The Current Driveway...

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well the drizzle got the better of me in the end, but I did get some work done on the P4's new exhaust...

Looks a bit awkward in these photos, but it swings across nicely to come out where the chassis rail lifts up.  Ignore the end by the way, I have a slash-cut piece to finish it off yet!  All my stainless pipe has been rescued from the skip at work, so often has flanges welded on the ends!

Should sound a bit more fruity methinks!

[TrabbieRonnie]

Big blue Audi sailed through for another year yesterday too, the eml stayed off long enough!  

(It puts it on for the failed hydraulic parts of the 'active' engine mounts, which make no difference to anything, the light usually returns a few days after reset).

It's been a godsend this winter, and I think there's another dump of snow due next week, so it's a weight off knowing it's legal...

I had a puncture between Christmas and New Year, which saw off the last of the Uniroyal Rainsport 5's.

I don't think I've described my experience with those very expensive (and initially very impressive) tyres...

I think they'd been on a couple of years or so, when the big beast wore out the front pair (not overall, just the outer edges... think it's the weight during cornering), and I took them in for a change following an advisory on the test.

Anyway, I was there as they removed them, and watched with horror as the hydraulic bead breaker pushed right through the sidewall.  It tore the sidewall apart from the tread surface, without any deformation of the tyre at all!  Neither the garage or myself had ever seen that, you could quite easily pull it apart further by hand...

Assuming it was a one-off, I continued to use the car with the rear pair of Uniroyals fitted, as they were hardly worn.  However, as I say, just before the New Year, I noticed a puncture.  When I applied soapy water, a line of bubbles came up along about six inches of the shoulder, where the sidewall meets the tread...

The car now has (quite expensive) Conti's on the back, and the Davantis on the front will be replaced with the same come their time.  I don't know if's the weight of the car or what, but I will never trust Uniroyals again, they are not strong enough at all.

 

[Matty]

4 hours ago, TrabbieRonnie said:

Well the drizzle got the better of me in the end, but I did get some work done on the P4's new exhaust...

Looks a bit awkward in these photos, but it swings across nicely to come out where the chassis rail lifts up.  Ignore the end by the way, I have a slash-cut piece to finish it off yet!  All my stainless pipe has been rescued from the skip at work, so often has flanges welded on the ends!

Should sound a bit more fruity methinks!

Has to be a video when thats finished surely

[TrabbieRonnie]

3 minutes ago, Matty said:

Has to be a video when thats finished surely

Oh yes, hopefully tomorrow!

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, because I am a big kid and couldn't wait to hear the old girl, we hooked up a very professional fuel system...

...and let 'er rip!

My lad cobbled a vid together for me, sounds a lot better on a TV than my rubbish phone, quite happy with the results here!

Still to trim the pipe to suit once I've refitted the lower door trim... and the blue smoke is the two-stroke juice she was chewing on, that's not usual I promise!

Just the tank to go back in and I can burble about the place to my heart's content...

Cheers all.

[Surface Rust]

Sounds lovely, and surprisingly muted if it's just that single silencer.

[TrabbieRonnie]

7 minutes ago, Surface Rust said:

Sounds lovely, and surprisingly muted if it's just that single silencer.

Yes, very quiet at idle, and only really any louder when revved quite high.  Sounds deeper altogether though.  

On a side note, the engine started first turn, being bottle fed and having sat for weeks...  It's also noticeably smoother and quieter on that zinc-rich Pistoneeze oil.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Waiting (in)patiently for the weekend here, so I can get Rovering again...

Managed to fix the fuel sender up at work though...

Terrible photos I know, but it's a lot cleaner and shinier than it was!  It was seized solid, and very, very manky...  After removing the cover plate, I soaked the pin in oil for a bit, and teased it free again with pliers.  

The variable resistor inside looked absolutely perfect, and an electrician friend found the specs and bench tested it for me.  Sure enough, the ohms were ohm-ing as intended, happy days!

Hopefully then, I'll have a working fuel gauge when the rubber hits the road...

[Matty]

Sounds like an XK at a wide throttle. Absolutely mint 👌

[TrabbieRonnie]

2 hours ago, Matty said:

Sounds like an XK at a wide throttle. Absolutely mint 👌

Thanks Matty, can't wait to hear her under load 👍

[TrabbieRonnie]

Nothing very exciting to report just yet, very unreliable weather here and too many errands to run!

However, steady progress has been made on the old Rover, the tank is back in and plumbed.  I made new gaskets up for the pickup and level sender, with everything getting a good cleanup before refitting.

