Dollywobbler's Maestro Van - SOLD!

[dollywobbler]

It could be Skattrd. Were it not for this odd fuel ECU set-up, the sensor would be my first port of call. Honestly. Electronic control of carburettors is surely the worst of both worlds? 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

It could be Skattrd. Were it not for this odd fuel ECU set-up, the sensor would be my first port of call. Honestly ,trying to flog the same engine for 50 years without any money to develop it after the first 25 is surely the worst of all worlds?

 

EFA- I think is the term.

[panhard65]

Being a van it probably never had a fuel ecu and it is due to the incorrect dash that the light flashes. I think the vans were all manual choke so no need for an ecu. I would of just taken the bulb out but it never really bothered me after I had worked out it wasn't actually overheating.

[dollywobbler]

That's what I thought, but the chaps reckoned it still had the ECU anyway! Which sounds very BL/ARG and could well be true.

 

Engineer

"The temp gauge doesn't work without the fuel ECU so we might as well put auto choke on the vans." 

 

Management

"We can't have posh auto choke on vans, especially as it doesn't work! We'll go to the trouble of fitting a manual choke and still have the ECU. Stop arguing and just do it."

[cort16]

My SD1 has this semi ECU business and as you say it's the worst of all worlds. If I wasn't so lazy I would have sourced an S1 inlet manifold and carbs with manual choke by now.

[dollywobbler]

Another reason that this isn't going to be love. I've driven over 300 miles in it now, avoiding major routes and motorway as much as possible. Perhaps I'll just take the fast roads home! I've driven along some wonderful routes - stunning scenery and ever-changing views. And I've barely enjoyed it because the Maestro just can't offer the ride comfort and handling I like. It's bad at both! Not terrible, but if you find yourself going a little bit too quickly, which is easy as the brakes are crap, it's truly terrifying. I have no confidence in it. 

 

A shame as it's very likeable as a concept. It goes well enough and is deliciously simple. I will keep it for a bit, though mainly because I can't afford to replace it with anything else. I'll be keeping my eye open though. I'm pretty much decided that I simply must own a Rover 600. In Nightfire Red. 

[saucedoctor]

Apologies if you've already sorted it, or it's been suggested already, but: have you checked the oil in the carburettor dashpot?

[dollywobbler]

It has plenty.

 

Anyhow. Road trip! 

This was yesterday morning, early doors at Gaydon. Lowering the tone.

 

Today, I passed through the village me and Mrs DW used to live in. Northants. I used to park my LDV 400 beavertail here. The oil stains have finally gone.

 

We used to listen to the bells from this church. The bell folk weren't much cop, but it sounded nice enough!

 

This is where I stopped for lunch.

 

And this is where the van is now. I'm in the pub/hotel that owns this car park. I'm not going to ask about the BMW...

 

Tomorrow, I'm off to Luton. Perhaps I'll try and do Cowley - the van's birthplace - on the way home.

[cort16]

There must be something you can do to help it. Can you fit a stiffer ARB? I bet the heavy duty springs on an empty van don't help either if it was a keep I'd be looking to put it back on car springs.

[dollywobbler]

It's leaf springs on the back. Nowt you can do about that! Maestros never handled particularly well - though I'd like to try an MG. Reports on those were generally favourable (once they got a proper engine in them). I've been spoilt by years of BXs. I'm trying to focus on the positives (a more sensible number of windscreen wipers, a clutch that doesn't need the legs of Hercules, NO fluid droppage at all) but it's not easy.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Pop round to B&Q and buy a few sacks of overpriced sharp sand, they'll soften the ride up a bit.

 

To be fair to it, if you like citroens, one of these vans can only disappoint massively on the ride quality front.

[dugong]

I think you need a Citroen BX van. 

[dollywobbler]

Aye. The Sirion also disappointed in terms of ride, but made up for it by being utterly bonkers. Mind you, I imagine on these same roads, I'd've been just as sick of that little yellow peril by now. In fact, it was getting to the stage that I just couldn't face another long journey in it. That's why the BX estate earlier this year was so appealing! I effectively bought the BX just to drive to Kent and back.

[HMC]

Sounds like a great roadtrip in the offing! What sort of gearing/ MPG are you getting? Its a bit like a maestro with a Kamm tail I spose.

 

I would be tempted to make it into a telecom engineers van- being pre the 91 brand refresh you cant get away with grey primer rattle cans to achieve the effect tho.

[andy18s]

It's leaf springs on the back. Nowt you can do about that! Maestros never handled particularly well - though I'd like to try an MG. Reports on those were generally favourable (once they got a proper engine in them). I've been spoilt by years of BXs. I'm trying to focus on the positives (a more sensible number of windscreen wipers, a clutch that doesn't need the legs of Hercules, NO fluid droppage at all) but it's not easy.

I had a black 2.0i MG (F969DNX) back in the day

Fitted it with a MotoBuild Spax kit which lowered it another 25mm or so over the std drop

Cornered as well as any fwd could i think

The ride wasn't any worse than the std setup either

Topped off with the usual exhaust and airfilter mods and I used to love pissing off of the local RS Turbo kids with my crappy Maestro...

[NorfolkNWeigh]

 

 

A shame as it's very likeable as a concept. It goes well enough and is deliciously simple. I will keep it for a bit, though mainly because I can't afford to replace it with anything else. I'll be keeping my eye open though. I'm pretty much decided that I simply must own a Rover 600. In Nightfire Red.

