oh cr@p

[Mr_Bo11ox]

In previous Allegro drives I too have felt like I am operating a potato, funny that

[idiotboy]

Well, a quick bit of fuel line re-routing and filling the dashpot up with 2 in 1 oil and I took Beri out in the car for a test run last night.

 

Had a few admiring glances, which makes it all worth while and I'm formulating a list of jobs to do. The coolant looks like chocolate Fridj so I'm going to give the old gel a bit of a cooling system enema and get some of that crud out, before getting some nice new antifreeze in there. I also need to get some new front fog lights as ones cracked and not working. Also I've got to get the reversing lights recomissioned. Not sure why they are having a sulk.

 

Managed to get some speed up on the bypass and the 1500 took off like a scalded cat when planting the loud pedal. So I'm quite happy

[vulgalour]

The best way to describe Reynard is 'Foxy', it's in the name after all. Your Allegro is one foxy potato, top purchase.

[dollywobbler]

Oh and you need to be here. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13175

 

I will be. I think you'll enjoy it.

 

My VdP Allegro was more like a turd than a potato. T'was Russet Brown and the exhaust sounded like a very musical fart.

[Cavcraft]

Dear God, that's fantastic. Nice work!

[idiotboy]

Lol

 

Just found out that the very town that I live in is only the monthly meeting place of the local Allegro club! Will attend on the 27th and take some photos for any interested Allegro fans. Can't wait.

[M'coli]

I go on holiday and miss the buying activity on this thread! Top purchase there sir, nice colour too.

[Craig the Princess]

Now does anyone know if I can fit a rev counter in the spare blank dial in the instrument cluster? Also has anyone got a fuse box cover for an Allegro as mine is missing. Cheers.

 

Rev counters - You can if you can find one, Equipes/Sports Specials/early HL's I believe. Series 3 ones are common but don't fit.

Drop me a PM with your address, I'm 99.99999% sure I have a spare fuse box cover.

[idiotboy]

Now does anyone know if I can fit a rev counter in the spare blank dial in the instrument cluster? Also has anyone got a fuse box cover for an Allegro as mine is missing. Cheers.

 

Rev counters - You can if you can find one, Equipes/Sports Specials/early HL's I believe. Series 3 ones are common but don't fit.

Drop me a PM with your address, I'm 99.99999% sure I have a spare fuse box cover.

 

I'm just mystified why BL left the big clock next to to speedo blank yet fitted a time clock down by the gearstick that you can't see. Why didn't they just either fit the clock next to the speedo where you can see it or just not bother fitting a 4 dial instrument cluster. It makes no sense.

[Rocket88]

.

 

I'm just mystified why BL left the big clock next to to speedo blank yet fitted a time clock down by the gearstick that you can't see. Why didn't they just either fit the clock next to the speedo where you can see it or just not bother fitting a 4 dial instrument cluster. It makes no sense.

 

The words "makes no sense" and "BL" appearing in the same paragraph is not entirely surprising, surely?

[Craig the Princess]

Now does anyone know if I can fit a rev counter in the spare blank dial in the instrument cluster? Also has anyone got a fuse box cover for an Allegro as mine is missing. Cheers.

 

Rev counters - You can if you can find one, Equipes/Sports Specials/early HL's I believe. Series 3 ones are common but don't fit.

Drop me a PM with your address, I'm 99.99999% sure I have a spare fuse box cover.

 

I'm just mystified why BL left the big clock next to to speedo blank yet fitted a time clock down by the gearstick that you can't see. Why didn't they just either fit the clock next to the speedo where you can see it or just not bother fitting a 4 dial instrument cluster. It makes no sense.

 

Later ones did get a big clock. It just took them 7 years to work that out

(I quite like a gunsite in the dashboard, one less dial to go wrong).

[Pillock]

Because the "big clock" factory were having a disagreement at the time.

[idiotboy]

Had a pissabout with the car last night to try and fix some of the gremlins, managed to poke the gremlins with a stick and make them angry.

 

Jobs to do:

Fix reversing lights

Fix bootlight

Sort out temp twisted exposed wire join on brake light feed wire.

Check levels and top up

 

What actually happened:

Tried to remove "special" tunnel mounted trim to check reversing wire switch, and discovered that it was fitted before seats were fitted and so will only come out of car if seats are removed. Thought "Sod that" screwed it back down but discovered that carpet was originally brown and had faded to cats pee orange. Considering getting a new carpet set.

Checked reversing light bulbs only to find that Wipac lens was held in place with nothing, went to unscrew it and glass lens fell off and smashed on ground. Said many rude words under breath and added reversing light lens and clips to ebay search list. Lamps getting power so must be bulbs.

 

Found bootlight live feed in boot and reconnected light, noticed that I couldn't see light go out when boot closing. Climbed into boot to check, and closed boot lid. Light went out and boot lid shut with click and also now accidentally stuck in boot unable to see. Phoned house to alert girlfriend that I was stuck. Girlfriend took picture of me stuck in boot before helping me out. Thanks love.

 

Fixed broken wire to brake lights and added extra connection so that I can fit a high level brake light. Tick box that I achieved something.

 

Fired up car and had minor panic that head gasket had failed as header tank making glumph glumph noise. However reading Haynes BOL can't see any proper way to get air out of system as if you fill cooling system up to remove all air, header tank overfills. Puzzled. Any ideas?