As usual, she fired first time, once the pump had filled the line and float bowl.  I've fitted the pump to its bracket (since I got the car, it has just laid on the boot floor!), and it is therefore the right way round according to the casting marks for the first time.  The car ran beautifully, even on choke, so I wonder if there's something in that.  Obviously, the carb is being fed clean, free-flowing petrol for the first time in a long time too!

The to-do list is now...

Finish the tank install (need a couple of new nuts and bolts).

Sort the fuel gauge... I know the sender is providing the right resistance now, and I can briefly see the correct contents if I tap the gauge selector switch.  This car has a dual purpose gauge, that shows the engine oil level instead of the fuel if you press the switch, I'll peek behind the binnacle and clean up the contacts.

Fit the new brake light switch.

Re-attach the lower door trim that fell off in the snow.

Then it'll be waxoyling the wheel wells and getting back on the road with any luck 🤞

[TrabbieRonnie]

So close!

I have had success with the old Rover, but alas, all is not well...

The fuel tank is once again secured to all its moorings.  The new brake light switch was the wrong thread, so I hastily refitted the old one.  However, after bleeding, it has decided to start sending current to the lamps again, and my brakes feel better than before.  Could I have had air in the system, preventing it's operation?  Anyway, nice to have brake lights again.

This morning then saw the old girl re-shod with her rear wheels, and lowered to the ground.  She started lovely, and I set out for a test drive up the lane.  On the way back though, a stutter occured.  I pulled over, waited whilst Old Red recovered, and gently returned home.

At first I suspected low fuel level, she had 20 litres in, but I've no idea how close that is to the 'reserve' level (my reserve solenoid does not work, so I am drawing fuel from a couple of inches higher up).  Another jerry can's worth didn't help matters though, the pump can be rattling away as if empty one minute, or slowly ticking away as it should the next.  Also, at times, it stops altogether, followed swiftly by the engine!

So, I either have a dicky ticker, or an intermittent blockage.  I'm leaning towards the former, as I know for a fact that the pickup was clear when refitted, to a much cleaner tank than before!  Also, when it does pump, the engine runs beautifully, and the petrol and gauze in the glass bowl filter under the bonnet are spotless.

I understand that SU pumps are emminently fixable, so will pull that to bits tomorrow and see what's what.  In the meantime, I have ordered a brand spanking new one from JW's, my logic being that I should always carry a spare in the car.  They're at least ridiculously easy to change in these, as they are handily placed in the boot.

During the short test flight, the old bomber did go well though, and I am assured that my efforts on the exhaust have provided a suitably upgraded soundtrack!

Will report back with hopefully good news soon, and some video evidence!

[Matty]

40 minutes ago, TrabbieRonnie said:

I Understand that SU pumps are emminently fixable

Yes they are. But im a massive lazy fanny so i just put a facet pump in wh3n mine was in doubt.

 

[Surface Rust]

The su pumps have a little set of points in them, just like ignition points. If yours has been parked up in damp weather for a while they might have furred up. Try cleaning / gentle sanding them first, I think they reside under a plastic cap at one end of the pump.

My P4 has a slightly iffy fuel gauge, I remember being sat at a busy traffic light about a mile from a petrol station I was heading too. Whilst I was sat waiting I heard the pump suddenly start to tick fast, immediately causing my heart to do the same! I started rocking the car on the clutch and each time it moved the pump went back to normal speed.

I made it to the petrol station, but by the end I was weaving side to side to keep the fuel flowing!

[TrabbieRonnie]

1 hour ago, Matty said:

Yes they are. But im a massive lazy fanny so i just put a facet pump in wh3n mine was in doubt.

 

Yes, maybe should have looked at them before I ordered the (quite expensive) SU!  

Bollox.

[Matty]

8 hours ago, TrabbieRonnie said:

Yes, maybe should have looked at them before I ordered the (quite expensive) SU!  

Bollox.

They have their downsides. Theyre noisy compared to an SU, especially on mine where to all intents and purposes its in the car with you. And even the "normal/fast road" one like mine pumps at a pressure where technically it needs an inline regulator. Its never overwhellmed the carb though so ive just left it. Do just work though.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Well, I've had an interesting day on the tools today, unexpectedly at home too...

Whilst getting ready to leave for work this morning, I noticed an awful lot of watery noises from the central heating pipework.  Investigations revealed that my boiler had burst, and was merrily dumping Scottish Water's finest out into the back garden (we luckily have an externally mounted oil boiler, no gas in these rural parts).

Cue a sweary, clumsy 6am trip into the loft, trying to find the shut-off valves.  Water flow abated, I rang work who were happy for me to stay home and sort it... would you believe there's actually a policy for this very event, allowing time off without using holiday etc?  I know, progressive stuff.