 

If you're driving from Northants to Luton tomorrow you could be going within a mile of one that will be available in September. If you want to check it out and have a cuppa,let me know, at the moment I've got no jobs on tomorrow during the day.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks but I've got a busy old day ahead, then I'm planning to drive all the way back home. A 5-hour slog apparently!

 

 

Sounds like a great roadtrip in the offing! What sort of gearing/ MPG are you getting? Its a bit like a maestro with a Kamm tail I spose.

 

I would be tempted to make it into a telecom engineers van- being pre the 91 brand refresh you cant get away with grey primer rattle cans to achieve the effect tho.

 

Gearing is pretty good, so it's around 3000rpm at motorway speeds. It even seemed happy at an indicated 80. No idea about MPG. Filled up at home and haven't had to put any more in yet. That's probably a good sign. The bonnet is already yellow... (under the blue paint).

[scruff]

Pop round to B&Q and buy a few sacks of overpriced sharp sand, they'll soften the ride up a bit.

 

To be fair to it, if you like citroens, one of these vans can only disappoint massively on the ride quality front.

 

Quite, it is a van after all.

You could do a 'Albert Ross', he's got a series Landy that rides like a Rolls but that's because he usually carries a complete spare drivetrain, the crane to install it and a complete tool kit in the back at all times. 

[dollywobbler]

Disaster. The orange light fell off! It's now in component form. The van hurled it at a learner driver, but clearly forgot that it was on a cable. It bounced all over the place. Haven't checked the van for dents yet. Three hours from Luton, but still more than two until I'm home. I'd better get going again!

[320touring]

Disaster. The orange light fell off! It's now in component form. The van hurled it at a learner driver, but clearly forgot that it was on a cable. It bounced all over the place. Haven't checked the van for dents yet. Three hours from Luton, but still more than two until I'm home. I'd better get going again!

 

Stop at a convenient set of roadworks and procure some more lashy flights:)

[Felly Magic]

It looks like it was new in the 'Glorious people's State of South Yorkshire' too going by the 'SHE' reg. Love Maestros in all forms, had a B plate MG EFi many moons ago and loved it. A Perkins powered example is on my automotive 'bucket list' too, just to piss off the neighbours

[Noel Tidybeard]

brakes can be upgraded to vented of a montego 2.0

1.3s never had arb so i doubt the van would either

[dollywobbler]

Actually, I was so desperate to get home last night that I discovered you can drive bloody quickly in a Maestro van. Final mileage total is over 470 with the only mechanical fault being a wheel bearing that is starting to grumble.

Also, the headlamps are surprisingly unshit.

[dollywobbler]

So, on reflection, I'm far happier with the Maestro van than I felt while crashing through the pothole-strewn roads of middle England. 

 

Moar pics. After the beacon disaster.

 

Convenient lay-by just after beacon disaster.

 

Oxford weather disaster

 

Many hours later, in Herefordshire. A bit more pleasant.

 

Taken at 10:20pm on the Elan Valley mountain road. I was driving into the light all the way.

 

Home. 475 miles later.

 

I had to drive the van again today. I was dreading it, but she fired up eagerly and proved quite pleasant on Welsh roads. Need to find out which wheel bearing is duff. I think it's offside rear - Panhard - which one did you change and how much of a ballache is it?

 

I'm also dead chuffed with the MPG. 41.79 on the drive to Luton. Not worked out the home MPG, but it might be lower given how quickly I did some parts of it...

[panhard65]

I did the n/s/r with a cheap bearing from ebay. Not too bad to do they just drift in and out if I remember correctly. They are roller bearings with a big spacer in the middle. Cheap and easy job I think it was under a tenner for the bearing

[dollywobbler]

Hmm. This may not be a great advert for cheap bearings from Ebay. It's the nearside rear that seems worst on a jack-up-roll-wheel test. 

[panhard65]

It was a new old stock made by balco and wasn't a business seller 8 quid though

[dollywobbler]

Pulled the drum off and had a peek at this duff bearing. Can't see much wrong with it. Plenty of lube and the nut seemed at an appropriate torque setting. Guess I'll have to order up a new bearing as it still sounds very rough.

 

On another point, the handbrake has been increasingly shite. I don't fully understand how it works but it looks like the adjuster peg is worn, so the shoes aren't close enough to the drum. I'll have a look at the other side at some point and see if it's the same. 

[dollywobbler]

I don't think this is ultimately going to prove a long-term relationship. If your heart desires a Maestro van, sadly no longer with flashing beacon, then do let me know. I hate selling vehicles, so would swap for something practical - so hatch or estate. Or Rover 600-sized saloon. Or Rover 600. 

 

I can't actually be bothered to start advertising it elsewhere just yet - I'll wait for the V5 to actually arrive - but rest assured that the hunt for the next vehicle has commenced. 

 

THE GOOD

Drives pretty well for an old van. Engine is sweet and behaves impeccably. Appears to use very little oil and drops not a drop of the stuff.

MOT to April, tax to October.

Towbar with working electrics

5-speed gearbox

 

THE BAD

It's scruffy as hell and has comedy body repairs.

It apparently is not hugely desirable to attractive females. Or unattractive ones. Or most males. 

[vulgalour]

I still want it... but I have nothing to swap for it that you would want/I would want to part with.