • @silent1967
      @silent1967 7 місяців тому +1

      It will build muscles though.

    • @silent1967
      @silent1967 7 місяців тому

      It will build muscles though.

  • @mrbill8542
    @mrbill8542 7 місяців тому +6

    Is it sorted and in good nick ?? Make sure to re tighten the dynamo belt so it has a proper earth !!! Carry on old chap !!!

  • @WhatTheTarnation.
    @WhatTheTarnation. 7 місяців тому

    Still laughing at the kettle steam, exiting your head. The Best !!!! Keepum coming, Sir.
    Pray all are well.😂

  • @derekvincent2548
    @derekvincent2548 6 місяців тому

    Wes, as an English man in Texas and a certified British Leyland engineer the midgets and spitfires were designed as no frills sports cars no gadgets no fancy crap just a straightforward driving experience.
    Engineering was basic 1.6 1.8L engines fun fun cars on twistys and shorts straightaways

  • @PontiacPOWA
    @PontiacPOWA 7 місяців тому +12

    I own a '66 austin healey sprite. It is by far the slowest and yet most fun vehicle I've ever driven. It's also a lot of fun to work on too. Pretty simple and easy to get to things. I get a kick out of all of the quirky design decisions they made at the time as well. Best impulse buy ever

  • @unclegreybeard3969
    @unclegreybeard3969 7 місяців тому +6

    A brilliantly entertaining video, thanks for allowing us to join you.
    1 tiny error, a lorry is not necessarily a semi, it's a rigid, an Artic (articulated lorry) is a semi.

  • @stevejohnstonbaugh9171
    @stevejohnstonbaugh9171 7 місяців тому +24

    After all the talk intended to PO the Anglophiles in the crowd (nothing but good humour intended, I'm certain), I caught you cracking a deep down to the core smile several times as you were headed down the highway (like when you found fourth gear) - even though you could not see! 😆 Just couldn't suppress the sheer joy of motoring along in a classic British automobile.
    Wonderful episode. Very British humour ♥

    • @sprint955st
      @sprint955st 7 місяців тому +4

      Yep he redeemed himself at “I can see why he likes it!”

    • @henrinaths1
      @henrinaths1 7 місяців тому +1

      Put a smile on my face when I saw him cracking up ..brought back memories of my ‘68

    • @stevejohnstonbaugh9171
      @stevejohnstonbaugh9171 7 місяців тому +2

      @@henrinaths1 We're of the same vintage then. My cousin had a 69 or 70. I was SOOOO jealous 😍

    • @henrinaths1
      @henrinaths1 7 місяців тому +1

      @@stevejohnstonbaugh9171
      I had rebuilt mine 100%
      The floor pans was a big one. When I saw the fixed up floor pans from the underside in the video it all came flooding back.
      I bought a 71 that had been rolled. (Should have been a warning)
      I Cut the floor pans out and welded them into the 68.
      He did call out the rear suspension correctly. Which almost killed me because I rolled it shortly after the rebuild.
      Luckily landed upside down in a swamp. Just a scratch lol Smh
      It was a death trap..

  • @JyveKilla
    @JyveKilla 7 місяців тому

    This video was delivered just in time to coencide with england being kicked out of the rugby world cup. excellent.

  • @jacksomb1
    @jacksomb1 7 місяців тому +20

    Here we go, another damned upstart colonial! LOL
    I remember doing an engine swap on one. On the upside, sitting on the tyres (not tires) while working on the engine. On the downside, one of the heaviest 4 cylinders I ever man-handled out of an engine bay!
    Great content, keep up the good work, Wes!

    • @davidmuirhead1060
      @davidmuirhead1060 7 місяців тому +4

      It was "heavy" but the same basic block could easily be rebored up to 3 times. Good old 19th century tech as Wes put it.

    • @rickhofsess84
      @rickhofsess84 7 місяців тому

      Hey Wes, I see the Rabbit sitting thrre. When you gonna get back to that?

  • @RayM53
    @RayM53 7 місяців тому +12

    Those small sports cars suited us well enough here in the UK where we have narrow winding roads that are fun to drive along rather than the roads in the US which seem to be dead straight and go on for ever. You're right, they did usually leak oil and coolant but that was 70 years ago. Nowadays all cars seem alike and you wouldn't know where you are just looking at the traffic. At least with these old survivors you can work on them and not have to dismantle half the car to get at something.

  • @foloook
    @foloook 6 місяців тому +1

    The steam coming from your head was funny 😂😂 ,..but good job man 👍

  • @rodhonour6560
    @rodhonour6560 7 місяців тому +1

    HI WES, MY FRIEND WHEN WE WERE IN OUR TWENTIES HAD A TRIUMPH SPITFIRE WE HAD SO MUCH FUN.
    IT BROUGHT BACK MANY MEMORIES AS YOU SAID SIMPLE IS FUN.