My faithful MIG welder, usually employed on the vehicle shite, came out to play.  In pictures then...

 

Not pretty, it had rotted through a patch repair I stick-welded on 10 years ago.  On installation, someone had shoved a load of insulation down the front of the boiler, which became soaked with condensation and commenced this rot-fest.  The boiler was fitted just before we moved in, so 2009.  The other three sides are still good.

This piece of metal was found in my garage, almost made for the job, no cutting required...

And a final smear of chemical metal for luck, hopefully that'll hold till summer (I'm not specifying which year's summer at this point!).

Anyway, she got all buttoned up again and was working well enough that I could turn my attention to the Rover P4.  As per my previous post, the fuel pump was due some investigations.

I have cleared the filter out in the pump during the tank refurb, but there is cleaning the filter, and really cleaning the pump.  A lot of shaking and sloshing in petrol provided evidence of the poor thing's problems...

A horrendous amount of crud, to be sure.  Even more came out in the petrol bath!

Suffice to say, at the end of a long day, I have a much happier old car, as well as a happier boiler.  She's starting and running a treat, a longer test run beckons on my rota'd off Friday.  

Cheers all.

[Matty]

Ill keep my fingers crossed for half decent weather for you friday then. About time you got to just drive it!

[TrabbieRonnie]

36 minutes ago, Matty said:

Ill keep my fingers crossed for half decent weather for you friday then. About time you got to just drive it!

I don't care if it's hurricane season by then, we're going!!!

[TrabbieRonnie]

A flat battery has put paid to my driving plans today, the old Rover nearly started but not quite (tried the starting handle, which I've had success with in the past, but no dice there either).  It's on charge now, and to be fair it is quite low... after so many starts only to idle without going anywhere, I guess the dynamo has it's limits!

Anyway, I did get the selector switch out the dash (shows fuel level on the gauge normally, or oil level when pressed), for a clean up.  It now works perfectly, and it's nice to be able to see the fuel tank contents again.  Oil level on the dash too, it's literally the only car I've ever had that shows that!

Maybe get a wee run out later, or at worst tomorrow.

[TrabbieRonnie]

At long last I've been out for a very enjoyable drive in Old Red (who's looking a bit of pink again tbh!).

Proof...!

 

I still had a wee bit of a stutter at first, although she did start ok with the freshly charged battery.  Listening to the pump, I noticed it was again not very rhythmic.  At this point I've had more than enough spannering without reward, so I whipped it out and replaced it with my shiny new one.

Of course, the old girl is transformed, back to her best.  The pump ticks away dead slow at idle, and provides plenty of oomph for acceleration, lovely.

I'll investigate and refurb the old one, it can then live in the boot as a spare.  That's for another day though, I'm chuffed to have the car back on the road and will be commuting in style next week.

Today's test run covered around ten miles, including a few on the big road at 55mph without bother.  All systems appear to be working well, the brakes feel much better following their re-bleeding.

I've loads still to do, and she may never be concourse, but I love her to bits.  There's far better examples than mine out there for relatively little money (in classic car terms), if you fancy an old bit of British engineering, I can highly recommend a P4 👍

[TrabbieRonnie]

Nearly forgot, here's how close you've got to get to see the blue tank...

Racecar...

[Split_Pin]

Great news and a lovely day for it, a joy!

[TrabbieRonnie]

Cleaned up and ready for a local car meet tomorrow morning...

The paint is looking pretty poor again, but I am building up to a coach enamel re-paint this summer, and don't want any more boiled linseed oil on her.

The plan is to do a panel at a time, as the  weather allows.

However, I gave the bumpers a quick spruce up with a cheap can of insta-chrome for tomorrow, and polished up any other  chrome I could find.  Also re-waxed the wood inside, it really is a nice place to be now.

I took her to work on Monday and Tuesday this week, but after that the icy snow on the roads at 06:30 really put me off.  She starts and runs fine, but the thought of sliding off into a ditch or wall gives me the fear (the cost of front wings for P4's is terrifying).

Will hopefully have some nice pics to share tomorrow night after the meet, hope all's well in the shiteyverse peeps.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Couldn't quite believe the weather today, after weeks of snow and rain the sun came out!  Had a really lovely drive into town and back to attend the car meet.

The old Rover didn't miss a beat (it's a round trip of only about 50 miles, but still!), and proved popular despite being the oldest thing there by about thirty years!

We left as the revving up competition got into full swing, I like a bit of engine noise as much as the next guy, but this popping and two-step(?) racket they all make now just does my nut in.  Getting old I suppose...

