All Blog Posts (475)

Well the sun shone on us today, so I unwrapped the Dutton and we had a blitz over the Rivington tops to Chorley.

It's another world Duttoneering, you don't realise how good it is until the roof's off, and the flies and road grit is between your teeth.

Think I may need to replace the points and condensor for the Coast to Coast, but other than that the old girl is running sweet.

Spoke to Steve K today and he may come up with us on the Saturday, but had to check with she…

You will be able to follow The Northern Duttoneer's blog, as we travel the Coast to Coast route through some of the best country roads in Britain.

At every chance I'll try to update you on the progress we are making. The run starts on the 4th September with the drive to the starting point at St Bee's Head in Cumbria, after an overnight stay there we set off on the Sunday to travel the 189 miles to Robin Hood's Bay on the East coast, visiting Hartside Cafe (highest cafe in the UK) then…

As you will no doubt have noticed from the Events page now disappeared, that The Northern Duttoneer's are doing the Coast to Coast Dutton Drive on the 4th, 5th and 6th September.

We are travelling up to St Bees Head on the Saturday, then Sunday we'll be setting off for Robin Hood's Bay on the East coast, 189 miles of amazing country roads, arriving Sunday late afternoon. Then Monday we're on the way home through Leyburn, Skipton etc.

All we need now is fine weather, a…

Hi Guy's still enjoying our Holiday in France, but we're back on Monday, and looking forward to getting some Duttoneering in before I have to go back to work.

The Northern Duttoneer's monthly meet is this Thursday 12th Aug, at the Blundell Arms, Chorley Old Road, Bolton or Horwich which ever floats your boat.

Hopefully see you all there 8PM unless you fancy a bit of a run first weather permitting.

As its nice and mild I have the office window open and am being serenaded by the dulcid tones of Ronan Keating coming from Haigh Hall 5 BLOODY MILES AWAY!!!

Still at least its not Opera.

The old girl clocked 600+ miles this weekend, taking the total over 20,000 in less than 3 years. Didn't miss a beat all weekend, drove back from Kent with the roof down all the way despite threatening cloud over Donnington.

The spoiler has made a difference at speed, it feels more stable. Just needs finishing along with the rear bumper. The new glove box got used and seems surprisingly solid despite being made from foam and skinned with tissue.

I still need to service the back…

Today was a sad day here in Bolton, as the motor trade wished farewell to a local motor trade legend. Frank Edwards passed away last week at the age of 88, and his funeral took place today.

Frank was a hero to the Bolton motor trade, his parts shop was open 7 days a week, and he was still working up to being 86. His son Frank jnr now runs the business.

If you wanted a part at 3 o'clock on a Sunday then Frank would have it, whether it was a ball joint for a mk1 Escort, or a…

Well that time is here again, MOT in the morning fingers crossed, should be OK I've checked and double checked and can't find anything wrong with her. even washed and polished.

Watch this space.

Gearbox picked up tonight from Ade, and engine lift, so the jobs on. If I can score enough brownie points by doing the garden on Saturday I might get a playing out ticket so I can get the engine and box out and change the box put it all back together. Then MOT next week, and we're back on the road.

I love my Dutton.

The car is ready for Stoneleigh, just spent the last 2 day's checking the old girl out after the thrashing she got in the Lakes at the weekend.

Had her up on 4 axle stands, sorted the handbrake adjuster, and adjusted the rear brakes. I found the knocking noise too, it turned out to be the handbrake cable was banging on the fuel tank.

The lack of horn was just a fuse, and the flashing reversing lamp was the switch, which needed opening up re-soldering, that now works too.…

Well after all the hard work getting the car's ready for the Lakes Tour 2010, Saturday arrived with a glorious sunny morning.

We met up at Bolton North Services at about 8:30, and set off on the M61,…

ME!!!

This morning called at a race car engine tuners at Barnetby Dennis Vessy's who told me what the problem could be with the poor idling, and sold me a couple of new diapham's.

I got home tonight took the carb a part, cleaned every jet, found the problem was an O ring on the Idle jet fitted in the side of the carb. It had gone hard and split so leaking air. According to the book and the jets the carb is off a 1600 GT Capri.

Anyway built it back up refitted it, and…

So I spent my sunny weekend doing odd jobs on the car, Decided it was time to fit the metric studs in the back axle.

I bought the studs before I bought the car, sat in a bag covered in oil in the garage for a while. Out comes the blowlamp, big 'ammer and other bits and bobs to get it sorted. Old ones were a nice tight fit but came out with just a few carefully placed whacks with a 2 1/2 lb'er. Got the new ones ground to the same length and fitted. Checked all the back brakes while the…