The Current Driveway...

[High Jetter]

I haz parts catalogues, should you need numberz

[somewhatfoolish]

On 05/11/2024 at 11:36, TrabbieRonnie said:

Linseed oil update...

Still very red and very shiny.  Takes a loooooong time to dry, so not ideal for a car in daily use.  Apparently, if I'd mixed in a bit of thinners it would have dried quicker, and I'd have less dead flies stuck to it!  Also, it rained a bit that night, and it's quite damp in general here just now, I assume the summertime (or a nice warm dry garage) is best for this.

However, I will re-do it with these things in mind, as the colour and shine restoration is nothing short of miraculous, and for basically no money.

Owatrol or similar may dry quicker and possibly last longer between applications.

[TrabbieRonnie]

A bit of progress with the Rover...

I have corrected the steering geometry somewhat, and driving is much improved... May not be perfectly aligned, even though I used state of the art equipment  a length of box section and a tape measure, but still.

With the offside wheel straight, the nearside was turned slightly towards the right.  It never looked right to be honest, but I confirmed using the straight edge across the wheel and measuring the distance between the end of it and the chassis.  This point was just ahead of the rear wheels and nearly 100mm different to t'other side.

In practice, this meant steering constantly to the left slightly, and a propensity to wander.  Looking in the manual (a lovely thing in its own right, still in its card sleeve and box), I read that there is no adjustment provided for this, only toe in/out.  It states that any misalignment "must be the result of damage or excessive wear to one or more components".  

However, on looking underneath the old tank, I spied a non-standard adjustable steering rod on the nearside, where the aforementioned bible shows a fixed length one.  Even better, the locknuts undid without drama!

The metal stick and tape measure was used again, and a mere twirl of the adjustable rod had things parallel once more.  Now, there may be further adjustment required, I've yet to check the toe in/out...  I was keen to get her down off the jack and check I wasn't making things worse in some way whilst it was still light.  Another wee run up the lane was had and all's well.

Before all that I'd checked/cleaned/regreased and tightened up the front wheel bearings a wee bit, which could have also helped maybe?  I'll leave further alignments to the experts I think, once I've got new tyres fitted too.

The old brake servo is coming to work with me later, for a strip down on the bench before I decide what to do with it.

Another thing I plan to do is to try swapping the battery round (currently connected as negative earth), as per Johnathan Dyane's thread.  My heater fan and wipers aren't working, she's not charging very well, and I want to be sure she's not still positive earth really.  The previous owner, like myself just assumed it was right as that's how he got it I think, especially as it runs ok.

We shall see, I'm finding it all very interesting and different to the rest of the fleet, and the progress is very encouraging.  Speaking of the fleet, had a lovely run out in the Mazda yesterday... I do like to be beside the seaside!

Running well, new tyres are feeling good.  This was Findhorn, home of a huge eco-village/ community, so everyone hates the RX8...  All the other disposable PCP shitboxes are fine though, funny old thing.  Did like the Volvo in front mind, lovely car.

Cheers all.

 

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well good news I think on the P4 servo front.  After stripping down and cleaning it, there doesn't seem to be much wrong in there amazingly.

There was a lot of brake fluid in the air/vacuum pot, so one of the seals in the piston housing must be passing, but the large diaphragm etc. is all intact.

This means I can try the £12 seal kit available, and hopefully retain my original Girling servo.  If I'd needed the whole kit, they seem to be around the £160 mark... bringing it closer to the £300 required for a brand-new Lockheed job.

Anyway, in pics...

You can see there's a band clamp holding the two halves of the diaphragm chamber together, on mine this is welded/braised together with a wee steel pad at manufacture.  If you buy the whole seal kit, you get a new v-band clamp to replace this, as it will need to be cut off.

Never one to spend unnecessarily (except on an entirely too big fleet of old shite of course), I solutionised with the welder...

I'll clean it up a wee bit, but basically the clamp is now re-usable.

The innards were thus exposed...

Initially quite grim looking, but actually when cleaned up, nae bad!

