1725 engine, four speed all synchro box and front disc brakes.
Perfect donor car for my Rapier Project.
Extracted from a few emails sent to the Hillman group is the whole saga from February 2011
Enjoy
I am disturbed and
fatigued. :-)
My day started at 3 AM,
something fell off my
trailer at the 75km mark when I bumped into a pothole, so I had to stop and
re-engineer it.
Just before Tambo I
shredded a tyre and have decided that perhaps the Hillman 14/Hawk is
heavier than it looks.
This exceeding the load
rating on my tyres, damn!!!!
Single axle car trailers
are a bad idea, perhaps I should redesign it with tandem axles and a more
common tyre size..
You are never too old
to make the same stupid mistake again :-)
Turn around without
trailer and return 300km to Longreach to pick up the bigger trailer that
I should have used in the first place. My trailer tows better and the brakes
are compatible with my tow vehicle.
The borrowed trailer
belongs to a retired mechanic.
By a stroke of luck I
left my trailer in a place with heavy moving equipment so should be able
to make light work of transferring your car to the new trailer.
The chap with the fork
lift is selling me a couple of new tyres for my trailer.
As they say no good deed
goes unpunished.
We are still having FUN?
with Hillmans.
__,_._,___
Finally home at 3:30 on
Monday.
Too damn tired to add
anything at this stage.
The Hillman is good. the
trailer sucks,
A lesson will follow on
tyre technology when I have had some sleep.
over 4,000km in four and
a half days.
I would have been home
last night but not able to buy any fuel west of Morven.
I am sure I will have
something clever to say tomorrow :-)
Keith
The traveller
Still having FUN with the Hillman :-)
Still having FUN with the Hillman :-)
Well the Hillman saga continues.
To recap I departed
Longreach at 4AM Thursday with a Hillman 14 on my trailer but disaster struck
before I had covered the first 300km.
One shredded tyre
signaling that perhaps a Hillman 14 is just a little too heavy for my Minx
friendly trailer,
Nobody had any suitable
spares in Tambo so I left the trailer at the local trucking company yard and
returned home to Longreach.
Picked up a
"real" car trailer from another club member, carefully avoided the
other chap who said I should take this trailer in the first place, went home
and washed the egg off my face and caught a few hours sleep.
The new trailer brakes
were not compatible with my tow car so no trailer braking was going to be
available, but I figured that would be OK as long as I was "careful".
This is already starting
to sound like one of Evan's little adventures and no we are not related :-)
So Friday morning hit the
road at 4 AM again and head off to Tambo.
Arrived at opening time and
the nice chaps used a fork lift to transfer the vehicle to the new trailer.
It is so good living in
the bush, everybody is so helpful.
Tied it all down, to
avoid any unscheduled unloading, then I headed off to places south of the
border.
As some of you may have
noticed much of the area I travelled through has recently been flooded a few
times so the roads are in a shocking state.
We see the washed out
bridges and such like but when the water gets under the road surface it causes
holes to appear, little mountains to grow and even when that hasn't happened it
dries with corrugations that rattle your teeth.
For those who don't know
the area follow with Google maps: Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Tambo,
Augathella, Morven, Roma, Miles, Condamine Moonie and Goondiwindi.
Just before I reached
Miles the first tyre decided to throw tread everywhere.
Stop and change it.
Cruise into Miles and get
a replacement tyre fitted.
Looking at the tyre specs
I realised that the tyres fitted were not rated for the weight of a car
trailer.
Tyres have weight and
speed ratings, exceed these and you find that tread and case separate.
That is what had happened
to this tyre.
So I carry on south into
the wilds of New South Wales, keeping to a steady 80kph because of the washed out
roads and the poor tyres.
There is a reason I like
using my own trailer.
About 20km before
Goondiwindi I joined the Newel highway which is the main truck route between
Brisbane and those places south of us.
Suddenly my 80 kph was
cause of much stress being pushed along by road trains that wanted to go
somewhat faster.
By now I was driving in
the dark so the whole situation was becoming more difficult.
I crossed the border and
my GPS was suggesting a slightly different route so I called into the Boggabilla
roadhouse for fuel, food, drink and to try and figure out how to continue without
getting run over by impatient truckies.
The road crossing through
Texas looked like it included a few ups and downs so after looking at my map
book I decided I would go to North Star and Warialda before going east to
Inverell. This road also was blessed with some interesting conditions but no
low flying interstate truckies.