 

Find spare fuse in toolbox, and note special slot in fusebox to place a spare fuse. Push fuse into slot, whole fuse box falls through bulkhead, into the inside of the car (somewhere).

 

Manage to scrabble under dash and find fusebox and push it back through hole, until it clicks into place. Phew.

 

Take for test drive and notice that wipers, blowers, dash lights, tail lights now no longer work. Stop car and look at fusebox and all fuses unblown. Scratch head, remove fuse and examine, place it back in slot and wipers, blowers, taillights etc now work. So must be corroded contacts.

 

Also long dormant clock in tunnel tray grinds into life, disturbed by movement and sudden drop in electrical resistance.

 

Its a game in'it?

[dollywobbler]

Only you could lock yourself in the boot of your own car. Thank goodness for mobile phones eh?!

[cobblers]

Seeing as 99% of mobile phones record videos now, you could have set it recording a video of the boot light, closed the boot, opened it and then replayed the video. That wouldn't have made an interesting story though so keep up the good work!

[idiotboy]

Seeing as 99% of mobile phones record videos now, you could have set it recording a video of the boot light, closed the boot, opened it and then replayed the video. That wouldn't have made an interesting story though so keep up the good work!

 

Didn't think of that. I had the thought that I could adjust the switch in situ if it wasn't going out. Oh well.

[dollywobbler]

Nevermind. You know for next time. It could be worse! The picture could have made it onto Facebook or something...

[trigger]

Good to see your living up to your name though!

[vulgalour]

It can't just be me that thinks idiotboy looks like John Shuttleworth's (just made up) rugby supporting brother in that picture.

[idiotboy]

It can't just be me that thinks idiotboy looks like John Shuttleworth's (just made up) rugby supporting brother in that picture.

 

Ahhh that classic "Austin Ambassador Y reg" is stuck in my head now. Oooof

[catsinthewelder]

Top update, It could be copied and pasted straight into the 'you know you're a shitter when.' thread. Did anyone else scan down, see pic of someone in glass's in the boot of an Allegro and feel a slight whiff of disappointment though?

 

There may well be a pic floating round somewhere of me in the boot of our Austin, The catch was playing up so I got our lass to shut me in repeatedly until we'd got it working.

[Split_Pin]

Great blog, and loving the Allegro.

 

The last update is top, esp as you haven't lost patience with the car!

[idiotboy]

Nevermind. You know for next time. It could be worse! The picture could have made it onto Facebook or something...

 

You git Ian.

[idiotboy]

. Did anyone else scan down, see pic of someone in glass's in the boot of an Allegro and feel a slight whiff of disappointment though?

 

 

LOL backatcha

[dollywobbler]

OMG! I met TEH ALLEGRO!

 

Naturally it had broken down. The happy couple who's wedding we attended have had to suffer the indignity of having a broken down Allegro abandoned on their driveway (after this shot was taken) while it awaits recovery. Seems a wheel bearing has REALLY failed. I'll let Idiotboy complete the story once he's worked out what on earth went wrong (my suspicion is a binding brake causing all the grease to melt in the bearing).

 

It is a lovely, solid-looking thing though, in a truly superb colour. Once fettled, I'm sure it'll be almost decent!

[idiotboy]

Thanks Ian.

 

Yes so to top breaking down on the way to the Stag do, when the LNA split a coolant hose, the Allegro crapped out on the A1(M) on Friday night. Managed to limp into Fenstanton Cambs at 30mph, with a very loud bearing on the front offside.

 

We had to dump the Allegro on the Bride and groom's driveway until recovery could be arranged on Sunday. Once safely home on Sunday, I removed the front O/S wheel. The pads are very thin on that side and there is much brake dust over everything so could be a seized calliper that's caused the issue, although the jury is still out. A couple of wheel bearing sets are now on order, and I need to get it booked in to get that seen to.

 

I've also discovered some rust which I spotted with the front wheel off, and I need to get sorted pronto before it develops into a bigger problem later on. Is there any such thing as an Allegro Specialist?

 

All in all a bit of a frustrating situation . On the up side I've fixed the reversing lights though and I just need a new reversing light lens.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Make sure your new wheel bearings are a decent brand, Unipart or QH or whatever as there are a lot of bearings about made from ‘Cathedral City’.

[dollywobbler]

Les at BL Transverse in London is probably the closest you'll get to a specialist. Where's the corrosion?

[idiotboy]

Les at BL Transverse in London is probably the closest you'll get to a specialist. Where's the corrosion?

 

Found a hole each side on inner wheel arch where it meets the sill and in the rear wheel arch where it meets the sill. Looks like the underseal cracked and harboured moisture. I'm a bugger for poking with my screwdriver....should have been an MOT tester.

 

I want to get that sorted before it gets worse

[idiotboy]

Les at BL Transverse in London is probably the closest you'll get to a specialist. Where's the corrosion?

 

Found a hole each side on inner wheel arch where it meets the sill and in the rear wheel arch where it meets the sill. Looks like the underseal cracked and harboured moisture. I'm a bugger for poking with my screwdriver....should have been an MOT tester.

 

I only spotted it when I noticed a hint of red, white and blue under the underseal, it turned out to be the wiring ribbon glued to the inside of the drivers footwell.

 

I want to get that sorted before it gets worse