So yeah, further disassembly of the piston/housing required to get at the five small seals within, followed (hopefully) by some power-assisted stopping once more.  If it works, £12 is a pretty good deal!  I couldn't believe how soft and supple (and whole) the rubber diaphragm still is after 65 years, made me wonder why we put up with such poor quality nowadays?!

 

Onwards.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Hello all,

That's the servo rebuilt (one snag though).  As you can see from the pics, t'was all a bit cruddy in there... I think my leaks stemmed from seals having to travel over rusty bits for the first time in maybe-a-very-long-time.

Quite a complicated wee beastie too.  The uppermost of the two pistons in the pic above is the control.  It was in a poor state, and almost trapped forever by the sealed plug just to the right of it.  This should just push out (nothing but o-ring stick-tion holds it in, as it cant get out when bolted up to the diaphragm assembly anyway), but it was wedged in there solidly.

It's eventual removal was a tough time for both of us...

My trusty drive-through screwdriver may* have seen some action.  This whole job has been a bit of a 'try and see' thing though, as I have the readily available Lockheed replacement servo to fall back on.  Hence the nonchalant butchery pictured.

I was however, able to re-use it... I ground off the damaged portion, and used M10 washers to take up the space and support the new o-ring.  A perfect fit, which was nice.

Everything else was cleaned up and re-sealed, before sticking it all back together.  This is not an easy process, getting the two spring-loaded halves of the diaphragm assembly held in position whilst attaching the clamping ring has left a few more grey hairs I fear.

I haven't any pics of the reassembly (too stressful), but right at the final furlong, I hit the aforementioned snag.

There's a pipe connecting the control piston port to the back side of the diaphragm, I assume to open it to atmosphere so that the thing can move forward using the vacuum supplied to the front.  This terminates on the metal casing in a very poorly designed rubber elbow, that relies on a connection to a plastic doodad on the inside.  Of course, at this point the rubber elbow disintegrated, 65 years is enough it seems.  It fell out, leaving the plastic doodad unsupported... if the diaphragm moved, it would fall in, disastrous as it would require re-splitting to solve!

It should just be a welded-on metal spigot pipe, allowing the easy connection of any rubber pipe with a clip.  Obviously.

Anyway, I managed to find a bit of clear plastic pipe in the shed, miraculously of the right bore.  When heated, it allowed itself to be pushed over the swage on the doodad, and even into a snug fit against the metal casing.  As it cooled, it has gripped hard, and the other end just slid over it's pipe perfectly.

This may need some silicon sealant-based help in operation, we'll see... seems alright just now though.

Took myself and the recalcitrant servo out to the car, but had a rethink prior to fitting it.  I removed the oil bath air filter to give me some more room, which exposed the fan belt and dynamo... as well as the chassis rail/inner wing area, which is covered in oily crud.  The fan belt is also a tad looser than I thought (I can pretty  easily turn the pulleys without turning it), and I have a nice new one in the boot, ordered with the oil filter etc.

So, I'll be attending to that first, silly not to.  Before all this servo nonsense, I had set about investigating the on-off battery charging.  After cleaning every visible electrical connection and earth point, as well as some switches behind the binnacle, I have been rewarded with brighter lights, a working main beam foot switch, a bit more puff from the heater fan and faster wipers, result! 

However, my charging lamp also now glows brighter than before, and the battery never shows more than 12 volts across the terminals.  It will drop to 11 with the lights and fan on, and recover to 12 when I switch them off, so something is happening at least.  Hopefully a new and tighter belt will help.

I should also say that my ammeter has become much more responsive, and confusing...!  It swings up to +25 amps with the headlamps on, when I'd have thought it would show a negative charge (battery discharge) when under high electrical demand?  Or is it showing me that it's supplying that much more current to replace what's being used?  At idle, with nothing on, it sits just above zero, ie slightly positive, which I thought was normal.  Normal dynamo-equipped ammeter operation tips would be very gratefully received!  This is my first non-alternator car... I wonder if she should be positive earth after all?

Anyway, that's all for now, off to catch up on your motoring shenanigans for a bit.

[TrabbieRonnie]

I'm still thinking...

Could it be that everything's working as it should be (the dynamo indeed having been 'flashed' over to run negative earth at some point), thus explaining the voltage readings across the battery terminals... but the wiring to the ammeter left alone, so that it now shows the opposite of what it should?  