From Inverell I figured
as I was going slowly that staying off the main highway would be clever. So proceeded
south to Bundarra then to Uralla where I joined the New England Highway for a
few hundred metres, before turning east again on to the road to Walcha.
This last bit was
climbing steadily up to about 1050 metres elevation.
Walcha came up at about 2
am so I thought some sleep might be prudent.
Found a lay by to pull
off, pulled on the brakes and curled up in the back seat for a few hours sleep.
Daylight at about 5 am
stirred some response so after a "dingo's breakfast" I released the brakes
(see I was awake :-) and hit the road for the final 250 km.
The road from Walcha to
Wauchope is about 150 km, narrow, steep and winding. I didn't get over 50 kph
for most of it.
My plan was to join the
Pacific Highway run down to Taree then inland to Wingham and Bobin to exchange
cars.
Silly me thought I would
follow the GPS to Wingham, as the road looked OK at the turn off but after
about 50km turned into a forestry track.
Comboyne was about a
third of the way to Wingham which was about another 40km or so. No fuel in
Comboyne otherwise I would have filled up.
Faced with three dirt
tracks I followed the GPS choice and wound up taking the worst road
(naturally).
No problem I had looked
at the large scale map and this road would put me right at the pick up point.
Except the local council closed the road about 10 km short of where I wanted to
be. Did I mention the low fuel light had been on for the last 30km?
Turn around head back
through the track I had just come down. Narrow road, just graded dirt, steep,
tight corners, switchbacks.
Thinking now I am going
to run out of fuel, there is no phone coverage here.
Remembered a farm that
had gone past earlier so pulled in and got some fuel from the property owner. A
couple of gallons would get me back to civilisation perhaps?
Gave him $20 to have a
beer on me, it sure beats walking :-)
Got back to a council
sign that I missed earlier and headed down another dirt track that came out at
Wingham.
Had a bunch of bikers who
thought they owned the road come round a blind corner on the wrong side and
very close to being Pajero bull bar attachments.
No trailer brakes so much
weaving, sliding, pooping in my pants before getting around that lot.
Finally found Wingham,
filled the fuel tank and followed my now compliant GPS to Bobbin and the address
that it now decided to find.
It was good that SWMBO
had turned off the "woman" in the GPS because I would have thrown the
damn thing out into the bush long before as it kept saying do a U turn. That is
GPS talk for "you idiot, can't you follow simple directions"
So my anticipated 9 am
arrival was now about 11:30. Terry who was expecting me was getting concerned
that I was lost. I had forgotten about the NSW silly summer time so I was an
hour behind on real Queensland time.
Cruise up the steep
driveway and announce myself, worrying how I can get this big Hillman off the
trailer seeing that the rear end was jammed up solid. I could turn both back
wheels (in different directions) but the tail shaft wouldn't turn.
Terry brought out his big
tractor with digger bucket and the problem was solved. Pick up the back of the
car, drag it back of the trailer and job done. So back up the hill reverse up
to the waiting Minx and gently push it aboard.
I have to say there is something
about Hillman people Terry and Glenda were selling (her car!!!!) the Minx so
really collecting it was really my problem but they just gave me so much help.
As they say "people
who own Hillmans are happier", or it is that you will be happier in a Hillman.
Seeing as I was running
on empty. The dingo's breakfast didn't help and the chocolate bar and water was
leaving me with a definite lack of energy.
The suggestion to come in
for a cup of tea and some lunch was very gratefully received.
Hillman people are just
nicer :-).
After a little rest I
tied it all down and Bill arrived to collect the big Hillman.
He had wheels with tyres
fitted which would make moving it easier so Terry lifted each end with the
tractor to let them change the wheels over.
About this time I decided
that I should really get moving and headed off.
This time I turned off
that GPS and drove through Wingham to Taree and Up the coast to Wauchope. The
long way round I should have gone earlier.
Back up the winding road
to Walcha. From nearly sea level to 1000 m, most of it in second gear because
of the tight turns keeping the speed down.
So much better towing a
Minx, there just seemed to be so much more power available :-)
Got back to Walcha about
7:30 QLD time (:-)
Decided I needed shower,
beer and food.
Saw a motel, booked in
parked the car in the corner of the parking lot and got on with showering,
drinking and eating.
I must say that the
Walcha motel restaurant turned on the best food I have had in a long time.
Because SWMBO is tourism I tend to eat out frequently and to be surprised by
the quality of the food in a small town is very good.
A few hours sleep and
back on the road at first light.
