Six Cylinders Motoring Notes

[Six-cylinder]

It has been quiet on the car front for the last couple of weeks first I was away then I was not feeling well and two of the garages I use also have illness.

 

The Alfa 156 V6 Sportswagon Veloce (I want to write Veloce because I like saying it) we bought from breadvan 15 months ago started life gently with limited use. However as it warmed up this summer Mrs6C found it had ice cold aircon and started commuting with it 80 miles a day, I thought that would not last long and end in exploding 156, I have been wrong after 6000 miles it has been good, but a weeping radiator started to annoy so has been replaced last week. The car has also had a pair of Conti front tyres, first we have fitted, I wonder how long they will last with 190 bhp though the front wheels.

 

For those without long memories I only paid £350 for the Alfa but took a pretty stiff bill for sorting out the gear change and some other things when I first got it. Now I can say I am fully satisfied with my purchase and the car is a delight to drive.

[hairnet]

I wonder how long they will last with 190 bhp though the front wheels.

 

 

HOOLIGAN

 

2cv ftw

[Six-cylinder]

I had it washed and vacuumed today, what a transformation. It even inspired me to take a couple of pictures.

[purplebargeken]

156 Sportwagons are teh sex!

[Burnside]

Looking great and fair play for getting some decent tyres on it. The Alfa 156 is such a great styled car for it's time that has aged well , they are on my to do list of cars to buy just sadly not at moment!

[purplebargeken]

So what was the gear change issue in the end?

[HMC]

Looks very smart. Did you have the replacement door resprayed? Looks a better match than I remember.

[Six-cylinder]

Looks very smart. Did you have the replacement door resprayed? Looks a better match than I remember.

Yes had to bring that up!

 

In truth the car is scruffy and rear driverside door is still off colour, but I carefully placed the car so you could not see that!

[Six-cylinder]

So what was the gear change issue in the end?

The Alfa specialist in Northampton replaced the gear linkage with a second hand one and it changes beautifully.

[richardmorris]

I had to have my c5s gear cables replaced ( at only 36,000) as it wouldn't move out of gear on the first go. There are two and one was perfect but the other had a split in the casing which had rusted the interior run

[Six-cylinder]

The LNA has been putting up tough resistance to progressing:

 

• The replacement radiator has sat for two weeks now holding water but today getting it up to working temp has made it weep. I think as it is only minor I will try a bit of radweld rather than have it recored right now, more to keep the progress going than saving the cost of recoreing, that I will have to do at some time anyway.

• A miss understanding with my mech has left us short of an inner drive shaft boot, I have now ordered it but the only one I could find was from Germany.

• The alternator is not giving any real output, so I have ordered one.

• The sump is weeping oil so now will have to have a new gasket.

• I am missing the air filter union on the carburettor.

[hairnet]

woop lna

[richardmorris]

Do you think it just wants to die in peace?

[Six-cylinder]

Do you think it just wants to die in peace?

There are only 2 or 3 on the road in the UK, so it has to live!

[Six-cylinder]

My work that I should have done today, but didn't has been pushed aside again for me to solve the next LNA crisis. The mounting of the universal fan as I can not find an original one is tonight's focus.

[Six-cylinder]

This weekend I have used my Vitesse for a Classic Rally stating at Banbury and taking us though the countryside to Brooklands museum. The trip also involved a hotel, curry and beer!

[Six-cylinder]

Today I collected the Peugeot Elyseo 50 that Strangeangel found us, a perfect 300 mile run in the C15 made easy work of the job, even if the back doors would not quite close.

 

I did not have time to try and get it going this afternoon as I had to return to work.(yes I know instead of typing this I could have been fitting the new battery at least) I am told it was taken in PX 18 months ago in working order but has sat around and 6 months ago they got it running but that was it. I am also told a new battery, new fuel and it should start but I poked my camera into the engine and now I am home it seems the plug lead is missing!

 

Just thinking out loud are there any fully trained bike racing mechanics in the audience, failing that anybody with at least one hand who would like to see if we can get it going and ride it around our field on Sunday?

[panhard65]

Is it just the lead missing or has the coil been nicked as well ? I might have one here somewhere, I will have a look in the morning. Not that it is much good to you for Sunday as I am in Somerset.

[strangeangel]

Sorry for misleading you as to its size Chris, I felt sure it would go straight in the C15!

[hairnet]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-ELYSEO-50-100-HT-IGNITION-COIL-WITH-PLUG-CAP-/380750390941

 

No need to buy second hand

[Six-cylinder]

Sorry for misleading you as to its size Chris, I felt sure it would go straight in the C15!

No harm done it came home just fine.

[Six-cylinder]

Is it just the lead missing or has the coil been nicked as well ? I might have one here somewhere, I will have a look in the morning. Not that it is much good to you for Sunday as I am in Somerset.

Do any of these wires or pipes look like an HT lead photographed from the other side?

 

I am now 2 miles from the moped and about to go out for dinner so can't check.

[Six-cylinder]

Is 18,554 miles a lot for a moped?

[strangeangel]

Is 18,554 miles a lot for a moped?

 

It's a 4-stroke so no, IMO that sort of mileage is nothing to worry about.

[alf892]

Is 18,554 miles a lot for a moped?

If you are the rider it probably is......

[Six-cylinder]

If you are the rider it probably is......

I suspect this one will spend the rest of its days in our field so 100 miles in 10 years is all I need!

[hairnet]

You sure its not kms

[Six-cylinder]

You sure its not kms

I think you could be right as the speedo is KPH.

[wuvvum]

I once rode a Mobylette with 53,000km on its original engine.

 

It didn't go very fast.

[Six-cylinder]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-ELYSEO-50-100-HT-IGNITION-COIL-WITH-PLUG-CAP-/380750390941

 

No need to buy second hand

I am home from the pub now and I want my Elyseo to go so I have ordered this!

 

In other news I got a call this afternoon from the parts supplier that phanhard65 put me in touch with to say he had posted out my clutch/variator for my 103 moped.