Well, as per the subject line and after a lot of searching I've finally
found and bought a half-decent Triumph Stag at a reasonable price!
1973 (early, so tax-free), Manual with Overdrive, in Mimosa yellow (IMO, the
nicest colour they ever painted them in) and with the original 3.0 V8
engine.
It was apparently subjected to a major restoration in the 80's, with a lot
of new panels, and dry-stored for the last 14 years or so but most of what
I'm seeing looks original. There's a few rust blisters here and there on the
outside, all the interior trim is good so far, but I've yet to remove the
hardtop and raise the soft-top as it's devoid of a handbook or any
instructions how to do this! Anyone any clues?
The floorpans and underside are solid, but have had a few little repair
patches over the years and the original pathetically thin BL underseal has
dried out and is flaking off all over the place to expose bare unpainted
steel (!) with thankfully only a very light dusty oxidation coating, so
it'll be out with the wire brushes and then plenty of waxoyl-type underseal
unless anyone can suggest anything better?
The engine seems sound (it was allegedly rebuilt at the same time as the
resto job) with no camchain rattles and no overheating issues, although
there is a tell-tale blue anti-freeze stain along the lower edges of both
heads, maybe time for a torque check of the head bolts?
Looking at the history that came with it, it's had 2 sets of "routine" head
gasket replacements, a cam chain job, and a further complete top-end rebuild
all between 1977 and 1984, so either it was a friday afternoon car or it was
extremely pampered, I hope the latter but fear the former!
I'd be grateful for any little hints/tips regarding stag ownership that
anyone could pass on to me.
Thanks in advance,
Badger.

Discovery II 4.0 V8, on gas.
Landrover 110 4.6 V8, on steroids?
TR7 3.9 V8, on axle stands!
Stag 3.0 V8, on the ramps at present.

In article <dposop$j4l$1 (AT) nwrdmz01 (DOT) dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>,
Badger <brianhatton (AT) btinternet (DOT) com> wrote:
Hope it's not like my brother's one which when bought had the hardtop
fitted and described as having a new hood. Which it had. Unfortunately,
the hood frame was totally trashed - and a new one is near 1000 quid...

--
*When companies ship Styrofoam, what do they pack it in? *

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Sat, 7 Jan 2006 17:11:53 +0000 (UTC), "Badger"
<brianhatton (AT) btinternet (DOT) com> wrote:

Yes, not underseal. A good etch primer then a chip-resistant topcoat
(the stuff I have came from an autojumble and is fantastic, but
unbranded). A lot of people recommend POR-15, this is however expensive
and doesn't keep once opened. As for further rust prevention, one of the
Dinitrol products - Frost list the range but you might find them cheaper
elsewhere.
But not underseal.
--
Regards, Chris (Please take out my car to reply by email)
----1961 Austin A40 Farina----1966 Triumph Herald Estate---
---1967 Riley Elf---1965 Hillman Minx---1969 Morris Minor--
-1972 Mini Clubman estate--1957 Standard 8--1979 Ford Capri
********** Please don't email in HTML! **********

"Chris Bolus" <chris (AT) FARINAb0lus (DOT) com> wrote

Ok, ta for that Chris.
Badger.

Discovery II 4.0 V8, on gas.
Landrover 110 4.6 V8, on steroids?
TR7 3.9 V8, on axle stands!
Stag 3.0 V8, the Rumble-bee, on the ramps at present.
Thunderbird Sport 900, the yellow Bumble-bee.

"Badger" <brianhatton (AT) btinternet (DOT) com> wrote

Ok, attacked it with a wire cup brush in an angle grinder! Found a couple of
little holes where the metal had obviously thinned out (boot floor, front
and rear inner arches) which have all now been welded up after cutting out
the rust. I decided to go with Hammerite no.1 (rust killer/primer/undercoat)
and am now overcoating the whole lot with proper chassis black.
Question. Seeing as the original factory applied underseal had done its job
admirably of protecting the welded seams in the arches (but not the
wheelarch lips themselves), what are the groups thoughts on applying
hammerite underseal with waxoyl just to the seam areas for protection
against stone chips and general dirt spray?

Badger
Discovery II 4.0 V8, on gas.
Landrover 110 4.6 V8, on steroids?
TR7 3.9 V8, on axle stands!
Stag 3.0 V8, the Rumble-bee, still on the ramps.
Thunderbird Sport 900, the yellow Bumble-bee.