The return trip was
straight up the New England highway which on a Sunday morning I had pretty much
to myself.
A lighter car allowed me
(silly boy) to pick up the speed a little. Cruising along at around 100 kph.
All the way to Warwick to
visit with brother in law and inspect one of our rental houses. That way half
the trip is tax deductible :-)
Well thinks I all I need
is a steady run home, after all that's all the drama I need for one trip.
Back along the Warrego
highway just past Miles, BANG a blowout on the trailer.
Change the wheel and
think perhaps the lightweight car tyre on the trailer are still underrated for
the job.
With all the delays I was
now running later than I wanted and facing no fuel after Morven so rang SWMBO
and got her to book a motel at Mitchell which is about 610 km from Longreach.
If you are going to stop it helps to pick where.
Booked in to the motel
and find that their restaurant is closed Sundays, but the pub up the road was
open with good company, cold beer and good food.
Up way before dawn and dragged
the rig around into the main street to check it over before heading out and
damn another flat tyre, so change tyre and head out with no spare for the next
place Mungallala and Morven. There used to be a tyre place in Morven but it
closed down so the next tyre place was about 300km away or 120 km back. I can
smell home and cold beer so there was no way I was backtracking :-)
Stopped in Morven, fuel
and blew up the tyres. The flat one seemed OK so it may have been a slow leak.
Just as well I didn't push on in the dark.
Many of our outback roads
do not have nice wide verges that allow you to pull off with flat tyres or
other mishaps.
Travelling slowly now, as
I was cruising along at 80 kph again to avoid stressing the tyres to much.
Slower is quicker if you keep moving. :-)
Almost back to Tambo,
just getting some phone signal and my apprentice rings with radio problems that
just happened to be about 120 km down the road.
I was supposed to be back
at work Monday morning and obviously was going to be about 24 hours late.
So pulled into Blackall,
checked radios at the police establishment. My apprentice had left Longreach
just after ringing me and had stopped at Barcaldine to assist with checks. We
figured the problem was at a radio site about halfway between the two towns so
met at the access track, parked my car and trailer and went in to repair the
damage. I guess we must have had a few strong winds in the wake of the recent
cyclone as one our antennas had been smashed by strong winds.
A little climb (42 metres
up) and a quick patch job to get things back in service before picking up the
car and heading the last 150km home.
Well it was a saga,
Four tyres, about 4,500km
travelled in just over 4 days and a new Hillman to play with.
After a night’s sleep
everything looks good in my world again.
They say there is more
rain coming so I am glad this job is completed.
My only problem now is a
lack of shed space.
Well I am still having
FUN with Hillmans :-)
Keith
Back in Longreach
The Minx lives :-)
Replaced
points, the spring bit had lost its temper and wasn't closing them, corrected a
minor wiring issue and we are running.
No
clutch, added fluid, a quick bleed job and several quick victory laps around
the yard.
Happiness
is a running Hillman.
Now
I am really having FUN :-)
I
think a little minor refurbishing and a roadworthy should see me with a
new daily driver.
The weekend has arrived.
Need to fix the ride on
mower to stop the local council complaining about the amount of
"feed" in my little acreage ( 5 of them to be precise)
However thought I would
first look at my new acquisition and check numbers and all that stuff.
So there we are body
number looks like HA1 L337 stamped on left front side
of radiator support. and the VIN/engine number
AB006900998, paint code? HWSO
Looked at the engine
block and found the same numbers stamped on there as well.
Now this is a first for me,
that is a Hillman that has all the original numbers.
Generally most of my cars
have had at least one engine replacement.
Now I know that we have
those who can read chicken entrails and the numbers that Rootes like to stamp
on cars and derive useful information from these things:-).
The engine is a 1725 by
my understanding as the dip stick is through the oil filter mounting place on
the block.
The wheels are 13"
size.
The carby looks like it
is a Zenith 34 IV and everything looks pretty much as Rootes made it apart from
a couple of speakers in the front doors.
The padded dash top is
falling apart and the seat belts a re slightly frayed but there appears to be
little else that would stop it passing a roadworthy check for registration.
This model has the
"strip" speedo the same as in my Vogue while I really prefer the look
if the earlier round gauges.
In all a very happy
outcome to my trip.
Yellow nose was a spray can trial look for colour. There is 4 litres of bright yellow for this car one day.
The Bridge and the new shed construction were additional distractions to important car related work.
And a new kitchen........with house attached :-)