The event took place at a Japanese Importer's yard, so I got to sit in a Toyota Century, very nice it was too.  I used to lust after these things, but the A8 has spoiled a lot of other cars for me, the interior just doesn't compare.  £40k on the road it was as well, far too much, V12 or not.

I've only got the pics I took on arrival as yet (I was there first on account of the massive speeds Old Red is capable of, obviously!), but a great day and another confidence boost being out on the big roads in my wee Rover...

 

Cheers all.

 

[Volksy]

Your Rover seems to have been featured in Monopoly.

I dug out my old family set, assuming 1960s? 

[TrabbieRonnie]

5 hours ago, Volksy said:

Your Rover seems to have been featured in Monopoly.

I dug out my old family set, assuming 1960s? 

Wow, that's brilliant!  To be fair all the other pieces are great too.  What a cool thing, thanks for sharing 👍.

I'm just back from a late shift in the old bomber actually, and have not enjoyed a drive as much, well... ever!  I've never had such an old car before, and never anything British.

Roaring along open country roads behind that big wheel though, bonnet stretched out in front (even the headlights are good), just feels like nothing else.  It's a beautiful crisp clear night here, as some of you know I live in a very rural place, and it was just one of those perfect driving experiences.  

What a car, basically!

[TrabbieRonnie]

Hello all...

Fleet update time I reckon, as I've been besotted with the old Rover, and neglecting the rest.

Hilux Surf...

My youngest's pride and joy has been in dry dock for a wee while in the background, quite unusual to get a proper FTP in the jeep, but two have occurred.  Firstly (I can't remember if I've already mentioned this, forgive if so), as I walked around the corner of my drive to put the rubbish out, a gunshot rang out!  At the same instant the Surf rocked slightly out on the street...

Could this be the first drive-by shooting the wee village has ever seen?  No, dear readers... t'was merely the sound of a 34 year-old Toyota torsion bar snapping in half.  The odds of it happening whilst stationary, never mind as I walked up to it first thing in the morning seem long, but there we are.  

Anyway, the spares pile included a set, looking like they'd barely been used.  They are on, and she's riding like a new one.

However, the second fault is preventing full enjoyment of this improved suspension, a resumption of the jeeps' habit once upon a time... the dreaded limp mode!  After work tonight, my mission was to retrieve said limpy vehicle and no.2 son who was driving of course.  He'd been out on the bike trails, so too far to crawl home at 5 mph.

Not for the first time, I blessed the day I bought the sprung towbar thingy, and also the big Audi.  My big blue fraulien pulled the stricken Toyota home without effort, that 3.7 V8 is just the best thing since sliced bread.  Anyway, now home, we found a list of what the 'blinky light' fault codes the Surf provided actually means, and it is the Throttle Position Sensor.  A part I replaced the last time this happened, although admittedly a used one from a Camry...

Unbelievably, the spares stash that keeps on giving contained a new-in-box Denso sensor as well, so that will be fitted tomorrow and we'll hopefully have him surfing again forthwith.

 

Mazda RX8...

Dry dock still, untouched since it failed the emissions...  Must try harder, it has a lot of new parts on, and Spring feels imminent.

 

Mazda 323...

Purring along in my other son's custodianship...  Covering mega miles and just serviced with new rotor arm, dizzy cap, leads, sparks and filters.  None of which it seems to have needed, as it ran like a swiss watch before, and apparently (having just arrived at Caithness this evening, and that really is NORTH!) still is.  It will be resting before too long though, as his next car is finally seeing some progress...

 

Mazda Xedos 9...

The 90's spaceship is away from home, getting the sills welded up as we speak.  I just don't have the time for them all, so between us we decided to farm this one out.  Will update the next steps and get some decent pics of this lovely rare old thing on its return.

 

Audi Coupe...

Just sitting.

I feel bad about that.  Trabbi's in the same boat really.

 

And finally, back to the P4...

As my current daily (I know, I can't believe my luck either!), this oldie but Goldie is proving itself beyond doubt, and is therefore due some upgrades.  I have ordered a lower wing repair panel from darn sarrf (the last one in stock!), and a big tin of coach enamel/rollers/thinners etc...  I obviously have no idea what shade it is just now, but it will be soon wearing 'Post Office Red'.  It looked close enough on the 20mm square on-screen sample, time will tell as always.

Also, my Mrs surprised me with a set of the old Monopoly counters that Volksy showed in the previous post, so my miniature 60's red Rover can take pride of place on the dash, bootiful.

 

Wordy and pic-free post I'm afraid, soz!  Ronnie out.

[Matty]

Offer a baby sitting service for the Trab. Id take a month 🤣

[TrabbieRonnie]

One executive express viewed from another... 👍