Royale Coupe - Brakes fixed!

[Royale80]

Evening all,

 

Friend took the Royale for a pre-mot check over at his garage.

 

Needs two bits of welding and new front pads-booked in for 1st week of Jan.

 

Other issues that need fixing.

 

New center bearing and carrier for the prop-can feel it vibrating.

 

Needs gearbox rear seal-slight leak.

 

Speedo-original speedo is from a Royale which had a mechanical drive-gearbox from a Monza GSE has an electric drive-may have to look for a Monza speedo.

 

Strange feeling from the front-feels like worn mountings bushes-you can feel it kicking and hear it  through the steering-especially when reversing.

 

Heater not working-no warm air-will check to see if matrix is in car!

 

So far better than I thought!

 

Onwards and upwards!

 

Steve

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Got a build thread? Love a Royale, even without cheese.

[Bren]

Strut towers? Chassis? Pics please.

[billyboy406v6]

This thread lacks pictures, not happy. Good result on MOT though !

[Royale80]

Thanks all,

 

The strut towers have been welded-see below

 

 

 

They look very solid from below and above.

 

I am now suspecting these bushes

 

 

 

Anyone know what they are called?

 

Thanks Steve

 

PS This is the car

 

 

 

Cheers

[Tamworthbay]

They look like either ARB or tie rod bushes, not sure what the suspension setup on these is but would think they are the ARB bushes.

[John F]

PS This is the car

 

 

 

Cheers

 

SPLOOT!

 

(fetches Kleenex)

[Bren]

Anti roll bar bushes.

 

Steve, if it were mine I'd whip the front wings off and have a look what the panels are like underneath.

 

I wondered if a strut brace would stop the towers moving about?

[Royale80]

Thanks all,

 

The bushes are available apparently from Australia as the front suspension is very similar to a Holden Commodore.

 

Thanks for the advice Bren- I know the towers are a weak point-I've had a good look at them and think they are pretty solid-but as always you never know unless you dig deeper!

 

Regards

 

Steve

[sloth]

caster rod bushes over here. nolathane make em. vb/vc commo iirc.

[Royale80]

Thanks for the advice!

 

Progress so far! (not a lot!)

 

1-New prop center bearing and carrier ordered ina bid to stop vibration.

 

2-Replaced passenger electric window motor-worked but then found the remainder of the window guide channel

 

 

Need to find a likewise piece from the scrappy.

 

3-Got the central locking half working-got a new door loom on the way.

 

4-Removed rust from the inner frames of the doors-will grind out and epoxy. Will then spray dinotrol into doors.

 

 

5-Drivers door lock barrel had snapped-replaced it with a later Senator one-had to do quite a bit of fabrication inside the door-but it now locks.

 

 

6-Rear gearbox seal is slightly leaking-new one on the way.

 

Plans after MOT in Jan-eliminate all vibration (hopefully) and start replacing all suspension bushes.

Will paint the suspension with Black epoxy as I go along.

Will also rub down and paint front valence.

 

Onwards and upwards!

 

Steve

[mercrocker]

Good stuff....Its all this unseen fiddle-age that doesn't show for much but is so much towards making a car useable.

[omegod]

Howdy Steve, 

 

I found a few pics of the one that's been in my local scrappy for years, as you can see it's " Royalee fucked" but may have some useable bit's for you, can you do a wish list as I'll likely be down there over xmas break and see what I can salvage off it for you, I know you wanted headlight wiper mech but can't remember what else

 

 

 

 

[vulgalour]

These are a really good looking machine, a real shame about the lack of rust protection.  Keep at it, should be amazing when you're done.  Can anyone link to SambaS' thread on his Royale?  There's dread/inspiration in there of equal measure.

[Royale80]

Howdy Steve, 

 

I found a few pics of the one that's been in my local scrappy for years, as you can see it's " Royalee fucked" but may have some useable bit's for you, can you do a wish list as I'll likely be down there over xmas break and see what I can salvage off it for you, I know you wanted headlight wiper mech but can't remember what else

 

 

 

 

Thanks Omegod-does look a little rough!

 

I am after the headlamp washer motors and mechanisms-but they look a little hard to get at!

 

Many thanks

 

Steve

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Just spotted the photos of this. Must admit, I never knew VX built a Royale Coupe; I knew they produced the booted Royale, but I assumed that was the only derivative. I guess it must have been rare when new? The shape looks similar to a Monza - I'm guessing these must have been used as a basis. Cornish number plate too!

[Royale80]

Morning Terry!

 

The coupe is based on a Monza with a few differences. Mine originally had the 2.8 carb engine (Royales were supplied with this engine-only towards the end of production were a few offered with the 3.0) but has been replaced at some stage with a 3.0 injected Monza engine.

 

Good spot on Cornwall-just looked at the service book and the first service was carried out at 1003 miles at Wincanton Garages in Helston!

 

The next few services were by Treglowns Garages in Newquay>

 

 

Regards

 

Steve

[Junkman]

a real shame about the lack of rust protection.

They don't have a lack of rust protection. They have added rust aggravation.

[Royale80]

Mines not too bad actually with regards to rust (bearing in mind it's over 35 years old)-underneath is very good-although it needs two small patches welding. A few scabs on the doors-I've ground out the rust and temporarily (i.e.bodged) repainted them. The only other area is the front valence which has quite a bit of surface rust- I'm waiting for some epoxy primer-when it comes I'll grind out the rust, put some Hydrate 80 on and handpaint on the epoxy. This should last a few years until I get it painted.

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[Junkman]

No need to pay postage/customs duties from Australia.

 

http://www.altopelhilfe.de/index.php?cat=c203_Vorderachse---Lenkung-203-Vorderachse--Lenkung.html

[Royale80]

Thanks Junkman.

 

I've found this place as well:-

 

http://www.opel-classicparts.de/buchse-36972.html

 

Cheers

 

Stve

[Royale80]

Latest update.
Car going for an MOT on Tuesday-needs two small patches welded underneath.

To make it easier (and cheaper!) I removed the rear carpets and loosened the fronts.

Also having the rear gearbox seal changed and a new prop centre bearing and carrier put on.

Brother also made some wheel centre caps for me - I'll get a smaller Vx logo-but ok for now!

Will report back when I get the car back!

Cheers
Steve

[vulgalour]

bluuuuueeeee

[djimbob]

Remember going to the Motor Show at Birminum as a kid with my dad and uncle, and getting a load of brochures, several of these - loved them and still do, never had one 'tho, and probably won't now they're so rare

 

However, i shall enjoy it vicariously thru you Steve

[purplebargeken]

These were stunning looking cars. Nice one.

[danthecapriman]

Love the blue-ness of that interior. It's a lovely car.

Good luck with the MOT.

[RoadworkUK]

If you have any trouble researching trim parts it's worth remembering that GM marketed this colour interior as "Cookie Monster".

[Royale80]

Afternoon all,
I need a rear gearbox seal (goes around output of box or prop) for my Royale.
It's got a later 4 speed auto (with the overdrive switch) from a Monza.
I bought this one

But it is the wrong size-any help greatly appreciated!

Steve

[spike60]

If you man up and dig the old seal out you can take it to a bearing and seal dealer, there should be one locally. A box that age is likely to have an off the shelf seal which a good dealer will have in stock or be able to advise.

 

This is who we use, there should be someone local for you.

 

http://www.sbtltd.co.uk/

[Royale80]

Thanks for the advice-I've got one (hope it's the right size) from Eriks in Cardiff.

 

Steve