I'll know more once I get the dynamo in better fettle I suppose, there's maybe too many variables just now!

[Surface Rust]

You could be right there. Mine is still positive earth and will sit slightly negative at idle, rising to positive with about +200 rpm. Lights and fans would pull it negative again unless you give it more beans.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Came home to a slightly festive old Rover tonight, I reckon if Santa drove a car...

 

Old jeep just about ready for its test now too...

[TrabbieRonnie]

Full OMGSNOKAOS here in the tropical north, after our first real snowfall yesterday.  The roads quickly became blocked with lorries, always the first casualties of the slippy hills hereabouts.

I found myself slithering home in the RX8, not the wisest car choice perhaps, although in my defence there was no snow when I left for work!... Turning the very aggressive traction control off, and letting the rear tyres down a wee bit got me home no bother though.

Took the A8 in this morning, and remembered how good the quattro actually is, just effortless.  

Anyway, home again.  Wish I had some undercover storage for the old lady, this seems cruel...

A comfortable retirement in a nice warm garage is unfortunately not within my means, at least the paint's protected a bit with the oil.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, no progress on the Rover, due to this old thing's imminent date with the ministry...

Plenty of work has gone in of late, and a few nice-to-haves too.  The 'new' doors have been adorned with the stickers that were included with the big parts stash, as well as the wind deflectors.

The offside front caliper refused to play ball, and has been replaced... as have the discs and pads so stopping is now a smooth process.

The bonnet and roof are still impressively lacquer peeled, but we've gotten used to it.  Possibly a bit of boiled linseed oil action in its future.  Running and driving lovely though, 08:30 Monday morning will see her on the tester's ramps.

I'll update her status after that, and then leave my youngest shiter to report anything further.  This is his first car (don't ask how much the insurance is...), and he's done most of the work this time round.  He's ready to start his own thread on here, my work is done!

Cheers all.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, the old Toyota passed with only a failed numberplate lamp!

Emissions were spotless, and she's running great.  We'll get a set of rear shocks I think, to complete the mechanical refresh.

Not bad at all, and nice for my youngest to have all his hard work rewarded.  The Surf is now road legal once again, and it's solid and repairable nature gives me hope that she'll soldier on for a good while yet.

Eleven years on the fleet, two cambelts and a lot of fun.  It's a great feeling passing it on to my lad, he loves it and I know it will provide many new adventures for him.

 

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Been a while, hope all's well in the shiteyverse....

As alluded to on Schaefft's thread, the A8 is due its test, and some works were required...

First and foremost, the suspension.  Air-powered on these, and the pump has been very slow to react during the recent cold spell (-16 at one point).  It does rise to the occasion eventually, but as the headlight aim is tied to the level sensors I thought I'd better sort it pre-test.  

I had a seal kit in stock and so set about it...

Err... yeah, not in great nick.  I couldn't get the screws out I needed to, and the casting around them has literally blown apart with corrosion anyway.  Being as it was a bit of a faff to get out, I couldn't be arsed and ordered a new one.  Of course the good ones come from Germany (Aerosus), and so the car sat on axle stands for two weeks.

It's a heavy old thing, and my excellent* driveway surface started to lose the war...

Bugger.

Anyway, after some sweary time, the freshly arrived unit was installed...

Yes, a great many VAG clips were broken in the process, I did trim the tie-wraps after this!  Also, how much salt must they put down for my newish discs to look like that so fast?!  

Everything is buttoned back up now, and a test drive confirmed much better up-and-downs (quiet and much quicker), and a lot smoother drive particularly in 'dynamic'.

While the wheels were off, I handed them in to the garage for new tyres.  The Uniroyals are an excellent driving tyre, but the big Audi just chews them up.  I can't justify the cost again, so have bought Radars...

(Aunty Rover wondering when her new rubber is coming no doubt!)

My experience with this Singaporean brand has been limited to the Toyota Surf, after searching for a cheaper alternative to the BF Goodrich/General Grabber duopoly that seems to control the imperial size required there.  In America, I read that the Radars came with a 50,000 mile warranty!  Anyway, they were half the price and transformed the ride.