  • @swallowinn4410
    @swallowinn4410 7 місяців тому +34

    Hello Wes: I am a long time viewer. In this video you seem to have really delivered a great presentation. I hope you are able to coninue to entertain us viewers with more of simmilar quality. It may be difficult as you will not always have the british qwirk's and oil leaks to expropriate. I am sure you will find a way for your dry sence of humor to shine through. Keep the great videos coming. PS. The young chap is getting bigger (Good to see he likes spending time with Dad).

  • @terryjacobs2536
    @terryjacobs2536 7 місяців тому +5

    great video Wes, yes we British have gone down the line of overkill in the past which is why a lot of engineering has lasted well over 100 years and still doing its purpose today. However you forgot one thing ...... you did not warm your cup up 1st to have your tea! lol, thanks Wes again for posting

  • @merrittderr9708
    @merrittderr9708 7 місяців тому

    I watched this a few days ago and neglected to comment that I think the British refer to the "oil pan" as the "sump". If someone else already posted this I apologize for not reading all 2323 comments before posting. Really enjoyed the video and the inserted references to the British wording.

  • @adrienst.raymond6801
    @adrienst.raymond6801 7 місяців тому +1

    In the car’s defense, you’ve got to agree; the ole girl was designed with service in mind. Removing the oil pan? And the front cover? And all you had to pull was a belt and the alternator? Easy money

  • @Trains022
    @Trains022 7 місяців тому +9

    Hi Wes, from the UK and really appreciated the USA-UK translations, many other peoples videos can be so confusing 😂 On another note I always thought that aluminium and aluminum were two different metals 🤔 Keep up the with the videos, always watch as soon as posted. Now time for tea and scones 😋

    • @pc5569
      @pc5569 7 місяців тому +1

      I thought the British chemist who discovered it named it aluminum? Then later changed to aluminium. Do I have that history correct?

  • @upscaleshack
    @upscaleshack 7 місяців тому +6

    The smile on your face while driving it and your closing statement explain exactly why I love my Land Rover Series 3. Simple, dead reliable, easy to work on, and a blast to drive. Perfect for people who understand how to keep and maintain vehicles.

  • @StopDropandLOL
    @StopDropandLOL 6 місяців тому

    That timing chain tensioner is absolutely hilarious

  • @danieln.285
    @danieln.285 7 місяців тому +11

    That last part - watching them gather the crops, was great and you're spot-on about the tech farmers have helping them vs your grandpa's time. I bet he'd kill to have a machine even half as efficient as that one you showed. Although I'm not in a good place location-wise or education-wise (30, bus driver, hermit), I always loved farming and the machinery that goes with it. Great vidya, Wes.

  • @simperous4308
    @simperous4308 7 місяців тому +30

    So great to see Wes put in the effort to get the pronunciation correct!! 🇦🇺

  • @chrislambert2889
    @chrislambert2889 7 місяців тому +4

    Wes using his Mike and Ed from Wheeler dealer 💪

  • @mikew1332
    @mikew1332 7 місяців тому +1

    The Philip Glass / tea kettle interlude was brilliant. I really enjoyed that!

    • @davidnull5590
      @davidnull5590 7 місяців тому

      Did you know Philip Glass worked as a taxi driver in Manhattan? He needs money to live. Philip also earned money installing dishwashers. The music was great, inspired by Glass.

  • @waltervonoer9190
    @waltervonoer9190 7 місяців тому

    The last pictures (combine) remind me of a company in which I once worked (1992).
    When we have prepared a show (cars) for Sunday, so ALL new and used cars in the parking lot washed and blow-dried; came the blockhead from our neighbor, a stubborn farmer, and has mowed his field next door, plowed, fertilized, no matter ... the main thing was that it made dust, a lot of dust.

  • @mrklean93
    @mrklean93 7 місяців тому +5

    Good stuff. Got a 72 MG Midget, same shit, different bag. Its always more fun to drive a slow thing fast, than a fast thing slow.

    • @dougjones9493
      @dougjones9493 7 місяців тому +1

      Have you had to do a clutch? It's a fun job.

  • @HOWEARTDOTNET
    @HOWEARTDOTNET 7 місяців тому +3

    If you're drilling and tapping hundreds of holes in stainless, fine threads make it easier since you can over drill the diameters a bit making a broken tap less likely. At least that has been my experience. Aa-lew-min-ee-umb is a whole different kettle of worms as stated. Righteous man indeed.

  • @chrislee7817
    @chrislee7817 7 місяців тому

    The big problem with old cars is the line of home mechanics who have had a go at fixing it before. At least you are putting their incompetence right.

  • @Tommy_Poole
    @Tommy_Poole 7 місяців тому

    Thanks for being so kind about that MK4 Spitfire P.O.S. Never tempted personally. Now own a Miata which drives much better without breaking down.