We'll see how they go on the A8, they feel great so far.  £70 a pop on Camskill, amazing price for this size, fingers crossed they last.

Also while the wheels were off, I changed the headlight bulbs, far easier accessed from below.  Xenon doodads cost £35 each at Halfords, and weren't even the cheapest option.  

An oil change next, and then I've just the cambelt to look forward to.

 

Can't wait to get stuck into the P4 properly again, she suffered a ln FTP last outing (no charge from dynamo), but got pulled home by my farmer neighbour...

She's had to sit in the snow for a good while this winter, surprisingly leak-free though!

 

RX8 out in the salt too, going brilliantly but no doubt dissolving as I write!   

Cheers all.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, in an almost unbelievable* turn of events, I have turned a perfectly useable car into a driveway ornament awaiting parts... Bugger.

This afternoon found me happily sat in Trabbi Towers, not at work, not on call, relaxing with doggo on the couch.

What better then, to decide (for some reason?!) to replace the RX8's slightly leaky, not-causing-any-problems-whatsover, expansion tank?

Things began well...

However, when removing the wee pipe 'twixt the bottom of the old tank and the rad, it came off in my hand... suddenly totally separate from the rad, who's pipe spigot had crumbled to plastic dust... oh good.

This of course means the radiator is coming out, and probably (thanks to it's plastic tank construction), un-repairable.  

Hoping against hope that this unit could be replaced from above, I began undoing nuts and  pipe clamps, and breaking clips as per normal...

Sadly, it turns out you cannot remove the fan pack or radiator from the top, no matter how much you cut your knuckles up, or how much you curse the feckin' thing.

It would have come up, I think, if there wasn't an air-conditioning pipe in the way... Of course, thinks I, simply removing a mounting bolt would allow enough wiggle room?  It wasn't a mounting bolt though, it was a joint... what fun!  The sudden blast of R134 resulted in a mild heart attack, burny fingers, and now inoperative climate control too!

So tomorrow will see the jacking up, supporting on axle stands and a few hours lying on the stone cold ground.  All while avoiding the inevitable old-car drizzle of rust and coolant. 

Fantastic... why do we bother, should have stayed on the couch with the dog.

 

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Jacked up on stands, the all-too-familiar bootful of parts...

...can only mean progress!

The radiator is indeed removed, meaning I can fit the newly arrived eBay replacement.  Pretty easy removal from below, although I couldn't see how it would have come out without breaking into the aircon lines anyway. 

The aircon rad is bolted directly to the front of the main rad, which has got me wondering whether or not I should refit it...  It must impede airflow, and I don't have a great need for aircon thanks to the huge distance between us and the equator...  Knowing hot hot everything gets under there (by design, admittedly), and the car's fairly advanced age, a bit of extra cooling can't be a bad thing?  It is always a shame to lose a working feature, I'm not sure. 

Anyway, I'll do the usual rust prevention stuff while everything's out the road, and fit it all back together over the next few days.  Working weekends for me unfortunately, which gets in the way somewhat.

Cheers all.

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

RX8 is back doing RX8 things!  

Got the new rad and expansion tank fitted up yesterday, after a wee bit of corrosion prevention work before that. 

Mmmm... shiny.

Everything else got a clean up as it went back in, so the whole bay looks a wee bit more loved too...

I don't know why that matters but it seems to!

In a shocking* move, I didn't refit the Aircon radiator or the pipework to it.  In fact, I also removed the belt and idler pulley to the compressor for many* extra geegees.  This 'mod' is of course to allow extra cooling, and not because I couldn't be arsed...

Anyway, behold the racecar style cooling setup...

I'm sure this is good for cooling, but it does seem a tad vulnerable... the oil coolers have certainly paid a high price for being unprotected...

I've said it before, but will have to source some grilles methinks.

Anyway, she's had a wash and a test run, and drives just like she should (back tyres aren't going to last long!).  No leaks or bubbling when home, so I'll call that a fix, until next time!  

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Hello all,

Feeling inspired for some reason, to do a round up of my time with the RX8, just in case anyone's thinking of trying one this coming summer...

Looking back through this thread, I see it was July 2023 when I first got her repaired and on the road.  At that point, I had tallied up a figure of £1300... including initial purchase, two tyres, a starter motor and a cat.

At this point, I have to add the cost of a header tank (£130), a radiator (£80), and another two tyres (£250... I know, they weren't cheap this time).  By my reckoning therefore, the wee beastie owes me £1760.

There is no accounting of course, for the many hours spent under the thing, welder in hand.  I think more and more that this will be the defining thing in working out whether or not we can afford the old metal we love so much.  I see so many cars going to the grave for the want of a tiny amount of metalwork, or obscure parts/coding requirements...

Far from an expert, and not being really up to bodywork repair 'up top' in full view, I do still sometimes toy with the idea of setting up a side business... MOT rust repairs to sills etc.  The price for these works at a garage is just eye-watering now, and the standard of repair can be pretty poor anyway.  Replaced a rear shock mount on my mates Transporter the other day, only took a couple of hours and that's the thing MOT'd again.

Anyway, back to the RX8...  What do you get for your money and efforts?  The best driving car I've owned anyway!  Plenty of grunt, and a really fluid, grippy, tyre-shredding-if-you-want-to experience.  The turn in and front end grip is incredible, and when you apply the power out of a bend, the whole thing comes alive and just throws you assuredly up the road.

The noise is insane, totally addictive, although it has to be said, quite anti-social.  Everyday items are excellent, the wipers, lights, interior toys, seats, visibility... it all just works brilliantly.

Keeping it below the real power band (sub 6000 rpm) results in a very pleasant and fairly comfy Japanese car cruise... Not at all fazed by daily commuting.  Above 6000, nutter!  And the fact that to overtake from anything below 60mph, you can just drop into second, floor it, and let the thing scream up to 9000, grab third and just smoothly wind up to 90 before fourth is just incredible.

I would say that 20-22mpg is the cost of all this, but when you factor in how cheap to buy these are just now, gotta be an absolute bargain.

If you're at all on the fence, and have the time/welder combo, go for it, there can't be much out there more fun for the dosh 👍

[Split_Pin]

15 hours ago, TrabbieRonnie said:

sometimes toy with the idea of setting up a side business... MOT rust repairs to sills etc

You definitely should, nobody else does it!

Glad you're getting on with the RX, sounds a crazy fun thing!

[TrabbieRonnie]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

You definitely should, nobody else does it!

Glad you're getting on with the RX, sounds a crazy fun thing!

 Cheers SP, it certainly is!

Not been the best year so far otherwise (we just lost my Mother-in-law, an amazing person)...  and the job's not as secure-looking as it was (whisky industry taking a hit this year).  

I know cars mean nothing in the grand scheme of things, but if they bring fun and good times, something to fix and focus on, then they can also be good for the soul I think!

Did I read somewhere that you're facing job issues yourself?  If so you have my sympathies, and my hope that it works out before too long bud.

[Split_Pin]

Ah sorry to hear about your Mum in Law Ronnie, and the job issue. Yeah I'm the same myself, getting paid off in June. I have a couple of interviews next week so here's hoping.

I agree, cars have been great for me and especially having the new to me Saab which I would not have bought had it been a few weeks later when the job cuts news surfaced. So it's been good timing.

Hope the job situation works out for you chap 👍

[Matty]

Best of luck both. Shitty times.

[Rustybullethole]

Enjoyable read (job shiz aside). The story of rhw expansion tank is all to familiar from my own why did I start this eacapades. Sounds like its all worth it in the long run though.

Also have found more than once that impending job doom has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Stay lucky hey. 

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well the old jeep's definitely in good hands with my youngest shiter...

He's spent the day painting the wheels black, which we like around here... looks tough and is easy to touch in.

It's also running like an absolute dream, it always liked regular miles.

It gets a lot of attention these days, I hear it's quite the Instagram star!  There's a fairly good 'retro' car scene locally, with a few young guys starting to save and run the old stuff.  Great to know for me, as it means help is never far away if needed out on the road.

I know I said I wasn't going to post on the Surf anymore, but he's not pulling his finger out and I liked these pics!

Cheers all.

[Matty]

1 hour ago, TrabbieRonnie said:

Well the old jeep's definitely in good hands with my youngest shiter...

He's spent the day painting the wheels black, which we like around here... looks tough and is easy to touch in.

It's also running like an absolute dream, it always liked regular miles.

It gets a lot of attention these days, I hear it's quite the Instagram star!  There's a fairly good 'retro' car scene locally, with a few young guys starting to save and run the old stuff.  Great to know for me, as it means help is never far away if needed out on the road.

I know I said I wasn't going to post on the Surf anymore, but he's not pulling his finger out and I liked these pics!

Cheers all.

I'm running a 2020 Hilux at work as a site van. It'd be funny to give it you for a week then see you weep at where it all went wrong! Not so durable these days..

[TrabbieRonnie]

59 minutes ago, Matty said:

I'm running a 2020 Hilux at work as a site van. It'd be funny to give it you for a week then see you weep at where it all went wrong! Not so durable these days..

I had noticed that myself... my farmer neighbour has gone through a couple of pickups in the last ten years, none of which were pretty underneath within a very short time.

Sad state of affairs if even Toyota have gone for planned obsolescence...

[Matty]

3 minutes ago, TrabbieRonnie said:

I had noticed that myself... my farmer neighbour has gone through a couple of pickups in the last ten years, none of which were pretty underneath within a very short time.

Sad state of affairs if even Toyota have gone for planned obsolescence...

It's my current favourite joke vis a vis the Taliban. "Death to the infidels!" "Er not today brother. There is an issue with the Adblue level sensor." 🤣

[TrabbieRonnie]

Had a tinker on Old Red today, very agreeable with the sun on my back.  My scruffy but lovely 1959 P4 inches closer to the highway.

As regular readers may remember, I had held off refitting my 'reconditioned' servo until I'd had a look at the dynamo... today was dynamo day.

Here it isn't...

Bit of pink coolant weep visible down around the water pump, but I think it's come from that dodgy old hose at the the top.

And here it is...

Non-original reconditioned unit from Lucas, at this point I was gingerly trying to undo the second long bolt holding it all together.  T'was a bit reluctant, and I had the fear... could easily shear these methinks.  The shaft itself turned with a squeak, and was pretty stiff too.  Not good.

Anyway, it all came apart in the end...

Very heavy and rugged feeling, but pretty grotty.  The brushes looked good though, loads left on them.  I cleaned up the commutator ring with a scotch pad, so it looked nice and shiny(ish), and gave everything else a brush up.

When all back together, it looked a bit more like somebody owned it, but not much.  Will give everything under the bonnet a lick of paint in the end.

For my efforts, I have been rewarded with a very smooth turning and silent unit, and  MUCHO VOLTS.

Ten minutes saw it back in its home, and the old Rover fired up smoothly as always... after a couple of months sitting, which is impressive.  I am now getting a hefty 17 volts at the dynamo with any revs, so I can't believe there's much wrong with it.  Also, the volts are the right way round, so I think it has been flashed over to negative earth at some point.

There are three coils on the regulator unit on the bulkhead, and I was getting the 16/17 volts at two of them, and 12 at the third.  I can also see the wee contacts arcing (like points), which I don't remember seeing before.  I have no idea how this old box of tricks works, it is mysterious and slightly worrying...

Anyway, at times (and more so the longer the car ran), I am now seeing 13 volts at the battery.  This is new, and good.  The ammeter on the dash sits bang in the middle now too, dropping when lights etc. are switched on as you'd expect.  

The biggest change was the wipers, they burst into life and are much quicker than they were before.

I also think the engine was happier, although it was smooth before, it now idles a touch higher/easier somehow.

So, I'll carry on cleaning and investigating any and all contacts and connections under there, but she definitely seems closer to reliable charging than she was.  Now the dynamo's back in, I can try my servo... better brakes should allow more test miles, and the sunny weather helps too.

If the brakes come good, I'll order the tyres as an incentive to getting her on the road properly.  There's a few car meets/shows I'd like to trundle out to this summer if possible.

A good day, very chilled.  Cheers all.

 

[Matty]

Nearly there pal. Keep pushing